More, Save Jesus Only
[I was asked to give a talk in Sacrament Meeting on June 26 about the prophetic mission of Joseph Smith, Jr. I chose to focus on the doctrines of the Gospel that were restored through Joseph, drawing from the Articles of Faith and other latter-day scripture. What follows is a fairly accurate transcript of my message.]
June 27, 1844 was a dark day for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their beloved prophet, Joseph Smith, and his brother, Hyrum, had been arrested and taken to jail, again, just three days earlier, this time on charges of inciting riot after Joseph, as mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, had ordered the printing press used by the Nauvoo Expositor destroyed after the paper was used to print slanderous stories about Joseph and other Church leaders, as well as treason against the State of Illinois. Accompanying Joseph and Hyrum at Carthage were two members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: John Taylor and Willard Richards. Around 5 pm on this tragic day a mob of about 150 to 200 persons stormed the jail and attacked the men within. Hyrum was shot and killed first, trying to hold the door shut. Joseph attempted to hold the attackers off by firing a pistol into the hallway. John Taylor sought to deflect the barrels of the guns that made it through the doorway by hitting them with his walking stick. As the mob pushed through the door, Willard struck at the men with his cane. John was shot in the thigh as he attempted to leap from the second story window, and was then shot three more times as he took cover under the bed. Joseph, too, tried to jump from the window but was shot from both within and without and fell to the ground, his last words crying, “O Lord, my God!”
Sometime later, a tribute to the slain prophet was written and published as the final section of the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, which contained many of the revelations given to Joseph Smith. (Subsequent editions of this book of Scripture have included revelations and declarations from some of Joseph’s successors, including Brigham Young, Joseph F. Smith, Wilford Woodruff, and Spencer W. Kimball.) Although many later editions of the Doctrine and Covenants attributed Section 135, as it is known, to John Taylor, the 2013 edition removed the attribution, as recent research found that it is likely that many authors collaborated on the tribute. Whoever wrote it, I have long treasured this loving proclamation regarding Joseph’s prophetic mission: “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!” This verse includes one short sentence that, in my opinion, is one of the boldest statements ever made about any prophet, living or dead. It is this: “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.”
What a statement to make! When we think of the great prophets of old, we think of men such as Adam, who fathered the human race; Noah, who saved mankind from a flood; Abraham, the recipient of Jehovah’s great covenant; Jacob, father of the twelve tribes of Israel; Moses, the great deliverer and lawgiver; and Isaiah, the seer who prophesied of both the birth of Christ and the Last Days. And yet we claim that Joseph not only belongs in their company, but that he actually did more than any of them in bringing about the salvation of men. As I pondered this phrase, I asked a small assembly of fellow Latter-day Saints (namely, five of my in-laws, who are hopefully not yet regretting inviting us over for Sunday dinners) what they thought this meant. The first answer, unanimously agreed upon by all assembled, was that Joseph was the instrument used to bring about the restoration of the Gospel in our day. But since Bro. Goode asked me to speak for about 15 to 20 minutes, and I realised that this answer was not quite sufficient for my needs, I turned to the Church’s Gospel Topics page, hoping to find a list of unique beliefs and practices within the Church that I could point to as evidence. However, that list covers over 250 topics and that would take far more time than Bro. Goode has given me. (Besides which, I need to save something for my Youth Sunday School class!) Fortunately, there was one other source to consider: the Articles of Faith. In thirteen short statements, Joseph Smith himself explained some of the core beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It needs to be noted that many of these core beliefs are not, in fact, unique to Latter-day Saints. For example, other Christians believe in the members of the Godhead (God the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost). There are many Christians who reject the notion of Original Sin. All Christians believe that salvation comes only in and through Jesus Christ. Many recognise the need for faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit in their lives. I have many dear friends who felt called of God to preach the Gospel. While on my mission, I met a man who showed me a document certifying that he was an apostle. I have met others who claimed to be prophets. Others who are pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. A belief in the gifts of tongues, prophecy, revelations, visions, healings, interpretation of tongues, and so forth are found in many Christian churches throughout the world. We are not alone in claiming the Bible to be the Word of God, nor are we alone in believing that God has, does, and will reveal his will to us. All Christians look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and his glorious millennial reign on earth. The privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of one’s own conscience is a protected right within our nation and hundreds of millions lay claim to it. We are definitely part of a vast majority that believes in honouring, sustaining, and obeying the laws of men. And surely we do not have a monopoly on being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, lovely, and in doing good to all men! And yet, there are doctrines within these statements of belief that truly are unique and truly do support the claim that Joseph Smith, through the restoration of the Gospel, helped to secure the salvation of man in a way that no other had. I would like to briefly discuss some of these.
