weekly email

Upcoming events:
Tuesday – 7:30 Book Club at Jamie’s. This month, pick your favorite book about moms. Suggestions:I Am a Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson - suggested by Janelle Jones ; The Price of Motherhood – suggested by Emily Hall
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Saturday Oct 24 Ward Exchange Start putting aside things to bring now!
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Sat Oct 24th Kaelen McKee’s baptism 3:pm everyone invited
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Wed Oct 28th Halloween trunk or treat. Bring candy for your car, kids will go from car to car trick-or-treating, with a little fashion/costume show in the gym.
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Oct 31st – Nov 1st Stake conference. 31st priesthood 11:30 – 1:30 pm adults 2-4:00 (so everyone will have lots of time for trick or treating afterwards;) Gen session Sun 1st 10-noon.
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Nov 5th Enrichment
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Nov 7th Peanut Butter Assignment (still need some volunteers 10-1 shift!)
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Seasons of Sharing Food Drive – bring some canned yams / brownie mixes by Sunday 11/8
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Poinsettia’s – they need orders/money next Sunday. (this is for the Nativity, they are used as a barrier to protect the nativities. 440 have already been ordered... really hoping everyone can pitch in and help! they are beautiful plants, make great gifts for neighbors/teachers/coworkers - take them home Dec 5th $7.50 each)
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RS lesson: Chapter 42: "He was a Prophet of God": Contemporaries of Joseph Smith Testify of His Prophetic Mission
taught by Erin Catalani
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""I feel like shouting, hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew Joseph Smith the Prophet." - Brigham Young

Joseph was a man on a mission. His life had purpose, direction, meaning, and accomplishment. His mission, to teach others of Christ, to proclaim the plan of salvation, to established God's church on this Earth in these the latter days, to establish a firm foundation for God's mighty works to usher forth out of.

Erin started out by asking us what our mission was - if we knew what our mission was, if we knew any other women who had a passion in life, a work that defined their life and made them who they were.

She cited the example of Caryn R.'s passion for music and singing, what a great choir leader she was. Caryn said that music helped her testimony - that she studied the hymns, the words, the notes, and then through singing/performing/sharing those songs her understanding of Jesus and knowledge of all that those songs hold deepened and solidified.

Another pointed out that the other Karen R. was an individual on a mission - a genealogy mission. The countless hours in the library, researching family names for her own family and for others, what a great work that was, and how good Karen had become at it.

Motherhood is another mission. Erin said she worked with another - who had no children of her own, but had seemingly adopted the children in her hospital. She spent her own money buying presents for all her little kids every Christmas, making sure they all had little stuffed animals and warm blankets. How she stood up for them, fiercely protective/concerned for their well being.

Karen R. spoke up, she said genealogy is now a big deal in her life, but it was not always. A few years ago it was relief society, and a few years before that she got really into food storage, that what she was focused on changed over the years. That there is a bigger mission than just all the callings in the church that we find ourselves in from time to time. Karen said her overall big mission was to see through the glass clearly... you know the scripture - 1 Cor. 13:12 For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known... She wanted to "know even as I am known." I thought that was a beautiful mission.

Intermingled with comments about those we know who live with purpose/missions/direction in life we read quotes out of the book revealing who Joseph was, what he was like, and what he lived for. Some of the quotes shared are as follows:

Parly P. Pratt “President Joseph smith was in person tall and well built, strong and active; of a light complexion, light hair, blue eyes, very little beard, and of an expression peculiar to himself… His countenance was ever mild, affable, beaming with intelligence and benevolence; mingled with a look of interest and an unconscious smile, or cheerfulness, and entirely free from all restrain or affectation of gravity; and there was something connected with the serene and steady penetrating glance of his eye, as if he would penetrate the deepest abyss of the human heart, gaze into eternity, penetrate the heavens, and comprehend all worlds. He possessed a noble boldness and independence of character; his manner was easy and familiar; his rebuke terrible as the lion; his benevolence unbounded as the ocean; his intelligence universal.”

We talked a lot about how happy Joseph was – despite all that he had been through..

