1:28-29, 33
He was one of the greatest prophets the world has known, but he was still human. “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 any one who recollects my youth, and is acquainted with my native cheery temperament.” He lived on the earth. This fallen world presents temptations of every kind. Joseph was not immune from this.
It sounds like Joseph felt guilty about his behavior. I am certain that this guilt decreased his self-confidence in his own worthiness to be a prophet. Satan loves to do that. He loves to tempt us with something that is actually tempting and then make us feel guilty about it. He loves to plant in our brains any small doubt about our worthiness. For example, in my current state, I am not tempted to commit any grave sin. I am tempted to watch too much TV. I am tempted to take too long of a nap on Sunday. These weaknesses could make me feel like I am not strong and valiant in my testimony. Satan loves getting us to think that.
“In consequence of these things, I often felt condemned for my weakness and imperfections; when, on the evening of the above-mentioned twenty-first of September, after I had retired to my bed for the night, I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my state and standing before him; for I had full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation, as I previously had one.” Joseph felt condemned for his weaknesses. This isn’t a feeling that comes from the Holy Ghost. The Spirit wants us to feel guilty about it for our sins to motivate us to repent. The Holy Ghost wants us to feel hope and peace when we repent. We all shouldn’t feel the “pressure of perfection.”
He had perfect faith that he could obtain “a divine manifestation.” It had happened once, why not again? Obviously, Moroni appeared and spoke about Joseph’s mission. “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.” Certainly, Moroni’s call gave Joseph confidence that he was still in good standing with the Lord. It would be good if we could all receive a manifestation to give us confidence that we have a mission to fulfill. If you’re reading this, may I suggest that you are also in good standing and that YOU have a mission to fulfill. You and I may not have an angel appear to us to tell us that but we can all accept the call to be a tool in God’s hand in gathering Israel. We may not have the impact that Joseph Smith had but our actions can have eternal consequences for an infinite number of souls. That’s still a big deal.
Moroni’s words about Joseph’s name being “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” couldn’t have been more accurate. It was likely humbling for Joseph to even find out that his name would be known among all people - let alone having good and evil spoken about him.
For whatever reason, when someone stands out in the human race, good and evil is spoken of them - almost always. Our Founding Fathers are now spoken evil of - even George Washington. Any president of the United States is honored and reviled. I’ve heard people speak evil of our President Nelson. How is that even possible?? Consider what was said about Christ himself! His entrance was celebrated when he entered Jerusalem and a week later they were screaming for him to be crucified!
Satan works hard to create contention about the worthiness of righteous men and women. A good, influential person does not help Satan’s cause. If he can ruin the reputation of an honorable leader, their ability to influence others is diminished.
Right now, you could Google about Joseph Smith and you’d get pages of information about how wicked Joseph Smith was. You’d read that he was a gold-digger. You’d read article after article about his polygamy. You could find sites that would explain away anything that he did - including writing the Book of Mormon. You could read that he based it on a contemporary book or just plagiarized it from the Bible. I’ve even seen articles about his using drugs as the source of his angel visitations.
Everyone reading this can surely believe that someone could dig up your worst mistakes and write them down and make you look like a terrible person. If I could find video of your misbehavior, I could paint a pretty awful picture of you. Now, give it 200 years and see what can be made of your reputation - without you there to defend yourself! No one has ever been perfect except for Jesus. If we fixate on someone’s mistakes, we can completely alter that person’s reputation. Let’s not do it.
1:34
“He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants.”
The Book of Mormon contains the “fullness of the everlasting gospel” because it clearly outlines the fundamental principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. While the Bible is foundational and inspired scripture, the Book of Mormon complements it by clarifying and expanding upon key doctrines. Here are specific ways the Book of Mormon contributes to a fuller understanding of the gospel:
It illustrates clearly the doctrine of Christ as faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
It teaches about the premortal existence more explicitly than the Bible.
We learn more about how grace and works are interconnected and work together for our salvation.
We understand more completely the fall of Adam and Eve and their roles in the plan of salvation. We must understand the fall to better understand the need for Christ’s atonement.
The gathering of Israel is better understood.
We receive a second witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ. Anyone who was considering the idea that the story of Jesus was invented can be convinced of his role as our Savior and the Son of God. It’s one thing when one witness describes an event, it’s quite another to get a second witness saying the same thing.
We understand our covenant relationship with God and the purpose of life in this plan of salvation more clearly.
1:36-39 (D&C 2)
It’s interesting that Moroni quotes scripture. “After telling me these things, he commenced quoting the prophecies of the Old Testament. He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi; and he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy, though with a little variation from the way it reads in our Bibles.”
