By Elder Neil L. Andersen
Jesus Christ chose a holy man, a righteous man, to lead the Restoration of the fulness of His gospel. He chose Joseph Smith.
On his first visit to the Prophet Joseph Smith at age 17, an angel called Joseph by name and told him that he, Moroni, was a messenger sent from the presence of God and that God had a work for him to do. Imagine what Joseph must have thought when the angel then told him that his name would “be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues.”1 Perhaps the shock in Joseph’s eyes caused Moroni to repeat again that both good and evil would be spoken of him among all people.2

The good spoken of Joseph Smith came slowly; the evil speaking began immediately. Joseph wrote, “How very strange it was that an obscure boy … should be thought … of sufficient importance to attract … the most bitter persecution.”3

While love for Joseph grew, so also did hostility. At the age of 38, he was murdered by a mob of 150 men with painted faces.4 While the Prophet’s life abruptly ended, the good and evil spoken of Joseph was just beginning.

Should we be surprised with the evil spoken against him? The Apostle Paul was called mad and deranged.5 Our Beloved Savior, the Son of God, was labeled gluttonous, a winebibber, and possessed of a devil.6

The Lord told Joseph of his destiny:

“The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee;

“While the pure in heart, … the wise, … and the virtuous, shall seek … blessings constantly from under thy hand.”7

Why does the Lord allow the evil speaking to chase after the good? One reason is that opposition against the things of God sends seekers of truth to their knees for answers.8

Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration. His spiritual work began with the appearance of the Father and the Son, followed by numerous heavenly visitations. He was the instrument in God’s hands in bringing forth sacred scripture, lost doctrine, and the restoration of the priesthood. The importance of Joseph’s work requires more than intellectual consideration; it requires that we, like Joseph, “ask of God.”9 Spiritual questions deserve spiritual answers from God.

Many of those who dismiss the work of the Restoration simply do not believe that heavenly beings speak to men on earth. Impossible, they say, that golden plates were delivered by an angel and translated by the power of God. From that disbelief, they quickly reject Joseph’s testimony, and a few unfortunately sink to discrediting the Prophet’s life and slandering his character.

We are especially saddened when someone who once revered Joseph retreats from his or her conviction and then maligns the Prophet.10

“Studying the Church … through the eyes of its defectors,” Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said, is “like interviewing Judas to understand Jesus. Defectors always tell us more about themselves than about that from which they have departed.”11

Jesus said, “Bless them that curse you, … and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”12 Let us offer kindness to those who criticize Joseph Smith, knowing in our own hearts that he was a prophet of God and taking comfort that all this was long ago foretold by Moroni.

How should we respond to a sincere inquirer who is concerned about negative comments he or she has heard or read about the Prophet Joseph Smith? Of course, we always welcome honest and genuine questions.

To questions about Joseph’s character, we might share the words of thousands who knew him personally and who gave their lives for the work he helped establish. John Taylor, who was shot four times by the mob that killed Joseph, would later declare: “I testify before God, angels, and men, that [Joseph] was a good, honorable, [and] virtuous man— … [and] that his private and public character was unimpeachable—and that he lived and died as a man of God.”13

We might remind the sincere inquirer that Internet information does not have a “truth” filter. Some information, no matter how convincing, is simply not true.

Years ago I read a Time magazine article that reported the discovery of a letter, supposedly written by Martin Harris, that conflicted with Joseph Smith’s account of finding the Book of Mormon plates.14

A few members left the Church because of the document.15

Sadly, they left too quickly. Months later experts discovered (and the forger confessed) that the letter was a complete deception.16 You may understandably question what you hear on the news, but you need never doubt the testimony of God’s prophets.

We might remind the inquirer that some information about Joseph, while true, may be presented completely out of context to his own day and situation.

Elder Russell M. Nelson illustrated this point. He said: “I was serving as a consultant to the United States government at its National Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. Once while awaiting a taxi to take me to the airport after our meetings were over, I stretched out on the lawn to soak in a few welcome rays of sunshine before returning to the winter weather of Utah. … Later I received a photograph in the mail taken by a photographer with a telephoto lens, capturing my moment of relaxation on the lawn. Under it was a caption, ‘Governmental consultant at the National Center.’ The picture was true, the caption was true, but the truth was used to promote a false impression.”17 We do not discard something we know to be true because of something we do not yet understand.