“Joseph smith is a great man, a man of principle, a straight forward man; no saintish long-faced fellow, but quite the reverse. Indeed some stumble because he is such a straight forward, plain spoken, cheerful man, but that makes me love him the more.” – John Needham

“honest, frank, fearless, and independent… As a religious teacher, as well as a man, he is greatly beloved by this people.” – Bernhisel

“He was brimming over with the noblest and purest of human nature, which often gave vent in innocent amusements-in playing ball, in wrestling with his brothers and scuffling with them, and enjoying himself; he was not like a man with a stake run down his back, and with his face in a brazen mold that he could not smile, that he had no joy in his heart. Oh, he was full of joy; he was full of gladness; he was full of love, and of every other noble attribute that makes men great and good, and at the same time simple and innocent, so that he could descend to the lowest condition, and he had power, buy the grace of God to comprehend the purposes of the Almighty too. That was the character of the Prophet Joseph Smith.” - Joseph F. Smith

Page after page, quote after quote, person after person, all bearing witness of the incredible person, Joseph Smith.

Erin said she read “The Work and the Glory” to get a little idea of what things were like back then. It was a fictional series though, and did not do anything justice. How these few pages of quotes written by people who knew Joseph first hand were able to reveal so much more about Joseph than the fictional series had. That it is incredible and exciting to be able to read first hand accounts from people who actually knew him. If you did not get a chance to read this chapter – read it. It is worth the few minutes it takes to more awaken ourselves to our heritage, to the man God chose to reestablish His church here on earth.

Perhaps the best quote of all was given by our very own Becky Johnson – Erin’s VT companion. Becky brought in a family journal – both she and her husband have pioneer heritage, Becky has it through both sides of her family. Some of the Johnson relatives worked with and knew Joseph Smith first hand. She read us a few of their words and their impression of him.

The following is an account from Benjamin F. Johnson’s journal, ancestor of Doug Johnson, who personally knew the prophet Joseph Smith Jr.

It is recorded in Benjamin F. Johnson’s journal the following regarding the prophet:
"I have witnessed the life and character of our great Prophet. He stood in the presence of both the Father and the Son and personally conversed with them both; being often visited by Holy angels, while continually receiving by revelation the word of the Lord to His people. And yet he was altogether of like passions with his brethren and associates. As a son, he was nobility itself, in love and honor of his parents; as a brother he was loving and true, even unto death; as a husband and father his devotion to wife and children stopped only at idolatry. And his life’s greatest motto after ‘God and his Kingdom’ was that of wife, children and friends. Joseph the Prophet, as a friend he was faithful, long suffering, noble and true to the degree that the erring who did love him were at times reminded that the rod of a friend was better than the kiss of an enemy. As a companion, socially, he was highly endowed; was kind, generous, mirth loving, and at times, even convivial.

Prior to his death he bore his final testimony regarding the experiences and principles which had guided his life. Benjamin’s grandson, Samuel J. Johnson recorded:

“I was at the bedside of my Grandfather, Benjamin F. Johnson, when he died and heard him give his last testimony. When he called his children around his bedside, with a twinkle in his eyes, he mentioned the Prophet’s name.” Benjamin said, “Children, listen to my last testimony. Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, faithful and true to the end of his days: I know, I traveled with him, slept with him, lived with him. I was his Bodyguard, Private Secretary, and Business Manager for years. I have always loved and revered him and all his successors, as I know them all to be Prophets, Seers and Revelators. May God bless you and help you to follow the leaders of the Church.”

Erin said she did not know what her mission was, she could not define any great work or area of passion that everyone knew her for. Most of us in the class did not raise our hands with any clear answers about what our mission was. We cook, we clean, go to work, take care of kids, all the ordinary things that everyone everywhere does I guess.... but perhaps we forget that we are not like everyone else. We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, founded by Joseph Smith, a true prophet of God "whom the Lord raised up and ordained, and to whom he gave keys and power to build up the kingdom of God on earth..." We have power to continue the work that Joseph commenced. May we remember what church we belong to, the heritage that is ours. As daughters of God in Zion our mission is clear.

Thank you Erin for a great lesson - for revealing a little more of our beloved founding prophet Joseph Smith, and inspiring us to live with purpose and direction as he did. It was a great lesson!

Have a great week everyone!
jamie.