December 15th Marquelle Morgan The Life of Joseph
Smith
Marquelle began by playing a song by Kenneth Cope called
“Broken.” Click Here for a YouTube
video. The lyrics focus on how our Lord asks for a broken heart, and asks us to
break down our pride, and wants His image broken into our countenance. Our Lord loves broken things, including
broken us. Including imperfect Joseph
Smith.
Marquelle bore her testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet
and that she had very tender and powerful feelings while preparing this
lesson. She encouraged everyone to read
it. Click HERE to go to the lesson.
Several people shared the feelings they have had in the
presence of prophets. Ashlee Gill told
of feeling a presence behind her before turning to see President Eyring
standing behind her in a store. Lorenzo
snow was one of the few left in his day that knew the prophet Joseph Smith
well. He testified that her Spirit was
always with him and you could feel it when you saw him or heard him speak. Other ministers of the day would be serious
and solemn. Joseph Smith could laugh and cause laughter and still maintain the
power of the Spirit about him.
Lacey Denson talked about going to the Manti Temple where
she grew up. The Manti Temple still have
live sessions, meaning that all the temple rolls are fulfilled by living temple
workers from the community. She tenderly
expressed the feelings of seeing and hearing these simple farm folk acting in
those sacred roles. These simple, broken people act with power.
Joseph Smith was young, uneducated, and just trying to
figure it out. God promised that those
who would accept his message would receive a divine manifestation. Loranzo Snow said that when he saw Joseph
Smith walk out of the Johnson Farn to 150-200 people he felt a presence that he
will never forget.
Marquelle played a wonderful talk by Elder Holland. Click HERE to read that talk. She didn't begin quoting until about 1/2 way through the talk. He spoke
of the terrible time Joseph Smith had in Liberty Jail. He said those times will come for all of us,
and when they do we cannot believe that God has abandoned us. We must continue to believe, continue to
pray. When we weep the angels of heaven
weep with us. Heavenly Father said to
Joseph, “My son, peace be unto they soul…” The Savior has graven us upon His
hands and I promise that He will not turn His back on us now after paying such
a tremendous price. We must live the gospel at all times, not just when things
are going well or when it is convenient.
The real depth of our discipleship is tested when we are in
distress. It is not easy when we have
been offended, or are being tried, or are in pain.
Marquelle had the opportunity to go to many of the church
history sites this summer. She testified
of the powerful spirit she felt while she was there. But she also testified that whether there or
not, she knows by the Holy Ghost that the gospel is true and Joseph Smith was a
prophet. She doesn’t need to see
pictures or stand in the places. She
knows and we can too if we ask.
