TEACHINGS OF PRESIDENTS OF THE CHURCH JOSEPH F. S MITH TEACHINGS OF PRESIDENTS OF THE CHURCH JOSEPH F. SMITH Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City, Utah Your comments and suggestions about this book would be appreciated. Please submit them to Curriculum Planning, 50 East North Temple Street, Floor 24, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3200 USA. E-mail: [email protected] Please list your name, address, ward, and stake. Be sure to give the title of the book. Then offer your comments and suggestions about the book’s strengths and areas of potential improvement. Page 10: Joseph Smith Courtesy of the RLDS Church, Independence, Missouri Page 30: Mary Fielding Smith, by Sutcliffe Maudsley Courtesy the Don C. Corbett family Page 51: He Is Risen, by Del Parson © Del Parson Page 146: Christ and the Samaritan Woman, by Carl Heinrich Bloch The National Historic Museum at Frederiksborg in Hillerød Page 233: 20th Ward Choir Used by permission, Utah State Historical Society. All rights reserved Page 274: Prove Me Now Herewith, by Glen S. Hopkinson © Glen S. Hopkinson © 1998 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America English approval: 10/96 Contents Title Page Introduction . v Historical Summary . viii The Ministry of Joseph F. Smith . xi 1 I Know That My Redeemer Lives . 1 2 A Personal Witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith . 11 3 True, Faithful, Earnest Prayer . 21 4 The Influence of Mothers . 31 5 The Inspiration and Divinity of the Scriptures . 39 6 Faith: The Foundation of All Righteousness . 49 7 The Glorious Work of Repentance and Baptism . 59 8 The Holy Ghost . 67 9 Our Missionary Duty . 76 10 Jesus Christ Redeems All Mankind from Temporal Death . 86 11 Jesus Christ Redeems the Repentant from Spiritual Death . 95 12 Valiant in the Cause of Christ . 104 13 Stand by the Truth Lest You Be Deceived . 113 14 Being Loyal Citizens . 122 15 The Salvation of Little Children . 128 16 Priesthood, the Divine Government . 137 17 The Great Plan of Life and Salvation . 147 18 Chastity and Purity . 155 19 Thrift, the Foundation of Prosperity . 163 20 The Eternal Union of Husband and Wife . 173 21 Relief Society: Divinely Organized for the Good of the Saints . 183 iii CONTENTS 22 Charity in Our Souls . 192 23 Receiving a Testimony of Jesus Christ . 201 24 Sustaining Those Who Are Called to Preside . 210 25 The President of the High Priesthood of the Church . 221 26 Observing the Sabbath: That Your Joy May Be Full . 230 27 Our Work Is to Save Souls . .241 28 The Wrongful Road of Abuse . 249 29 Bear No Malice toward Anyone . 257 30 Yield to the Promptings of the Spirit . 265 31 Obedience to the Law of Tithing . 275 32 Liberty through Obedience . 283 33 Children: The Richest of All Earthly Joys . 295 34 Sacred Temples of the Lord . 305 35 Seek to Be Educated in the Truth . 313 36 The Word of Wisdom: A Law for the Physical and Spiritual Health of the Saints . 323 37 Sons and Daughters of the Eternal Father . 331 38 Serving in the Church . 339 39 Strengthening Families in Family Home Evenings . 345 40 The Father and the Son . 353 41 Continuing Revelation for the Benefit of the Church . 362 42 Let Us Conquer Ourselves . 371 43 Fathers in the Home . 381 44 Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ . 389 45 The Gospel Brings Peace to the World in Troubled Times . 399 46 Redeeming Our Dead through Temple Service . 407 47 Integrity: Living Our Religion with All Our Hearts . 416 48 Finding Rest in Christ . 425 Index . 433 iv Introduction President Joseph F. Smith served for 52 years as a General Authority of the Church—as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, as a Counselor to four Church Presidents, and for 17 years as the President of the Church. He taught the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with eloquence, tenderness, and convic- tion, calling for the people to “live in harmony with the designs of our Heavenly Father.”1 His ministry was marked by his pow- erful witness of Jesus Christ: “I have received the witness of the Spirit in my own heart, and I testify before God, angels and men . that I know that my Redeemer lives.”2 Today his messages and sermons continue to give divine direc- tion on our path of eternal progress. Our work in this world, said President Smith, “is to do good, to put down iniquity under our feet, to exalt righteousness, purity, and holiness in the hearts of the people, and to establish in the minds of our children, above all other things, a love for God and his word.”3 He declared that “to be a Latter-day Saint requires the sacrifice of worldly aims and pleasures; it requires fidelity, strength of character, love of truth, integrity to principle, and zealous desire to see the