“We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” As Latter-day Saints, we know that these three beings are separate divine entities, united in one purpose. We reject the complex, convoluted, and confusing claims that these three are somehow all the same being. We shun the philosophies of men that were voted on in a council that defined God as unknowable and incomprehensible. Instead, we embrace the glorious truth that God our Heavenly Father is a divine personage of flesh and bone, who sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to live, to die, and to rise again for us. We accept the gift and power of the Holy Ghost in our lives and welcome that divine guidance as we navigate this mortal life. And we know of these truths because a young boy, barely in his teens, thought to faithfully pray and ask God to reveal His will to him. It is because of Joseph Smith that we know not only the nature of God, but the nature of mankind as His children, capable of becoming as our Father in Heaven is.
“We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.” What does it mean to be in authority? To have authority? What, for that matter, is authority? I love etymology: the study of the meanings of words. “Authority” has two parts: the root word, “author,” which means “one who sets forth, create, establishes” and “-ity,” a suffix that means “the condition or quality of being.” Thus “authority” is “the condition of being one who establishes.” In other words, authority is the ability (hear that suffix -ity again?) to establish something. In this case, the validity (again with that suffix!) of the ordinances of the Gospel. As Latter-day Saints, we believe that the ordinances of the Gospel, repentance, confirmation, ordination, endowment, and sealings, are valid not just in this life, but in the life to come, but only if sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. Furthermore, we believe that such a seal is only granted if the ordinance is performed by one who has been called and set apart to do so, just as Christ called and set apart His apostles. While others had taught the need for authority, others disagreed and there were bitter divisions for hundreds of years over who did and did not have the right to administer ordinances. It was through Joseph Smith that the keys of the Priesthood, the authority to act in the name of God, were restored. Through these Priesthood keys, the Church as it was established in the days of Christ was also restored. Temples were built, first in Kirtland and then in Nauvoo. After Joseph’s death and the Saints’ exodus to Utah, temples were again built and now dot the earth. When my parents joined the Church in 1977, the nearest temple was in Washington, DC. Visiting the temple was a three-day journey: one day to get there, one day to do as much temple work as possible, and one day to return. Now we can travel three hours and visit one of four different temples. In our temples we learn more about our Heavenly Father’s plan for us, we are endowed with power from on high, we are sealed in sacred ceremonies to our families, and we are able to receive saving ordinances as proxies for those who have died without a knowledge of the Gospel. It is through Joseph Smith that the power and authority of God are on the earth once more.
Of course, no discussion about the prophetic mission of Joseph Smith can be complete without bringing up the great work of translation he did, namely The Book of Mormon, which stands as an additional witness of the divine mission of Jesus Christ. Translated by the gift and power of God, this sacred volume of scripture is an abridged record of some of God’s children in the Western Hemisphere. I have had the privilege of reading this book many times, so many that I have lost count, in fact, and bear witness that it truly testifies of Christ. While we believe the Bible to be the word of God (as far as it is translated correctly--an important distinction when one considers the fact that there are over one hundred English translations of Bible!), we also believe The Book of Mormon to be the word of God. Held together, with the Stick of Jesse in one hand and the Stick of Joseph in the other, we are able to gain greater insights into our Heavenly Father’s great plan of happiness. Consider for a moment the teachings found in 2 Nephi chapter 31 verses 14-21:
But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me.
