In a July 3rd posting on Facebook, President Dallin H. Oaks reminds us:
“Joseph Smith accomplished more than any mortal man could have accomplished in so short a time.
“During his 38 and a half years of life, Joseph Smith was a man of the frontier—young, emotional, dynamic, and so loved and approachable by the people that they often called him “Brother Joseph.”
“His comparative youth overarched his prophetic ministry. He was 14 at the time of the First Vision, 21 when he received the golden plates, and just 23 when he finished translating the Book of Mormon (in 65 to 75 working days).
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized when Joseph Smith was 24 years old, and over half of the revelations in our Doctrine and Covenants were given through this prophet when he was 25 or younger.
“Additionally, “[He] founded cities, including Kirtland, Far West, and Nauvoo; called and trained hundreds of church leaders; studied Hebrew and the Bible;… ran businesses, alone and with partners; developed real estate and built temples; wrote and published articles and editorials;… served in several civil capacities, including commander-in-chief of a large legion of militia men, as well as the mayor and chief judge for the city of Nauvoo… attracted tens of thousands of followers, prompting waves of converts to immigrate to the United States” (Gordon A. Madsen, Jeffrey N. Walker, and John W. Welch, eds., Sustaining the Law: Joseph Smith’s Legal Encounters (Provo: BYU Studies, 2014), xi-xii).
“The only possible explanation is Heavenly help.
“As one of his associates wrote just after his martyrdom: “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it” (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3).”
At the seminars to train new mission leaders President Oaks said, “I feel I know him, and I love him through what he revealed and taught.”
He said that some Latter-day Saints are not aware of the “massive additions” the Lord inspired Joseph Smith to make to the fullnesss of Christian doctrine. In addition to his bringing forth the Book of Mormon, the Lord restored the following doctrine through him:
- “The nature of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
- “The relative functions of these three members of the Godhead and Their relationship to mortal beings.
- “The nature of the Fall of man.
- “The purpose of mortal life in furtherance of the Father’s plan for His children to attain their eternal destiny.
- “The role of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in assuring immortality and providing the opportunity for eternal life.
- “The role of earthly and eternal marriage in the Father’s plan.
- “The role of priesthood and ordinances in the Father’s plan.
- “The role of proxy ordinances and temples in the Father’s plan.
- “The knowledge that God desires to save all of His children and that every person who has lived upon this earth — whether knowing of Jesus Christ or not — is capable of attaining the highest glory hereafter.
- “The relationship of the threefold sources of truth about man and the universe: science, scriptures and continuing revelation.”
President Oaks said: “Anyone who studies even a small part of this list — whether believer or nonbeliever — must acknowledge that Joseph Smith was the prophetic source of an immense stream of bold and new and precious religious ideas.”
