First Vision Memory Problems
Journal of Discourses 2:171; “But as it was in the days of our Savior, so was it in the advent of this new dispensation. It was not in accordance with the notions, traditions, and pre-conceived ideas of the American people. The messenger did not come to an eminent divine of any of the so-called orthodoxy, he did not adopt their interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. The Lord did not come with the armies of heaven, in power and great glory, nor send His messengers panoplied with aught else than the truth of heaven, to communicate to the meek the lowly, the youth of humble origin, the sincere enquirer after the knowledge of God. But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith Jun., who afterwards became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong…” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, February 18, 1855
Matthew 7:7; “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
There was obviously a huge disconnect between the leaders of Mormonism and the Lord. As Jesus told us in Matthew; if we ask, we receive. Does Joseph Smith’s story sound like he went to the Father like Jesus said to do?
John Piper gives some great insight for the passage in 7:7-11. In his book Desiring God he lists 8 encouragements to pray given to us from the Lord. The notes I’ve listed here are taken from his book and video. I’ve listed his bullet points that I think are important for us to remember when/if someone new comes along preaching another gospel and we want to ask God if it’s true.
1. “He Invites Us to Pray”.
2. “He Makes Promises to Us if We Pray”.
3. “God Makes Himself Available”.
4. “Everyone Who Asks Receives”.
5. “We are Coming to Our Father”.
6. “Our Heavenly Father is Better than Our Earthly Father”.
7. “We Can Trust God’s Goodness Because He has Already Made Us His Children”.
8. The Cross is the Foundation of Prayer.”
By John Piper. ©2013 Desiring God Foundation. Website: desiringGod.org
AMEN, AMEN & AMEN!
In light of all that we need to ask if these men who give conflicting messages really have our best interest at heart. Are their words contradictory to what Jesus promised us in Matthew 7:7?
If we go to our Father in Heaven will He give us a conflicting story like Joseph and Brigham did? A few days ago we also saw the Mormon apostle Heber Kimball who also contradicted Joseph’s original story – so who’s telling the truth and who isn’t?