And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.
Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end.
Faith. Repentance. Baptism. Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Enduring to the end by pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Feasting upon the word of Christ. If ever you find yourself wondering what it is you should be doing in your life to draw closer to the Lord, look no further than The Book of Mormon. Despite being an ancient record of a long-departed people, it was written for us in our day. It was through Joseph Smith that this record was brought out of obscurity and darkness and given to mankind as a witness of God’s love for all of His children.
There is so much more I could say about the truths restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, but I am running short on time. So I would like to stop and share a word of caution. As with any group of people, Latter-day Saints have developed a kind of verbal shorthand when discussing our beliefs and sharing our testimonies. Next week is our Fast and Testimony meeting and it is quite likely that we will hear at least one testimony that sounds something like this: “I’d like to bear my testimony that I know the Church is true. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today.” We honour Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Restoration. We are grateful for the truths restored through his mission. We know that He was prepared and called of God. We testify that he spent his life in the service of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and that he gave his life in the defense of that service. Unfortunately, we sometimes forget to keep the focus, as Joseph did, on Christ. Let me challenge you to move away from the formulaic statement that puts too much emphasis on the men called to represent our Saviour and instead boldly proclaim, as Joseph did, that “the fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it. But in connection with these, we believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost, the power of faith, the enjoyment of the spiritual gifts according to the will of God, the restoration of the house of Israel, and the final triumph of truth.”
I so testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
References/Further Reading
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/135?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/manual/PD10052298/martyrdom-of-joseph-smith_1440564_prt.pdf
https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/sections-132-138/section-135-a-tribute-to-the-martyrs?lang=eng
http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/site/explanations-for-the-doctrine-and-covenants-section-headings
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1.1-13?lang=eng#1
https://www.lds.org/topics?lang=eng&path=/topics/
https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-joseph-smith/chapter-3?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/31
“More, Save Jesus Only”
Sacrament Meeting Talk - 26 June 2016
June 27, 1844 was a dark day for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their beloved prophet, Joseph Smith, and his brother, Hyrum, had been arrested and taken to jail, again, just three days earlier, this time on charges of inciting riot after Joseph, as mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, had ordered the printing press used by the Nauvoo Expositor destroyed after the paper was used to print slanderous stories about Joseph and other Church leaders, as well as treason against the State of Illinois. Accompanying Joseph and Hyrum at Carthage were two members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: John Taylor and Willard Richards. Around 5 pm on this tragic day a mob of about 150 to 200 persons stormed the jail and attacked the men within. Hyrum was shot and killed first, trying to hold the door shut. Joseph attempted to hold the attackers off by firing a pistol into the hallway. John Taylor sought to deflect the barrels of the guns that made it through the doorway by hitting them with his walking stick. As the mob pushed through the door, Willard struck at the men with his cane. John was shot in the thigh as he attempted to leap from the second story window, and was then shot three more times as he took cover under the bed. Joseph, too, tried to jump from the window but was shot from both within and without and fell to the ground, his last words crying, “O Lord, my God!”
Sometime later, a tribute to the slain prophet was written and published as the final section of the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, which contained many of the revelations given to Joseph Smith. (Subsequent editions of this book of Scripture have included revelations and declarations from some of Joseph’s successors, including Brigham Young, Joseph F. Smith, Wilford Woodruff, and Spencer W. Kimball.) Although many later editions of the Doctrine and Covenants attributed Section 135, as it is known, to John Taylor, the 2013 edition removed the attribution, as recent research found that it is likely that many authors collaborated on the tribute. Whoever wrote it, I have long treasured this loving proclamation regarding Joseph’s prophetic mission: “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!” This verse includes one short sentence that, in my opinion, is one of the boldest statements ever made about any prophet, living or dead. It is this: “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.”
