Joseph Smith: An Apostle of Jesus Christ

LDS.org ^ | Dennis B. Neuenschwander

[Paragon Defender]

Joseph Smith: An Apostle of Jesus Christ

By Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander Of the Seventy

 

 

 

Dennis B. Neuenschwander, “Joseph Smith: An Apostle of Jesus Christ,” Ensign, Jan 2009, 16–22

Adapted from a presentation to the Seventy.

 

 

 

In the Doctrine and Covenants we read that Joseph Smith was “called of God, and ordained an apostle of Jesus Christ” (D&C 20:2). The call of an Apostle is first to witness or testify of Jesus Christ. Old Testament prophets testified of His coming. The New Testament Apostles bore personal witness of Christ’s being and of the absolute reality of His Resurrection. This apostolic witness was the basis of their teaching. “Ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8) was Jesus’s instruction to the original Twelve. Peter testified on the day of Pentecost to the Jews who had gathered “out of every nation” (Acts 2:5) that “this Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:32). Similarly, Paul wrote to the Corinthians that Jesus “was seen of me also” (1 Corinthians 15:8). The sure witness of Christ’s being and the reality of His Resurrection is the first pillar of apostolic testimony.

The second pillar is centered on the Savior’s redemptive and saving power. Peter teaches that to the Lord “give all the Prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).

Without these twin pillars of testimony concerning Christ, there could be no Apostle. Such testimonies are born of experience, divine command, and instruction. For example, Luke writes that Christ showed Himself to the Apostles “alive after his passion … being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).

How does the Prophet Joseph Smith fit into these apostolic requirements? The answer is “Perfectly.”

The First Vision

Joseph Smith’s apostolic instruction began in 1820. Pondering the questions of religion, he soon found that there was no way to reason or argue one’s opinion to an authoritative conclusion concerning the correctness of the various churches or their doctrines. Short of a divine manifestation, young Joseph could add only one more opinion to the already existing “war of words and tumult of opinions” (Joseph Smith—History 1:10). But Joseph’s questions on religion were answered by the personal and physical manifestation of God the Father and His divine and living Son, Jesus Christ—an experience referred to as the First Vision.

Like that of the original Apostles, Joseph’s experience with Deity was direct and personal. There was no need for the opinion of others or the deliberations of a council to define what he saw or what it came to mean to him. Joseph’s vision was at first an intensely personal experience—an answer to a specific question. Over time, however, illuminated by additional experience and instruction, it became the founding revelation of the Restoration.

As apostolic as this manifestation of Christ’s being, existence, and Resurrection was to Joseph Smith, it was not the only thing Jesus wanted to teach him. The boy Joseph’s first lesson arose from the manifestation of Christ’s absolute, omnipotent, and divine power. Joseph learned firsthand at least one meaning of the redeeming and saving power of Christ when he prayed in the grove. As he began to pray, “Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction” (Joseph Smith—History 1:15). With every bit of energy Joseph had, he began to call upon God to deliver him from the grasp of this enemy.

“At the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction … , I saw a pillar of light. …

“It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound” (Joseph Smith—History 1:16–17).

Joseph Smith’s confrontation with the adversary is reminiscent of an experience Moses had, about which the Prophet would learn some few years later. Unlike the boy Joseph, however, Moses saw God’s greatness first and then was confronted with the power of the adversary before being delivered from his influence. (See Moses 1.)

The difference in the order of events is significant. Moses was already far into maturity and had much knowledge and influence prior to this event. By displaying His magnificent power to Moses before he faced the adversary, the Lord helped Moses put his life into perspective. After experiencing God’s glory, Moses said, “Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed” (Moses 1:10). This incident enabled Moses to withstand the temptations of the adversary that followed.

Joseph Smith, on the other hand, was an inexperienced young man, who in his lifetime would repeatedly face adversarial power and the overwhelming problems it brings. By facing the adversary first, then being saved from his assault by the appearance of the Father and the Son, Joseph learned this indelible lesson: as great as the power of evil might be, it must always withdraw with the appearance of righteousness.

