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Misc Church Pamphlets 2 Tbe Wine i551ort of lo5tpb mitlj By John A. Widtsoe One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Press of Zion's Printing and Publishing Company Independence, Jackson County, Mo., U. S. A. E=0111==4.13=6=6=41$==4!1 The Divine Mission of Joseph Smith By John A. Widtsoe Published by the Missions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in America Joseph Smith was the first president and prophet of BUREAU OF INFORMATION—Temple Block, Salt Lake City, Utah. CALIFORNIA MISSION-153 W. Adams St., Los Angeles, Calif. the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, popular- CANADIAN MISSION-36 Ferndale Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ly known as the "Mormon" Church. That he was an CENTRAL STATES MISSION-302 S. Pleasant St., Independence, Mo. extraordinary man is conceded by friend and foe. Stead- EASTERN STATES MISSION-273 Gates Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. ily, his tremendous service to mankind is being recognized; HAWAIIAN MISSION—P. 0. Box 3228, Honolulu, Hawaii. MEXICAN MISSION-3531 Fort Blvd., El Paso, Texas, U. S. A. and men stand gratefully before the labors of his life. His NORTHERN STATES MISSION-2555 N. Sawyer Ave., Chicago, Ill. teachings form a far-flung ensign of truth. His life and NORTHCENTRAL STATES MISSION-3044 Elliot, Minneapolis, Minn. the results of his labors are convincing evidences of his NORTHWESTERN STATES MISSION-264 E. 25th St., Portland, Ore. divine mission. SOUTHERN STATES MISSION-485 North Ave. N. E., Atlanta, Ga. WESTERN STATES MISSION-638 East 7th Ave., Denver, Colo. A Restorer and Teacher Joseph Smith was a restorer of the pure and uncor- rupted gospel of Jesus Christ. At no time did he declare that he brought a new message of salvation to the world; his mission was to restore and declare, to expound and enlarge the old truth, which has always been part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith was also an inter- preter of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The accounts in the Holy Bible are but outlines of the labors and teachings of the Savior; and the commentaries by the apostles, which constitute the latter part of the New Testament, are fragmentary and incomplete. Joseph, the Prophet, gave to the world in this day a large and rich interpreta- tion of the gospel of Jesus Christ; he made the teachings of the Savior clear to all, and he showed how the gospel, THE DIVINE MISSION OF JOSEPH SMITH 4 THE DIVINE MISSION OF JOSEPH SMITH 5 devised for human joy, may be applied every day in the the world, the nature of greatness and the ways of mor- affairs of mankind. tality, told the story of his meeting with Joseph Smith. He closed his story with these words: Joseph, a Great Issue "I have endeavored to give the details of my visit to the 'Mor- mon' Prophet with absolute accuracy. If the reader does not know just what to make of Joseph Smith I cannot help him out of the Joseph Smith as the. Founder of the Church, under difficulty. I myself stand helpless before the puzzle." divine inspiration, is a great issue of "Mormonism." Once convinced that he was divinely inspired, a person Joseph came, untaught by man, into a world which may accept all of "Mormonism," all of the truths that lay in darkness, and did work which cannot be under- the Prophet revealed to the world. Keen students of stood or interpreted by common means. Such a man "Mormon" doctrine and history, those who have shown commands the attention of honest, truth-seeking men. themselves honest and fearless, declare without exception that Joseph Smith is the most important earthly figure How to Win a Testimony of the Church. To Joseph Smith came the marvelous first vision; upon him the Priesthood was conferred; he A testimony of the divine mission of Joseph Smith, translated the Book of Mormon by "the gift and power a living, enduring testimony, may be won by any man. of God"; it was he who was directed by the Lord to or- In his own life the Prophet has given us the key. If we ganize the Church; and then, through him was revealed are to obtain a testimony of any truth we must first desire the body of doctrine for the guidance of the Church. the testimony; then learn to understand the truth in Those who have studied him without prejudice, have question; then practice that which has been learned; and come without exception to the conclusion that once he before and during the study and practice we must be in is accepted as a man who saw God and who was directed close communion with our heavenly Father and pray to by the Lord, the principles