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Brigham Young University-Idaho Academic
Vice President James Smyth shared his personal insights of the
life of the Prophet Joseph Smith during his devotional address
on December 6, 2005.
President Smyth declared that throughout the past year he has
spent a considerable amount of time studying the life of the
Prophet Joseph Smith. For many years he felt the desire to
research the Prophet in depth, and as this is the 200th
anniversary of Joseph Smith’s birth, this year was a fitting
time to achieve this longing.
Recalling some of the important lessons he had learned from this
experience, President Smyth said, “It struck me that many
qualities and conditions relevant to Joseph Smith are powerfully
transferable. That is, they have particular applicability in
each of our lives today. The Lord gives us patterns and examples
from which to guide our lives, and there is no question that
many aspects of the life of Joseph Smith are remarkably worthy
of both our understanding and our emulation.”
President Smyth then recalled and summarized five observations
about the life of Joseph Smith that have applicability in
people’s lives today.
The first observation President Smyth had is that “adversity,
though difficult and painful, is an essential and even elevating
part of our lives.” Joseph Smith was no stranger to adversities,
including a childhood bone infection, constant verbal abuse,
continuous threats, physical abuse, false arrests, children
dying and much more. “Even in the midst of these and many other
trials experienced by Joseph Smith, the remarkable unfolding of
the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ continued to move
steadily forward,” President Smyth recognized. “Perhaps, in ways
we do not understand, the Restoration was even strengthened by
the trials and tragedies that surrounded it.”
The second observation President Smyth cites is that “the Lord
generally uses ordinary people rather than miraculous means to
achieve miraculous outcomes.” In the life of Joseph Smith there
are many examples of his fulfilling the necessary work with the
miraculous help of the Lord. In comparing this principle to
today, President Smyth said, “Here, may I inject that during the
last five years in the transition from Ricks College to
BYU-Idaho, we have lived, and continue to live, the reality of
this lesson. The university stands today as a miracle of heaven
that came about through the faithful labors of ordinary people.”
President Smyth’s third observation was that “the Lord can call
us in our weaknesses and yet magnify us for His purposes.” It is
important to note that despite being a prophet, Joseph Smith
still had weaknesses. Yet, these weaknesses were not serious
enough to keep him from fulfilling the Lord’s work. In referring
to this, President Smyth remarked, “The lesson for us is
twofold: first, we must recognize that those who are called to
preside at both the general and local levels throughout the
Church will also have faults and failings. When we see evidence
of such, we should not become disturbed or distracted. We should
be grateful for the patience of that the Lord daily showers upon
each of His children. Second, we should not doubt our own
ability to serve effectively in whatever callings come to us
simply because of our acute awareness of our own challenges and
limitations. The Lord can and will call us in our weaknesses and
yet magnify us for His purposes.”
The fourth observation President Smyth observed was that
“inspiration and revelation generally flow only as the result of
prayerful study and specific inquiry.” The First Vision,
Moroni’s multiple visits, the restoration of the Aaronic
Priesthood and the majority of the revelations in the Doctrine
and Covenants were all a result of dedicated study and fervent
prayer. President Smyth invited everyone, including himself, to
pay special attention to the pattern Joseph Smith used and to
improve in following this example where necessary.
President Smyth’s fifth and final observation was that
“extending forgiveness to another opens a door for both parties
to grow and to be blessed.” President Smyth recounted an example
of this when Joseph Smith forgave William W. Phelps, who was a
faithful member and then fell away from the Church, becoming a
source of much persecution for the Prophet. After a period of
time and a realization of his severe wrongs, Phelps wrote a
letter to the Prophet, which confessed his sins and begged for
forgiveness. Despite the great suffering and sorrow Phelps had
caused the Prophet, Joseph never hesitated as he returned a
response which accepted the apology and welcomed him back into
fellowship.
President Smyth concluded, “Many of you know what subsequently
became of William W. Phelps and how Joseph’s letter freed him
from his burden and allowed him to return to serving the Church.
As he returned, he did so with a fervency and with faithfulness
that few can equal. It became his privilege and blessing to
speak at Joseph Smith’s funeral service. Eventually, using the
skills that in earlier years had allowed him to write the words
to such beloved hymns as “The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is
Burning” and “O’ God the Eternal Father”, he composed the words
to “Praise To The Man.”
This was the last devotional of the fall semester. The next
devotional will be held on January 10, 2005. Devotionals are
held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium with
additional seating in the Hinckley Chapel, Taylor Chapel and
Kirkham Auditorium. Devotionals are broadcast on KBYI-FM 100.5
at 2 p.m. and rebroadcast Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. |