Joseph Smith

As a young man of fourteen years, Joseph already had a desire to find the truth. Like the rest of his family, he was deeply religious, and when the time came for him to be baptized, Joseph had to decide which of the many Christian denominations to join. After careful study, he still felt confused. He later wrote, “So great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was [ … ] to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong [ … ] In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?”(Joseph Smith-History 1:8, 10).

Joseph turned to the Bible for guidance. He read,

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).

This verse deeply impressed him. He decided to pray about what he should do, with simple faith that God would hear and answer him. (Mormon.org)

He did that. He prayed. He received an answer. 

God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him in the sacred grove. 

He did see them, and they spoke to him. 

God answers all prayers. He answered Joseph's. 

In the spring of 1820, Joseph went to a grove of trees near his home and knelt in prayer. He described his experience: “I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me [ … ] When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith-History 1:16-17).

He then later translated the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Jesus Christ. 

I know Joseph Smith was a prophet. 

He did see God the father and Jesus Christ in person 

He did receive guidance from them 

He did follow their words

This is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. 

It is the only true church on the earth today. 

Christ lives. 

He is my savior. 

Book of Mormon

How did I come to know the Book of Mormon was true? 

It provided me answers. 

It provided comfort

It spoke to me and my life. 

And I asked. 

I asked God if it was true, and I got an answer. 

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ^aask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not ^btrue; and if ye shall ask with a ^csincere heart, with ^dreal intent, having ^efaith in Christ, he will ^fmanifest the^gtruth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost." 

Ask God, and you WILL receive and answer. 

Alone

You are alone. 

You and only you know exactly what you feel, when you feel it. 

You go through experiences and they lead you to more experiences.

Things that happen to you, and things that you go through are completely unique to you. 

 You are alone. 

Except that you aren't. 

One person has felt exactly what you feel. 

What you are going through. 

Christ. 

He is the only person that understands your experiences as you do. 

He loves you no matter what. 

He has provided the ultimate comfort. 

Next time you are hurt, angry, upset, abandoned, abused, banished, threatened, sad, disappointed, guilty, loved, happy, proud, or anything you would ever feel. He knows.

Pray. Hit your knees. Cry to him, thank Him, praise Him, ask for comfort, Love Him, 

T.