Prayer for Joseph Smith in the Restoration

In the year 1820 Joseph Smith went into a grove of trees, knelt down and prayed to our Heavenly Father. In response to this humble prayer God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ came down and spoke to Joseph Smith. In his own words Joseph said, “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!” This event started the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ and initiated the beginning of the dispensation of the fullness of times.

I know that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration. I know that God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ did, in reality appear to the boy prophet. I know that through Joseph Smith, our Heavenly Father restored the truths of the gospel, in their fullness to the earth today. And if we will study and live according these truths, to the best of our ability, we can someday return to live with our Heavenly Father in His Celestial Kingdom.

But this isn’t nearly as easy as it sounds. There will be times of trial, times of doubt, times of heart ache. But the Lord will provide a way for us. In 1 Nephi 3:7 Nephi says, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” Even though Joseph Smith was the prophet he wasn’t spared the trials of life. Let’s review a few events from the life of the prophet and see how they can relate to our own lives.

In Joseph Smith History 1:8 we read, “During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties…” He goes on, “…but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong.”

Joseph was going through a time of difficult decision making. In trying to figure out what was right he thought about things, studied the scriptures, discussed things with his family, and talked about things with his friends but he was unable to make the right decision on his own. As is the case with us so many times, Joseph finally was forced to his knees. He says, “At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God.” (JS-H 1:13)

Destined to be one of the greatest men to ever live Joseph had to learn to go to his Heavenly Father in prayer. “…for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.” (JS-H 1:14) Brother and Sisters, I don’t know where you are spiritually today. I don’t know how sincere you are with your prayers. But I do know that it is never too late to go to our Heavenly Father. Joseph discovered this passage from James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom. Let him as of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” That means that if we have a question we can go to God in prayer. And it doesn’t matter what the question is, if we are sincere God will help us find the answer.

Joseph Smith discovered this to be true. He went to the Lord in prayer and was rewarded with a vision that started the restoration of the gospel. Our prayers may not be answered in such a marvelous way but God will still answer our prayers.

Joseph went into the grove of trees a boy of 14 and came out of the grove of trees a prophet of God. But I find it interesting to note that while Joseph was called to be a prophet of God he was still a boy of 14. He says, “I was left to all kinds of temptations; and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature; which I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations…” (JS-H 1:27,28). This means that even though we pray to our Heavenly Father and even when we receive an answer to our prayers we are still going to have the struggles of life awaiting us. Life doesn’t automatically become wonderful after the answer to a single prayer. We don’t suddenly become perfect because we receive a testimony nor do we get exalted because we find the answer to a gospel question.

The Lord designed this life so that we can learn and we can grow, line upon line, precept on precept. We see this same pattern with Joseph Smith. After he received the first vision he had to go on living life. It was several more years before he would receive significant answer to prayer. In 1823 Joseph had a visit by the angel Moroni who told him about the golden plates as well as many events that would shortly come to pass in relation to the restoring of the church upon the earth (JS-H 1:34-41). After this visit Moroni returned 3 more times and repeated the same instructions to Joseph.

Why would Moroni visit Joseph 4 different times and tell him the same basic message each time? First, this tells me that we have a responsibility to call upon the Lord for help and guidance. Second, this experience shows me that the Lord intends to teach us lessons in such a way that we learn the lessons and we don’t forget it. It has been my experience that many life lessons have been repeated because I didn’t really learn what I needed to learn the first time I experienced it. And it may be the same for you. There may be some lessons in life that you’re experiencing right now that you’ve already experienced before and the Lord is trying to teach you so that you won’t forget it.

The prophet Joseph would have many amazing experiences, any one of which, if I were to receive that experience, would consider myself more than fortunate. The prophet Joseph learned his lessons and became very in-tune with our Heavenly Father. We know of at least 134 different visions and revelations that Joseph had because they comprise the majority of the Doctrine and Covenants. But there is one more experience that Joseph had that I would like to share.

In 1839 the saints were being driven from the state of Missouri. They were refugees, first in Far West, Missouri and later they would be force to travel to Illinois. And within 5 more years the saints would be forced to leave the United States and flee to Mexico for safety. At that time Utah was located in Mexico. But in 1839 the prophet Joseph had been taken prisoner, along with several other leaders of the church, and was being held in Liberty Jail. These men were held prisoner for several months in some of the worst conditions imaginable.

By this time the prophet was very well accustomed to visits with heavenly beings. Revelation had become second nature. Joseph had already recorded over 100 revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, had dedicated the Kirtland temple with its heavenly manifestations, and had received the priesthood and the keys of the kingdom from angelic ministers. And yet this prophet of God went for months without receiving answers to his prayers while he was held prisoner in this jail. It was under these terrible circumstances that Joseph uttered these words in D&C 121:1-3, “O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries? Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?”

The prophet Joseph was suffering in jail. The saints were refugees and suffering without any hope of relief. The prayers of the prophet had to have been full of faith and sincerity and yet he didn’t receive answers to his prayers. Finally the Lord did answer the prophet. Finally, Joseph was told, “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” (D&C 121:7-8)

Have we ever experienced a time when we felt that our prayers were not being answered? What we need to remember is that we all have those times in our lives when we feel that God isn’t answering our prayers. Even the great prophet Joseph Smith had times when he didn’t receive immediate answer to his prayer, even in desperate times of need. But Joseph remained faithful and eventually was blessed. We have the same responsibility to remain faithful until we are eventually blessed.

Brothers and sisters, we are blessed to have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives today because the prophet Joseph learned the value of prayers. From his first prayer that lead to the first vision until his final prayers before his death in Carthage he was faithful to our Heavenly Father. It is my testimony that we have the same opportunity and the same responsibility to approach our Heavenly Father is prayer. Heavenly Father does hear and answer our prayers but He will do it on his own timetable. And we must remain faithful and endure to the end, trusting in our Heavenly Father’s care, even when we don’t understand all the reason why.

I know God lives and loves each one of us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.