I Spent 4 YEARS Studying Joseph Smith’s Life - My Unexpected Conclusion

Comments · 1.7K

• RO

  @rodneysylvester8249 · 3 months ago

  I've been on a similar journey studying Joseph (as a church critic) and I've come to realize that I actually do believe him, despite his flaws.  The BOM is profound and his theology is robust, and it now finally makes sense to me, so I'm headed back to church.

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• EZ

  @EzekielsCelestialMachine · 3 months ago

  If people think a prophet having flaws is problematic they have failed to read their Bibles. The Biblical prophets flaws were apparent but that didnt mean they werent prophets. Joseph is in good company.

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• EN

  @Energizerd3 · 3 months ago (edited)

  His humanity is what finally convinced me. That he was and is a prophet. Whether or not any of the claims people make about him are true, it doesn’t negate the possibility of him being a prophet. If someone like me can receive guidance and direction from God—even when my faith in the restoration was nonexistent—who the hell am I? A spiritual vagabond. A man<br><br>Who am I to say he isn’t a prophet? If God can use me, why not him?<br><br>Even when I failed to keep all of the commandments—like a man. Even when I despaired—like a man. Even when I fell short—like a man. That doesn&apos;t mean I didn&apos;t also have faith, or hope that didn’t make sense to others. It doesn&apos;t mean I didn&apos;t conquer challenges, serve others, repent, and have inspiration and integrity.<br><br>I saw him. He is a lot more like us—just with a different calling, at a different time. Everything he went through was a perfect catalyst for the restoration to be done through him. Thank goodness for that. Thank you for sharing this, Jacob.

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• GO

  @gotyobackbro5781 · 3 months ago

  Joseph making the statement: &quot;If my life is of no worth to my friends, it is of no worth to me.&quot; &nbsp;Man...That is incredibly heartbreaking to me. &nbsp; Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah. &nbsp; I love that man.

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• CE

  @cellorobynbrown · 3 months ago

  I was singing along to your closing song when the words, &quot;Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old&quot; had me in tears. The Spirit testified to me again that Joseph Smith is a prophet.

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• KA

  @kathealey · 3 months ago

  During my mission to Milan Italy, I was very green on the mission, still learning the language and not speaking fluently AT ALL. &nbsp;We held an English class and after the class for those who wanted to stay we would hold a Family Home Evening. &nbsp;For this particular FHE we handed everyone who stayed a picture of a prophet for each person to discuss, what they knew about them, when they lived, etc. &nbsp;Well, it was my birthday, and the elders thought they would be funny and they gave me the final picture - Joseph Smith. &nbsp;As everyone was going around the circle I was praying as hard as I could. &nbsp;I asked Heavenly Father if Joseph truly was a prophet and that I needed to KNOW and to open my mouth, because I couldn&apos;t speak the language very well. &nbsp;When it came to me, I had an immense calm come over me and I kind of blacked out but started speaking. &nbsp;I was able to give the account of the first vision and bear my testimony in PERFECT ITALIAN - as if I lived there my entire life. &nbsp;We gave away many copies of the Book of Mormon that evening. &nbsp;I will never forget it - and can now NEVER DENY that I KNOW Joseph Smith was a prophet and saw exactly what he said he saw and encountered.

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• DA

  @darlayeates510 · 3 months ago

  I was 12 years old &nbsp;in 1972 when I was asked to give a talk in Sacrament meeting as a youth speaker. The topic was the &nbsp;restoration &nbsp;of Jesus Christ&apos;s church through Joseph Smith. My talk centered on the appearance of God the Father and Jesus Christ to the 14 year old Joseph Smith. &nbsp;Throughout the talk, &nbsp;I felt only the discomfort of my shaking hands and knees out of nervousness. But once I had finished my talk and sat back down, an undeniable confirmation from the Holy Ghost entered my heart and soul bearing testimony that Joseph Smith had indeed seen God and Jesus Christ in answer to his prayer and that he was God&apos;s chosen vessel to restore his Church once again to the earth. This beautiful video once again opened my spiritual eyes (as many ,other times through the years) to see that today, Joseph Smith stands with Christ and continues this wonderful work &nbsp;side by side with Him from the other side of the veil. No one can take away a witness from the Holy Ghost. What a glorious privilege it is to be a member of His Church.

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• VE

  @Vetionarian · 3 months ago

  As someone who has battled with Joseph (and also Brigham for that matter), I really needed this. I felt the Spirit tell me that I don&apos;t have to have all the answers to believe that Joseph truly was a prophet of God. Nobody is perfect save Jesus Christ.

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• TO

  @TofuTal · 3 months ago

  This was an awesome take, Brother Hansen. Thank you. ❤

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• RA

  @ravagetime · 3 months ago

  I won&apos;t forget the last prayer I heard my grandfather give. In it he said, &quot;we thank thee for the prophet Joseph Smith.&quot; The sincerely in the way he said that stood out to me. You may have studied Joseph for 4 years. My grandpa studied the man for over 40 years.

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• SP

  @SpiritusRector · 3 months ago

  Ich bin seit 50 Jahren ein Mitglied der LDS Church und das aus völliger Überzeugung ,es gibt zwei Dinge die mir ein Zeugnis sind das Joseph Smith ein von Gott erwählter Prophet und die Lehre und Kirche wahr ist. 1. Ich habe damals beim Studieren der Lehren der LDS Church, persönlich den hl.Geist bei mir gehabt, es war ein so unglaubliches Ereignis und zum weiteren die wahnsinnige Komplexität der Lehre .Der hl.Geist erweitert meinen Verstand und läßt mich kostbare unglaubliche Dinge verstehen. Joseph Smith war ein natürlicher Mensch mit Schwächen, aber mit den notwendigen edlen und rechtschaffen Attributen um von Gott zum Propheten berufen zu werden.

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• TH

  @themountainmindset2751 · 3 months ago

  This was spot on. I never comment but here we go. - The story of Bro Joseph I believe has been divinely orchestrated in such a way that it allows for and requires a person to CHOOSE to believe or not believe. In the life of this man there are both reasons to believe and reasons to not believe depending on how you see them. This way it comes down to a person choosing which side they want to be on of their own free will. Nothing will convince you one way or the other but you can follow your heart and mind and choose which path to take. If Joseph was polished and spoke with roaring thunder and never made a mistake or did anything a prophet wouldn’t do then people would believe for that and not seek out their own witness of his calling. &nbsp;I choose to believe.

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