A Prophet Chosen of the Lord
Elder David B. Haight
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker testifies of President Benson's love for the Lord, his family, and all of God's children, and his dedication to the cause of Zion.
In things that matter most, President Benson has few peers. I know he loves the Lord and depends upon Him for strength, inspiration, and direction. He loves all our Father"™s children everywhere and will go to extraordinary lengths to respond to their spiritual and temporal needs. He loves people of all faiths, of all creeds, of all colors, and of differing philosophies. I know I can speak for all of my Brethren of the General Authorities in saying that we have felt of his love and concern for ... (continued)
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A Prophet Is Born
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Historical figures born in 1809, during the time of Napoleon's battles, had a greater lasting impact than the battles themselves.
"A century ago men were following with bated breath the march of Napoleon and waiting with feverish impatience for news of the wars. And all the while in their homes babies were being born. But who could think about babies? Everybody was thinking about battles. 'In one year between Trafalgar and Waterloo there stole into the world a host of heroes: Gladstone was born in Liverpool; Tennyson at the Somersby Rectory, and Oliver Wendell Holmes in Massachusetts. Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky, ... (continued)
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A Prophet Is Born
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The birth of Joseph Smith in a humble setting, unnoticed by the world, yet destined for greatness.
"When theologians are reeling and stumbling, when lips are pretending and hearts are wandering, and people are 'running to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord and cannot find it'—when clouds of error need dissipating and spiritual darkness needs penetrating and heavens need opening, a little infant is born. Just a few scattered neighbors in a hilly region in the backwoods even know that Lucy is expecting. There is no prenatal care, nor nurses; no hospital, no ambulance, no delivery room ... (continued)
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A Prophet Is Born
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The story of Belshazzar's feast and the writing on the wall as a metaphor for the failure to heed prophetic warnings throughout history.
"For thousands of years, have plowshares been beaten into swords and pruning hooks into spears, yet war persists. Ever since Belshazzar saw the finger writing upon the wall of his palace the warning reappears. It seems to restate with great forcefulness, Daniel's indictment of an unhumble people: 'God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it . . . Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this ... (continued)
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A Prophet of God
Elder Milton R. Hunter
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Joseph Smith, at fourteen years old, experienced a vision in the Sacred Grove where he was told by the Savior that the true Church was not on the earth and that he would be instrumental in its restoration.
When but a boy slightly past fourteen years of age, Joseph returned to the house from .the Sacred Grove on that memorable spring morning in 1820. He told the members of his family that he had seen the Eternal Father and his Only Begotten Son in a visionJS—H 1:17-20During the course of that vision, he had been informed by the Savior that the true Church was not upon the earth (DHC1:2-6) and that if he lived a worthy life he was given: . . . a promise that the fullness of the gospel should ... (continued)
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A Prophet of God
Elder Milton R. Hunter
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Joseph Smith was told by the angel Moroni that his name would be known for good and evil across the world, a prophecy that has been fulfilled as his name is both revered and reviled globally.
Three and one-half years later, at the time of the visitations of the angel Moroni to Joseph Smith, he made another prophecy which I believe was just as astounding in its nature as was the prediction that he should establish the 'true and living Church.' Joseph said that the heavenly messenger had told him that he would receive an ancient record, and that he would translate it and publish a book. Also, to quote Joseph's own words: . . .that my name should be had for good and evil among all natio ... (continued)
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A Prophet of God
Elder Milton R. Hunter
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
While in a Missouri jail, Joseph Smith received a revelation from God promising him eventual triumph over his foes and that his name would be honored while his accusers would be condemned.
In the spring of 1839, after the Prophet had spent several months lying in a dungeon in a Missouri jail, the voice of God came unto him saying: My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. And they who do charge thee with transgression, their hope shall be blasted, and their prospects shall melt away as the hoar frost melteth before the burni ... (continued)
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A Prophet of God
Elder Milton R. Hunter
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Joseph Smith, knowing he would likely be killed, returned to Nauvoo out of love for the Saints and was later martyred, sealing his testimony with his blood.
So it was with the Prophet Joseph Smith. When he, Hyrum and others were making plans to flee to the Rocky Mountains for safety, Emma sent word for Joseph to return because the Saints were accusing him of being a coward. Knowing full well that they would be killed if they should return, he turned to his brother Hyrum and said: 'If my life is of no value to my friends it is of none to myself,' (DHC6:549) and so they returned to Nauvoo. It was his deep love for the Saints that impelled him to retur ... (continued)
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A Prophet"™s Blessing
President Joseph Fielding Smith
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker expresses gratitude for the mission and ministry of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch, and for the restoration of eternal truth in the final gospel dispensation.
I am thankful for the restoration of eternal truth in this final gospel dispensation; for the mission and ministry of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and my grandfather, Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch; and for the fact that the keys of the kingdom of God have been committed again to man on the earth.
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A Prophet"™s Faith
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A young lady missionary expresses disappointment at not being able to give a Book of Mormon to the speaker, as she aimed to share three before reaching New Zealand.
On a recent flight, a young lady missionary sat by Sister Tuttle and me. She didn’t know us when she sat down and started a conversation. When she discovered who I was, she exclaimed disappointedly, “Oh, darn, I can’t give you a Book of Mormon. I wanted to share three before I reach New Zealand.â€
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A Prophet"™s Faith
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the increase in missionary numbers following the prophet's request for more missionaries, with significant growth in Brazil and worldwide, resulting in over 21,000 missionaries.