What a statement to make! When we think of the great prophets of old, we think of men such as Adam, who fathered the human race; Noah, who saved mankind from a flood; Abraham, the recipient of Jehovah’s great covenant; Jacob, father of the twelve tribes of Israel; Moses, the great deliverer and lawgiver; and Isaiah, the seer who prophesied of both the birth of Christ and the Last Days. And yet we claim that Joseph not only belongs in their company, but that he actually did more than any of them in bringing about the salvation of men. As I pondered this phrase, I asked a small assembly of fellow Latter-day Saints (namely, five of my in-laws, who are hopefully not yet regretting inviting us over for Sunday dinners) what they thought this meant. The first answer, unanimously agreed upon by all assembled, was that Joseph was the instrument used to bring about the restoration of the Gospel in our day. But since Bro. Goode asked me to speak for about 15 to 20 minutes, and I realised that this answer was not quite sufficient for my needs, I turned to the Church’s Gospel Topics page, hoping to find a list of unique beliefs and practices within the Church that I could point to as evidence. However, that list covers over 250 topics and that would take far more time than Bro. Goode has given me. (Besides which, I need to save something for my Youth Sunday School class!) Fortunately, there was one other source to consider: the Articles of Faith. In thirteen short statements, Joseph Smith himself explained some of the core beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It needs to be noted that many of these core beliefs are not, in fact, unique to Latter-day Saints. For example, other Christians believe in the members of the Godhead (God the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost). There are many Christians who reject the notion of Original Sin. All Christians believe that salvation comes only in and through Jesus Christ. Many recognise the need for faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit in their lives. I have many dear friends who felt called of God to preach the Gospel. While on my mission, I met a man who showed me a document certifying that he was an apostle. I have met others who claimed to be prophets. Others who are pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. A belief in the gifts of tongues, prophecy, revelations, visions, healings, interpretation of tongues, and so forth are found in many Christian churches throughout the world. We are not alone in claiming the Bible to be the Word of God, nor are we alone in believing that God has, does, and will reveal his will to us. All Christians look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and his glorious millennial reign on earth. The privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of one’s own conscience is a protected right within our nation and hundreds of millions lay claim to it. We are definitely part of a vast majority that believes in honouring, sustaining, and obeying the laws of men. And surely we do not have a monopoly on being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, lovely, and in doing good to all men! And yet, there are doctrines within these statements of belief that truly are unique and truly do support the claim that Joseph Smith, through the restoration of the Gospel, helped to secure the salvation of man in a way that no other had. I would like to briefly discuss some of these.
“We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” As Latter-day Saints, we know that these three beings are separate divine entities, united in one purpose. We reject the complex, convoluted, and confusing claims that these three are somehow all the same being. We shun the philosophies of men that were voted on in a council that defined God as unknowable and incomprehensible. Instead, we embrace the glorious truth that God our Heavenly Father is a divine personage of flesh and bone, who sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to live, to die, and to rise again for us. We accept the gift and power of the Holy Ghost in our lives and welcome that divine guidance as we navigate this mortal life. And we know of these truths because a young boy, barely in his teens, thought to faithfully pray and ask God to reveal His will to him. It is because of Joseph Smith that we know not only the nature of God, but the nature of mankind as His children, capable of becoming as our Father in Heaven is.
