Teachings of George Albert Smith Lesson 4

The Prophet Joseph Smith, God's Instrument in Restoring the Truth

When the missionaries teach an investigator, the first lesson they teach is "The Message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."  Throughout the lesson, we pondered why this would be the first lesson taught.  See if you can come up with your own answer!

President George Albert Smith wrote about his time traveling with President Joseph F. Smith and others to dedicate a monument in Vermont to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Joseph Smith's birth.  They also traveled to Palmyra and Kirtland.  President George Albert Smith spoke about his love for Joseph Smith and how his testimony grew during this time exploring early church history. (Teachings of GAS, p.33) What experiences in your life have strengthened your testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith?

Monument to Joseph Smith, Sharon VT

During class time, we discussed all the facts and events we could think of about Joseph Smith.  When speaking of the First Vision, President Smith said "It was a very natural thing that Joseph Smith should seek the Lord."  We discussed why this might be and came to the conclusion that because Joseph was reared in a very spiritual home, of course he went to the Lord with a problem that was weighing very heavily on his mind.

The First Vision

Another significant quote from President Smith:

"In the year 1830, when the Church was organized, there was not upon the earth a church organization that would announce that they believed that God would reveal himself to the children of men. . . . When the boy prophet, in the woods of Palmyra, saw the Father and the Son, and realized that they were indeed personages, that they could hear and reply to what he said, it began a new era in this world. . . . The children of men . . . realize[d] that . . . there was a connection between the heavens and the earth."

We also discussed why the Lord would call such a young, inexperienced and uneducated man to be a prophet.  We decided that one reason would be because he had no prior knowledge of what should be done -- no preconceived ideas.  He would completely rely on the Lord and His will.

President Smith:

"He wanted to know what to do and he had full faith that the Lord would tell him. . . . He was only a young man, but he organized [the Church] under the direction of the Redeemer of mankind."

We then skipped to the end of the lesson (time goes by so quickly!) to talk about the death of Joseph Smith.  On July 27, 1844, Joseph and his brother Hyrum were murdered by a mob in Carthage Jail.  For a full account and a wonderful testimony of the brothers, see D&C 135 which was written by John Taylor, who was witness to the martyrdom.  How does the fact that Joseph Smith calmly went to his death and became a martyr for his testimony affect your testimony?

Carthage Jail

To conclude, we read this quote from President Smith:

"In the year 1830, the Church was organized with six members. The adversary of all righteousness has from that day to the present sought to impede its progress and destroy it. I wonder if that great man, Joseph Smith, who gave his life that the Church might be organized and carried on as the Lord intended, can see the Church as it exists today, with its branches established in all parts of the world, and realize that each day since he was martyred, since he laid down his life and sealed his testimony with his blood, the Church has become stronger than the day before."

I encourage you to study and learn more about the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the Gospel to enable your own testimony to grow.  To begin your study, here is a wonderful movie produced by the Church:

Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration

Church to Restore Historic Site in PA...near us!

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will restore a historic site in Pennsylvania that played a significant role in the growth of the Church from humble beginnings to a worldwide faith with 14 million members.

Formerly known as the town of Harmony, the site is in Oakland Township in Pennsylvania near the present-day town of Susquehanna.

Read the full article. There are many old-time photos too.

Related articles:
Deseret News article
Elder and Sister Watts' Mission Musings

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Joseph Smith Film Now Online

I think I've seen this film, maybe once, maybe twice. Glad to see it's getting more exposure online.

David Nielson, managing director of the Church’s Media Services Department, said he is thrilled that the movie will now be available online.

“The beauty of having the new Joseph film available on the Internet is that you can see it at home at a time that is convenient for you,” Nielson said. “Even if you have seen the previous version, don’t miss the opportunity to see the new one. It will help enhance your understanding of the life and mission of Joseph Smith.”

“This is a version that can be easily shared by Church members with their friends not of our faith.” 

The full-length version of Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration can be seen on MormonChannel.org/Joseph and YouTube. It can also be seen in the Legacy Theater at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City and at some Church visitors' centers.

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Lesson: The Church of Jesus Christ Today

Gospel Principles, Lesson 17
The Church of Jesus Christ Today

By Marie Tiller

It's this simple. When you talk to your friends about the church help them see...Christ established a church...men changed it...Christ restored it once again.

The church in the former days

When Jesus lived on the earth, He established His Church, the only true Church.

He organized His Church so the truths of the gospel could be taught to all people and the ordinances of the gospel could be administered correctly with authority.

Through this organization, Christ could bring the blessings of salvation to mankind.

The church in the latter days

On April 6, 1830, the Savior again directed the organizing of His Church on the earth.

His Church is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Christ is the head of His Church today, just as He was in ancient times. The Lord has said that it is “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased”.

Joseph Smith was sustained as prophet and “first elder” of the Church. Later the First Presidency was organized, and he was sustained as President. When the Church was first organized, only the framework was set up. The organization would develop as the Church continued to grow.