Why doesn’t he just speak? I think he’s demonstrating the value of understanding the scriptures. By quoting scripture rather than extemporaneously speaking his own words allows the hearer to go back to the scripture to better fully understand what was said. All that we need to know about salvation is contained in the scriptures - we don’t require a visit from an angel.
“And again, he quoted the fifth verse thus: Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. He also quoted the next verse differently: And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.” What are the promises? Why do we need to turn our hearts to our fathers?
First, the difference in this scripture it’s important. In Malachi, it reads, “And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” That’s much different. Frankly, it’s kind of hard to understand what it says in Malachi. For much of my life, I thought that this mean that the fathers would be depending on us to do their temple work. What Moroni said to Joseph clarifies.
We’re talking about the “Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood” that is described in D&C 84. Essentially, the promise to us is that, if we follow the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can inherit all that God has - which is eternal life. We can be fully exalted and become as God is. That’s a big promise - the biggest promise that can be made.
If we understand this promise, we are more motivated and likely to be faithful. If this promise is “planted in our hearts,” we truly will be born again and will stay on the covenant path. This promise is what gives us the understanding we need to keep this mortal life, with its trials and tribulations, in perspective. This eternal perspective allows us to maintain our righteousness. Without this we, along with everyone else, would struggle to be faithful. Truly, the earth would be wasted.
1:40
“In addition to these, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled. He quoted also the third chapter of Acts, twenty-second and twenty-third verses, precisely as they stand in our New Testament. He said that that prophet was Christ; but the day had not yet come when ‘they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people,’ but soon would come.” Recently, Marci and I met with a young person who had decided to stop attending church. We were asking questions to figure out what had happened. She’s an amazing person with a potentially bright future.
We did give her some counsel. She received it for the most part. She was especially responsive to our life-advice. However, anything religious didn’t strike any chords. It was as if she couldn’t hear us. It became clear that a spiritual/religious discussion wasn’t going to resonate. We could have clearly explained the plan of salvation, the necessity of Jesus Christ and his gospel for the next two weeks with a whiteboard and video and interactive assignments and it likely wouldn’t convince her of anything. Again, it was almost as if she couldn’t hear our testimonies.
We have faith in her and believe that there will be a time that she will hear the promptings of the Spirit. We have faith that she will one day want to understand the principles of the gospel. She’s on her own path and will have to learn for herself. If she permanently refuses to hear Christ’s voice, she truly will be “cut off from among the people.” Who will be doing the cutting? It will be her choice. As it is with all of us.
1:45
Moroni adds to his message. “He commenced, and again related the very same things which he had done at his first visit, without the least variation; which having done, he informed me of great judgments which were coming upon the earth, with great desolations by famine, sword, and pestilence; and that these grievous judgments would come on the earth in this generation. Having related these things, he again ascended as he had done before.” We’re seeing this happen today.
1:46
How righteous was Joseph Smith? He was a great, perhaps the greatest, prophet. He was as valiant as a spirit can be. Yet, even he had to be warned of temptation. “By this time, so deep were the impressions made on my mind, that sleep had fled from my eyes, and I lay overwhelmed in astonishment at what I had both seen and heard. But what was my surprise when again I beheld the same messenger at my bedside, and heard him rehearse or repeat over again to me the same things as before; and added a caution to me, telling me that Satan would try to tempt me (in consequence of the indigent circumstances of my father’s family), to get the plates for the purpose of getting rich. This he forbade me, saying that I must have no other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify God, and must not be influenced by any other motive than that of building his kingdom; otherwise I could not get them.”
If Joseph Smith had to be warned, how at risk are we of being tempted? Satan was aware of Joseph’s circumstances and perhaps his weaknesses. He’s also aware of ours. He knows what may be tempting for us and will whisper that temptation to us over and over again.
If you feel that you’re not tempted by any sin, you’re wrong. You are being tempted. It may be not volunteering/serving/sacrificing your time. It may be judging others. It may be pride and being pleased when your reputation increases. I’ve written before that part of why I love being a good influence on others is the increased standing that gives me in the community. My only purpose in becoming Christlike should be to “glorify God” and build his kingdom. If I have any other object in view than that, I am giving into tempting whispers.
1:49
How important is repetition for us to learn? After Joseph Smith listened to Moroni repeat the same message three times, he gets it a fourth after he had fallen down unconscious. “The first thing that I can recollect was a voice speaking unto me, calling me by name. I looked up, and beheld the same messenger standing over my head, surrounded by light as before. He then again related unto me all that he had related to me the previous night, and commanded me to go to my father and tell him of the vision and commandments which I had received.”
We humans need repetition to learn important principles. This is why we read the same books over and over again. This is why we get the same lesson in Elder’s quorum again and again. We need the repetition!
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