The Amazing Joseph Smith Story

Not too long ago I had a Christian friend tell me that she could accept many of the doctrines of my church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but not the story of Joseph Smith. I have run across blogs where other people kind of say the same thing-- they like the teachings of the church, but they just cannot accept Joseph Smith. And then there are those who leave the church because they feel that Joseph Smith must have been a fallen prophet because of polygamy mainly.

In case any of you don't know the story, you can read it here in Joseph's own words. Basically as a 14 yr. old boy, Joseph Smith wanted to know which church was true, so after reading in James 1:5 of the Bible, he decided to ask God for himself to know which church to join. He prayed in a secluded area, a grove of trees, and God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ actually appeared to Him and gave him instructions that he was not to join any of them. A few years later, a Heavenly messenger appeared to him and a few years after that, Joseph began translating a book similar to the Bible in that it was an ancient record of a people and God's dealings with them, The Book of Mormon. Soon after that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized with Joseph Smith as Prophet and President of the church in these latter days.

That is a super summarized version of how Christ's true church was organized after being taken from the earth when the early apostles died. It is also just the beginning of the many marvelous works and teachings that Joseph Smith performed up until his early death as a martyr in Carthage Jail. I am amazed by all the things he was able to accomplish. I know it is because he was called of God and given the power and ability to do what he did. So to answer the concern that his story of actually seeing the Father and Son when he prayed in the Sacred Grove is too surreal or amazing or that that kind of hting doesn't happen anymore:

I say -- why not? Has God ceased to be a God of miracles? The Bible is full of miraculous stories and events and of prophets communing with God. Why should it be any different today? And on top of that, the Lord has actually given us proof that we can read for ourselves-- The Book of Mormon. If you read the Book of Mormon with real intent and ask the Lord if it is true, then He will give you an answer, and if that answer is yes-- which it will be if you are sincere-- then Joseph Smith must be a modern day prophet because he's the one who translated it and he must also be telling the truth about how he got it and that he saw the father and the Son in Sacred Grove. There is nothing out of place about it. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

Then there are those who read a bunch of anti-Mormon literature and lose their testimonies. I wonder if they spent as much time studying the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price, the History of the Church and conference talks as they do reading anti- stuff, if they wouldn't be so swayed. I have a learned a few things about Joseph Smith that don't put him in a very good light especially with regards to polygamy and the secrecy that surrounded it. But I wasn't there, and I know I don't know the mind of God or the overall purpose of the whole thing, and maybe Joseph Smith was wrong about some things-- but this I do know-- that he did a lot of good and he was definitely right about a lot of very important things. He restored Christ's true church to the earth. He translated the Book of Mormon so we would have something tangible that we could search and know the truth for ourselves. He restored the keys or authority of priesthood so that baptisms and sealings and blessings could be done by the power and authority of God. He received countless revelations recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants. He translated the Pearl of Great Price. He built the first temples in the Latter days. There is more, but those are the big ones. He sacrificed so much in order to do what God commanded him. I am very grateful to him for his sacrifice.

I am very grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know there are many good people out there of other faiths. I respect that, but I hope that they will be open-minded enough to really look into my church and learn for themselves that God wants to give us even more than just the knowledge that He is there. He loves us so much. He wants us to be happy and to return home to Him with our families. There is an added benefit to having the priesthood in your home, to being sealed to your spouse, parents and children, to having the words of modern day prophets and apostles to guide us in the last days before the 2nd coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

This is my testimony. I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves us. I know that Joseph was a true prophet and that he restored Christ's true church to the earth. I know the Book of Mormon is true and was written for our day-- it helps me still on the 20th time reading it. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet and the one chosen to direct the work of the Lord and His true church today. I hope writing this will help somebody someday. You don't have to believe me-- read the Book of Mormon and find out for yourself!! God is still a God of miracles and He is as involved today with man and prophets and apostles as He was in Bible days.

Find out more at mormon.org.

Poison Hemlock in my Backyard!!

I just killed and disposed of one of the most poisonous plants in North America in my back yard!!! We basically have a wild forest in our backyard complete with Poison hemlock!! It is gone now. It is quite a pretty plant, part of the carrot family with feathery fern like leaves. It grows to be about 2-5 ft. high and flowers white umbel flowers. The stem is spotted with purple dots or stripes. My specimen was about 2 feet tall, not flowered yet. I'll post a picture of it sometime. The Romans used it to kill prisoners. It works pretty fast destroying the nervous system. It is most often confused with wild carrot. So glad to be rid of it!! Know your plants!!

Mother's Day by my daughter age 11

Mother's Day

Today is the day
When Mothers get their way.
No one will scream or yell
Not even do a tattle tale.
When presents are passed along
Everyone sings a song.
Flowers come in May
Winter! Winter! go away!
Music may fill Mothers ears
And remind her of the Happy Years
Children is the reason why you are a mother
You must teach them to love one another
Birds will chirp and sing
You may hear bells ring
Sometimes Mothers ask for strange presents
not stuff and elepheasants
When this is her way
Everyone.....

Happy Mother's Day!


Pretty good-uh!! What a happy day. I got to sleep in a bit. I'm very thankful to have 1 o'clock church this year!! I got lots of cards and happy wishes and flowers and 1 1/2 tons of compost from the dump-- that may be the strange present. I also want a valve replaced for my garden and some ink for the printer-- stuff we just don't get around to sometimes, but on mother's day and my b-day I get what I want!! Thanks! And happy Mother's day to all the mothers out there!!