Chapter 14

Principles of Zion, Part XIV

Joseph Smith, the Restoration of the Gospel

What a great honor for Joseph Smith to see and experience all that he did! It's time for the
world to recognize Joseph's contributions to mankind and fully embrace his testimony. Greatness
is not determined by Christian scholars. It's determined by the Lord.

The Lord—He is the greatest character witness, and He stands behind Joseph's testimony,
100%.

The calling of the prophet Joseph Smith was to help restore those truths of God
previously revealed that had been lost to mankind, as well as to reveal many new ones. The
fulness of the gospel includes everything—the teachings of Jesus Christ of olden times (from
both hemispheres) and the teachings of Jesus Christ in modern times (JRE Link, 2019-1007 (Mon), COM-STR2).

The inability to receive revelation––new volumes of scripture––century after century has
conditioned everyone in mainstream Christianity to a sense of failure. The ease by which Joseph
Smith did these marvelous acts of faith somehow makes it improbable to so many of you (JRE Link, 2019-1007 (Mon), COM-STR2).

The light came on for civilization in 1820––the First Vision.

With the scriptures in our hands, we should be able to look into the heavens full of
confidence like Joseph and see many of the same things today. For how can the Lord hide
anything from our sight? So great is our faith and knowledge of God in these modern times.

Joseph Smith's legacy––leading the people of the world to a greater knowledge of Jesus
Christ and the plan of salvation.

Greatness was revealed to the earth through Joseph Smith––the message of Jesus Christ
in its most pure and lovely form (JRE Link, 2017-0724 (Mon), COM-STR2).

Joseph Smith was not an author. He was a revelator (JRE Link, 2019-0516 (Thu), WSE-MAIN).

He didn't speak for himself. He spoke for the Lord (JRE Link, 2019-0516 (Thu), COM-STR2).

His mind was enlightened by the Spirit. His heart was full of righteousness (JRE Link, 2019-0516 (Thu), COM-STR2).

He was the world's foremost expert on the subject of revelation (JRE Link, 2018-0709 (Mon), COM-STR2).

Revelation of great significance was his specialty.

The revelation process he followed as a fourteen-year-old boy in 1820 was sound,
effective, and profound (JRE Link, 2019-0511 (Sat), COM-STR2).

Joseph looked high into the sky and high into the heavens. A seer of seers.

The eyes of a seer are filled with wonder. Joseph's eyes were like that.

The Savior was willing to appear to Joseph Smith as often as needed to direct the startup
of the restored Church, and sent angels as often as needed to protect him until the important work
on earth he was commanded to do had been completed.

Joseph Smith was a catalyst for the restoration of the gospel, and a catalyst for Zion.
Receiving revelation from God every day was easy for him. Great blessings were poured out
from heaven upon him and, in return, his heart was filled with gratitude to God.

With the exception of the persecution and violence suffered by the early Latter-day
Saints, the greatest trial of Joseph Smith's life occurred when his mind went dark and his special
gift of translation was taken away temporarily. His relationship with God was damaged, and the
resulting sadness was indescribable. His only recourse during that time was to embrace charity
and wait it out, hoping that his special gifts of the Spirit would be restored. An important lesson
for every prophet and apostle, and for the entire Church itself, during trials of faith.

The power of one man's testimony is more than you can imagine (JRE Link, 2017-0427 (Thu), WSE-MAIN).

So many churches, so many religions, but no consensus on the truth. Joseph Smith was
right (JRE Link, 2018-0716 (Mon), COM-STR2).

Bring revelation to bear upon this important question of which church or religion is true.
Joseph Smith was right on this as well (JRE Link, 2017-0629 (Thu), COM-STR2).

The restored gospel is handsome. Joseph Smith was handsome. The world needs to know
his true character (JRE Link, 2017-0624 (Sat), COM-STR2).

By knowing Joseph's true character, the world can then know that his testimony is true (JRE Link, 2017-0626 (Mon), WSE-MAIN).

Joseph's true genius was in his humility, faith, and wisdom before God. There is no
greater genius a man can have in life than this.

Joseph was right about everything from the get-go. He had the moral high ground, the
proper priesthood authority, and direct supervision by the Lord every step of the way (JRE Link, 2018-0720 (Fri), COM-STR2).

