By President M. Russell Ballard Acting President of the Apostles

circulated from its fountain to the birth of that man. [ ] was Shall We Not Go On foreordained in eternity.”1 Beloved by his family, Joseph Jr. was particularly close to his older in So Great a Cause? brother Hyrum, who was nearly six years of age when Joseph was born. Last October, I sat by the hearth- stone that was in the small Smith We should always remember the price Joseph and home in Sharon, Vermont, where Joseph was born. I felt Hyrum’s love paid, along with so many other faithful for Joseph and thought of him hold- ing his baby brother in his arms and men, women, and children, to establish the Church. teaching him how to walk. Father and Mother Smith expe- rienced personal setbacks, forcing them to move their family numerous Thank you very much, President, for They named their new baby son times before finally giving up on New such a wonderful opening. Brothers Joseph Smith Jr. England and making the courageous and sisters, 215 years ago, a little boy Of the Smith family, Brigham decision to move farther west, to New was born to Joseph and Lucy Mack Young said: “The Lord had his eye York State. Smith in Vermont in a region known upon [ Joseph Smith], and upon his Because the family was united, as New England in the northeastern father, and upon his father’s father, they survived these challenges and United States. and upon their progenitors clear back together faced the daunting task of Joseph and Lucy Mack believed in to Abraham, and from Abraham to the starting over again on a hundred-acre Jesus Christ, studied the holy scrip- flood, from the flood to Enoch and (0.4 km2) wooded tract of land in tures, sincerely prayed, and walked from Enoch to Adam. He has watched Manchester, near Palmyra, New York. with faith in God. that family and that blood as it has I am not sure that many of us real- ize the physical and emotional chal- lenges that starting over presented the Smith family—clearing land, planting orchards and fields, building a small log home and other farm structures, hiring out as day laborers, and making home goods to sell in town. By the time the family arrived in western New York, the area was ablaze with religious fervor—known as the Second Great Awakening. During this time of debate and strife among religious parties, Joseph experienced a wondrous vision, known today as the . We are blessed to have four primary accounts from which I will draw.2 Joseph recorded: “During this time Buenos Aires, Argentina of great [religious] excitement my

8 SATURDAY MORNING SESSION mind was called up to serious reflec- tion and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poi- gnant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. . . . [Yet] so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who other—[ Joseph,] This is My Beloved rejection, opposition, and persecu- was wrong.”3 Son. Hear Him!”7 tion. Joseph recalled sharing what he Joseph turned to the Bible to find The Savior then spoke: “Joseph, my had seen and heard with one of the answers to his questions and read son, thy sins are forgiven thee. Go thy ministers who had been active in the James 1:5: “If any of you lack wisdom, way, walk in my statutes, and keep religious revival: let him ask of God, that giveth to all my commandments. Behold, I am the “I was greatly surprised at his men liberally, and upbraideth not; and Lord of glory. I was crucified for the behavior; he treated my communica- it shall be given him.”4 world, that all those who believe on tion not only lightly, but with great He noted: “Never did any passage my name may have eternal life.”8 contempt, saying it was all of the of scripture come with more power Joseph added, “No sooner, there- devil, that there were no such things to the heart of man than this did at fore, did I get possession of myself, so as visions or revelations in these days; this time to mine. It seemed to enter as to be able to speak, than I asked the that all such things had ceased with with great force into every feeling of Personages who stood above me in the the apostles, and that there would my heart. I reflected on it again and light, which of all the sects was right.”9 never be any more of them. again.”5 He recalled: “They told me that all “I soon found, however, that my Joseph came to realize that the religious denominations were believ- telling the story had excited a great Bible did not contain all the answers ing in incorrect doctrines, and that deal of prejudice against me among to life’s questions; rather, it taught none of them was acknowledged of professors of religion, and was the men and women how they could find God as his church and kingdom. And cause of great persecution, which answers to their questions by com- . . . at the same time [I] receive[d] a continued to increase; . . . and this municating directly with God through promise that the fulness of the gospel was common among all the sects— prayer. should at some future time be made all united to persecute me.”13 He added: “So, in accordance with known unto me.”10 Three years later, in 1823, the this, my determination to ask of God, Joseph also noted, “I saw many heavens opened again as part of the I retired to the woods to make the angels in this vision.”11 continuing Restoration of the gospel attempt. It was on the morning of a Following this glorious vision, of Jesus Christ in the last days. Joseph beautiful, clear day, early in the spring Joseph wrote: “My soul was filled noted that an angel named Moroni of eighteen hundred and twenty.”6 with love, and for many days I could appeared to him and said “that God Soon thereafter, Joseph said that rejoice with great joy. . . . The Lord had a work for me to do . . . [and “[a pillar of] light rested upon me was with me.”12 that] there was a book deposited, [and] I saw two Personages, whose He emerged from the Sacred Grove written upon gold plates” that con- brightness and glory defy all descrip- to begin his preparation to become a tained “the fulness of the everlasting tion, standing above me in the air. prophet of God. Gospel . . . as delivered by the Savior One of them spake unto me, calling Joseph also began to learn what to the ancient inhabitants [of the me by name and said, pointing to the ancient prophets experienced— Americas].”14