This lesson was critical in Joseph’s apostolic education. He needed this knowledge not only because of the personal trials that lay ahead of him but also because of the overwhelming opposition he would face in founding and directing the Church.

The boy Joseph went into the grove seeking wisdom, and wisdom he received. His apostolic instruction had begun. Among the great apostolic lessons of this First Vision were both the physical nature of the Savior and Heavenly Father and the initial and fundamental lessons relating to Their power—each a pillar of apostolic testimony.

The Book of Mormon

Joseph Smith’s early apostolic instruction continued with his translation of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon gave Joseph access to “the fulness of the everlasting Gospel” (Joseph Smith—History 1:34), principles that were necessary to understand even prior to the organization of the Church. The Prophet was introduced to numerous “plain and most precious” (1 Nephi 13:26) prophetic and apostolic testimonies regarding the Savior, all of which served as models for him.

Indeed, the Book of Mormon prophets employ over 100 titles in their teachings of Christ, each of which helped Joseph understand the Savior’s divine role.1 By virtue of these teachings, Joseph Smith became intimately acquainted with ancient prophets, giving him insight into the divine purpose of his responsibilities.

The Book of Mormon illuminates the universality of Christ’s Atonement. The Savior’s holy sacrifice is not confined to the borders of the Holy Land of His day or even restricted to the apostolic world of the original Twelve. The Atonement encompasses all of God’s creations—past, present, and future. What an impression Jacob’s teaching of the “infinite atonement” (2 Nephi 9:7) must have made on the mind of young Joseph, especially in contrast to Christian teachings at the time.

The Book of Mormon also introduces the universality of the Resurrection and other doctrines relating to it. Discourses on this doctrine by Lehi, Jacob, King Benjamin, Abinadi, Alma, Amulek, Samuel the Lamanite, and Moroni are all rich sources of instruction.

During the translation of the Book of Mormon, the Prophet received additional valuable personal instruction concerning the redemptive and saving power of Christ. In 1828 Martin Harris persuaded Joseph to lend him the first 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript. When Martin Harris lost those pages, the Prophet felt an enormous despair.2 His mother, Lucy Mack Smith, recorded that Joseph exclaimed: “Oh, my God! … All is lost! all is lost! What shall I do? I have sinned—it is I who tempted the wrath of God. … How shall I appear before the Lord? Of what rebuke am I not worthy from the angel of the Most High?”3

For well over a month the Lord left Joseph in this terrible condition of remorse.4 Then came relief and the apostolic lesson. The Lord told Joseph:

“The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught. …

“For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him” (D&C 3:1, 4).

These words carefully describe what Joseph Smith had been experiencing. He had learned the exacting nature of the apostolic call and to whom the Apostle, at all cost, owes his loyalty. “Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words,” Joseph was told, “yet you should have been faithful” (D&C 3:7–8). Joseph Smith had lost access to the plates for a season and had been taught an invaluable lesson. Subsequently, the plates were returned, and his position as translator restored.

How critical were the lessons provided by the translation of the Book of Mormon as Joseph Smith grew in his apostolic calling! The Book of Mormon is the “keystone of our religion”5 because it contains so many prophetic testimonies of Christ and stands as a tangible witness of the Restoration.

Continuing Revelation and Scripture

After finishing the translation of the Book of Mormon in 1829 and organizing the Church in 1830, Joseph Smith had the opportunity to receive continuing apostolic education through the process of translating other scripture. This included three years of translating the Bible and, beginning in 1835, translating the book of Abraham. Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible expanded his understanding of the role of Old Testament prophets and New Testament Apostles. It also resulted in additional revelation, namely the book of Moses.

The book of Moses provided the Prophet with important knowledge about the Savior’s ministry, including His role in the Creation. “The Lord spake unto Moses, saying: … I am the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God; by mine Only Begotten I created these things” (Moses 2:1). Further, He said, “And worlds without number have I created; … and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten” (Moses 1:33).

