The Man Called Joseph Smith

Photos From LDS Media Library

The name of Joseph Smith is known across the globe, far and wide.  Some connect this name with an inspirational prophet, and others with a wicked religious group.  And yet others have no opinion on the name, but have simply heard it.  Who is the man with the name known all around the world?

His fame started when he was still a teenager.  In his own words:  "It caused me serious reflection then, and often since, how very strange it was that an obscure boy, of a little over fourteen years of age ... should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day" (Joseph Smith-History 1:23).  It began with  when he prayed to the Lord to know which church he was to join.  He was a God-fearing boy that wanted to do what was right in the sight of God, and the first step was to join the pure religion of Christ.  However, he didn't know which religion contained the pure gospel, and so he prayed to find an answer.  In response to this boy's honest and sincere prayer, a vision appeared in front of him - God, the Father of heaven and earth, alongside His Son, Jesus Christ - descended to teach Joseph Smith concerning the true doctrine of the Lord.

The Calling of a Prophet

The First Vision

In biblical times it was typical for God to appear to his next prophet, calling them to their work.  And, as odd as it sounds, it is not unheard of boys being called to be prophets for the Lord, to guide his people.  Samuel, one of the most recognized prophets in the days of the Israelites, was called when a young child.  When the Lord's people lacked a leader to speak the divine word, a new prophet was called to the work.  Going back to the last known time prophets were called - when the Lord Jesus Christ personally lived on the earth - the New Testament teaches us that after the death of Christ, the rest of those that followed his teachings were persecuted, and eventually put to death as well.  Other religions sprouted back up, restoring the parts of the gospel that they could based off of tradition and scripture, but the pure gospel as taught by Christ was no longer available.  This was foretold by Christ and his apostles.  Paul wrote to the Thessalonians that "that day [when Christ comes a second time] shall not come, except there come a falling away first" (2 Thes. 2:3).

As in ancient times, to restore the lost truths, God needed to call a prophet to bring them back to light.  This he did when he visited Joseph Smith in 1820.  In answer to the young Smith's question - no church at that time contained the full gospel, because it was lost with the death of the ancient apostles, and Joseph was to be the prophet that restored the lost truths again to the world.

Prophetic Scripture
With the restoration of these truths came new scripture:  The Book of Mormon.  This is in accordance to the Lord's divine pattern.  What is the Bible, if not a collection of continual scripture written by prophets as ages passed?  Moses wrote four books of the Old Testament, and brought the Mosaic law from Sinai, then new scripture to the people.  We could go through the Bible and see all the prophets that have brought forth new scripture during their calling to lead the people - Isaiah recorded the most notable Messianic prophecies of any prophet, Jeremiah was writing new revelation approximately 600 B.C., thousands of years after Moses' original records, and so on.

Scripture brought forth by the prophets were most often direction from the Lord to the people of that time period.  The Mosaic law was given by God to the Israelites, to be followed until the birth of the Savior, who would present a higher law.  Jeremiah, Isaiah, Daniel, and many others, received revelation from the Lord to the kings and rulers of their times, to guide the people through secular hardship.  When Joseph Smith restored the gospel in our time, the Lord had to reveal new direction specifically for our times.  Alongside the Book of Mormon - a spiritual guide for our lives - came the Doctrine and Covenants, which contains secular guidance.  Later came the Pearl of Great Price and other biblical writings, to further teach us spiritually.

Priesthood Authority
With the restoration of the gospel and God's word, must of necessity come the restoration of authority over spiritual matters - the Priesthood.  Since earliest days in the Old Testament we read of the priesthood.  The lesser, or Aaronic, priesthood was ordained upon Aaron the priest, and all his generations after him until the time of Christ.  This priesthood gave the priests authority to perform the outward ordinances of the church - baptism, sacrifices (later the Lord's supper taking place of sacrifices), among others.  The greater, or Melchizedek, priesthood was ordained upon the prophets, allowing them the authority from God to preside over spiritual matters - ordinations, blessings, healing, and other matters.

On May 15th of the year 1829, the man known as John the Baptist appeared in the presence of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, ordaining them to the Aaronic priesthood.  John was the last prophet of the Bible to fully exercise this authority, baptizing and preparing people for the coming of the Messiah, being the Elias who was prophesied to come at that time.  Therefore, it was through him that the priesthood was again ordained onto another prophet.  Sometime following the visit of John the Baptist came the visitation of Peter, James and John the Beloved - the three presiding apostles in the ancient church.  These three ordained Joseph and Oliver to the Melchizedek priesthood.  With these two priesthoods Joseph Smith had the authority to restore the gospel and organize the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I Believe...
Although I did not know the man called Joseph Smith, I have studied his words and deeds, and prayed concerning the Church he organized in 1830.  I believe with all my heart that this is the true church of God, containing the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, which, if we follow, we will return to live in the kingdom of heaven.