“We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.” What does it mean to be in authority? To have authority? What, for that matter, is authority? I love etymology: the study of the meanings of words. “Authority” has two parts: the root word, “author,” which means “one who sets forth, create, establishes” and “-ity,” a suffix that means “the condition or quality of being.” Thus “authority” is “the condition of being one who establishes.” In other words, authority is the ability (hear that suffix -ity again?) to establish something. In this case, the validity (again with that suffix!) of the ordinances of the Gospel. As Latter-day Saints, we believe that the ordinances of the Gospel, repentance, confirmation, ordination, endowment, and sealings, are valid not just in this life, but in the life to come, but only if sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. Furthermore, we believe that such a seal is only granted if the ordinance is performed by one who has been called and set apart to do so, just as Christ called and set apart His apostles. While others had taught the need for authority, others disagreed and there were bitter divisions for hundreds of years over who did and did not have the right to administer ordinances. It was through Joseph Smith that the keys of the Priesthood, the authority to act in the name of God, were restored. Through these Priesthood keys, the Church as it was established in the days of Christ was also restored. Temples were built, first in Kirtland and then in Nauvoo. After Joseph’s death and the Saints’ exodus to Utah, temples were again built and now dot the earth. When my parents joined the Church in 1977, the nearest temple was in Washington, DC. Visiting the temple was a three-day journey: one day to get there, one day to do as much temple work as possible, and one day to return. Now we can travel three hours and visit one of four different temples. In our temples we learn more about our Heavenly Father’s plan for us, we are endowed with power from on high, we are sealed in sacred ceremonies to our families, and we are able to receive saving ordinances as proxies for those who have died without a knowledge of the Gospel. It is through Joseph Smith that the power and authority of God are on the earth once more.
Of course, no discussion about the prophetic mission of Joseph Smith can be complete without bringing up the great work of translation he did, namely The Book of Mormon, which stands as an additional witness of the divine mission of Jesus Christ. Translated by the gift and power of God, this sacred volume of scripture is an abridged record of some of God’s children in the Western Hemisphere. I have had the privilege of reading this book many times, so many that I have lost count, in fact, and bear witness that it truly testifies of Christ. While we believe the Bible to be the word of God (as far as it is translated correctly--an important distinction when one considers the fact that there are over one hundred English translations of Bible!), we also believe The Book of Mormon to be the word of God. Held together, with the Stick of Jesse in one hand and the Stick of Joseph in the other, we are able to gain greater insights into our Heavenly Father’s great plan of happiness. Consider for a moment the teachings found in 2 Nephi chapter 31 verses 14-21:
But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me.
And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.
Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end.
Faith. Repentance. Baptism. Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Enduring to the end by pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Feasting upon the word of Christ. If ever you find yourself wondering what it is you should be doing in your life to draw closer to the Lord, look no further than The Book of Mormon. Despite being an ancient record of a long-departed people, it was written for us in our day. It was through Joseph Smith that this record was brought out of obscurity and darkness and given to mankind as a witness of God’s love for all of His children.
There is so much more I could say about the truths restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, but I am running short on time. So I would like to stop and share a word of caution. As with any group of people, Latter-day Saints have developed a kind of verbal shorthand when discussing our beliefs and sharing our testimonies. Next week is our Fast and Testimony meeting and it is quite likely that we will hear at least one testimony that sounds something like this: “I’d like to bear my testimony that I know the Church is true. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today.” We honour Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Restoration. We are grateful for the truths restored through his mission. We know that He was prepared and called of God. We testify that he spent his life in the service of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and that he gave his life in the defense of that service. Unfortunately, we sometimes forget to keep the focus, as Joseph did, on Christ. Let me challenge you to move away from the formulaic statement that puts too much emphasis on the men called to represent our Saviour and instead boldly proclaim, as Joseph did, that “the fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it. But in connection with these, we believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost, the power of faith, the enjoyment of the spiritual gifts according to the will of God, the restoration of the house of Israel, and the final triumph of truth.”
I so testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
References/Further Reading
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/135?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/manual/PD10052298/martyrdom-of-joseph-smith_1440564_prt.pdf
https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/sections-132-138/section-135-a-tribute-to-the-martyrs?lang=eng
http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/site/explanations-for-the-doctrine-and-covenants-section-headings
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1.1-13?lang=eng#1
https://www.lds.org/topics?lang=eng&path=/topics/
https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-joseph-smith/chapter-3?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/31
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