Good and Bad Spoken of Joseph Smith in all the World

Yesterday I was reading the introduction to the Book of Mormon and noticed the following: “He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people.

Then later in the day I noticed that a movie was being made with Ron Howard directing based on a book that talks about a couple polygamous brothers that were murders. He blames doctrine taught by Joseph Smith as causing their actions. The basic weakness in his argument is that if Mormon doctrine was likely to cause violent actions then there should be more murders among the Mormon population than others. Also, the polygamous brothers had already been excommunicated from the church and were no longer members. Unfortunately when most people read the book or watch the movie they'll likely come away with quite a negative impression of the church and the prophet Joseph Smith. That's unfortunate, but because I read the prophesy in the Book of Mormon in the morning, I wasn't upset or surprised by the movie announcement. It looks to me to be the natural course of events.

What's so remarkable about Joseph Smith's prophecy about his name being known for good and evil throughout the world is that he wrote it in 1838. There is no way he could have known what would happen to his name and fame without it being a revelation from God.

It's just another example of his being a prophet.

Here's a link to the announcement: http://www.ksl.com/?sid=16466015&nid=1016

Here's a link to the church's statement on the book when it came out: http://newsroom.lds.org/article/church-response-to-jon-krakauers-under-the-banner-of-heaven

Being Comfortable, Not Defensive

Joseph Smith certainly could have been defensive about all the bad things people accused him of (e.g., being a liar, a fraud, etc.) and of the bad things that happened to him (e.g., being beaten, thrown in jail, etc.). However, it appears that he wasn't defensive at all. Here's some comments in D.C. 127 showing Joseph's attitude:

2And as for the ^aperils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the ^benvy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ^cordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God ^dknoweth all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in ^etribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it.

Notice that he says he was ordained "for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it." He wasn't defensive explaining himself. He said, "God knows what I've done; he's the judge." He also trusts God will deliver him.

Joseph had a lot of faith and wasn't concerned about his own safety or how others judged him. He would continue doing what was right and not worry too much about others.

It's a good lesson for us. We probably should never get defensive about the church...

Lifting Someone from Despair - Raising Sights to Greater Things

When Joseph Smith was in Liberty Jail, he was obviously not very happy. His prayer pleading for help from God for his people was very dramatic. God answered by saying a few things:

1) I hear you

2) Things aren't as bad as they could be; stick with it and all will end well

3) Your prayer will be answered, but not yet

4) This is a great time in the history of the world; great things will happen

5) The priesthood, which will play a role in these great things, must be used by good people based upon certain principles

Notice # 4. In part God was helping Joseph now by lifting his sight beyond his immediate surroundings. Joseph was wrongfully thrown in a jail with very poor conditions while his family and people were being moved out of the state and many died. One of the things God helped Joseph with was to understand how great the church and its people would become. It appears that we can put up with a lot if the results are going to be very worthwhile. God was trying to help Joseph focus on the results. Here's one powerful verse explaining what God would do with the church members:

33How long can rolling waters remain impure? What ^apower shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to ^bhinder the ^cAlmighty from pouring down^dknowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.

A great leader is one who can help his followers see greatness in the seemingly mundane things in life. Some might say that raising a family is boring or not living up to its potential, but an active Mom who is guiding her kids is easily the most positively influential person those kids will ever be in contact with. If a church leader can help kids see that making good choices now helps lay a great foundation for life, they're doing a good job. God did that with Joseph here. He gave a glimpse of great things that would happen in the future for Joseph's people. God gave hope, a reason for persevering.

Have a great day.

Praying like a Prophet

D.C. 121 has a unique prayer in many ways because of the extremely difficult situation the Prophet found himself and his people in when giving it. His people had been driven out of Missouri unfairly, and he'd be unfairly thrown into a terrible jail. However, it's interesting to hear Joseph plead with God. He prays with many kind descriptions of God, showing his faith, but also asking God to intervene in their behalf in a way that questions why God hasn't already intervened.

I think the absolute confidence Joseph shows in God teaches us a lot about prayer. In addition, his model of asking for specific things is also very enlightening. Here's the verses:

1O God, ^awhere art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy ^bhiding place?

2^aHow long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?

3Yea, O Lord, ^ahow long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful ^boppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with ^ccompassion toward them?

4O Lord God ^aAlmighty, maker of ^bheaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol—stretch forth thy hand; let thine eye pierce; let thy ^cpavilion be taken up; let thy ^dhiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine ^eheart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us.

5Let thine ^aanger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with thy ^bsword ^cavenge us of our wrongs.

6Remember thy ^asuffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever.

Context

I read the D.C. two years ago making sure I looked at the historical context of a section before I read it. Can I just say it made a huge difference! I began to understand how much of a prophet Joseph was and how the words were coming directly from God. The timing and messages were to precise to be from another source.

Here's a couple examples:

D.C. 35:

25And ^aIsrael shall be ^bsaved in mine own due time; and by the^ckeys which I have given shall they be led, and no more be confounded at all.

Why would Sidney Rigdon need to know to follow the keys? Because he would be in the first presidency in the future but not an ordained Apostle, so he wouldn't have them. And, he needed to know that it was important to follow the keys. Instead, he tried to lead the church himself. He was warned almost 13 years ahead of time not to do this.

D.C. 34:

6To lift up your voice as with the sound of a ^atrump, both long and loud, and ^bcry repentance unto a crooked and perverse generation,^cpreparing the way of the Lord for his second ^dcoming.

Orson Pratt was an incredible missionary. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean 16 times doing missionary work. That sounds like being a missionary a long time. He also was a very vocal defender: he debated a minister in the Tabernacle in a very public debate that received national attention.

Perhaps more famously:

D.C. 122:

6 If thou art ^aaccused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to ^bprison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like ^cwolves for the blood of the lamb;

Unfortunately Joseph Smith was taken away from his family and dragged to prison.

Or this one about Joseph - D.C. 24:

17And whosoever shall go to law with thee shall be cursed by the law.

Joseph Smith was tried at law dozens of times and was never found guilty (I'm pretty sure even Carthage wasn't an exception - it was a holding place.). Considering he was a law abiding citizen, this is a pretty inspired prophecy to even know he would be tried so many times.

These are some of the more obvious ones concerning people: more impressive are some of the others that show how well the Lord was listening to his people and how the principles he shares in these verses still apply today. More of that to come.......

Have a good day.

LaDon