Here is my mission farewell talk! I know some of you wanted me to post this, and so I am. ]
Mission Farewell Talk: Topic – Joseph Smith and the
Restoration Through Him
Hello Brothers and Sisters - for those of you who don't know me,
my name is Alissa Marshall; I have been a member of this ward since December
2010. The reason why you haven't seen me around is because I have been
attending Brigham Young University in Idaho during the winter and spring
semesters, and I spent most of last year in New York with my fiance, and
his family. What a great opportunity I’ve
had these past years on learning more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, from
going to a church college, and by the examples of roommates, teachers, friends,
family, future family, and from taking a Mission Prep class on campus. I was
impressed how every teacher has to have an active Temple Recommend in order to
teach at the college, and so the spirit was always strong, in the walls in
every one of my classes. I believe Byui has prepared me well, especially when
it comes to one of the most important topics in our Church History: The
Restoration of the Gospel of Christ, through the Prophet Joseph Smith (What
makes this topic more meaningful to me is that Joseph Smith is actually my
cousin by blood, just six times removed. Therefore, I naturally feel even more obligated
to continue on the work which he helped to start, as I have been preparing to
serve the Lord as a Missionary).
Joseph’s Purpose
Joseph’s family was
part of the Presbyterian faith, and he did not want to be affiliated with this
church; he felt uneasy and that there was something missing after he recognized
what the other Christian religions taught. There were times where Joseph sat in
different churches when time permitted, and discovered that each religion had
their own meaning of the same Bible verse, and this confused him on what to
believe. In Joseph Smith History one, verse six, Smith recognized “…the
seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were more
pretended than real; for a scene of great confusion and bad feeling ensued-priest
contending against priest, and convert against convert; so that all their good
feelings one for another, if they ever had any, were entirely lost in a strife
of words and contest about opinions” (JS history 1, v. 6). Joseph recognized
how each religion was in a competition with one another, which was something
like someone trying to win someone over using flattery and fabrication; this
type of persuasion did not make sense to him. He noticed that the churches “…used
all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at
least, to make the people think they were in error. [These religions] … in
their turn, were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets
and disprove all others” (JS-History 1 v. 9). Regardless if these churches used
their own reasoning, and logic to persuade the people, it did not make sense to
Joseph for the priests to use wickedness to try to bring its members closer to
Christ; for these leaders were not following Christ’s examples, as mentioned in
the Bible.
The Apostasy
In
the
time
of
1838,
the
world
was
in
an
Apostasy.
The
world
has
been
in
a
form
of
Apostasy,
since
the
last
true
prophet
along
with
those
who
had
the
proper
authority
to
perform
God’s
ordinances,
[which
helped
to
build
up
his
righteous
kingdom];
after
their
death,
many
people
were
left
alone
to
seek
for
religious
truth.
President
Boyd
K.
Packer,
acting
president
of
the
twelve
apostles
said
this
about
Apostasy:
“The
apostles
were
martyred,
and
in
a
time,
an
apostasy
took
place.
The
doctrines
of
the
Church
were
corrupted,
and
the
ordinances
changed.
This
universal
apostasy
required
a
restoration
of
authority-
of
the
priesthood
keys,
of
doctrines,
and
of
ordinances”
(Missionary
Preparation
Student
Manual,
p.
73).
True
to
the
Faith,
page
13,
defines
apostasy
as,
“When
individuals
or
groups
of
people
turn
away
from
the
principles
of
the
gospel,
…and…
turn...
[toward]
wickedness”
(Truth
to
the
Faith,
p.
13).
The
word
of
God
could
not
be
received
in
the
fullest.
The
principles
of
the
gospel,
as
stated
in
the
Articles
of
Faith,
chapter
one,
verse
four,
in
this
order,
contain
[“first,
having
Faith
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
second,
Repentance,
third,
baptism
by
immersion
for
the
remission
of
sins,
[and]
fourth,
laying
on
of
hands
for
the
gift
of
the
Holy
Ghost”
(Articles
of
Faith,
1:4).
Many
religions
may
practice
this
procedure,
but
if
not
done
with
the
Priesthood,
the
acts
are
done
in
vain;
This
reminds
me
of
a
similar
example
from
Brother
Palmer,
my
Missionary
Preparation
Teacher,
at
Brigham
Young
University,
Idaho.
He
asked
the
class
about
a
month
ago,
“if
an
ice
cream
man
or
a
police
man
pulled
you
over
to
give
you
a
speeding
ticket,
who
has
the
proper
authority
[to
do
so]”?
Obviously,
it
would
be
the
police
man,
and
you
would
not
question
his
authority.
Doctrine
and
Covenants
section
123,
verse
12,
mentions,
“For
there
are
may
yet
on
the
earth
among
all
sects,
parties,
and
denominations,
who
are
blinded
by
the
subtle
craftiness
of
men,
whereby
they
lie
in
wait
to
deceive,
and
who
are
only
kept
from
the
truth
because
they
know
not
where
to
find
it.”