In the last eighteen months, I’ve watched this kind of faith cause things to happen. It began with a prophet. He spoke. His words put spiritual forces into action that heretofore had been dormant. People acted. They repented. They changed. Events changed. A prophet not only prophesies of things that will happen. A prophet, by the exercise of faith, causes things to happen. Let me tell you what has happened since the prophet spoke. He asked for more missionaries—and more came! They ... (continued)
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A Prophet"™s Faith
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a story of a neighbor boy eagerly awaiting his mission call, and the joy and excitement it brings to him and his family when it arrives.
Let me tell what really happens when missionaries serve. We had a neighbor boy who regularly passed our place headed for the mailbox, impatiently awaiting his letter of call. It seemed unusually long in coming after his recommendation was sent in. I observed this scene the day his letter came. He opened it at the mailbox, called his friend over, and they rejoiced together. Then he figuratively bounced down the lane to share the good news with his family. A few minutes later his sixteen-year-old ... (continued)
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A Prophet"™s Faith
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A young lady missionary who served among the Navajo people shares her experience of being accepted and loved by them, despite language barriers, and how she found love with a returned missionary.
Not only does this service bless the homes from which missionaries come, it blesses lives where missionaries go. One young lady who worked among the Indian people wrote: “The Navajo are a great people. Words can’t express my love for them. … “The Navajo people accepted me, a white girl, as one of their own. They called me their white daughter. I had a hard time with the language, but I could teach by reading the lessons. I was very fortunate to have Navajo companions who ... (continued)
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A Prophet"™s Faith
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker tells of his son being the first missionary from their branch in South America, and how a convert's prayer for their children to serve missions was answered, with his own son serving successfully in Italy.
While we lived in South America, our eldest son reached the age to fill a mission. He was the first missionary to leave our little branch composed mainly of converts. The closing prayer at his farewell was offered by one of the new converts. He expressed this thought: “Heavenly Father, we have seen missionaries come. They have blessed our lives. Now we see that we must send missionaries. Help us to rear our sons to serve.†That prayer of faith was answered. When that man’s son ... (continued)
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A Prophet's Story
President Loren C. Dunn
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the early life of Joseph Smith, his family's move to New York, and his work on the farm to help support them.
Your father was a farmer, a respectable farmer but of somewhat humble circumstances. You spent the early years of your life on your father's farm, which was nestled in the rolling, green hills of the state of Vermont. When you were nearly ten years old, your family moved to what is now called Wayne County in upstate New York, where your family again pursued the occupation of farming; and to help supplement the family income, you worked for other farmers in the nearby area.
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A Prophet's Story
President Loren C. Dunn
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Joseph Smith experiences confusion during a religious revival and seeks guidance from God, leading to his First Vision.
Some five years after you moved to New York, there commenced a great religious revival in your area; and great multitudes united themselves to different religious parties as a result of this religious fervor. At first there was unity between the different sects, but as time went on they contended against each other in hopes of winning additional converts. You are in your fifteenth year now, and your father's family, along with all of the families in the area, is proselyted by the religious faith ... (continued)
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A Prophet's Story
President Loren C. Dunn
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
After sharing his vision, Joseph Smith faces persecution but remains steadfast in his testimony.
A few days later you recount this vision to a minister, and to your surprise, he treats the whole thing not only lightly but with great contempt. Word of the vision spreads, and you undergo great persecution. A few who know you, such as the farmer for whom you work, stand by you and refer to your experience as 'the sweet dream of a pure-minded boy.' But for the most part you undergo great persecution and are astonished that an obscure boy like you between 14 and 15 years of age could be the obje ... (continued)
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A Prophet's Story
President Loren C. Dunn
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Joseph Smith is visited by the Angel Moroni and is informed about the gold plates, leading to the translation of the Book of Mormon.
It is on the evening of the 21st of September, 1823, that you are given further divine instructions as an answer to your prayers. An angel appears, identifying himself as the Angel Moroni. He tells you the Lord has a work for you to do, and he proceeds to describe the location of gold plates that are buried in a nearby hill. You are told these plates contain a record of God's dealings with a generation that once lived and flourished on the American continent. These gold plates are ultimately ent ... (continued)
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A Prophet's Story
President Loren C. Dunn
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The priesthood is restored to Joseph Smith, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized.
The sacred record speaks of baptism, and it becomes evident that divine authority is necessary to carry out divine ordinances. In order to fulfill this part of the restoration, you are visited by a personage who identifies himself as John the Baptist, who bestows upon you this authority to baptize and perform other ordinances of the priesthood of Aaron. It is shortly after this that Peter, James, and John, angelic beings sent from God, confer upon you the priesthood of Melchizedek in order that ... (continued)
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A Prophet's Story
President Loren C. Dunn
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Joseph Smith leads the Saints through periods of peace and persecution, ultimately resulting in his martyrdom.
Building of Nauvoo. Ultimately you direct the Saints to drain a swamp on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River and build a city, which at the time is to become larger than the city of Chicago"”Nauvoo is its name. You enjoy peace for a time, and the worldwide missionary work goes on; yet the storms of persecution begin to gather again. Charges and counter-charges are made. Through the evil designs of men, you have already been arrested 37 times and acquitted each time. You are asked to com ... (continued)
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