Joseph Smith History Insights

In accordance with the President's invitation I have added this page.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/blog/my-2020-invitation-to-you-share-the-message-of-the-restoration-of-the-saviors-gospel?lang=eng

You may wish to begin your preparation by reading afresh Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision

I will update this page regularly with insights.

My 1st is as I think imagine the scene Joseph describes about the religious excitement, I can't help but picture Moroni's anticipation as he watches the time get closer to show someone, a true seeker, the plates. JSH 1:4ish

Joseph felt lost and didn't know where to turn. He didn't know which church to join. He needed help and guidance. So he prayed. This reminds me of Lehi feeling lost and after so long he too began to pray. 1 Nephi 8:8. JSH 1:13ish

In Joseph's account he refers to two prayers. The 1st lead to the 1st vision. The 2nd lead to Moroni's visit. But there was a difference between the two. The 1st he was seeking the truth. The 2nd he was again seeking the truth, but having previously been given knowledge, more was required of him. In JSH 1:27-29 he say I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my state and standing before him; for I had full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation, as I previously had one. He repented and then received and answer to his prayer.

This one might come across a negative but I wonder why Moroni had to hide the plates for 1,000 years, but then rather than Joseph hiding them again when he was done, Moroni took the plates back.

This last dispensation has currently been about 200 years. I don't know if that is very long for a dispensation. There is a general feeling that the end could be soon. A significant portion of people that have ever lived, have lived in the last 200 years.

Verse 10 made me laugh...In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it? It sounds like politics. We've just had a general election. Did you think to pray?

Interesting thought from Oliver Cowdery

On reflecting further it was as easy to be seen that amid the great strife and noise concerning religion, none had authority from God to administer the ordinances of the Gospel. For the question might be asked, have men authority to administer in the name of Christ, who deny revelations, when His testimony is no less than the spirit of prophecy and His religion based, built, and sustained by immediate revelations, in all ages of the world when He has had a people on earth?

Or in other words, how can one claim to have authority from God to perform ordinances, as if God were alive, yet, claim he is sleeping and suggest revelations are no more?