The Church was organized with the same offices as were in the ancient Church. That organization included apostles, prophets, seventies, evangelists (patriarchs), pastors (presiding officers), high priests, elders, bishops, priests, teachers, and deacons. These same offices are in His Church today.

The truths in both times
The Church today teaches the same principles and performs the same ordinances as were performed in the days of Jesus. The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Through the gift and power of God, Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, which contains the plain and precious truths of the gospel. Many other revelations followed and have been recorded as scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.

Other important truths that the Lord restored include the following:

1. Our Heavenly Father is a real being with a tangible, perfected body of flesh and bones, and so is Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit.
   
2. We existed in premortal life as spirit children of God.
   
3. The priesthood is necessary to administer the ordinances of the gospel.
   
4. We will be punished for our own sins and not for Adam’s transgression.
   
5. Children do not need to be baptized until they are accountable (eight years old).
   
6. There are three kingdoms of glory in the heavens, and through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, people will be rewarded according to their actions on earth and according to the desires of their hearts.
   
7. Family relationships can be eternal through the sealing power of the priesthood.
   
8. Ordinances and covenants are required for salvation and are available for both the living and the dead.

How have these truths influenced you and others?

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Video: Restoration of the Priesthood

The new Mormon.org is live! Check out this video where ordinary church members talk about why the restoration of the Priesthood is important to them. Restoration of the Priesthood video.

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Lesson Recap: Testimony

Taught by Devon Linn

A testimony is a personal conviction of gospel truths, based on knowledge revealed by the Holy Ghost.

Most Church members have a testimony of some principle of the gospel, and on this foundation a more complete testimony can be built. It may be related to a one-time event or memory, or the piling up of hundreds of small impressions and experiences that provide the foundation.

A testimony motivates us to live righteously, and righteous living causes a testimony to grow. A testimony of the Savior and his gospel is essential to our exaltation.

Essentials

Elder Faust teaches us about the importance of bearing testimony:

All my life I have tried not to hide who I am and what I believe in. I cannot recall a single instance when it hurt my career or I lost valued friends by humbly acknowledging that I was a member of this Church.

There are four absolutes about which it is always appropriate for us to testify:

The first is that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior, the Mediator and Redeemer of the world.

The second is that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and reestablished the Church of Christ upon the earth with its keys and authority.

The third is that all of the Presidents of the Church since Joseph Smith have been successors in that power and authority.

The fourth is that President Gordon B. Hinckley [now President Monson] is the only prophet of God upon the earth, holding all of the keys, powers, and authorities of the Church in the earth today.

As one of the special witnesses of the Lord, I desire to declare my testimony to you. I am grateful that I have always had a testimony of the gospel.

I cannot remember when I did not believe. I have not always understood everything and do not claim to do so now, but through thousands and thousands of spiritual confirmations throughout my life, including my calling to the holy apostleship, I can declare my testimony to you that Jesus is the Christ. With every fiber and cell of my being, I know that He is our Savior and Redeemer. I testify that Joseph Smith was the greatest prophet who ever lived upon the earth and of great importance to the Savior in the work of God on the earth. I know this to be true.

A process

Elder Godoy, of the Seventy reminds us that gaining a testimony is a process:

A testimony, for some people, may come through a single and irrefutable event. But for others, it may come through a process of experiences that, perhaps not as remarkable but when combined, testify in an indisputable way that what we have learned and lived is true.

Today, after many years as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I might not be able to remember most of the experiences that have shaped my testimony.

Still, all of these experiences have left their mark and contributed to my testimony of the restored Church. Today, I have an absolute certainty of the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sharing

The remainder of our lesson today was left for sisters to bear testimony of some particular principle of the gospel, and when and how we knew it was true.

Charity spoke of a sure knowledge of the eternal family and that God has a plan for each of us and our families and we need to trust that plan.

Christine told of a time when she diligently sought to know Joseph Smith and more about him as a man and a prophet, and it strengthened her testimony of him.

Madelyn had a time when she was down and struggling and feeling unworthy, but turned to the Savior for comfort. She realized that the choice to accept the Atonement is ours.

Jill remembered a time when friends reaching out to her helped her return to the church and helped her testimony grow and strengthen as she relearned the truths of the gospel. She cherishes those friendships.

Sister Layman (a visitor) told of a time when she was little and the Holy Ghost inspired her to be awake and in the right place to help her mother when she had an allergic reaction to medicine.

Sister Sasser shared her testimony and love for the gospel. [She will be transferred this week and we so appreciated hearing from her one more time. We wish her luck in the remainder of her mission.]

Sisters, whatever your testimony is, wherever you are in your progress toward God and having a conviction of the truth, you can know that He is there, that he cares and that he wants to give you the gift of testimony. He wants you to build your testimony and to bear your testimony.

Thanks to Devon for the lesson and for setting the stage for us to share our testimonies today.

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