Rare insight provided of Prophet of Restoration
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A walk through the Joseph Smith Bicentennial exhibit at the Museum of Church History and Art offers visitors a glimpse of a "rare," "unusual" and "gifted" man who was foreordained, tutored, prepared and called to be the Prophet of the Restoration, said Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve.
"In this exhibit, you'll see how that preparation took place," Elder Nelson added.
The Church leader presided Feb. 2 at the media preview of the recently opened exhibit (See Feb. 5 Church News, pages 8-9.) Elder Nelson said the historic display — which marks the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith's birth — is replete with both personal artifacts and sacred documents that demonstrate how the young man from Vermont answered and fulfilled his prophetic call.
A heart surgeon, Elder Nelson said he was intrigued to find in the exhibit a collection of amputation saws and surgical instruments similar to those once used to remove infected bone from 7-year-old Joseph's leg. The antiquated instruments offer museum visitors a sense of the painful procedure young Joseph had to endure — but not enough "to cause you to lose your equilibrium," assured Elder Nelson, drawing laughter.
More important are manifestations of Joseph's call as Revelator, such as an original copy of Section 10 of the Doctrine and Covenants; a Book of Mormon manuscript; and the original Word of Wisdom revelation.
"You see the evidence of the revelations that God poured out on this gifted genius of a man," said Elder Nelson, who serves as chairman of the Church's Temple, Family and Church History Executive Council.
Also attending the media event was Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Twelve, along with Elder Gary J. Coleman, Elder Marlin K. Jensen and Elder Glenn L. Pace of the Seventy.
Elder Jensen, who oversees operations at the museum, said the exhibit serves as a reminder of Joseph's pivotal role in the Restoration. "As John Taylor said, Joseph Smith 'has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.' " (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3.)
While the 200th anniversary of the Prophet's birth is certainly worth celebrating, Elder Jensen emphasized, the exhibit does not attempt to lift Joseph Smith into some sort of divine station. "Joseph was a man."
Still, exhibit visitors "can find something about Joseph (they) can heft," Elder Jensen added.
Dubbed "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration," the exhibit is presented entirely in English and Spanish, becoming the first bilingual exhibit at the museum.
"Its day has come," explained Elder Jensen, adding the English/Spanish presentation is a nod to the evolving demographics in Utah, the United States and in the Church.
E-mail to: jswensen@desnews.com
