Hey Michaelsj,
I love you and think you are wonderful. The lds.org has updated its website. The talks are now larger print and in a long column. I added this one as number 119 of the best all time talks this morning. Look at all the different colors. Did I like anything in his talk? Why didn't I color/highlight the rest?
This morning I would like to bear a humble testimony to those who have personal struggles and doubts concerning the divine mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many of us are at times like the father who asked the Savior to heal his child with the “dumb spirit.” The father of the child cried out,“Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” 1 To all those with lingering doubts and questions, there are ways to help your unbelief. In the process of accepting and rejecting information in the search for light, truth, and knowledge, almost everyone has—at one time or another—some private questions. That is part of the learning process.
Sustaining faith can be the ultimate comfort in life. All of us must find our own testimonies.
A testimony begins with the acceptance by faith of the divine mission of Jesus Christ, the head of this Church;and the prophet of the Restoration, Joseph Smith. The gospel as restored by Joseph Smith is either true or it is not. To receive all of the promised blessings we must accept the gospel in faith and in full. However, this certain faith does not usually come all at once. We learn spiritually line upon line and precept upon precept.
Joseph Hamstead, a lecturer at London University, had talked about the Church and its youth and family programs to fellow lecturers at that great university.One of them said: “I like all of this, what is being done for families, etc. If you could take out that bit about an angel appearing to Joseph Smith, I could belong to your church.” Brother Hamstead replied, “Ah, but if you takeaway the angel appearing to the Prophet Joseph, then I couldn’t belong to the Church because that is its foundation.” 2
Like the professor at London University, many people see the sheer wonder of this Church and are persuaded that it has great merit and substance. They appreciate what the Church can do for its believers. However, they lack the spiritual confirmation that Joseph Smith actually saw in vision the Father and the Son and that an angel delivered to Joseph Smith the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. Coming to know God is the principal spiritual gift that can come to any man or woman. Joseph Smith received this knowledge of God firsthand. Many years later, still pondering the impact of that and other happenings in his life, Joseph himself said: “I don’t blame any one for not believing my history. If I had not experienced what I have, I would not have believed it myself.” 3
No one was with the boy Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York, when God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared. Yet even those who do not believe it happened may find it difficult to explain away. Too much has happened since it occurred todeny that it ever took place.
For those of you who, like the biblical father, say, “I believe; help thou mine unbelief,” you can have a confirmation by following the direction of the Book of Mormon, which challenges us to ask “God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ,” regarding the truth that can only come by faith in Christ and by revelation.However, there are two indispensable elements. One must “ask with a sincere heart, with real intent,” and then God “will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” 4 [I had the Holy Ghost guide me twice Wednesday evening. You should know me well enough to know I do not say that lightly. : ) ]vj
Strong evidence besides the Book of Mormoncorroborates the claims of Joseph Smith. To begin with,the Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses, whohandled the plates and saw the engravings, testifiedthat the Book of Mormon was translated by the powerof God. Members of Joseph Smith’s family, who knewhim best, also accepted and believed his message.Among the believers were his parents, his brothers andhis sisters, and his uncle John Smith. His older brotherHyrum proved his complete faith in Joseph’s work bygiving his life along with Joseph. These reliablewitnesses all confirm the Prophet’s testimony.
His closest associates were absolute in their belief inJoseph Smith’s divine mission. Two of them, WillardRichards and John Taylor, were with Joseph and Hyrumwhen they were killed. Joseph asked Willard Richards ifhe would be willing to go with them. Willardunequivocally said: “Brother Joseph you did not ask meto cross the river with you—you did not ask me tocome to Carthage—you did not ask me to come to jailwith you—and do you think I would forsake you now?But I will tell you what I will do; if you are condemnedto be hung for treason, I will be hung in your stead, andyou shall go free.” 5
John Taylor testified, “Joseph Smith, the Prophet andSeer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, forthe salvation of men in this world, than any other manthat ever lived in it.” 6 The pragmatic Brigham Youngsaid, “I feel like shouting Hallelujah, all the time, when Ithink that I ever knew Joseph Smith, the Prophet whomthe Lord raised up and ordained, and to whom he gavekeys and power to build up the Kingdom of God onearth and sustain it.” 7 In my opinion, these strong,intelligent men could not have been deceived.
It is also very persuasive to me that no other religionclaims to have the keys to bind family relationshipseternally. President Hinckley said, “Every temple, be itlarge or small, old or new, is an expression of ourtestimony that life beyond the grave is as real andcertain as is mortality.” 8 Those who cherish their familyhave a compelling reason to claim the transcendentblessing of being sealed for eternity in the temples ofGod. For all grandparents, parents, husbands, wives,children, and grandchildren, this sealing power andauthority is a crowning principle, a pinnacle in therestoration “of all things” 9 through the Prophet JosephSmith. Sealings bind forever. This blessing can beextended to those now living and also vicariously forthose who have died, thus binding families foreternity. 10
Another powerful evidence of the divinity of this holywork is the remarkable growth and strength of thisChurch worldwide. It is a unique institution. Nothingquite compares to it. As Gamaliel reasoned when Peterand the early Apostles were testifying of the divinity ofJesus Christ:
“If this … work be of men, it will come to nought: But ifit be of God, ye cannot overthrow it.” 11
This all being true, however, every person must have aspiritual confirmation by the power of the Holy Ghost,which is more powerful than all the senses combined.To those who say, “Lord, I believe; help thou mineunbelief,” may I suggest that “you look forward with aneye of faith.” 12 To those who do this, the Lord haspromised, “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart,by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you andwhich shall dwell in your heart.” 13
Some reasons people give when the fire of their faithflickers and dies include human frailties and theimperfections of others; something in the history of theChurch they cannot understand; changes in proceduresresulting from growth and continuous revelation;indifference; or transgression.
