Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith
Prophet, Seer and Revelator

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Missionary Work

Even before Brigham Young was baptized, he and his brother-in-law John P. Greene went to Canada to meet with Brigham's brother, Joseph Young, a Methodist minister. Brigham told Joseph that the Lord had spoken through a prophet in the latter-days.

Brigham and his brother, Joseph were baptized and went back to Canada. "We traveled two hundred and fifty miles in snow a foot and a half deep, with a foot of mud under it. We traveled, preached and baptized 45 people in the dead of winter." Brigham Young

"I wanted to thunder and roar out the Gospel to the nations. It burned in my bones like fire pent up, so I [began] to preach . . . Nothing would satisfy me but to cry abroad in the world, what the Lord was doing in the latter days." Brigham Young.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Brigham Young Meets Joseph Smith

After Brigham's baptism, he really wanted to meet Joseph Smith. He and his good friend, Heber C. Kimball, made their way to Kirtland to visit the Prophet. He found Joseph Smith out chopping wood with Hyrum. Brigham could tell from the moment he met the Prophet that Joseph was inspired of God.

Joseph Smith knew the destiny of Brigham Young because Joseph told others that Brigham would some day lead the Church.

As soon as he could, Brigham and Heber moved to Kirtland to be near the Prophet Joseph. Joseph told Brigham that there were to be twelve apostles chosen to preach the gospel to the world. The three witness of the Book of Mormon were to choose the apostles. Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris selected Brigham Young as an Apostle of the Lord. Brigham was ordained on February 14, 1835.

"The twelve shall be my disciples, and they shall take upon them my name . . . And by [their] hands I will work a marvelous work among the children of men . . . that [many] may come unto the kingdom of my Father."
D&C 18:27, 44.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Prayer

Seven p.m. in the Lion House - time for family prayer:

The smooth tones of a bell floated throughout the house. Everyone left what they were doing and hurried down the hall. The patter of children’s small feet could be heard, skipping from every direction, followed by more-grown up footsteps. The family met in the parlor for prayer.

Eliza R. Snow sat in a place of honor, and sometimes Brigham's brothers, Joseph and Lorenzo, were present.
Brigham Young sat in a large chair, a small leather-bound book lay open in his hands. Candles flamed from brass candle sticks, giving the room a golden glow. Brigham discussed the scriptures, telling his family they should read the scriptures as if they were present in the scene. "Do you read them [the scriptures] as though you stood in the place of the men who wrote them?"

Everyone sang a hymn and then knelt. Brigham prayed for his family, the sick and the afflicted, and the Saints.

A discussion of plans and activities and events of the day followed.

"I do not know any other way for the Latter-daySaints than for every breath to be . . . a prayer for God to guide and direct his people."

Saturday, November 6, 2010

A Higher Purpose

On the surface, Zion's Camp looked like a failure, but if we look a little deeper it had a higher purpose. Nine of the first twelve apostles were on that march. Brigham Young was among the faithful. He watched Joseph Smith's leadership carefully. He said later of the experience that was where he first learned to lead Zion.

Brigham Young said, “I feel like shouting Hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew Joseph Smith." He loved the  Prophet Joseph with all his heart. What a blessing that Brigham Young was on that march.
What about your lives. Can you find the blessings in your difficult times? What is your higher purpose? How can you bless your fellowmen?

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Brigham's first job

Brigham left home when he was 16. He went to work as a carpenter, and his first task was to make a bed from an old, water-soaked log. An impossible task? He measured, sawed, hammered, scraped and notched until he had a beautiful bed frame.

He became a fine craftsman. Some of his furniture and mantle pieces are in museums in New England today.

Prophets In Person

I have created this blog because I love to read about the prophets. The fun little tid bits I'll post will enhance a Family Home Evening Lesson, teach a gospel principle or just bring a little chuckle. I love knowing that these prophets were human just like the rest of us.
 
My focus will be on the Pioneer Prophets to begin with, then I'll branch out into other time periods.
 
Enjoy