MAY 2020 9 Eventually, Joseph obtained, slain. . . . And like most of the Lord’s translated, and published the ancient anointed in ancient times, [ Joseph] record, known today as the Book has sealed his mission and his works of Mormon. with his own blood; and so has his His brother Hyrum, who had been brother Hyrum. In life they were not his constant supporter, especially divided, and in death they were not following his painful, life-threatening separated!”19 leg operation in 1813, was one of the Following the martyrdom, Joseph’s witnesses of the gold plates. He was In June 1844, Hyrum was pre- and Hyrum’s bodies were returned also one of the six members of the sented the choice to live or to lay to Nauvoo, washed, and dressed Church of Jesus Christ when it was down his life to glorify God and to so the Smith family could see their organized in 1830. “seal his testimony with his blood”— loved ones. Their precious mother During their lives, Joseph and side by side together with his beloved recalled: “I had for a long time Hyrum faced mobs and persecution brother Joseph.17 braced every nerve, roused every together. For example, they lan- A week before the fateful trip to energy of my soul, and called upon guished in the most wretched condi- Carthage, where they were murdered God to strengthen me; but when tions in the in Missouri for in cold blood by an armed mob of I entered the room, and saw my five months during the cold winter cowards who had painted their faces murdered sons extended both at of 1838–39. to avoid detection, Joseph recorded once before my eyes, and heard the In April 1839, Joseph wrote his wife that “I advised my brother Hyrum to sobs and groans of my family [and] Emma describing their situation in take his family on the next steamboat the cries . . . from the lips of their Liberty Jail: “I believe it is now about and go to Cincinnati.” wives, children, brothers, and sisters, five months and six days since I have I still feel great emotion as I it was too much. I sank back crying been under the grimace of a guard, remember Hyrum’s reply: “Joseph, I to the Lord in the agony of my soul, night and day, and within the walls, can’t leave you.’’18 ‘My God! My God! Why hast thou grates, and screeching iron doors of a So Joseph and Hyrum went to forsaken this family?’”20 lonesome, dark, dirty prison. . . . We Carthage, where they became martyrs At that moment of sorrow and shall be moved from this [place] at any for Christ’s cause and name. distress, she recalled them saying, rate, and we are glad of it. Let what The official announcement of “Mother, weep not for us; we have will become of us, we cannot get into the martyrdom stated the following: overcome the world by love.”21 a worse hole than this is. . . . We shall “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer They had indeed overcome the never cast a lingering wish after Liberty of the Lord, . . . has brought forth the world. Joseph and Hyrum Smith, like in Clay County, Missouri. We have Book of Mormon, which he translated those faithful Saints described in the enough of it to last forever.”15 by the gift and power of God, and has book of Revelation, “came out of great In the face of persecution, Hyrum been the means of publishing it on tribulation, and have washed their exhibited faith in the Lord’s promises, two continents; has sent the fulness robes, and made them white in the including a guarantee to escape his of the everlasting gospel, which it blood of the Lamb [and] are . . . before enemies if he so chose. In a bless- contained, to the four quarters of the the throne of God, and serve him ing Hyrum received in 1835 under earth; has brought forth the reve- day and night in his temple: and he the hands of Joseph Smith, the Lord lations and commandments which that sitteth on the throne shall dwell promised him: “Thou shalt have compose this book of Doctrine and among them. power to escape the hand of thine Covenants, and many other wise “They shall hunger no more, nei- enemies. Thy life shall be sought with documents and instructions for the ther thirst any more; neither shall the untiring zeal, but thou shalt escape. If benefit of the children of men; gath- sun light on them, nor any heat. it please thee, and thou desirest, thou ered many thousands of the Latter- “For the Lamb which is in the midst shalt have the power voluntarily to lay day Saints, founded a great city, and of the throne shall feed them, and down thy life to glorify God.”16 left a fame and name that cannot be shall lead them unto living fountains

