I took this picture in one of the most sacred places in the world. I am so grateful to be on a mission and to be able to testify, to everyone who can hear my voice, of the sacred events that happened here. This is the Sacred Grove and is located in New York. This is where Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This is where he was called to be a prophet and was called to restore Christ's true church again upon the earth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am so lucky because I have been called by a prophet of God to serve my mission where this amazing event took place. I would like to talk about Joseph Smith and the significance of this event to our Church and to the world.
When Joseph Smith was 14 years old, he was living with his family near Palmyra, New York. During this time in New York there was "an unusual excitement on the subject of religion." There was so many churches and so many preachers declaring their church was right. Joseph, although only a young man, was very concerned at which church was true. That is so much like today. There are so many different churches all professing to be the true church but all their doctrines were contradictory. How do we know which church is the right one? Joseph said that "so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong." He wanted to find the true church so he could follow Jesus Christ but he was unsure at which church it was and how he could find out.
One day, Joseph was reading the Bible, trying to find his answer. How amazing this action of Joseph's was. If we have a question, turn to the scriptures. Read, search, and ponder the scriptures, both the Book of Mormon and the Bible, to answers the questions of our souls. Because when he searched the scriptures he found his answer. He read James 1:5 which states, "If any of you lack wisdom, let his ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." If we lack wisdom, or have a question, we need to ask God in prayer with faith and He WILL answer us. Joseph realized "that [he] must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else [he] must do as James directs, that is, ask of God." The only source of truth is Heavenly Father. To find an answer to a question or to find truth, we need to ask God in sincere prayer. Joseph Smith decided to do just this and to ask God which church was true and which he should join.
In the spring of 1820, Joseph Smith headed out into a grove of trees behind his home. He then kneeled down and uttered a sincere, heartfelt, and vocal prayer in which he prayed to Heavenly Father and asked Him his question: which church was true. In response to his prayer, Joseph Smith recounts, "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me....When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith in answer to his prayer. Joseph asked Them which church was right so he could join them. His question was answered "that [he] must join none of them, for they were all wrong." Joseph was told that none of the churches on the earth were the correct church of Christ.
At this time, Joseph Smith was called to be the new prophet in our days and was called to restore the true church of Christ back upon the earth. Just as in times of old when prophets were called upon the earth, God again called another prophet in our times. He was called to restore the church that Christ established while He was on the earth. In the ensuing years, Joseph fulfilled his calling by bringing forth the Book of Mormon and restoring Christ's true church again upon the earth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Why is my picture significant? Because it was taken in the same place where Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It is the place where Joseph had his prayer answered and where he was called to be a prophet and to restore the true church again upon the earth. This place, the Sacred Grove, is so amazing and I love going into it. Whenever I enter the Grove, I feel peace, comfort, and tranquility. I know this is because this forest is special. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have been there. I know this is true. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet. I am so grateful for him and all he has done to bring forth and restore the church of Christ. All who can come to the Sacred Grove! It is one of the most amazing places in the world! It is in Palmyra, New York and I know if you come with an open and sincere heart, you will be able feel the amazing spirit that is here. COME TO THE SACRED GROVE!!!! I also know that if we pray to God in sincerity and faith and ask Him a question, He will answer us just as He answered Joseph Smith's humble prayer. I am so grateful to be serving my mission here where I get to be by the Sacred Grove for 18 months of my life!
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