Lessons from Joseph Smith | Bonnie L. Oscarson

Joseph Smith's life teaches us about reaching our potential, standing up to criticism, and more. A testimony of this prophet brings us closer to the Savior.

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/bonnie-l-oscarson_lessons-joseph-smith/

"On December 23, 1805 a poor farmer’s wife by the name of Lucy Mack Smith gave birth to a baby boy who was named after his father Joseph Smith. He was their fourth child—he had two older brothers and an older sister. Who could have guessed that this little obscure baby boy born in a small rented log house in the woods of Vermont to a family of very meager means would one day be described like this:

'Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.'

And so we can learn our first lesson from Joseph Smith’s simple beginnings. I testify that Joseph Smith was foreordained in the premortal life to be the prophet of the restoration. He was born with certain gifts and abilities which he worked hard to develop. He took advantage of every possible opportunity to learn and grow. He was willing to stretch and extend his capacity, all of which helped him fulfill his mission.

I also testify that each one of you came to earth foreordained to accomplish certain things. Just as there was nothing very remarkable about that little baby boy born in the woods of Vermont, it is perhaps hard to understand that you have the potential to make a great difference in the world. I assure you that every single person sitting in this audience today has the capacity to become a mighty tool in the hands of the Lord in accomplishing deeds of eternal worth. I suspect that if we could see ourselves as the Lord sees us, we would all be astounded with our potential...

I love the Prophet Joseph Smith. His life, example, and experiences provide a rich resource for our learning and understanding of gospel principles. I have mentioned only three today—striving to be the best we can be, holding onto our faith in the face of criticism, and making repentance a part of our daily lives. A close study of the life of this prophet of God will yield many more rich and important life lessons.

It’s interesting, as controversial questions have arisen in more recent times about Joseph Smith and some aspects of Church history, I feel grateful for that time in my life. I read all of those things years ago as I studied the life of Joseph Smith and the history of the early days of the Church. I am already familiar with many of the slanderous reports made by the prophet’s detractors in his time so when they begin to resurface as “new information,” my response was, “Really? This old stuff again?” Accurate knowledge together with faith is the best defense against skepticism.

We are encouraged to include in our testimonies that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration. I recently found a statement by Elder Bruce R. McConkie which explains why. He said, “The prophet Joseph Smith . . . is one of the great dispensation heads, and a dispensation head is a revealer for his age and his period of the knowledge of Christ and of salvation.” Elder McConkie goes on to state that there have always been testimony meetings and that if we had lived in the days of Adam or Enoch, we would have testified of their true callings and linked them to the Savior.

And so I testify to you that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and that Joseph Smith was called and foreordained before this world was to stand at the head of this dispensation as the legal administrator with the keys and authority for this period of time. He is the revealer of the knowledge of Jesus Christ and of salvation for our day. I testify that in His life we can learn many important gospel lessons to inspire and guide our lives. I testify that the Book of Mormon is a true record and stands as a second witness of the mission of Jesus Christ. I testify that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom on the earth today. I know of these things through the power and testimony which has come through the Holy Ghost." - Sister Oscarson

Bonnie L. Oscarson was the Young Women General President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this devotional was given on 6 December 2016.

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