Testimony of the Prophet is essential
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No person can understand the Church or its mission without knowing of its divine origin, said President James E. Faust on Dec. 23.
Speaking from Salt Lake City during the Joseph Smith Commemorative Program, President Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, said every person who claims membership in the Church should have his own personal witness concerning the truthfulness of "the remarkable story of Joseph Smith, of his beginnings, of his teachings, of his testimony and of his life."
"The early history of the Church is quite complete and has been combed over many times, but the impression that looms largest is the stature of Joseph Smith," said President Faust. "Joseph Smith will be discussed, debated and challenged, but no one can argue with the success of the work which he introduced. What makes this work really live is the individual testimony of the members of the Church that Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration."
President Faust said the Doctrine and Covenants tells Church members that they "shall declare the things which have been revealed to my servant Joseph Smith, Jr." There are things revealed to Joseph Smith that are transcending in importance, he added.
"One of the most significant of these things is the nature of the Godhead," he said. "Joseph Smith saw in vision God the Father and His son, Jesus Christ, in the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, N.Y. . . . He had seen God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ face to face and had conversed with them as one man converses with another."
President Faust said other things were revealed to Joseph Smith that Church members are under obligation to declare including the great plan of happiness — "the knowledge of where we came from, why we are here and where we may go."
Church members are also indebted to Joseph Smith "for the Book of Mormon and the great truths that it contains."
President Faust said the Prophet Joseph was imprisoned several times during his lifetime. "Section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants contains a comforting message to the Prophet while in prison, and powerful doctrine concerning the priesthood. Verse 7 reads: 'My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment.' Verse 46 reads: 'The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.' "
President Faust said there is safety in staying close to the things revealed to Joseph Smith. "In so doing we can be counted among those of whom the Prophet Joseph wrote: 'These love the God that I serve; they love the truths that I promulg(at)e; they love those virtuous and those holy doctrines that I cherish in my bosom with the warmest feelings of my heart; and with zeal which cannot be denied.' "
