General Conference, “Joseph Smith,” October 2014; “Many of those who dismiss the work of the Restoration simply do not believe that heavenly beings speak to men on earth. Impossible, they say, that golden plates were delivered by an angel and translated by the power of God. From that disbelief, they quickly reject Joseph’s testimony, and a few unfortunately sink to discrediting the Prophet’s life and slandering his character.
It’s not that people dismiss angels coming to earth to speak to mankind. The problem lies in Smith’s numerous stories of the angels, the plates and his inability to tell the truth about any of it. You can read about the 11 different accounts of Smith’s first vision here. 2 Peter 2:1-2
“Studying the Church … through the eyes of its defectors,” Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said, is “like interviewing Judas to understand Jesus. Defectors always tell us more about themselves than about that from which they have departed.”11
His statement is a red herring. What’s the problem with hearing all sides to an argument? Acts 17:11
We might remind the inquirer that some information about Joseph, while true, may be presented completely out of context to his own day and situation.
How does someone present money laundering, bank fraud, illicit adultery, running from the US law, and outright lying in a good light? Romans 1:20
Each believer needs a spiritual confirmation of the divine mission and character of the Prophet Joseph Smith. This is true for every generation. Spiritual questions deserve spiritual answers from God.
Where in the Bible does it say this?
To the youth listening today or reading these words in the days ahead, I give a specific challenge: Gain a personal witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Let your voice help fulfill Moroni’s prophetic words to speak good of the Prophet.
This sounds as if man is fulfilling the prophecy and not God. 2 Peter 1:21
In our society beyond the veil of death, we will clearly understand the sacred calling and divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. In that not-too-distant day, you and I and “millions [more] shall know ‘Brother Joseph’ again.”24 In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” – Neil L. Anderson
God made the mission and calling of Jesus perfectly clear in the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation there’s little to no doubt what God was doing as He interacted with His creation. We can clearly understand the mission and calling of Jesus here and now without waiting until we die. If we wait that long it might be too late, and then what? Ps. 118:24; Ecc. 9:5
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