Elder Chris Driessen: January 2011

Good morning brothers and sisters, Bishop Shelton has asked me to speak about the prophet Joseph Smith.

I’ve based my talk off of a talk given by President Thomas S. Monson at the October 2005 General Conference.

He starts off with a story we’ve all heard before, When Joseph was about six or seven years old, he was stricken with typhus fever and was left with a painful sore on his leg. The doctors, using the best medicine they had, treated him, and yet the sore persisted. In order to save Joseph’s life, they said, he would have to lose his leg. Thankfully, however, soon after that diagnosis, the doctors returned to the Smith home and reported that there was a new procedure which might save Joseph’s leg. They wanted to operate immediately and the doctors suggested he take some brandy or wine so that the pain might not be so severe. “No,” young Joseph replied. “If my father will sit on the bed and hold me in his arms, I will do whatever is necessary.” Joseph Smith Sr. held in his arms his small child, and the doctors removed the diseased piece of bone. He was healed.

At such a young age and countless other times throughout his life, Joseph Smith taught us courage—by example. Today 19 year old boys courageously leave their homes, their families, their friends, and everything they have to go abroad and preach the gospel in many different parts of the world.

A few days after his prayer in the Sacred Grove, Joseph Smith gave an account of his vision to a preacher with whom he was acquainted. To his surprise, his communication was treated with “contempt” and “was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase.” Joseph, however, did not waver. He later wrote, “I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true. … For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it.” Despite the physical and mental punishment at the hands of his opponents which the Prophet Joseph Smith endured throughout the remainder of his life, he did not falter. He taught honesty—by example.

President Monson relates this story;
Some years ago I served as the president of the Canadian Mission. In Ontario, Canada, two of our missionaries were proselyting door-to-door on a cold, snowy afternoon. They had not had any measure of success. One Elder was experienced; one was new.

The two called at the home of Mr. Elmer Pollard, and he, feeling sympathy for the almost frozen missionaries, invited them in. They presented their message and asked if he would join in prayer. He agreed, on the provision that he could offer the prayer.

The prayer he offered astonished the missionaries. He said, “Heavenly Father, bless these two unfortunate, misguided missionaries, that they may return to their homes and not waste their time telling the people of Canada about a message which is so fantastic and about which they know so little.” As they arose from their knees, Mr. Pollard asked the missionaries never to return to his home. As they left, he said mockingly to them, “You can’t tell me you really believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, anyway!” and he slammed the door.

The missionaries had walked but a short distance when the junior companion said timidly, “Elder, we didn’t answer Mr. Pollard.” The senior companion responded: “We’ve been rejected. Let’s move on.” The young missionary persisted, however, and the two returned to Mr. Pollard’s door. Mr. Pollard answered the knock and angrily said, “I thought I told you young men never to return!” The junior companion then said, with all the courage he could muster, “Mr. Pollard, when we left your door, you said that we didn’t really believe Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I want to testify to you, Mr. Pollard, that I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that by inspiration he translated the sacred record known as the Book of Mormon, that he did see God the Father and Jesus the Son.” The missionaries then departed the doorstep.

I heard this same Mr. Pollard in a testimony meeting state the experiences of that memorable day. He said: “That evening, sleep would not come. I tossed and turned. Over and over in my mind I heard the words, ‘Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I know it. … I know it. … I know it.’ I could scarcely wait for morning to come. I telephoned the missionaries, using their number which was printed on the small card containing the Articles of Faith. They returned, and this time my wife, my family, and I joined in the discussion as earnest seekers of truth. As a result, we have all embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We shall ever be grateful to the testimony of truth brought to us by those two courageous, humble missionaries.”

After that great First Vision, the Prophet Joseph received no additional communication for three years. However, he did not wonder; he did not question; he did not doubt the Lord. He waited patiently. He taught us the heavenly virtue of patience—by example.

If there is one lesson I’ve learned in the time since I received my call, its patience……. 5 months is a loooong wait. These past months have been difficult times for me but I am so grateful for every second of it because my testimony has been strengthened and I have learned so much to prepare me to serve the people of Lima Peru, especially patience.

Following the visits of the angel Moroni to young Joseph and his acquisition of the plates, Joseph commenced the difficult assignment of translation. One can but imagine the dedication, the devotion, and the labor required to translate in fewer than 90 days this record of over 500 pages covering a period of 2,600 years. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught us diligence—by example.

Missionaries knock door after door when rejection is most commonly found and yet they continue searching diligently for the those souls who are ready to hear the gospel and come unto Christ.

One of the sweetest lessons taught by the Prophet Joseph, and yet one of the saddest, occurred close to the time of his death.

He had seen in vision the Saints leaving Nauvoo and going to the Rocky Mountains. He was anxious that his people be led away from their tormentors and into this promised land which the Lord had shown him. He no doubt longed to be with them. However, he had been issued an arrest warrant on trumped up charges. Despite many appeals to Governor Ford, the charges were not dismissed. Joseph left his home, his wife, his family, and his people and gave himself up to the civil authorities, knowing he would probably never return.

These are the words he spoke as he journeyed to Carthage: “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer’s morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men.” Joseph Smith’s last great act here upon the earth was one of selflessness. He crossed the room, most likely “thinking that it would save the lives of his brethren in the room if he could get out, … and sprang into the window when two balls pierced him from the door, and one entered his right breast from without.” He gave his life. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” The Prophet Joseph Smith taught us love — by example.

I have to admit, there have been many times when I have been scared to leave. Scared to go to Peru, somewhere I’ve never even dreamed of going until now and learning to speak Spanish to people I’ve never met. But in the midst of these moments is when I have felt the Savior's love the most and I get the overwhelming feeling that this is what my Heavenly Father needs and wants me to be doing. I know that Joseph Smith was and is a Prophet of God and that he did see God the Father and His Son in the grove and that he did translate the Book of Mormon. In D&C 135:3 John Taylor says,” Joseph Smith the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any man that ever lived in it.”

I would like to leave you the same challenge as Pres. Monson did, he says, May we incorporate into our own lives the divine principles which he so beautifully taught — by example — that we, ourselves, might live more completely the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May our lives reflect the knowledge we have that God lives, that Jesus Christ is His Son, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that we are led today by a prophet of God. And in closing I would like to share a verse from one of my favorite hymns “ Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah! Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer. Blessed to open the last dispensation, Kings shall extol him, and nations revere”

*TESTIMONY - (Chris then bore a beautiful, sincere testimony and thanked all those who have helped him prepare for and supported him in serving a mission.)

In the words of the prophet Joseph, “Shall we not go on in so great a cause?”

I say these things humbly in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.