LOGAN, UTAH

God’s hand wove together a tapestry of prophets and reformers who prepared the world for the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, said Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve during the Joseph Smith Memorial Fireside on Sunday evening, Feb. 13.

“All of us will find courage and strength in reviewing the lives of ancient and modern prophets and apostles as discussed tonight,” said Elder Ballard.

“We can find strength in reviewing the tapestry of faith in God as evidenced in the lives of the reformers. … We will come to know of God’s almighty hand over the Prophet Joseph Smith and his family. Whether you were born in the Church or you are a brand new convert, the lessons of the past will inspire you.”

Speaking to thousands of students gathered in the Spectrum Building on the campus of Utah State University, Elder Ballard addressed the topic, “The Tapestry of God’s Hand.”

“Tonight I want to explain to you students that our Heavenly Father had His eye on the Joseph Smith family from the beginning of time up to 1820 when He and His Beloved Son visited Joseph and began the preparation for Joseph to become the Prophet of the Restoration of the fullness of the gospel in this last dispensation which is to prepare for the second coming of Christ,” Elder Ballard said.

He said the Lord not only foreordained Joseph Smith, but also provided him schooling and tutoring to help him fulfill his earthly mission to restore the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth.

“When we hear the name ‘Joseph,’ we see God's hand weaving together a tapestry of prophets and dispensations preparing the world time after time for the restoration of the gospel after periods of apostasy,” he said.

Elder Ballard said that over the generations of time, the gospel of Christ has been on the earth and lost.

“Now think, my brothers and sisters, about the price that others have paid to establish the freedom of religion essential for Joseph Smith to come to earth to fulfill his mission,” he said. “Think of the hundreds, perhaps even thousands, who were protesters of Christendom during the dark ages of the Great Apostasy. Many gave their lives for the right of all people to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience.”

Elder Ballard listed examples:

— John Wycliffe was a brilliant scholar and theologian who worked to bring about religious freedom, he said. After Wycliffe’s death, the King had his remains dug up and burned to show disrespect.

— John Huss embraced the teachings of Wycliffe and taught the gospel as he understood it from the scriptures. He was burned at the stake because of his religious beliefs, said Elder Ballard.

— Martin Luther created controversy when he publicly called for reformation by posting, on his church door in Wittenberg, Germany, a list of issues that he felt needed to be debated. He translated the New Testament into German, explained Elder Ballard.

— Ann Askew was burned at the stake in 1546 because she would not recant her beliefs.

— William Tyndale, an English reformer of the early Sixteenth Century, fled to Germany to complete the English translation of the Bible and had it printed.

— Hugh Latimer was an English reformer who was asked to recant his cries for people to be able to read the Bible in their common language. He refused and was burned at the stake.

“These are but a few of the many accounts of people who gave their lives to bring to the world the scriptures and religious freedom,” said Elder Ballard. “Can you see my dear young friends what was required for the day of the Restoration? What reverence we should have for these heroes – that everyone should have for those who sacrificed their all in preparing the way for the restoration of the gospel. I hope this tapestry of faith and sacrifice is touching your hearts tonight and you will have, as I have, a deep feeling of gratitude.”

Elder Ballard said last month he returned from a visit to Central America where he met in four LDS missions with 1,100 missionaries. He also met with local stake presidencies, bishops, and branch presidents presiding over the ever growing Mormon Church in those countries.

“I hope that not one of you would ever question that the Prophet Joseph Smith was foreordained to the great work he was called to do. Knowing what we know about the past history of faith and sacrifice through the generations of brave and courageous sons and daughters of God, my brothers and sisters, we are duty bound to learn all we can about the doctrine and gospel of Christ. And we are bound by covenant to share what we know to be true at all times and in all places.

“We owe so much to those who have paved the way for our having the fullness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ to guide our lives today.“

sarah@desnews.com