We might remind the inquirer that Joseph was not alone in the visit of angels.

The Book of Mormon witnesses wrote, “We declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and … we beheld and saw the plates.”18 We could quote many others as well.19

A sincere inquirer should see the spreading of the restored gospel as the fruit of the Lord’s work through the Prophet.

There are now more than 29,000 congregations and 88,000 missionaries teaching the gospel across the world. Millions of Latter-day Saints are seeking to follow Jesus Christ, live honorable lives, care for the poor, and give of their time and talents in helping others.

Jesus said:

“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. …

“… By their fruits ye shall know them.”20

These explanations are convincing, but the sincere inquirer should not rely on them exclusively to settle his or her search for truth.

Each believer needs a spiritual confirmation of the divine mission and character of the Prophet Joseph Smith. This is true for every generation. Spiritual questions deserve spiritual answers from God.

Recently while I was on the East Coast of the United States, a returned missionary spoke to me about a friend who had become disillusioned with information he had received about the Prophet Joseph Smith. They had spoken several times, and the returned missionary seemed to have some doubts himself as a result of the discussions.

Although I hoped he could strengthen his friend, I felt concerned for his own testimony. Brothers and sisters, let me give you a caution: you won’t be of much help to others if your own faith is not securely in place.

A few weeks ago I boarded a plane for South America. The flight attendant directed our attention to a safety video. “It is unlikely,” we were warned, “but if cabin pressure changes, the panels above your seat will open, revealing oxygen masks. If this happens, reach up and pull a mask toward you. Place the mask over your nose and mouth. Slip the elastic strap over your head and adjust the mask if necessary.” Then this caution: “Be sure to adjust your own mask before helping others.”

The negative commentary about the Prophet Joseph Smith will increase as we move toward the Second Coming of the Savior. The half-truths and subtle deceptions will not diminish. There will be family members and friends who will need your help. Now is the time to adjust your own spiritual oxygen mask so that you are prepared to help others who are seeking the truth.21

A testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith can come differently to each of us. It may come as you kneel in prayer, asking God to confirm that he was a true prophet. It may come as you read the Prophet’s account of the First Vision. A testimony may distill upon your soul as you read the Book of Mormon again and again. It may come as you bear your own testimony of the Prophet or as you stand in the temple and realize that through Joseph Smith the holy sealing power was restored to the earth.22 With faith and real intent, your testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith will strengthen. The constant water balloon volleys from the sidelines may occasionally get you wet, but they need never, never extinguish your burning fire of faith.

To the youth listening today or reading these words in the days ahead, I give a specific challenge: Gain a personal witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Let your voice help fulfill Moroni’s prophetic words to speak good of the Prophet. Here are two ideas: First, find scriptures in the Book of Mormon that you feel and know are absolutely true. Then share them with family and friends in family home evening, seminary, and your Young Men and Young Women classes, acknowledging that Joseph was an instrument in God’s hands. Next, read the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Pearl of Great Price or in this pamphlet, now in 158 languages. You can find it online at LDS.org or with the missionaries. This is Joseph’s own testimony of what actually occurred. Read it often. Consider recording the testimony of Joseph Smith in your own voice, listening to it regularly, and sharing it with friends. Listening to the Prophet’s testimony in your own voice will help bring the witness you seek.

There are great and wonderful days ahead. President Thomas S. Monson has said: “This great cause … will continue to go forth, changing and blessing lives. … No force in the entire world can stop the work of God. Despite what comes, this great cause will go forward.”23

I give you my witness that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. He chose a holy man, a righteous man, to lead the Restoration of the fulness of His gospel. He chose Joseph Smith.

I testify that Joseph Smith was an honest and virtuous man, a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, did appear to him. He did translate the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God.

