Elder Henry B. Eyring
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
The Prophet Joseph is an example and a teacher of enduring well
in faith. . . . I thank and love him as the Lord's prophet of the
Restoration.
On the evening before he was martyred in Carthage, the Prophet
Joseph Smith bore testimony to his guards. He testified of the
divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon. He bore witness of the
administration of angels and that the kingdom of God was again
established upon the earth.
I wonder if any of those guards prayed that night.
The Holy Ghost was ready to tell them that the remarkable message was true.
With
a testimony of the Spirit they would have known that they should
ask for baptism. And then they could have received the priceless
gift of the Holy Ghost. With that gift, they could know the truth of
all things. I wonder if any of them sensed that night how close they
were to starting down the only path which would lead them to the
Savior in the world to come, to see His face with pleasure and hear
the words, "Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for
you in the mansions of my Father."1
We all have people we love. Think of them now. They may be our
children or our grandchildren. Perhaps you think of your husband
or your wife. It may be someone you are teaching as a missionary.
It may be a friend. You want with all your heart to have them
someday hear those words from the Master. And for that blessing
to come, they will need that testimony offered by the Prophet in
Carthage burning in their hearts through all the tests of life, as it
did in his.
To begin, we can offer them the testimony of eyewitnesses. The
Lord gave others to stand with Joseph to verify what the Lord had
done. They were with the Prophet when the heavens were opened.
Oliver Cowdery preached the first missionary sermon the first
Sunday after the Church was organized. He went into the mission
field to proclaim what he knew by what he saw and heard and felt.
With two others he signed a testimony which they never denied.
Their witness is printed in the front of the Book of Mormon:
"Be it known unto all nations,
kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we,
through the grace
of God the
Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which
contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and
also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of
Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And
we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power
of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know
of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have
seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been
shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we
declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down
from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we
beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we
know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus
Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true.
And it is marvelous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord
commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be
obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of
these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we
shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found
spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with
him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to
the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
Oliver Cowdery
David Whitmer
Martin Harris"2
Those you love can have more than the physical evidence given
those witnesses by what they saw and heard. Those three witnesses
had something more, something we all need. The Holy Ghost bore
witness to their minds and hearts that what they saw and heard was
true. The Spirit told them that the angel was from God and that the
voice was that of the Lord Jesus Christ. That witness of the Spirit
was given to them and many who were not there. It is a witness
that can, if we qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost, be
ours and stay with us forever.
The Three Witnesses never denied their testimony of the Book of
Mormon. They could not because they knew it was true. They
made sacrifices and faced difficulties beyond what most people
ever know. Oliver Cowdery gave the same testimony about the
divine origin of the Book of Mormon as he lay dying. But in the
times of trial, they wavered in their faith that Joseph was still
God's prophet and that the only way to come unto the Savior was
through His restored Church. That they continued to affirm what
they saw and heard in that marvelous experience, during long
periods of estrangement from the Church and from Joseph, makes
their testimony more powerful.
The Lord gave the witness of the Spirit without the same physical
evidence to others who were severely tested by opposition and
tribulation. Brigham Young, John Taylor, Heber C. Kimball, and
many others stayed steady in their testimony. They endured in faith
because they paid the price to keep the companionship of the Holy
Ghost and the burning testimony He alone brings.
Because of that, they had more than a memory of
the moment
when the Spirit whispered to their minds and hearts that God lived,
that Jesus was the Christ, and that Joseph was their prophet. And
they had more than a memory of the feeling of peace and the joy
that witness brought. Because they qualified for the companionship
of the Holy Ghost, they could say in every circumstance, however
difficult: "I knew it then. I felt it was true then. I feel so now."
They did some simple things to keep that testimony bright and
vibrant. We can teach those we love to do those same things. Done
faithfully, they allow the Holy Ghost to be a constant companion.
And we can promise those we love that they will feel joy and peace
as the Spirit confirms truth, if they ask for that blessing in faith.
Now, we teach things of the Spirit best with both example and
testimony. I don't remember much of what my parents said about
the Holy Ghost, but I remember what I felt when I saw them do the
things which brought the Holy Ghost into our home. Here are some
things you can teach those you love with your example and
testimony, with confidence that the Lord will send the Spirit to
confirm truth to their minds and to their hearts.
Teach them to pray to the Father in faith in the name of Jesus
Christ. There is a promise in the book of Omni about that.
"And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye
should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his
salvation,
and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer
your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting
and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will
be saved."3
The young Joseph Smith showed us how to pray that way. He
believed in the promise he read in the book of James.4 He went to
the grove with faith that his prayer would be answered. He wanted
to know which church to join. He was submissive enough to be
ready to do whatever he was told to do. So he prayed, as we must,
already committed to obey.
What he was told to do required his whole soul and finally his life.
He endured during the 24 years that followed by continuing to pray
with that childlike faith and humility. We can teach those we love
to pray with the intent to obey. We can promise them they will gain
the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit will testify the
truth to their hearts every time they read in the scriptures which
came to us through the Prophet Joseph Smith. And the Spirit will
confirm again that God spoke through His prophet.