The world should take Joseph at his word and not look for alternative explanations. The
truth of religion really is that simple.

How do you tell a true prophet from a false prophet? Answer: Through the power of the
Holy Ghost. If you harbor any doubts about Joseph Smith and his mission on earth, the Holy
Ghost will awaken your soul in the matter.

A view of the heavens. A vision of the Father and the Son as separate and distinct beings.
A much-needed Joseph Smith in the world to assist in the restoration of the gospel.

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and
upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down
on the right hand of the Majesty on high––these epic words at the beginning of Hebrews in the
New Testament mirror the vision Joseph Smith saw in person in the spring of 1820.

Young Joseph simply pointed out that the doctrine of the Christian world concerning the
nature of God was an emperor without clothes.

Jesus Christ is literally at the right hand of God the Father. There is no need to parse
those verses.

"I'm here," says the Lord Jesus Christ.

"We're here," say the Father and the Son, speaking together.

Like Father, like Son. The world doesn't know them as they really are.

Our Heavenly Father is a pure immortal soul. And the Savior is a perfect copy of Him.

It was faith that led him to me and my Church. Joseph Smith had faith.

"I love you, Heavenly Father, and I am loving with an increased knowledge of you," says
Joseph in his prayers following the First Vision.

Joseph Smith is the diamond, not the paste. Those who have criticized and mocked him
are the paste (JRE Link, 2018-0621 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Belmont Stakes––like Secretariat, Joseph Smith ran rings around his detractors.

The Spirit oversaw Joseph Smith's work. The spiritual record of the world was set
straight and the foundation laid for continuous revelation to follow (JRE Link, 2016-1116 (Wed), COM-STR2).

This good book—the Book of Mormon. This good man—Joseph Smith (JRE Link, 2022-0121 (Fri), WSE-MAIN).

Joseph Smith was one to tell the truth. Hyrum Smith, his beloved brother, was one to tell
the truth. They died on the same day within moments of each other (JRE Link, 2018-0623 (Sat), COM-STR2).

The wicked exclaim: We all heard Stephen testify before the Sanhedrin, but we didn't
believe him. In fact, we stoned him to death afterwards––But Stephen, full of the Holy Ghost,
looked steadfastly toward heaven and declared, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son
of man standing on the right hand of God.”

Replace "Stephen" with the name "Joseph Smith" and you will see that the same pattern
played itself out in modern times.

Joseph Smith was a monumental seer. The restoration of the gospel set a new precedent
for the world (JRE Link, 2017-0524 (Wed), COM-STR2).

Sometimes the will of the Lord goes against past precedent. The Christian world needs to
understand this.

A new precedent is a new precedent. It's nothing to be ashamed about (JRE Link, 2017-0524 (Wed), COM-STR2).

Establish facts through revelation. Establish proof through witnesses (JRE Link, 2018-0609 (Sat), COM-STR2).

How credible are the witnesses of Christ found in the New Testament? Very credible (JRE Link, 2018-0319 (Mon), WSE-MAIN).

How credible are the witnesses of Christ found in the Book of Mormon? Very credible.

How credible are the witnesses of the golden plates and the coming forth of the Book of
Mormon in these latter days? Very credible.

Angels announced the birth and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Angels announced the
restoration of His gospel to the earth.

It's a remarkable achievement for the Church to bring forth a new testament before the
world (JRE Link, 2017-0924 (Sun), COM-STR2).

Another testament of Jesus Christ... and another... and another (JRE Link, 2017-1026 (Thu), COM-STR2).

Fall in love with the Church. Fall in love with the Book of Mormon. The restored gospel
is gorgeous-beautiful (JRE Link, 2018-0623 (Sat), COM-STR2).

Let's show the world Joseph Smith was a prophet of God by the way we live our lives.

Teach others by the light of the restored gospel. Speak by the power of truth (JRE Link, 2017-0410 (Mon), COM-STR2).

The world is ready for repentance (JRE Link, 2017-0313 (Mon), COM-STR2).

The world is ready for big and dramatic miracles (JRE Link, 2017-0313 (Mon), COM-STR2).

Let's not hold anything back. The time for the fulness of the gospel is now (JRE Link, 2017-0313 (Mon), COM-STR2).