SHARON, Vt. — The Prophet Joseph Smith was foreordained for his mission to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days and was born into a family of faith to fulfill it, said Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve during the Joseph Smith Commemorative Program.

Elder M. Russell Ballard

Elder Ballard made his remarks on the anniversary of the Prophet's birth, Dec. 23, speaking along with President Gordon B. Hinckley from the place of the birth in Sharon, Vt. His address was viewed in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City as well as many other places around the world via satellite broadcast and the Internet.

Turning to another prophet to trace the legacy of Joseph Smith, Elder Ballard said, "President Brigham Young declared in 1859: 'It was decreed in the councils of eternity, long before the foundations of the earth were laid, that (Joseph Smith) should be the man, in the last dispensation of this world, to bring forth the word of God to the people and receive the fullness of the keys and power of the priesthood of the Son of God. The Lord had His eye upon him, and upon his father, and upon his father's father, and upon their progenitors clear back to . . . Adam. . . . He has watched that family and that blood as it has circulated from its fountain to the birth of that man. He was foreordained in eternity to preside over this last dispensation."

The faith of Joseph Smith's ancestors was recounted, including that of his grandfather Asael Smith who said, "It has been borne in upon my soul that one of my descendants will promulgate a work to revolutionize the world of religious faith."

"How grateful we should be for the faith and believing blood that blended together in the Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith family," Elder Ballard noted. "Just think what could have happened when Joseph came from the grove to the family cabin. In response to his mother's question of 'What is the matter?' Joseph replied, 'Never mind: all is well.' Then he said to her, 'I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.' Add to that the morning in 1823 when Joseph was working with his father but was exhausted because of Moroni's visits during the previous night. As you know, Moroni appeared to him for the fourth time and instructed him to tell his father all that he had experienced. What would have happened if his father had not responded by telling Joseph, 'It was of God and to go and do as commanded by the messenger'?"

Elder Ballard also spoke of his great-great grandfather, Hyrum Smith. He said, "We do not know all that Joseph shared with his older brother Hyrum, but we do know that Hyrum believed and faithfully stood by Joseph. We know that Joseph's family was a great support to him. We also know Joseph suffered and so did his family because of what the Lord called him to do. The constant harassment and buffeting may have been needed to keep the Lord's Prophet ever mindful of the price paid by our Lord Jesus Christ through His Atonement for the salvation of all the children of God. From the happy day of Joseph's birth until the fateful day of their death, Joseph and Hyrum were close companions. They were martyred in Carthage, sealing their testimonies as two witnesses of restored truth."

Concluding, Elder Ballard said, "Brother and sisters, let our voices resound with 'Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah.' Let us ever thank God for the Prophet Joseph Smith who began his mortal life here in this hallowed, peaceful woodland 200 years ago."