Back in the spring of 1820, a young boy had an experience that might be seen as unique. However, considering the details given through the scriptures (as outlined last week) it isn't unique at all. It followed a very definite pattern. This is what he recorded from the events of that spring:
"During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them; but 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 was wrong.
My mind at times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others.
In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?
While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible." (Joseph Smith - History 1:8-12)
That boy, Joseph Smith, was confused when it came to what religion to join, so he decided to go directly to the source - God Himself. He picked a day and knelt down in a grove of trees to pray and ask what he should do. He records that he was set upon by some unseen force that tried to stop him from his intended prayer, but then goes on to say:
"But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" (Joseph Smith - History 1:16-17)
There it is. Just as before, God showed himself to His chosen prophet. Joseph didn't seek this calling. He was just a boy who had a question. Now he had a witness to the reality of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father - just as the prophets of old had in their day. God doesn't change, nor does He change the way He works.
There are certainly plenty of people who refuse to believe something like this can happen. It took me quite a bit of time to come to terms with it myself. Take a look at what prompted Joseph to ask God to begin with:
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)
Ask God.
Now, I'm not saying that Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ will appear to you, but you will get an answer. Maybe today, maybe in a year, maybe through something you read, or through something someone says.
Just ask.
I want to go back a little further in time for a moment to a different Joseph - the Joseph whose brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt. The following was written about Joseph of Egypt by Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet:
"Wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day. And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel; not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off, nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord that the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light—yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom.
For Joseph truly testified, saying: A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins.
Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers.
And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other work, save the work which I shall command him. And I will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work.
And he shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel.
And Moses will I raise up, to deliver thy people out of the land of Egypt.
But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them." (2 Nephi 3:5-11)
Who is this seer that Joseph of Egypt was talking about? I have a strong testimony that he was referring to Joseph Smith. Next week I'll write more about why I think so and what "work" the Lord gave him to do.
If you believe that God really does speak with men today, then we have His own words declaring:
"Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;
And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets—" (Doctrine and Covenants 1:17-18)
And:
"And I have sent forth the fulness of my gospel by the hand of my servant Joseph; and in weakness have I blessed him;" (Doctrine and Covenants 35:17)
Joseph Smith, just like everyone else, wasn't perfect. But the Lord blessed him and strengthened him and showed him how to lead the rest of us back to Heavenly Father. Just like in the Old and New Testaments. God doesn't change.
I do not worship Joseph Smith. I worship only Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. However, I do acknowledge him as a prophet. I honor him, respect him, and I am willing to stand up and defend his name. Three days ago was the 200th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Smith. That, in addition to yesterday in which the world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, gives me good reason to stand tall and proclaim my love for the what has been restored by Jesus Christ through the prophet Joseph Smith.
But you don't have to take my word (or anyone else's word for that matter) on it. Ask for yourself.
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