Church Of Jesus Christ In Uyo

I’m a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and as such I believe that Joseph Smith Jr. was a prophet of God.

I’m under no illusion that everyone believes this or that they will, but what I do find funny is how many people think that I must be completely and totally ignorant of Joseph’s foibles and the controversies surrounding him in order to hold to my convictions, when this couldn’t be further from the truth.

I’m well aware of Joseph’s treasure digging. I’m aware of the translation process of The Book of Mormon. I’m aware of the Kirtland Safety Society and its failure. I’m aware of polygamy and its difficulties. I’m aware of F***y Alger and Helen Mar Kimball. I’m aware of the burning down of the Nauvoo Expositor.

None of this is news to me. You posting a quote or goofy infographic isn’t going to shock me, and it certainly isn’t going to shake me from the truth that God has revealed to me.

Was Joseph Smith a perfect man? No, not by any stretch of the imagination. He never claimed to be, and as members of the church we certainly don’t teach that he was.

What we do teach, and what I testify to be true, is that he was a a good man.

Joseph was and is a prophet of God who, as the hymn states, was “blessed to open the last dispensation”. He truly did commune with Jehovah, and I’m eternally grateful for the role he played in the restoration of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the work he was called to do regardless of his shortcomings.