The book of Moses clarified Christ’s relationship to the Father in the premortal existence and reinforced the Prophet’s understanding of the ascendant power of righteousness. One of the most beautiful of all the apostolic lessons that came to Joseph Smith in this revelation was the confirmation of God’s love. It was so different from the harsh, unforgiving, and judgmental personage so many believed God to be; the book of Moses reveals a God of infinite compassion. Enoch saw that the “God of heaven … wept” (Moses 7:28) over those who would not receive Him. Wishing to know how it was possible, Enoch was given an answer that has a familiar biblical feel to it: “I [have] given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father. … Wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?” (Moses 7:33, 37; see also Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:37–39).

Through the translation of the book of Moses, the Prophet also became more acquainted with the redeeming and saving power of the Savior. As the Lord said, this earth was created “by the word of my power” (Moses 1:32) for the purpose of bringing “to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Many long years before the Savior taught Thomas and the Twelve that “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6), He revealed to Moses that “this is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time” (Moses 6:62).

The First Vision in the grove, the translation of the Book of Mormon, the revision of the Bible, the revelation of the book of Moses, and the translation of the book of Abraham laid the basic foundation of the Church, largely through the rapidly expanding knowledge and testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith relating to Jesus Christ.

Revelations given to him and compiled in the Doctrine and Covenants contain a wealth of knowledge concerning the Savior. One could research the numerous topics and cross-references of the Topical Guide and Guide to the Scriptures referring to Jesus Christ and still not understand the breadth of information on the Savior that the Prophet Joseph Smith brought to the world. I am grateful to know that Jesus was “in the beginning with the Father” (D&C 93:21). I am grateful to know that He “suffered these things for [me], that [I] might not suffer if [I] would repent” (D&C 19:16).

My Testimony of What the Prophet Revealed

I am grateful for yet one other thing about the Savior’s ministry that stirs my soul deeply. From studying the promises of Malachi, Moroni’s initial visit with Joseph, the Savior’s words to the Nephites, and the visit of Elijah in the Kirtland Temple, I learn that God loves His children and has provided a way for each to return to Him. I know of no doctrine more just, no teaching that gives more hope than that of redemption of the dead. I am so grateful for the revelations that teach me that the Savior’s Atonement reaches to those who have lived, loved, served, and hoped for a better day yet never heard of Jesus or had the opportunity to embrace His gospel. This knowledge alone would be sufficient to convert me to the gospel if I knew nothing else at all. Here, at least for me, is the ultimate testimony of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice.

What, then, can be said of the incomparable saving power of Christ? That which Joseph Smith learned in the Sacred Grove about the power of righteousness overcoming evil foreshadows the final scene. So reveals the Lord:

“I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me—having done this that I might subdue all things unto myself—

“Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment” (D&C 19:2–3).

Our own testimonies of the Savior are framed by the testimony and teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Is it any wonder then that the Prophet taught that “the fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”6

Joseph Smith’s apostolic testimony of the divine reality and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as his knowledge of the redemptive and saving power of the Savior, can best be seen by the Prophet’s own beautiful, powerful, and succinct witness:

“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).

How grateful I am for the apostolic call of Joseph Smith.

 

 

 

Notes

1. See Book of Mormon Reference Companion, ed. Dennis L. Largey (2003), 457–58.

2. See Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith, ed. Preston Nibley (1958), 128–29.

3. History of Joseph Smith, 128, 129.

4. The 116 pages were lost in June 1828. In July Joseph Smith received what is now section 3 of the Doctrine and Covenants. In September the plates were returned to the Prophet. See the historical introductions to D&C 3; 10.

5. History of the Church, 4:461.

6. History of the Church, 3:30.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MHGinTN]

Thank you for the ping. You've presented this issue more fully than I tried to do with Resty. From her flippant response it would appear she will not read the material when posted for her. But thank you for expanding the material to such clarity.

[DelphiUser]

Galatians 1: 7-9, the words of Paul to Christians tempted to consider new “revelations”—

You know that Galatians was written before Revelations and John, right? If we take your interpretation of scripture, then those have to be cut out of the Bible... I'd rather keep the Gospel of John thanks.

As for Galatians, I believe Paul was talking about the Apostasy from Knowledge that happened in 325 AD, you know it as the First council of Nicea, where the Nicene creed was created by a pagan to make the gospel more palatable to the citizens of Rome.