At one time the Lord said that He was “well pleased”with Joseph Wakefield. 14 He was stalwart and faithfuland taught hundreds about the prophetic work ofJoseph Smith. But from 1833 to 1834 he was influencedby some dissidents in Kirtland. He was once in thehome of Joseph Smith. Joseph came out of the roomwhere he had been translating the word of God andimmediately began to play with some children. “Thisconvinced [Brother Wakefield] that [Joseph] was not aman of God and that [therefore] the work was false.” 15 In due course Joseph Wakefield apostatized, wasexcommunicated, and became a persecutor of theChurch and of the Saints.
One inactive member was jolted into the realizationthat she was not converted to the Church when her sonwent on a mission. Comparing herself to others whoseimpressive conversion stories she had heard, sheasked herself, “Why are these people converted sopowerfully, and I, with my pioneer heritage, remainunconverted?” She began to read the Book of Mormoneven though she doubted its worth and found it boring.Then a friend challenged her. She said, “You say youbelieve in prayer. Well, why don’t you pray about it?”
This she did, and after she had prayed, she began toread the Book of Mormon again. It was no longerboring. The more she read, the more fascinated shebecame with it and thought, “Joseph Smith couldn’thave written that—these words were from God!” Shefinished reading it and wondered how God would tellher that it was true. She said: “A power strong,beautiful, and joyful moved completely through mybody. … I knew that Jesus Christ was resurrected, … thatJoseph Smith was a prophet who saw God and JesusChrist. I knew that he miraculously translated ancientrecords with God’s guidance. I knew that Joseph Smithreceived revelations from God.” It changed her lifebecause now she too was a convert! 16
For those whose faith has faded, the reasons may bereal to them, but these reasons do not change thereality of what Joseph Smith restored. The ProphetJoseph Smith said, “I never told you I was perfect; butthere is no error in the revelations which I havetaught.” 17 One cannot successfully attack trueprinciples or doctrine, because they are eternal. Therevelations that came through the Prophet JosephSmith are still correct! It is a mistake to let distractions,slights, or offenses pull down our own house of faith.
We can have a certain testimony that Jesus is the Christ,the Son of God, and Redeemer of mankind, and thatJoseph Smith was a prophet commissioned to restorethe Church in our day and time without having acomplete understanding of all gospel principles. Butwhen you pick up a stick you pick up both ends. And soit is with the gospel. As members of the Church weneed to accept all of it. Even limited spiritual assuranceof some of the aspects of the gospel is a blessing, andin time the other elements of which you are uncertaincan come through faith and obedience.
The gap between what is popular and what is righteousis widening. As prophesied by Isaiah, many today “callevil good, and good evil.” 18 Revelations from theprophets of God are not like offerings at the cafeteria,some to be selected and others disregarded. We aregreatly indebted to the Prophet Joseph Smith for themany great revelations which came through him. Hewas without peer in restoring spiritual knowledge. 19 There has been a fulfillment of the revelation given toJoseph Smith in March 1839:
“The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, andfools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rageagainst thee;
“While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble,and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, andblessings constantly from under thy hand.” 20
To those who believe but wish their belief to bestrengthened, I urge you to walk in faith and trust inGod. Spiritual knowledge always requires an exercise offaith. We acquire a testimony of the principles of thegospel by obediently trying to live them. Said theSavior, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of thedoctrine.” 21 A testimony of the efficacy of prayer comesthrough humble and sincere prayer. A testimony oftithing comes by paying tithing. Do not let your privatedoubts separate you from the divine source ofknowledge. Prayerfully go forward, humbly seekingeternal light, and your unbelief will be dispelled. Itestify that if you continue in the purposeful process ofsearching for and accepting spiritual light, truth, andknowledge, it will surely come. By going forward infaith, you will find that your faith will increase. Like agood seed, if it is not cast out by your unbelief, it willswell within your breast. 22
I believe that every person’s individual testimony ofJesus as the Christ comes as a spiritual gift. No one cansuccessfully dispute or challenge it because it is sopersonal a gift to the one to whom it has been given. Itwill be as an ever-recharging spiritual energizer to keepour spiritual light running to show us the way to eternalhappiness. But I testify that it can be more—much,much more. By covenanting with “God to do his will,and to be obedient to his commandments in all thingsthat he shall command us, all the remainder of ourdays,” our “hearts are changed through faith on[Christ’s] name.” Thus we may be “born of him and …become his sons and his daughters.” 23 I have a certainknowledge of this, which I declare in the sacred nameof Jesus Christ, amen.
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