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VIEW PERSONAL BELIEFS
POSTED BY: AZMormon
DATE: 18.09.2010
SUBJECT: 1st President of the Church
LOCATION: Quartzsite, United States
Joseph, born December 1805 in Vermont, at the very young age of seven Joseph Smith developed typhoid fever and had to have a serious operation on his leg. Despite that, he walked all the way to Palmyra, New York where the family moved to in 1816.

Joseph stated that, "I was born of goodly parents who spared no pains to instruct me in the Christian religion." Despite that at the age of fourteen (14) he went into a grove of trees, knelt in prayer asking God which Church should he join, when he was told to join none of them. Joseph is an unlearned boy, whose parents were farmers. Joseph, not schooled in the theologies of his day was able to be taught by the Spirit.

At age seventeen Joseph is visited by Moroni who tells Joseph of the Lord's work on the earth in the last days and of the Book of Mormon. I personally cannot imagine at the age of fourteen being so consumed with religion and questions to take the time to go out alone and pray about the churches. At fourteen I was pretty much boy crazy, trying to figure out how to catch the eye of a boy I liked in school. But Joseph was special. I think he was choosen from the very start to restore the gospel in this dispensation. And by age seventeen to have been visited by Moroni to learn about and be given the responsibility of the gold plates, WOW that just boggles my mind!

At twenty-one two huge events occurred. Joseph married Emma Hale, also in that year he obtains the plates from Moroni.

It was April 6th, 1830 that Joseph Smith formally organized the Church, it was first called The Church of Christ. In 1834 the name was changed to The Church of Latter Day Saints, and in 1838 changed again to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It was in March 1844 that Joseph Smith charged the Twelve Apostles and others to govern the Church in the event of his death. I can't help but think, he must have foreseen his own upcoming death.

On June 27th, 1844 at the age of only 38 he was martyred with his brother Hyrum while in jail in Carthage, Illinois. The charges against him were false, trumped up by anti-mormon mobs. Founder of the Church, prophet of God, sealed his personal testimony with his own blood.

Many people thought at the death of Joseph Smith, the Mormons would go away, that the Church itself would dissolve. History shows, that the angry mob were wrong, the Church did indeed grow. And it continues to grow today.

I know that Joseph Smith was called of God. He was chosen to bring into this dispensation the work of the Lord. I believe that the greatest event to have occurred since the resurrection of the Savior Jesus Christ was the vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ that Joseph Smith received. I firmly believe that the work Joseph Smith started was to prepare the way for the foundation of God's Kingdom, not the kingdom of man. I know that Joseph Smith was taught by God and Angels.

And I leave this with you, in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.

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