You Can Be Free of Addiction!

One of the most difficult trials that we face in this life is that of addiction.  I do not speak of specific addictions, but I speak to any of those who have addictions of any kind.  I believe it is true that no one else knows quite exactly what it is that you are going through.  However, there are others that have gone through (or are still going through) the same addiction that you are.  In that sense, these people can be a great strength in trying to help get out of addiction.

Fortunately for all of us, there was a man who lived in the Meridian of time that knew (and knows) exactly what it is that we go through, whatever our problem.  Of course, this person is the Savior Jesus Christ.  He is called the Savior for a reason.  Because of his Atonement performed for all of us, if we go to him and use his grace when we can't do everything ourselves, he will literally save us from our afflictions - even addiction.

How Can Christ Help Us?
Now, maybe you wonder how he can know exactly what we go through if he lived 2,000 years ago, and lived a perfect life, committing no sin.  True, you may say, he suffered in Gethsemane, but does he really know what my problem is like?  C.S. Lewis, the famous Christian writer, gave the following insight.  (For our current purpose, I suggest replacing the word "temptation" with "addiction.")

"No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good.  A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means.  This is an obvious lie.  Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is.  ... You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down.  A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. ... We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight against it:  and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means."

It is true that Jesus never gave into temptation, and was therefore never trapped by an addiction, but it is because of this that he understands just how strong the temptation is.  Never in his life did Satan stop trying to tempt him.  At times the father of lies used the Jewish leaders to tempt Christ, at times he used those that knew Him, at other times he used other dark spirits, and the devil even resorted to tempting the Lord himself.

Alma, an ancient prophet, taught that Christ would suffer "pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains...of his people. He will take  upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."  (Alma 7:11-12, italics added.)

Overcoming Weakness Through Grace
We can go to the Savior to be clean of addiction.  The Lord told another ancient prophet:  "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them" (Ether 12:27).

This scripture teaches us that the Lord knows we have these weaknesses, but they do not always have to be a part of our lives.  God does not see our addictions as a part of our soul, but something our soul needs to overcome to be stronger.  "Our destiny is not determined by the number of times we stumble but by the number of times we rise up, dust ourselves off, and move forward."  (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "You Can Do It Now!")

The Lord told Ether that his "grace is sufficient" for all of those that come unto him.  How can we use God's grace?  First, we must do all that we can ourselves, by following the commandments of God, by using the tools and strength of people around us to do all that we have the power to do, prayerfully.  And then, when we have done our all, the Lord will make up for what we cannot do.  The promise is there in the scriptures, that if we approach God humbly through prayer, after doing all that we can do, then he will make our weakness, our addiction, a strength for us - we will no longer be caught in the pain of it.

Additional Help

• Overcoming Pornography
• LDS Addiction Recovery Program

Learn Wisdom

There is something different about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), something that isn't found in other religions.  This church strongly emphasizes the importance secular education - learning fine arts, math, science, language skills, etc.  Why is it that a religion would speak so strongly on a worldly topic?  We can find the answer in the scriptures.

The Holy Bible
The best way to learn anything wholesome is to look to the example of the Savior during his earthly life.  Luke tells us that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."  The first of the four things Luke focused on was an increase in wisdom.  In the Jewish culture, he naturally would have learned much about the Old Testament and the prophecies of the many prophets, but he also learned other useful subjects.  For example, Joseph, husband of his mother Mary, was a carpenter, and so we can be sure he learned the skills of a carpenter.

Peter, in his second epistle, tells us to "add to [our] faith virtue and to virtue knowledge" (2 Peter 1:5).  He is teaching us that it is important to learn the things of the spirit, to increase our faith in God, but it is just as important to add knowledge of other things to that faith.

The Book of Mormon
In addition to the Holy Bible, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has three additional books of inspired scripture.  One of which is the Book of Mormon.

It is a common theme in the Book of Mormon for a father to teach his son many things, religious and non-religious.  The very first verse of the book reads:  "I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father" (1 Nephi 1:1), and later this same man, Nephi, tells us what he learned from his father.  He learned not only prayer and scripture and fasting, but he also learned how to read and write Hebrew and Egyptian.  He was taught how to plant and harvest crops.  He was even later taught how to build a boat.

Enos, another prophet, tells us that his father taught "his language, and also the nurter and admonition of the Lord" - one being secular and the other religious.

