The Prophet of the Restoration

Hi!

This week was so fast! The transfer ends next Wed. so we are starting to work on the new schedule. Next transfer we start our "Summer schedule" which means we include flag pole and Mandarin tours every hour from 9am-8pm in the schedule. Busy times ahead!

I have a thought for the day: if you study about Joseph Smith's life you can't help but gain a deeper testimony of the church. You can't help but have love for this prophet and man. Have you ever been asked the question, "If you could pick one person from the past or the present to have lunch with for an hour, who would it be?" I would hands down pick Joseph Smith!! When I think of the people who don't believe the church is true because they think Joseph was a fraud, I just want to plead with them to study his life. You can't help but love him and know he was an honest, good-hearted man. He did all he could to fulfill the Father's will and restore this gospel which we now enjoy. Along with translating the Book of Mormon, building temples, and leading the saints, he was called to give his life, along with Hyrum, as a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. Section 135 of Doctrine and Covenants is about their martyrdom:

"They were innocent of any crime, as they had often been proved before, and were only confined in jail by the conspiracy of traitors and wicked men; and their innocent blood on the floor of Carthage jail is a broad seal affixed to “Mormonism” that cannot be rejected by any court on earth, and their innocent blood on the escutcheon of the State of Illinois, with the broken faith of the State as pledged by the governor, is a witness to the truth of the everlasting gospel that all the world cannot impeach; and their innocent blood on the banner of liberty, and on the magna charta of the United States, is an ambassador for the religion of Jesus Christ, that will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations; and their innocent blood, with the innocent blood of all the martyrs under the altar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord of Hosts till he avenges that blood on the earth. Amen."

I know Joseph Smith was the Lord's prophet who was called to open this last dispensation. I know that he translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God and that it is true. By reading it we can find answers to personal questions and grow closer to Jesus Christ. Sister Yoshida and I took a senior couple on a tour this morning--they are training in the MTC to go to a Visitor's Center at Joseph Smith's birthplace--and we were sitting by the Cristus sharing about Jesus Christ. We were talking about how much Christ loves us and that He died for us. I've been thinking lately that He always feels love for us, but we don't always feel His love. I know that we can feel His love the strongest when we live the gospel. 

I love you all!
xoxoxo,

Sister Butler