~by Jenny
One of the twelve apostles in modern times, Henry B. Eyring [now a counselor in the First Presidency], said this, “The Prophet Joseph [Smith] is an example and a teacher of enduring well in faith. I do not worship him, but I thank and love him as the Lord’s prophet of the Restoration.”
The answer to the question is a unequivocal “No.” But I would like to give you more insight into what Joseph Smith does mean to the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by sharing my journey to understand him and his role.
I have been a member of the Mormon Church my whole life. My parents have been members their whole lives. I have ancestors that literally rubbed elbows with Joseph Smith. Despite all of this, I have not always understood his mission or had a personal witness of his prophetic calling.
While in high school I read the Book of Mormon as part of a daily teenage gospel class called seminary. As I read the book, my seminary teacher explained things I didn’t understand, encouraged all of us to pray about what we read, and urged us to use what we learned in our lives. Through this process I gained a spiritual witness of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon. As I enjoyed my newly forged faith someone told me something similar to what Gordon B. Hinckley said, “If you accept the revelation, you must accept the revelator.” But I struggled, for the Joseph Smith story was just so incredible!
Just as I couldn’t possibly read an entire set of encyclopedias in a day, I couldn’t know everything about the gospel immediately either. Eventually there came a time in my life that not understanding Joseph Smith really bothered me. I decided to find out exactly what was true, and what I felt about it. I followed a pattern similar to what my seminary teacher taught. I read LDS church history, prayed about what I read, and tried to implement what I learned in my life. As I did these things with a good attitude, I felt my seed of testimony begin to grow. As I read about the service Joseph Smith performed on behalf of the entire modern world I was inspired to learn more. I read about his life, I read doctrine written by his own hand, I read experiences of people that surrounded him, and I continued to read the Book of Mormon – scripture translated with the help of God by Joseph Smith.
Through all of this I gained a belief in Joseph’s prophetic calling and his unique mission. I knew that he didn’t write the Book of Mormon, but that he translated it in accordance with the will of God. Gaining knowledge about Joseph Smith was a doorway to a spiritual confirmation of the truth.
My knowledge and spiritual witness was strengthened even further when I visited historic church sites that were prominent in the life of the prophet Joseph Smith. With my family I have seen Nauvoo, the city beautiful, so named by the prophet Joseph, and where the early pioneers of the church established a city and built a temple.
I visited Kirtland, Ohio where Joseph taught the leadership of the church the doctrines of God in the School of the Prophets. We have been to the Sacred Grove, where Joseph Smith knelt in humble prayer as a young boy and received his first lesson at the feet of God the father and Jesus Christ. Our family prayed together in that special place, a memory we hold dear.
Most recently I have been to the site of Joseph Smith’s baptism in the Susquehanna River. Where, nearby, the priesthood was restored to the earth so that God’s children would have access to all the blessings necessary to return to him.
Because of Joseph Smith’s role in restoring the full gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth in the last days, as Mormons we honor and revere him. We even make efforts to remember his birthday, which is this week, on December 23rd. But we also obey the commandment that God presented in the time of Moses, “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.” Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and we worship him. God is our Eternal Heavenly Father and we worship him. Joseph Smith was a man, a prophet called by God to do a special work, and so we are grateful to him, but we do not worship him. Joseph Smith worked to his very last breath to bring men to Christ and I believe he would desire our worship to be directed in no other direction than to Jesus Christ and God the Father.
I also have a testimony of Joseph Smith. Just after we were married, my husband and I had the chance to visit the Sacred Grove, where Joseph Smith saw God and His Son, Jesus Christ. I knew it was true, when I felt the feelings that I had there.
I have no doubt that Joseph Smith was a prophet and man of God and I am so incredibly thankful for his courage, and faith and hope. What a great example for us.
Thank you for your message and testimony! I just found this tweet from several people on Twitter, and i have to say that your story is a good way to express how i feel similarly, yet i still am in my journey to understand God’s plan, the scriptures, the mission of the Holy Ghost, and trying to be an active member.
I think it was great that you clarified that we do not worship Joseph Smith, as there were many tweets from Twitter who “Retweeted” your web blog URL. I guess people are getting the message either for good or bad and its spreading like wildfire. Keep up the great work and thanks for your comments!
Every Prophet is called to testify of Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith is no exception. Oh how the doctrines that Joseph taught speak to my soul.
Through the teachings of Prophet Joseph Smith I know:
That I am a literal daughter of God.
That Jesus Christ and God the Father are separate beings who love us. They have exalted physical bodies that my earthly body was patterned after.
That families can be together forever!
That faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can lead me to repent and change. There is always hope.
That Jesus Christ lives. Through His atonement and resurrection He has conquered death, that I might live again. Where else would my heart and my worship lie than with my Savior?
That the Priesthood of God is again on the earth. That Prophets and Apostles are again spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ by His authority to every nation.
Happiness is achievable in this life and in the life to come.
That Jesus Christ is the God of all nations. In the Book of Mormon, another Testament of Jesus Christ, I learned that God has taught and visited more people than just those in the Bible. Joseph also taught that the Bible is the word of God and by these two books, the Book of Mormon and the Bible we can come to know of the attributes and characteristics of God and His plan for us.
That God really does answer prayers.
Joseph Smith testified and taught of the reality of our Savior Jesus Christ. Through Joseph’s teachings I have a better understanding of my God. Oh how thankful I am to him for bringing me to Jesus.
Do I worship Joseph Smith? No. I am thankful to him, but love and worship my Father and Jesus Christ.
Thank you for sharing your feelings and experiences Jenny.
Amanda and Janelle, Thank you for being additional witnesses to my testimony. Amen to what you both wrote.
Christopher, thank you so much for letting us know that our site is having an impact. Good luck on your journey to greater understanding and activity – line upon line 🙂
So many people think Mormons worship Joseph Smith and the answer it that they do not. Read this http://mormon.org/faq/worship-joseph-smith