Not going to spam the thread, but look here for links to sources in the Catholic encyclopedia on line.

We are all free of ignore evidence that does not support our position, that won't make your/my position more "correct" and it's God's opinion that matters, not your or mine. I have looked at your side, care to look, honestly look, at mine? No? well, you won't be able to tell God I didn't try.

As for Jim's site, yes it is his site. He is free to break the rules he has set up for the rest of us, he has the power to do so. He does not have the power to control the reaction to the rule breaking at the top.

Your invented theology is offensive to many of us, but we can still be associates and workers together in conservative causes if you would just leave your book of mormon in the drawer with your holy underwear when you’re on FR.

I would argue that your invented theology is offensive, but now we get to the rub, if "right" is up to a vote then Jesus was wrong, for he was outvoted by the Sanhedrin, if majority rule is not God's way (and it's not) then how many people are on what side does not matter.

As for leaving my religion at home. There is a religion area here. I have never gone to any thread about any other religion and posted my beliefs or demeaned their religion. I will defend my religion from unreasoning and unreasonable attacks on this or any forum. I have been a member of Freerepublic for many many years, I have never been banned because I have striven to obey the rules, even when others broke them blatantly.

You want us to not post religious things here, fine, do away with the section, no attackers, no defense. I for one was very frustrated when Mitt Romney ran for president last time. I wanted to talk about his Conservative credentials (or more specifically the lack of them) and could never have a political conversation because all the antis wanted to do was talk religion. Go Google me and Mitt, and look you'll see that that was and is my position, so take away the religion area here, you won't hurt my feelings, but since it's here, I will post until banned in defense of what God himself has testified to me.

[Paragon Defender]

kinderhook plates again? seriously?

See this is what I mean about regurgitated propaganda.

[reaganaut]

Why??/Aren’t they all sinners saved by the Grace of Jesus Christ?

- - - - - -
Not if they reject grace in favor of works which both the LDS and JW’s do. Been there, done that, got the H*** out and got saved by Grace.

[humblegunner]

I know you won't care that you are intimidating people and cutting off free speech

Well, you could always simply convert to Christianity.
Problem solved.

[Godzilla]

ummm my truthful answer was a reply to him. Why would I include you?

Truthful??? Hardly, it is VERY well documented by both mormon and non-mormon egyptologists that the so-called translation of the boa bears NO resemblence to the true translation of the papyri - but then why let hard and fast facts stand in the way of a bogus faith. But then Sentinel included me in that same post.

Think you can sort through your hat of rocks and show that boa is a true translation.

[dragonblustar]

Thank you for those links. I have bookmarked them and will look through them.

[reaganaut]

Jesus said by there fruits you will know them...

- - - - - -
Umm...Tara, go back and re read that in context. Jesus is talking about FALSE PROPHETS not believers.

And the ‘fruits’ of Joseph Smith show he is indeed a false prophet. The lies he spread and the heresies he promoted show Smith to be in league with Satan, not God.

[SENTINEL]

Your assertion is not supported by facts in evidence.

I implore lds members to prove me wrong. Read the whole story, find the faults in my arguments and PROVE ME WRONG !

Paragon, BEAR NO MORE FALSE WITNESS AGAINST ME !

[dragonblustar]

"Let me show you my seer stones"!

LOL

[brytlea]

I agree, if they accept Jesus as their savior. I wasn’t sure if that’s what you meant, I just wanted clarification. These days so many people believe everyone is saved.

[T Minus Four]

just eliminate Mormon discussions period.

I'd be all for that.

I just bet you would. What's wrong, can't stand up to the scrutiny?

Sorry, there's not a rock big enough to slither back under.

[Godzilla]

See this is what I mean about regurgitated propaganda.

Fake plates are only "translated" by fake prophets

"I insert fac-similes of the six brass plates found near Kinderhook... I have translated a portion of them, and find they contain the history of the person with whom they were found. He was a descendant of Ham, through the loins of Pharaoh, King of Egypt, and that he received his Kingdom from the ruler of heaven and earth."
Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., History of the Church, v. 5, p. 372

Words of the prophet himself PD. Are you telling us the prophet barfed all over himself? If so, I would whole heartedly agree!