10 SATURDAY MORNING SESSION of waters: and God shall wipe away from our hearts in righteousness, just 11. Joseph Smith, “Journal, 1835–1836,” 24, all tears from their eyes.”22 as He was pleased with the faithful josephsmithpapers.org. 12. Joseph Smith, “History, circa Summer As we celebrate this joyous occa- offering of those remarkable broth- 1832,” 3, josephsmithpapers.org; sion, the 200th anniversary of the First ers, Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and all punctuation and capitalization Vision, we should always remember other faithful Saints. Of this I solemnly standardized. 13. Joseph Smith—History 1:21–22. the price Joseph and Hyrum Smith testify in the sacred and holy name of 14. Joseph Smith—History 1:33–34. paid, along with so many other our Lord Jesus Christ, amen. ◼ 15. Joseph Smith, “Letter to , faithful men, women, and children, 4 April 1839,” 1–2, josephsmithpapers.org; NOTES spelling, punctuation, and capitalization to establish the Church so you and I 1. , in Teachings of Presidents standardized. could enjoy the many blessings and of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 544; 16. Joseph Smith, in “Minute Book 1,” 186, all of these revealed truths we have see also Brigham Young, “Remarks,” josephsmithpapers.org; emphasis added; Deseret News, Oct. 26, 1859, 266. punctuation standardized. today. Their faithfulness should never 2. There are four primary accounts of the 17. See Doctrine and Covenants 136:39. be forgotten! First Vision from which I quote; see 18. Joseph Smith, “History of Joseph I have often wondered why Joseph “Joseph Smith’s Accounts of the First Smith,” The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Vision,” josephsmithpapers.org. Star, Apr. 19, 1862, 248; emphasis and Hyrum and their families had to 3. Joseph Smith—History 1:8. added. suffer so much. It may be that they 4. See Joseph Smith—History 1:11. 19. Doctrine and Covenants 135:3; emphasis came to know God through their 5. Joseph Smith—History 1:12. added. 6. Joseph Smith—History 1:14. 20. “Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845,” 312–13, suffering in ways that could not have 7. Joseph Smith—History 1:17. josephsmithpapers.org; spelling and happened without it. Through it, they 8. In Joseph Smith, “History, circa Summer punctuation standardized. reflected on Gethsemane and the 1832,” 3, josephsmithpapers.org; spelling, 21. “Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845,” 313, punctuation, and capitalization standardized. josephsmithpapers.org. cross of the Savior. As Paul said, “For 9. Joseph Smith—History 1:18. 22. Revelation 7:14–17. unto you it is given in the behalf of 10. Joseph Smith, “Church History,” Times 23. Philippians 1:29. Christ, not only to believe on him, but and Seasons, Mar. 1, 1842, 707; see also 24. Doctrine and Covenants 128:22, 24; josephsmithpapers.org. emphasis added. also to suffer for his sake.”23 Before his death in 1844, Joseph wrote a spirited letter to the Saints. It was a call to action, which continues in the Church today: “Brethren [and sisters], shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, breth- ren [and sisters]; and on, on to the victory! . . . “. . . Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.”24

As we listen to the Spirit during this BY THEODORE S. GORKA 200th anniversary celebration this week- end, consider what offering you will present to the Lord in righteousness in the coming days. Be courageous— share it with someone you trust, and most important, please take the time to do it! I know that the Savior is pleased when we present Him an offering BY RIVER, JOSEPH AND HYRUM SMITH STANDING

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