My Talk

Intro

Brothers and Sisters I am going to talk about an aspect of the gospel that is fundamental to our worship, the first vision

Story of going to the temple this past week and buying the Praise to the Man Tabernacle Choir CD… Wanted it because I’ve had a testimony of him and I love to listen to hymns about his divine mission

Introduce the 3 Aspects of Joseph Smith’s life, I chose these because they are the marks of Joseph Smith’s greatness and the path we can follow to become great our selves whether that be in our calling, our relationship with our family or even in missionary service.

Pre-Ordination

Joseph Smith was pre-ordained to complete certain missions on earth

JSH 1:33 He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people.

Likewise, we all have missions to accomplish on this earth, whether in missionary service, the raising of a family or serving our fellow men. We were given specific instructions before this life just like Joseph Smith.

D&C 138:53-56 The Prophet Joseph Smith, and my father, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and other choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fullness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work, I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God. Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.

We can approach the Lord in faith to discover those things that we are to do in our lives. All of us must gain a testimony in order to understand these things we must do as well as now how we fit into the Lord’s plan.

Development of a Strong testimony

In the same way that Joseph Smith entered the grove with a simple question, “which religion was right” we all must come to Lord with our simple questions: “Is the Book of Mormon true”, “Is this the true gospel here on the earth”, “Is Thomas S. Monson a prophet”?

We must go through a process described by Alma (Alma 32:28) Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

Trials and hardship will come, Joseph smith is a perfect example of this;

After Joseph Smith witness his first vision it was another three years before he was again visited by a heavenly being and taught.

JSH 1:28  During the space of time which intervened between the time I had the vision and the year eighteen hundred and twenty-three—I was left to all kinds of temptations; and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations, offensive in the sight of God. In making this confession, no one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant sins. A disposition to commit such was never in my nature. But I was guilty of levity, and sometimes associated with jovial company, etc., not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God as I had been. But this will not seem very strange to anyone who recollects my youth, and is acquainted with my native cheery temperament.

We are all subject to sin and temptation as well as trials

However if we like Joseph, “Alma 32:41:42” But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.  And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

Developing a testimony also means that we become more willing to be obedient to the commandments. It has to do with the spirit. I have come to know how the influence of the Holy Ghost in my life causes me to look at sin in disgust.

If we continue to exercise that faith, build up our testimonies (while avoiding sin) and endure to the end we are endowed with power.

Endowed with power

Through Joseph’s faith and his efforts to endure to the end he was blessed with divine power.

Have Faith to allow the Lord to work in our lives

David B. Haight:

As Joseph contemplated those dreary months of imprisonment in Missouri, he must have recalled the night, when confined in a dungeon, he rebuked the guards. He and his brethren were trying to get a little sleep but were kept awake by the awful blasphemies and obscene jests of their jailers, who were recounting the dreadful deeds of robbery and murder they had committed among the Mormons. These were no idle boasts, for these awful atrocities had actually been committed. Suddenly, Joseph rose to his feet and, in a voice that seemed to shake the very building, cried out:

“SILENCE, ye fiends of the infernal pit! In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still; I will not live another minute and hear such language. Cease such talk, or you or I die THIS INSTANT!” (quoted in Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, 180; emphasis in original).

The effect must have been electric in its suddenness. Some begged his pardon, while others slunk into the dark corners of the jail to hide their shame.

The power of Jesus Christ, whose name he had invoked in his rebuke, was upon him. His hands and feet were in chains, but these the guards did not see. They saw only the righteous anger in his shining face, and felt the divine power in his voice as he rebuked them.

Enduring Legacy

Once the Lord has blessed us with his strength we can do anything

More than 13 million people on the earth today revere Joseph Smith as a prophet. Each of us has the potential to affect many lives.

Story about Grandpa’s Japanese convert who is now a new general authority

Close

If we come to the Lord in faith, he will show us what we must do. If we are obedient then he will help us become his true disciples. However it all begins with a small seed of faith.

Discouragement

Sometimes we may feel like Joseph in this situation:

Dallin H. Oaks: Once he was kidnapped by two men who held cocked pistols to his head and repeatedly threatened to shoot him if he moved a muscle. The Prophet endured these threats for a time and then snapped back, “Shoot away; I have endured so much persecution and oppression that I am sick of life; why then don’t you shoot, and have done with it, instead of talking so much about it?” (in Journal of Discourses, 2:167; see also History of the Church,5:440).

Testimony & End

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“O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ. Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.” (Alma 31:34-35) 

Also the words of Jeffrey R. Holland evoke great feelings, in me, regarding the importance of missionary work:

“When you declare the truth, it will bring an echo, a memory, even if it is an unconscious memory to the investigator, that they have heard this truth before—and of course they have. A missionary’s testimony invokes a great legacy of testimony dating back to the councils in heaven before this world was. There, in an earlier place, these same people heard this same plan outlined and heard there the role that Jesus Christ would play in their salvation” (“Missionary Work and the Atonement,” Ensign, Mar. 2001, 11).        

 I am so excited to serve

- Christian                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Hello Everyone,

On March 11th, 2009 I was called as a Missionary to the Montevideo, Uruguay Mission (Spanish Speaking). I report to the Argentina Missionary Training Center July 23rd that resides on the temple grounds in Buenos Aires. This Blog is were you can find my latest experiences as well as any pictures that I may have sent home. Enjoy!

Cariñosos saludos,

Soon to be Elder Christian Carter