[SENTINEL]

Propaganda ?

I posted a PHOTOCOPY OF THE WORDS OF flds/lds "prophet" JOSEPH SMITH PUBLISHED IN THE FLDS/LDS OWN "HISTORY OF THE CHURCH" !!! WHO ARE YOU TO QUESTION OR ALTER HIS WORD ?

The plates WERE CREATED BY SOME TRYING TO PROVE SMITH WAS A FRAUD, AND SMITH ADMITTED IT WORKED !

[Godzilla]

Paragon, BEAR NO MORE FALSE WITNESS AGAINST ME !

Like I said earlier Sentinel - when their arguments fail the only other tool they have is the personal attack.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“There are a lot of Mormons who support your conservative cause Jim. Please don’t forget that, to the end. I really don’t agree with you on this issue, but thanks for what you have done for our common cause.”

Rip,

The problem arose because mormons did and do use FR to
proselytize. This is the very reason that members who
post contradicting mormonism exist - to shine the light
of Christian truth onto the claims made here - and not
allow one-sided proselytizing to occur.

Now it is happening inside “caucus” threads, where no one
else is allowed to contradict the falsehood that is posted.
Just look at how many times a mormon caucus thread has been
opened up with the comment that the material was antagonistic
toward Christians. It has been frequent.

I’m glad you are here as a conservative. I find you to be
reasonable and a FRiend. It is the mormonic proselytizing
that is the issue on this thread.

best,
ampu

[Alamo-Girl]

You are quite welcome, dear brother in Christ, and thank you so very much for your insightful post about the name of God, Emmanuel, God with us!

[caww]

Smith’s description of Moroni was as follows:

...I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor. He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. It was a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen.... Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person.

This description is nearly identical to those given by New Agers and other occultists of similar encounters with spiritual entities........ However, that it could not have been an angel of God is evident from the fact that the visitation was the result of an attempt to conjure up the dead according to occult formulae....... This practice is forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Isaiah 8:19).

It is also interesting to note that this entity was originally identified in the earliest accounts of the visitation as “Nephi.” This name and its derivatives have played an important role in the occult arts.

For instance, “Nephiomaoth” was one of the magical names of God used by the “Christian” Gnostics of the First Century....... According to the Jewish Kabbalah and other occult texts, “Nephes,” “Neph,” or “Nephum” was used to signify “that which is called out by Magicians and Necromancers”..... “Moroni” itself also was associated with the occult.

It is this spirit who, via the Book of Mormon, has instructed millions of Mormons and prospective converts to the LDS church to do the following:

“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye should ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

This “manifestation” of the “power of the Holy Ghost” is further described in Doctrine and Covenants: “...Behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it be right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong....”

Mormons rely upon this promised “burning of the bosom” experience as a testimony of the truthfulness of their church and its prophet. However, the folly of obeying the instructions of an entity, that, if indeed real, was actually a demonic spirit conjured up by a modern sorceror should go without saying.

[reaganaut]

I remember two lds being banned for claiming I had threated them physically by freepmail. Not such thing had occurred and Jim Rob himself told me I was being set up.

Lately I’ve been told my name has been turned over to the FBI and ATF as a shooting and arson suspect for incidents 3000 miles form where I live.

- — - - —
I remember that. That was a low even for the LDS on here.
Let’s see recently we have been accused of arson, murder, conspiracy to murder and called Nazi’s.

I had one guy threaten to find out my IRL info and ‘teach me a lesson’, implying violence. And one guy got banned for stalking Grey and posting her IRL info. All, because we tell the LDS the truth. I’m starting to see how things got out of hand in Missouri and why Boggs did what he did.

The more I work with the LDS, the more I am starting to believe in demon possession.

[SENTINEL]

Delphi I asked you a simple question which you have not answered.

Which bible do you use, the Joseph Smith Translation, "corrected" and written by the man you claim communed with God himself and founded your church.....Or the King James Version which Brigham Young ordered to be used after he declared the JST "spurious" and a fraud ?

Simple question, JST or KJV ?

ATTENTION LURKERS...WITNESS MORMON SPIN IN ACTION.