tri- umphant, forward march of truth.”4 The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have established the series Teachings of Presidents of the Church to help Church members deepen their understanding of gospel doctrines and draw closer to Jesus Christ through the teachings of the prophets in this dispensation. This book features the teachings of President Joseph F. Smith, who said: “To be Latter- day Saints, men or women must be thinkers, and workers; they must be men and women who weigh matters in their minds, men and women who consider carefully their course of life and the principles that they have espoused. When people under- stand the gospel of Jesus Christ, you will see them walking straightforward, according to the word of the Lord, and the law v INTRODUCTION of God, strictly in accordance with that which is consistent, just, righteous, and in every sense acceptable to the Lord.”5 Each chapter in this book includes four sections: (1) a state- ment that briefly summarizes the focus of the chapter; (2) “From the Life of Joseph F. Smith,” which illustrates the chapter’s teach- ings by an example from President Smith’s life or his wisdom; (3) “Teachings of Joseph F. Smith,” which presents important doc- trines from his many messages and sermons; and (4) “Sugges- tions for Study,” which encourages personal review and inquiry, further discussion, and application to our lives today through questions. How to Use This Book For personal study. This book is intended to enhance each member’s understanding of gospel principles taught powerfully by President Joseph F. Smith. By prayerful reading and thought- ful study, each member may receive a personal witness of these truths. This volume will also add to each member’s gospel library and will serve as an important resource for family instruction and for study in the home. For discussion in Sunday meetings. This book is the text for Melchizedek Priesthood quorum and Relief Society Sunday meet- ings. Teachers should focus on the content of the text and related scriptures, drawing from the questions at the end of the chapter to encourage class discussion. Reviewing the questions before studying President Smith’s words may give additional insight into his teachings. The Sunday meetings should concentrate on gospel principles, personal examples that teach these principles, and testimonies of the truth. If teachers humbly seek the Spirit in preparing and di- recting the lesson, all who participate will be strengthened in their knowledge of the truth. Teachers should remind class mem- bers to bring their books to their meetings and should honor the members’ preparation by teaching from President Joseph F. Smith’s words. Having read the chapter in advance, class mem- bers will be prepared to teach and edify each other. vi INTRODUCTION It is not necessary or recommended that members purchase additional commentaries or reference texts to support the mate- rial in the text. Members are encouraged to turn to the scriptures that have been suggested for further study of the doctrine. Since this text is designed for personal study and gospel ref- erence, many chapters are too long to be addressed completely in class. Therefore, study at home becomes essential to receiving the fulness of President Smith’s teachings. In your study, may you come to know this humble, faithful, and fearless prophet of God, President Joseph F. Smith. May you accept his counsel “to choose the right because it is right, and be- cause your heart loves the right, and because it is choice above everything else.”6 May you join President Smith as he testified of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ: “Our faith in the doc- trines that have been restored . confirms and strengthens us and establishes beyond a question or doubt, our faith and belief in the divine mission of the Son of God.”7 Notes 1. Deseret News: Semi-Weekly, 6 Feb. 1893, 2. 2. Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. (1939), 447. 3. Gospel Doctrine, 141. 4. “Editor’s Table: Principle, Not Popularity,” Improvement Era, July 1906, 733. 5. In Conference Report, Oct. 1910, 3–4. 6. Deseret News: Semi-Weekly, 6 Feb. 1893, 2. 7. Gospel Doctrine, 478. vii Historical Summary This book is not a history, but rather a compilation of gospel principles as taught by President Joseph F. Smith. However, in order to put the teachings in a historical framework, the following list is provided to summarize some of the milestones in his life that have most immediate relationship to his teachings. This summary omits some important events in his personal life, including his marriages (plural marriage was being practiced in the Church at that time) and the births and deaths of his children, to whom he was devoted.