JOSEPH, THE PIONEER OF OUR FAITH

 

Imagine you were called into your Bishop’s office and he said he had a brand- new calling that he feels God wants only you to fill. He tells you there will be members in your ward who will oppose you every step of the way, call you a fraud and even attempt to kill you for it. Would you accept?

This is Joseph, the Prophet of this Dispensation. He was called by God for our generation to have God’s word through him only and in no other way (D&C 5:10; see also “Sermons and Writings of Bruce R. McConkie [1989] p 19). In other words, a brand-new calling.

I am often amazed at the sheer magnitude of the responsibility Joseph had in restoring the Saviour’s Church. Not so much the work involved or even the persecution of the unbelievers, as great as that was, but the opposition which he had to deal with within the Church.  

When you consider that most of the early converts came from Christian backgrounds where they were no doubt indoctrinated in the concept that revelation from heaven has ceased, it is no surprise to me then that his death originated from within the Church. I don’t know how he withstood one betrayal after another, none of which prospered against him:

“In early 1844, a group of apostates in Nauvoo, Illinois, declared the Prophet Joseph Smith to be a fallen prophet and tried to start a rival church. Some even held secret meetings, during which they plotted to kill him. (See Glen L. Leonard, “Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, A People of Promise” [2002], 357-62.

There has been opposition to Joseph’s calling as the prophet of this Dispensation from the commencement of the Church to today. The Lord’s prophecy that ‘the ends of the earth shall inquire after his name and fools shall have him in derision’ (D&C 122:1) has truly been fulfilled. Joseph’s name has been slandered over and over. He has been called a gold digger, a fraud, a false prophet and a tool of Satan.

Joseph was also told in Liberty Jail that hell shall rage against him (D&C 122:1). There is only one person who is in charge of hell. Joseph was on Satan’s radar right from the beginning when he tried to silence him in the Grove (JSH 1:15): “It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom else why should the powers of darkness combine against me?” (JST 1:20) And combine they did.

There is another who was called to a brand-new calling that would lead to His death. A greater disturber of Satan’s kingdom than Joseph. One of the accusations by the Sanhedrin that led to Jesus’ death was their claim that He too was a tool of Satan by whom He performed His miracles (Matthew 12:24-27).

We too are annoyers and disturbers of Satan’s kingdom. As the saints of this the last Dispensation we have ‘a labour to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness….” (Moroni 9:6). The greatest calling of all…..and not for the faint hearted.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Joseph by Brent Borup)