Gospel topic
Community of Christ (RLDS)
Tagged content
-
Quote
Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles I feel this morning to begin my remarks to you to bear my testimony to you as a servant of God that Joseph Smith is truly a prophet of God. And this pleasant and happy occasion calls to mind that if it were not for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which has been sent forth in the presence of God, that men might be made partakers of the glories to come, none of us would be here today. And this through the instrumentality of the prophet Joseph Smith. Apostle Widtsoe made this statement. Joseph Smith is the key figure in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days. The foundation of the Church which he was instrumental in restoring to earth with every doctrine, organization and movement must be attributed directly or indirectly to him. It is true, no doubt, that had he proven unfaithful to that which was entrusted to him, another would have been chosen in his stead. But the fact is that he did prove faithful. And that is why we are here today, the day and time that we should honor him because of that which is transpiring in the world and in the Church in the preparation for the Second Coming of the Son of God. It is fitting also that in connection with this that we should recognize that he was the first witness of the new dispensation of the gospel for Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The prophet himself bore record of the completion of his task here upon the earth. This happened upon an occasion not long before his martyrdom, prior to which he had hastened his preparations, and had conferred upon the twelve all of the keys, covenants, endowments, and sealing ordinances of the priesthood that he had received from heavenly messengers. And having done this, he declared, “The Lord is about to lay the burden on your shoulders, and if they kill me, the kingdom of God will roll on as I have now finished the work that was laid upon me.” Each of the successors of the prophet Joseph Smith have upon many occasions borne witness to the faithful completion of his work. President Joseph F. Smith, who knew the prophet as a boy, gave this testimony of his work. "Joseph Smith was true to the covenants that he made with the Lord, true to his mission, and the Lord enabled him to accomplish his work even to the sealing of his testimony with his shed blood." President David McKay has said, “Not only did he receive guidance and instruction from the divine head, but once received, he defended it with invincible resolution, and his reliance on truth, on virtue, and in God were most unfaltering.” Joseph Smith, foreordained as a chosen spirit in the premortal realms to be the instrument of God in this last dispensation, without question, has proved faithful and true to the great trust placed upon him. I say this with regard to the fact that the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in their hidden documents proclaim Joseph Smith to have been a fallen prophet. And even to this day, there is written in the crevices of their philosophy and their teachings this concept which nullifies the position that they attempt to hold in the world. This great prophet and seer who has done more save Jesus only for the salvation of men in this world than any other man that ever lived in it stands as a martyred witness for Jesus Christ the Redeemer of the world and of mankind.
Elder Alvin R. Dyer
.
-
Quote
Of the Seventy
Elder Jeremiah J. Morgan
.