Doctrine and Covenants
The Lord instructs us in the book of Doctrine and Covenants to "be instructed ... of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms."  He additionally tells us the reason for this learning:  "That ye may be prepared in all things." (D&C 88:77-79)

Joseph Smith also taught the reason for this pushing learning of secular things as part of religion:  "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection" (D&C 130:18).

Pearl of Great Price
In this book of scripture we have the words of Moses and Abraham.  Abraham tells us that he greatly desired to be "one who possessed great knowledge ... and to possess a greater knowledge" (Abr. 1:2).  Moses records that the children of Adam and Eve were "taught to read and write" (Moses 6:6), and later explains that the Lord "gave unto them their knowledge, in the day [He] created them" (Moses 7:32).

Finally we come to the knowledge that God is all-knowing in the additional words of Abraham:  "And the Lord said unto me:  These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all" (Abr. 3:19).  That is to say, even in the life after death we will continue seeking knowledge.  One man will have more knowledge than another, having spent more time learning than the last, until we reach God, who has all knowledge and all wisdom.

A Living Apostle's Words
Elder Russell M. Nelson, apostle in the LDS Church, tells us, "In the Church, obtaining an education and getting knowledge are a religious responsibility.  We educate our minds so that one day we can render service of worth to somebody else."  (Russell M. Nelson, "Focus on Values.")

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, knowledge of all subjects are important.  Many of the things we learn will be useful in this life for ourselves, and many others will be of use to those around us, but all wholesome things we learn will be a blessing to us.

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Additional Information
If you desire to read more, visit:

• The Holy Bible
• The Book of Mormon
• Doctrine and Covenants
• Pearl of Great Price
• Russell M. Nelson

Or, if you'd like to talk to someone further about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can chat with a missionary:  http://mormon.org/chat

*Photos by Melvin Lans

Be Our Valentine - 10 Years of Family Tradition

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this,

To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction...

James 1:27

Ten years ago my family started a wonderful tradition that has gone on to bless many people in our area, ourselves included.  It all started through the kindness shown to us by a kind elderly lady who lived next door.

Mary Jones - the Lady Next Door

Mary Jones did as much for our family as she was able, which mainly included bringing us baked goods - cakes, pies, and other treats.  So when her husband, Ken, passed away we desired to do something for her.  What our family decided upon was to host a dinner for her and her other friends who are widows for Valentine's Day.

It was a most joyful experience and we knew we had to do it the following year, but this time we invited all of the widows in our area.  This is a lot more than simply informing them of the dinner and asking them to come.  We go to the lady's home a few weeks beforehand and visit with them.  It is more than a dinner, but it is making new friends, making friends with people that may not have many friends or get much time to talk.

At the dinner party itself there is a program that our family does for the women in attendance.  Myself and all of my siblings share a talent, whether it be with the piano, guitar, artwork, story-telling or something else.  Being the 10th year of this tradition (a full decade!) we did more than ever before, and I wrote a special song for the occasion:

I still remember the lady who lived next door to us

She had a charm and beauty that radiated more than anyone's

Our family desired to return her kindness in some way

10 years ago the least that we could do was say:

Won't you be our Valentine?

Be with us on this special night

No need to be alone

Come on to our home

Be our Valentine

What a joy it was to spend the night with all of our lovely guests

Dinner and games with Mary Jones and her friends

The following year invitations went out to everyone

Who were alone on a day that celebrated having fun

Won't you be our Valentine?

Be with us on this special night

No need to be alone

Come on to our home

Be our Valentine

Over the years the numbers seem to grow on us

Making new friends, meeting old ones, and sharing our love

We hope you enjoy the time spent with us today

There's just one last thing that we would all like to say:

Won't you be our Valentine?

Be with us on this special night

No need to be alone

Come on to our home

Be our Valentine

It is a wonderful occasion for all of us present.  The wonderful ladies get a nice night out with other people in a similar situation, and we get to experience the joy that only comes from helping others.

Repentance is a Gift!

"Light of the World" by Howard Lyon

While discussing sin and the need of repentance with a friend of mine, my friend said to me:  "Too many people think of repenting of sins as a punishment from God.  That is simply not true.  That is not the way God sees repentance, and that is not how he wants us to see it.  Repentance is a gift!  It is a chance to be clean of sin and try again."  At that moment my entire perspective of repentance changed, and with that change came a greater love for God and his Atonement.

The Need to Repent
The holy scriptures teach us that no unclean thing can dwell in the kingdom of God.  When we commit sins we are no longer spiritually clean, and therefore are not fit to be saved in the kingdom of God, unless we rid ourselves of the sins committed.

