Tag Archives: Joseph Smith

RS/EQ: Obedience: “When the Lord Commands, Do It”

Lesson #13 in the Joseph Smith manual for this year’s course of study is entitled, “Obedience: ‘When the Lord Commands, Do It.’” This was Joseph Smith’s personal philosophy of life and his every action showed it. He was a little rough around the edges, but he was unfailingly obedient to the things he was asked to do. We begin this lesson with a reminder of the many times the early Saints were asked to move to join with the body of the Church. They came from New York to Kirtland, later to Nauvoo, and then ended up in Salt Lake … Continue reading →

Articles of Faith Series: The First Article

The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote the Articles of Faith to be a summary of the beliefs of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to this day, we turn to those Articles to teach the rudiments of the gospel to those curious. Our Primary children are asked to memorize them as part of receiving their Faith in God award, and we often quote them in our Church lessons. The first Article reads: “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” This statement is perhaps one of … Continue reading →

In Memoriam – Religious Martyrs

This week, much has been said about those who have died to preserve our freedom. How grateful I am for those courageous men and women who have put their lives on the line to keep me free. I can’t say enough about our fallen heroes, and those who risk their lives every day even now, including firemen, police officers, and all those who endanger themselves so I might enjoy peace of mind. As I’ve thought about how truly blessed I feel, my mind wandered to those who have given their lives so that we might have religious freedom. The first, … Continue reading →

RS/EQ: Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost

Our seventh lesson in the Joseph Smith manual for this year’s course of study is entitled, “Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost.” In May of 1829, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery went to the banks of the Susquehanna River and were there met by John the Baptist, who conferred upon them the authority to baptize. They were the first two baptized in this dispensation, and soon others followed, including members of Joseph’s family, which brought him much joy. He taught that the ordinance of baptism is necessary for salvation, and it is a sign and a symbol ordained … Continue reading →

RS/EQ: Repentance

Our lesson for Relief Society and Priesthood this past Sunday was #5 in the Joseph Smith manual, entitled, “Repentance.” We begin with a reminder of the incident with the missing one hundred and sixteen pages. After asking the Lord three times and receiving two no’s, Martin Harris was allowed to take one hundred and sixteen pages of the translation home with him. Joseph didn’t feel good about sending the pages, and to compound his anxiety, the very next day Emma gave birth to a baby son, who died immediately. Emma herself was very sick and nearly died. Wracked with guilt … Continue reading →

Relief Society Presidents: Eliza Roxy Snow

Born in Becket, Massachusetts on January 21, 1804, Eliza Roxy Snow was the second of seven children born to Oliver and L. Pettibone Snow. Her younger brother, Lorenzo Snow, born ten years later, would go on to serve as President of the Church. The Snow family descended from the Puritans in New England, but embraced the Baptist religion. Still, they frequently invited members of other religions into their home, including Sidney Rigdon. After five years of pondering and prayerful consideration, Eliza was baptized on April 5, 1835 at the age of 31. She soon moved to live with the Saints … Continue reading →

Relief Society Presidents: Emma Hale Smith

The first and probably most well known of all of the Relief Society presidents was the wife of the Prophet, Emma Smith. Over the years, Emma has probably received more than her fair share of criticism for her decision not to journey west with the Saints following the martyrdom of her husband. However, I would speculate that few women have had to endure the trials that this “elect lady” bore in her lifetime, most of which began when she married her beloved Joseph. Born near Harmony, Pennsylvania on July 10, 1804, Emma Smith was the seventh of nine children. She … Continue reading →

Joseph Smith Web Site

Today I stumbled upon a new web site about Joseph Smith. It is an official church site and it talks about the life and mission of the prophet Joseph Smith. This is really great site that has a lot to offer if you want to learn more about Joseph Smith. There are several sections on the site. One of the sections is “Mission of the Prophet.” This section talks about the different things that the prophet did to help restore the church to this earth. The next section is “Life of the Prophet,” which comprises the events of the prophet’s … Continue reading →

Hell May Pour Forth

“Hell may pour forth its rage like the burning lava of mount Vesuvius, or of Etna, or of the most terrible of the burning mountains; and yet shall ‘Mormonism’ stand. Water, fire, truth and God are all realities. Truth is ‘Mormonism.’ God is the author of it. He is our shield. It is by Him we received our birth. It was by His voice that we were called to a dispensation of His Gospel in the beginning of the fullness of times. It was by Him we received the Book of Mormon; and it is by Him that we remain … Continue reading →

Joseph Smith: Prophet, Seer and Revelator

So much controversy swirls around one of the greatest men, save Jesus Christ, to grace this planet. For a man so humble, he was purported to have created a religion to fulfill his own greed and lascivious desires. In truth, he was a humble boy who sought truth. Just as the Fall had to occur, so too, did the Restoration. For at the meridian of time, our Lord and Savior came to this earth and paid for the sins, sorrows, grief and illnesses for all of the children of God. He paid the price so that man would have hope. … Continue reading →