"I Saw a Pillar of Light"
Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration...He was the instrument in God’s hands in bringing forth sacred scripture, lost doctrine, and the restoration of the priesthood...Many of those who dismiss the work of the Restoration simply do not believe that heavenly beings speak to men on earth…A sincere inquirer should see the spreading of the restored gospel as the fruit of the Lord’s work through the Prophet.
- Neil L. Andersen, Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith the Prophet was the chosen instrument through which the Restoration took place. He was selected of the Lord before his birth to fill this most important mission...In the meridian of time, the Father sent his own Son to be born of a virgin mother in a lowly manger...When it was time to restore his gospel to prepare the world for the second coming of his Son, he again sent a baby boy to the home of a righteous father and mother...He was born of noble, God-fearing parents who loved the Lord...
- Rex C. Reeve, Joseph Smith, the Chosen Instrument
[T]he Lord will guide you by revelation…You must ask in faith for revelation to know what you are to do…Often the answers will come as you study the scriptures...They have doctrine in them which will apply in every time and every situation. Pondering the scriptures will lead you to ask the right questions in prayer. And just as surely as the heavens were opened to Joseph Smith after he pondered the scriptures in faith, God will answer your prayers and He will lead you by the hand.
- President Henry B. Eyring, Rise to Your Call
[W]e must have faith—to believe the Lord knows us, that He loves us, and that He will give us answers to our prayers. As Joseph Smith was reading the Bible, he...followed instructions and received an answer to his prayer. We will also receive answers to our prayers…To all, wherever you are... I urge you to bow your head or drop to your knees!...talk to the Lord, asking for comfort, direction, and understanding. As you open your mind and heart to feel the Spirit, the Lord in His own time and in His own way will give you the instructions which will bless your life.
- D. Rex Garrett, Follow the Instructions
Joseph Smith’s First Vision blesses our own personal lives, the lives of families, and eventually the whole human family—we come to believe in Jesus Christ through the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Prophets and apostles throughout the history of mankind have had divine manifestations similar to Joseph’s…I am grateful that early in my life I was blessed with a simple faith that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that he saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, in a vision.
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Fruits of the First Vision
When young Joseph Smith told the truth about his sacred experience in the grove, he was persecuted and mistreated. The adversary used ridicule as a weapon against him...Even today there are those who misunderstand our doctrine and challenge the unchanging values by which we are invited to live…Anxiety and fear of rejection are common among teenagers. Peer pressure is often overpowering…Are we willing to fight the unpopular battle?…As we follow Him, we will be able to make sacrifices and keep our sacred covenants.
- W. Craig Zwick, We Will Not Yield, We Cannot Yield
Our family loves the Come, Follow Me program! We have organized the weekly lessons from the Come, Follow Me lesson manual into six lessons per week that work for our young and growing children.
We hope that sharing this content will make scripture study easier for your family as well!