This
passage
relates
to
Joseph
Smith,
and
his
desire
to
seek
for
the
truth.
He
indeed,
did not
know
where
to
find
the truth.
The Power of James One,
Verse Five
Joseph, as curious as
he was, went to the Bible to see if he could find the answer he was looking
for. While working, he stumbled upon the Epistle of James one, verse five,
which read, “ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all
men liberally, and upbraided not; and it shall be given him.” The scripture
which Joseph read made it quite clear, in plain and simple words, to ask
Heavenly Father for guidance, when one truly has a desire to know the answer. In
Joseph Smith History, chapter one, verse twelve, Joseph explains his curiosity,
as he exclaimed, “for how to act, I do not know; for the teachers of religion
of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently
as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the
Bible” (JS-History, 1:12) It seems as though Joseph Smith knew something more
about Christ than by what he saw from conflicting religions. If the word of
God, is the word of God, why did so many people have different opinions about
doctrine? Shouldn’t the word of God mean the same thing to Him as it does for
his children?
The Prayer
In the spring of 1820,
Joseph knelt down in the Sacred Grove in Palmyra New York, and spoke his first
vocal prayer to the Lord. A powerful hymn in our LDS Hymnbook, entitled
“Joseph Smith’s First Prayer, page 26,” words written by George Manwaring,
capture the basic glimpse and sacredness of the boy’s diligence. Verses 3-4
read (quote):
“ Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing –
‘Twas
the boy’s first uttered prayer –
When
the pow’rs of sin asailing
Filled
his soul with deep despair;
But
undaunted, still he trusted
In
Heavenly Father’s care
But
undaunted, still he trusted
In
Heavenly Father’s care.
Suddenly
a light descended,
Brighter
far than noon-day sun,
And
a shining, glorious pilliar O’er him fell, around him shone,
While
appeared two heav’nly beings, God the Father and the Son…
[God
Speaks,] “Joseph, this is my Beloved; Hear Him!”
Oh
how sweet the word!
Joseph’s
humble prayer was answered, and he listened to the Lord.
Oh,
what rapture filled his bosom, For he saw the living God,
Oh,
what rapture filled his bosom, For he saw the living God.” Close
quote. Manwearing
Emphasizes
the
importance
of
how
Joseph
trusted
in
the
care
of
His
Heavenly
Father,
and
how
he
felt
the
Holy
Spirit
as
Joseph
saw
them,
face
to
face,
in
a
physical
body.
When
talking
about
this
vision,
Brother
Palmer
made
this
comment:
“Wouldn’t
that
be
cool
if
God
and
appeared
during
your
first
prayer?
That
would be
instant conversion
right
there!”
In
the
hymn,
Manwearing’s
lyrics
emphasize
the
importance
of
how
Joseph
trusted
in
the
care
of
His
Heavenly
Father,
and
the
spirit,
which
overpowered
him
when
he
was
in
the
presence
of
these
two
heavenly
beings.
There
is
great
importance
on
the
Father
calling
Joseph
by
name
–
it
means
that
he
already
knew
Joseph
before
he
appeared
to
him.
The Answer from the Lord
Joseph
Smith
finally
received
an
answer
to
the
question
about
which
church
he
should
join.
God’s
response
actually
surprised
him.
In
verse
nineteen
of
Joseph
Smith
History
chapter
one,
He
wrote,
“I
was
answered
to
join
none
of
them,
for
that
all
their
creeds
were
an
abomination
in
his
sight;
that
those
professors
were
all
corrupt;
that:
‘they
draw
near
me
with
their
mouths,
but
their
hearts
are
far
from
me, they
teach for
doctrines
the
commandments
of
men,
having
a
form
of
godliness,
but
they
deny
the
power
thereof.’”
End
quote.
God
explains
to
Joseph
that
there
are
many
hypocrites,
who
believe
in
the
word
of
God,
but
do
not
show
it
in
their
actions.
Another
way
to
explain
this
is
from
the
New
Testament,
in
James
chapter
two,
verse
eighteen,
which
reads,
“Yea,
a
man
may
say,
Thou
hast
faith,
and
I
have
works:
shew me
thy faith without thy
work,
and
I
will
shew
thee my
faith by
my
works.”
End
quote.
This
means,
if
a
man
believes
in
God,
he
must
show
him
by
living
the
principles
of
the
gospel
of
Christ.
The importance of the Father and Son showing themselves to
the lord
Little
did Joseph
know right
after that
moment how
important this
vision was
going to
bring the
restoration of
the gospel.
The significance
of two
heavenly beings
was too
great to
be ignored.