When Jesus Christ performed the Atonement he took upon himself our sins.  This means that he paid the price for all sins that we commit in our lives, making it possible to be free from them.  The Lord, having paid the price even with his life, set the rules to follow to be forgiven of our sins.  These rules are the things he has commanded us to do - faith, baptism, repentance, charity, etc.  "In paying for your sins," teaching a manual of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Jesus did not eliminate your agency or personal responsibility - He will not make you clean against your will.  To receive His help and strength, you need to exercise faith in Him, repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and choose to follow His teachings for the rest of your life."

To further help us understand the need to repent of our sins, a prophet of the Book of Mormon explained:  "the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins" (Helaman 5:10).  That is, if we die without forsaking our sins we will not be saved, but if we have done our best to follow God's commandments and quit our sins, we will be saved through the grace of God - his Atonement making up for anything we could not do ourselves.

There is Always Hope
One may say to themselves that they have committed too many sins to be forgiven, that they are too far from God to be saved.  Do not think this, as this is not true, as difficult as it may seem at the time.  In a great address on the need of repentance, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gave this message:

"I do not know who in this vast audience today may need to hear the message of forgiveness ... but however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don't have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love.  It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement shines."  ("The Laborers in the Vineyard," General Conference Address, April 2012.)

The path to being forgiven of our sins is not an easy one, and will lead us through much pain for the wrongs we have done.  Perhaps that is why, as my friend said, "too many people think of repenting of sins as a punishment from God."  But if we trust in the Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ, we can not only get through our difficult times but can also be forgiven of them, bringing into our lives a new hope and love.

Helping Others

Helping those in need was what Jesus Christ was best at.  He spent his life serving other people.  From Mormon.org we read:

He fed the hungry. He healed the sick. He blessed those in need. He served by teaching. Even as a twelve-year-old boy, he was "about [His] father's business" (Luke 2:49). It may be overwhelming to try to live up to Christ's perfect example of service, but we can remember that even our smallest actions show our determination to be like Him. When we visit the sick or the lonely, we are being like Jesus. When we help our neighbors fix their roof, when we serve a meal to someone who needs it, when we donate to disaster relief, when we forgive those who offend us, we are serving as He would serve. Serving like Jesus Christ has a cleansing effect on us. It helps us understand the idea that our time, talents and possessions are not just our own. (Read more here.)

 As previously noted, there are many ways in which we could help other people.  I will give one example from my life.  As Valentine's Day approaches, my family is preparing for our annual Widow's Dinner.  This tradition started ten years ago when our neighbor's husband passed away.  She was a kind lady that was always showing her kindness to us through loving words and baked goods.  Wanting to show our kindness in return, we planned a dinner for her and some of her friends who were also widows on Valentine's Day, so they would not be alone on this special day.  Over the years the dinner has grown to include a great number of elderly women from the neighborhood.  We play games, eat dinner and share stories.

There are countless ways to serve others:  we can share our time with someone who is lonely, or tutor someone that needs help with schoolwork, or even play games with someone that needs a friend.  It may be difficult to get out and do things for other people who we may not know, but as we do so we will be filled with a joy that we could not otherwise find.

"When we love somebody, we show it by doing something nice. So learn to serve: find a need and fulfill a need. Surprise people with a good deed they hadn't planned on. We have that opportunity at home, at school, and at church."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Focus on Values")

Help from the Book of Mormon

"The Book of Mormon teaches us truth [and] bears testimony of Christ. ... But there is something more.  There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book.  You will find greater power to resist temptation.  You will find the power to avoid deception.  You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path.  The scriptures are called 'the words of life,' and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon" (Conference Report, Oct. 1986).

The above words were shared by President Ezra Taft Benson, previous President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He spoke those words long before I was even born, but it wasn't until just a few years ago that I understood the power of its application.

I have grown up with a bad case of manic-depression, to which I thought there was no cure.  Of course I have medications that help, but the eventual depression was always bound to come back at some point, and I felt trapped.  Not knowing how to feel better I met with a friend who told me I needed to read the Book of Mormon.  I'd read the book before and knew it wasn't about mental illnesses, or depression, or anything of that sort, but out of respect and love for my friend I followed her counsel and got the book out again.

For the first few days nothing changed about my situation, but over time I did notice something strange.  I found that when I read my Book of Mormon in the morning I was able to focus more during the day, free of the distractions of depression.  Additionally, I noticed that when I read at night I was able to get to sleep much faster and sleep better than I did beforehand.  Although it is not specifically mentioned in President Benson's address above, I would add to all who need help with depression (or other mental illnesses) can find help and comfort through reading the Book of Mormon.



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