In our society beyond the veil of death, we will clearly understand the sacred calling and divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. In that not-too-distant day, you and I and “millions [more] shall know ‘Brother Joseph’ again.”24 In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

© 2014 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All Rights Reserved 

What I Heard:

  •   People may speak your name for good or evil; expect the evil may overpower the good when you are on the Lord’s errand
  • The more extreme the persecution in comparison to the issue, the more likely it is to be unfounded 
  • People who persecute those who are good are usually cowards and need to band together to justify their actions – even then, they will likely try to remain unnamed 
  • Do not be surprised when persecution increases. Remember, you are in good company (see Elder Holland’s talk)
  • Let persecution send you to God for answers, not those who have defected
  • Seek spiritual answers for spiritual questions
  • Heavenly beings DO speak to men on earth.
  • You may reject what someone says without needing to discredit their whole life or slander their character
  • Offer kindness to those who criticize Joseph Smith; be satisfied with what you know in your own heart and comforted by seeing it as prophecy fulfilled, meaning God is and has been in charge all along
  • Respond to sincere inquirers who have honest, genuine questions and avoid those who just want to contend
  • How to answer questions about Joseph Smith’s character:
o Share the testimony of thousands who knew him personally and gave their lives for the work he established
o Remind them the internet doesn’t have a “truth filter”
o Share instances where something purported to be true turned out to be false
o Remind them some information, while true, is presented out of context for Joseph’s own day and situation
o Remind them Joseph was not alone in the visit of angels – other witnesses
o Have them look at the fruits of the Lord’s work through the Prophet – a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit
   - 29,000 congregations
      - 88,000 missionaries
       - Millions of members seeking to follow Jesus, live honorably, care for the poor, give of time and talents to help others
  • EVERYONE needs a spiritual confirmation of the divine mission and character of the Prophet Joseph Smith (including members) 
  • If you do not have your own faith securely in place, others may cause you to doubt
  • Parable of the Oxygen Mask
o Safety video – represents the instructions we receive from God through the prophet
o Cabin pressure – the condition of the world can change suddenly
o Panels above – Heaven contains your ultimate safety and security. In  hard times, be sure to reach UP (not to the internet or even others) and pull down the powers of heaven in your behalf
o Mask – You must take in truth like oxygen. Stop talking until you have received sufficient truth to speak correctly and think clearly
o Strap – Secure yourself to the source of truth for a constant supply. Make necessary adjustments in your life to keep the supply pure and constant
o Caution – If you do not do this for yourself first, you will not be able to help others and risk your own safety as well.
  • More will be said to discredit Joseph Smith in the days ahead. There will be half-truths and subtle deceptions. Do not be deceived! 
  • Some in your own family and your own friends will be confused or taken in because they appear to be credible or some of it seems to be true 
  • NOW IS THE TIME to fasten your spiritual oxygen mask! The cabin pressure has changed! Prepare NOW to help others by being SECURELY fastened to the source.
  • How to gain a testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith. With faith (meaning you will act and believe you will receive) and real intent (meaning you will act again on what you receive):
o Pray for a confirmation of what you believe - that he was a true prophet
o Read the Book of Mormon – when you finish, start again
o Bear your own testimony of him
o Go to the temple and ponder the sealing power that was restored through him
o Find scriptures in the Book of Mormon that you feel and know are absolutely true and share them.
o Read the testimony of the prophet’s First Vision and record it in your own voice; listen to it regularly and share it with others
  • In the grand scheme of eternal things, the persecution that Satan will wage against you if you have faith that burns like a fire, is like a mere water balloon being tossed from the sidelines. Occasionally you may get wet, but it will never be enough to extinguish your burning fire of faith. The real question is – IS YOUR FAITH BURNING LIKE A FIRE? 
  • There are great and wonderful days ahead. This DOES NOT mean that the prophesied judgments are not coming. They are. It means that God is still in charge and will bring to pass MUCH righteousness and miracles will abound that will rival any you read about in the scriptures! DESPITE what comes, His great cause will go forward 
  • Joseph Smith did not choose himself. Others did not choose Joseph Smith. Jesus Christ CHOSE Joseph Smith 
  • We will all know Joseph Smith, on this side of the veil or the other, in a NOT-TOO-DISTANT DAY!
What I Will Do:
  • Help fulfill prophecy and let my voice be one that speaks good of the prophet
  • Find scriptures in the Book of Mormon that I feel and know are absolutely true and share them.
  • Read the testimony of the prophet and record it in my own voice; listen to it regularly and share it with others
  • Secure my own spiritual oxygen mask
  • Prepare for persecution by having the right perspective about it and know how to respond