“President Joseph
F. Smith
taught: Quote,
‘The greatest
event that
has ever
occurred in
the world,
since the
resurrection of
the Son
of God
from the
tomb and
his ascension
on high,
was the
coming of
the Father
and of
the Son
to that
boy, Joseph
Smith to
prepare the
way for
the laying
foundation of
his kingdom
–not the
kingdom of
man –
never more
to cease
nor to
be overturned’”
(Mission Prep
Manual, p.
72). Unquote.
His words
bring out
the connection
of Christ’s
resurrection, and
His appearance
with His
Father to
a boy
to make
sure that
the fullness
of the
Gospel would
be restored
on the
earth, which
was invaluable;
They also
gave Joseph
Smith the
proper authority
to teach
the gospel.
“President Boyd
K. Packer,
Acting President
of the
Quorum of
the Twelve
Apostles, taught
[this] about
the restoration:
‘In April
1830, the
Prophet Joseph
Smith organized
the Church
of Jesus
Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
The true
church of
Jesus Christ
was once
again among
men, with
authority, ‘to
preach the
gospel and
administer in
the ordinances
thereof’’” (“Restoration,”
First Worldwide
Leadership training
Meeting, Jan.
2003, p.
2; Mission
Preparation Student
Manual, p.
73) Packer
recognizes the
importance of
Priesthood power
and the
greatness of
the work
to spread
forth the
gospel, with
God and
Christ as
its source.
What Joseph had to do
Once
Joseph
had
the
golden
plates
after
several
years
waiting
to
obtain
them
(JSH,
Chapter
1),
Moroni,
an
angel,
finally
said
he
could
take
them
out
of
Cumorah’s
hill.
Later
on,
Joseph
he
was
given
the
authority
to
translate
the
Golden
Plates
by
God,
from
reformed
Egyptian
(Mormon
9:32),
with
only
a
third-grade
education on his
shoulders.
With
that
being
said,
with
a
man
having
that
limited
amount
of
knowledge,
with
everything
the
Book
of
Mormon
contains,
he,
could
not
have
translated
it
by
himself;
he
had
the
help
of
God.
Russel
M. Nelson
of
the
Quorum
of
the
twelve
apostles
spoke
about
the
remarkable
accomplishment
of
translating
the
Book
of
Mormon:
“’Joseph
Smith
translated
the
Book
of
Mormon
by
the
gift
and
power
of
God!
Compare
this
unique
accomplishment
with
that
of
other
scriptural
translations.
The
King
James
Version
of
the
Bible,
for
example,
was
produced
by
50
English
scholars
who
accomplished
their
work
in
seven
years,
translating
at
the
rate
of
one
page
per
day.
Expert
translators
today
do
well
if
they
can
also
translate
scripture
at
the
rate
of
one
page
per
day.
In
contrast,
Joseph
Smith
translated
the
Book
of
Mormon
at
the
rate
of
about
10
pages
per
day,
completing
the
task
in
approximately
85
days!
.
.
.”
(
Missionary
Preparation
Student
Manual,
p.
75).
This
book
was
published
a
few
days
after
the
church
was
organized,
and the
‘…saints
were
given
the
Book
of
Mormon
to
read
before
they
were
given
the
revelations
outlining
great
doctrines
as
the
three
degrees
of
glory,
celestial
marriage,
or
work
for
the
dead.
It
came
before
the
priesthood
quorums
and
church
organization.
Doesn’t
this
tell
us
something
about
how
the
Lord
views
this
sacred
work?”
(75).
Unquote.
Blessings
from the Restoration
Since the organization of the church,
Joseph has blessed future generations with the fullness of the gospel. At
first, there was only a handful of members, and now, after generations of
missionary work, we now have over 15 million members. There is so much I can
say on this topic, and it has been hard for me to figure out all that I can say
about his great work, but I do know that the vision which Joseph had, was true
and the spirit has testified to me, every time I sing the hymn on page 26 on
his first prayer. I know that the church has been restored to its fullness since
the translation of the Book of Mormon, and I know that Joseph Smith was a true
prophet of God who did his best to follow the Lord’s will.
Mission
When it comes to my mission, I cannot deny the
spirit I felt when I sincerely asked if this choice was right for me. My desire
started when I discussed principles of the gospel with my fiancé in the summer
of 2012, and then I had a strong impression to serve after a talk on Missionary
work at BYUi, last year in my winter semester. The spirit was so overwhelming
and I knew right then I was going to serve a mission, but I didn’t know when.
It wasn’t until after my fiancé, Joseph Canto, left for his mission last
December, I finally made the decision and worked on my mission papers.
I
will soon be set apart as a missionary this week, just before I leave for the
Provo MTC on Wednesday, April 16th. After my training, I will be sent to Chesapeake Virginia, which
is where I will be serving for eighteen months. It feels strange to pause my
education, especially at the age of 22, but I am willing to make these
sacrifices for the Lord, for the testimony which I have about this gospel is so
great, I want to express my love for the Savior by sharing it with the rest of
God’s children.
I say these things in the name of Jesus
Christ, Amen.
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