Teach them to ponder the scriptures every day, with faith that they
will be taught by the Spirit. Now listen to these words from
scripture translated by Joseph Smith. Expect to be taught now what
you should do. You will feel impressions of how you should
approach the scriptures and how you should teach that to the
people you love.
"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness
in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of
all
men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word
of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye
shall have eternal life."5
The Prophet Joseph taught us what it means to feast
on the
scriptures. He said that the Book of Mormon would get a man "nearer to God by
abiding by its precepts, than by any other
book."6 You will grow closer to the Lord and love Him more. That
is the promise in Jacob 3:2:
"O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your
heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for
ye may, if your
minds are firm, forever."
You and those you love will receive the word of God by obeying
it. That will allow them to feel His love. That is one of the great
blessings of the gift of the Holy Ghost. When we feel that love we
can know that our course in life is approved of God. That is the
feast of the delicious fruit described in the Book of Mormon.7
Teach them to sacrifice to build up the kingdom of God. That
sacrifice brings the testimony of the Spirit. The Prophet Joseph
translated a wonderful promise written by a prophet long ago for
our time:
"And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth
my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy
Ghost;
and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last
day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb;
and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how
beautiful upon the mountains shall they be."8
All can claim that promise. The youngest and the newest member
can seek to build up the kingdom of God. Zion is made up of
individuals and families. When their faith increases, the kingdom is
established more firmly. We can try to help with that every day.
Even the smallest act to build faith in another person or in a family
qualifies us for the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. The Holy
Ghost testifies of truth. Therefore, in our service, our faith
increases that Jesus is the Christ, that our Heavenly Father lives
and loves us, and that Joseph was Their prophet. You can expect
that, every time you go to a home to build faith, as a home teacher
or a visiting teacher or a friend.
Some may not feel that blessing in their Church
service. But that is because they have focused on the mechanics and not the
glorious
opportunity of publishing "peace, yea, tidings of great joy" to
God's children in His kingdom. When that is how we see our
service, we will not only be lifted up at the last day but refreshed
and encouraged along the way. And the Spirit will testify that this
is the Lord's kingdom restored in the latter days.
Teach them to love others by serving others. That brings the Spirit.
The Prophet Joseph taught that, and he lived it. Of the many
examples recorded of his loving nature, the one which most
touches me occurred in Carthage Jail the night before his death.
One of the men who went there with him was Dan Jones. The
Prophet sensed the danger from the mob. He had reason to turn
inward, to think of himself and his own peril. Instead his heart
turned outward to comfort someone else.
"When all were apparently fast asleep, Joseph whispered
to Dan
Jones, 'are you afraid to die?' Dan [answered], 'Has that time come,
think you? Engaged in such a cause I do not think that death would
have many terrors.' Joseph replied, 'You will yet see Wales, and
fulfill the mission appointed you before you die.' "9
Dan Jones survived to serve missions in Wales. Thousands of
Welsh converts came to Zion. Some were gifted singers. They
were among the first members of what became the Tabernacle
Choir. When we hear the choir sing, I hope we remember Dan
Jones, the faithful friend of the Prophet Joseph. Teach those you
love to remember Joseph's comfort given when he needed comfort.
When we comfort others, out of our faith in the Lord, He sends the
Comforter to us. And the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, gave Joseph
the power to give prophetic and loving encouragement.
Joseph showed in his loving kindness the truth
of the words
from the Book of Mormon: "Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which
is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
"But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it
endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it
shall be well with
him."10
The Prophet Joseph is for me an example and a teacher of enduring
well in faith. I do not worship him, but I thank and love him as the
Lord's prophet of the Restoration. He has helped me pray with the
intent to obey. I am better able to feast in the word and the love of
God. Because of him I feel the Holy Ghost more often in the
moments when I try to build the faith of a person in the Lord's
kingdom. And because of what I know of the Prophet Joseph and
the scriptures which were revealed through him, I more often feel
the love of God for His children and of His for me when I reach
down to lift someone up.
My prayer is that we and those we love will endure in faith in the
restored gospel of Jesus Christ and in His kingdom. I pray that we
will keep the promise as we take the sacrament to always
remember Him so we may always have His Spirit to be with us. I
pray that in family home evenings and in missionary discussions
and in all the times we worship together, we will invite the Holy
Spirit by what we do and what we say and by what we are.
I testify that God lives. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that He is
our Savior. This is His Church. Joseph was His prophet. President
Gordon B. Hinckley is His prophet today. I know this by the Spirit,
which tells me that it is true. I so testify, in the sacred name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
NOTES
1. Enos 1:27.
2. "The Testimony
of Three Witnesses," Book of
Mormon.
3. Omni 1:26.
4. See James 1:5.
5. 2 Nephi 31:20.
6. History of the Church, 4:461; see also 3
Nephi 5:18; D&C 17:6; D&C 20:6–10.
7. See 1
Nephi 11:21–23; 15:36.
8. 1 Nephi 13:37.
9. History of the Church, 6:601.
10. Moroni
7:46–47.
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