that he taught must also be him for help. Out of such prayer, study and practice, accepted as being of divine origin. the testimony of the truth will come as an inspiration and gift from the Lord. Every person who studies the life Baffles the Wise and works of Joseph Smith, practices that which he taught, and sincerely prays for guidance, will come out of the search with a vital testimony of the divine mission The achievements of Joseph Smith are much greater of the Prophet Joseph Smith. When man does his part, than those of ordinary men; they appear to transcend a testimony comes as a gift of God. Naturally, however, usual human powers, and cannot be explained in terms a man must be willing to accept the truth, though it of common experience. Many men, not members of the conflict with all his former beliefs. The precious testi- Church, have made that very statement. They have mony, the indestructible knowledge, of the truth of the stood baffled before the power of Joseph Smith. We gospel must be to him the most desirable thing of life. quote frequently the statements of Josiah Quincy, famous mayor of Boston, of an illustrious family of Massachu- The High Order of His Life setts, who visited Joseph Smith, in 1844, soon after young Quincy had graduated from Harvard college. In his old It will help establish the testimony of the divine mis- age, this highly educated man, who had learned to know sion of this great man, to know that Joseph Smith, viewed 6 THE DIVINE MISSION OF JOSEPH SMITH THE DIVINE MISSION OF JOSEPH SMITH 7 at any point, from every angle, in any position, always the probability that unless supported by such feelings, he would have renounced the unprofitable and ungrateful task, and sought measures up to the demands of truth, as revealed in refuge from persecution and misery in private life and honorable human experience. For example, his personal life was industry. * * * It cannot be denied that he was one of the most that of a prophet. He lived as the prophets of old have extraordinary persons of his time * * * whose name, whatever lived, honestly and sincerely, but misunderstood, hound- he may have been whilst living, will take its place among the nota- ed, persecuted, and at last his life was taken. His life bilities of the world." story reads as do those of the prophets in holy writ. His His life was significant to all who met him, because experience was that of every teacher who attempts to he spoke with authority as one who knew truth. He turn men and women from easy walks of near truth into declared, over and over again, that his weapon was truth; the paths of full truth. Physically, he was a magnificent and in words of splendor he said: man; in intellect, lofty and commanding; in spirit, in spite of persecution, disaster and poverty, kindly and "I combat the errors of ages; I meet the violence of mobs; I cope with illegal proceedings from excessive authority; I cut the gentlemanly. He was courageous, and dared to battle Gordian knot of powers, and meet the problems of universities, for the right. All who knew him have testified to the with truth—diamond truth." kindly strength, mingled with undaunted courage, that made him a great soul. The honor of his character was That is the high ideal which in every human activity ever above reproach, even among those who opposed him. is moving our civilization onward. As son, husband, father, friend, and neighbor, even as foeman, he was beloved. He tells how he lived: A Material Builder "Sectarian priests cry out concerning me and ask, 'Why is it that this babbler gets so many followers and retains them?' I answer: 'It is because I possess the principle of love. All that I Joseph Smith was an outstanding material leader. offer the world is a good heart and a good hand'." A tremendous labor was accomplished by the Prophet in and about the city of Kirtland, Ohio. The temple Truth, His Weapon and Reward there, still standing, is mute evidence of the powerful material as well as spiritual leadership of the "Mormon" No personal reward such as men usually seek was prophet. He founded Nauvoo, the largest city of its time promised by his work. The fact that he went through in Illinois, with schools and university and the other life gladly, meeting difficulties without hesitation, and factors of civilization. He built temples and laid out asking for no personal consideration, is evidence of his cities; he planned for the temporal welfare of his people, sincerity and unselfish devotion to that which he held to through agriculture and industrial development. He be the eternal truth.
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