Praise the Man

Today at church since it was the 5th Sunday, Priesthood and RS met together and we watched the Joseph Smith movie, "Joseph Smith the Prophet of the Restoration". What an incredible man he was. Watching Emma clean his tar and feather wounds and watching him bury their children just makes what they went through so real for me. He gave his everything to be the instrument that God needed to restore His gospel. Sometimes I wonder, especially after watching movies like that, if I am doing enough to help others come to the knowledge of their God and the Plan of Salvation that He has made for them.

I didn't tear up too much during the movie since I had seen it a thousand times and knew what was coming, but at the end, it depicts his martyrdom and then has some text that talks about how the effects of what Joseph did has spread through all the world. As I watched, and read those things and looked around me at all the teary-eyed Korean men and women, my heart just swelled with emotion. What an amazing work this is. It really has spread through all the world. How could it have such a strong-hold throughout the world and not be true?

There is one element of my testimony that, as long as I can remember, has always been very strong and that is that I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. Every time I read about him or read his words, or even think about him, it is confirmed to me again and again that he really was/is called of God. My testimony of other elements within the gospel wavers from time to time, but these questions are often overcome by the knowledge that I have that Joseph Smith really did receive those things in revelation and even though I don't understand them now, doesn't mean that I never will and that they are not true.

The movie posted above has scenes from the Joseph Smith movie and is accompanied by a 2005 EFY song entitled "Praise the Man" that I would listen to full blast while I was on my mission (remember that, Sister Owen??). As those of you who have served missions know, it can be very difficult to maintain your energy, bravery and confidence day in and day out. That song, which evoked thoughts of Joseph and the many sacrifices he made to bring the message to the earth, helped keep my testimony burning bright. I just love it! Praise the Man!!!