Joyous Celebration for Joseph’s Birthday
(Part Two)
By Maurine Jensen Proctor; Photographs by Scot Facer Proctor

President Hinckley said, “Joseph was a simple farm boy.  His family had nothing, really.  Palmyra was a largely unknown rural village.  But Moroni said to him on that occasion that his “name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues. (Joseph Smith History 1:33).

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President Hinckley loves testifying of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

“How could Joseph in his circumstances have believed that such a thing should come to pass?  And yet that is what has happened.  Thousands all across the earth sing his praise and tribute.  They read the Book of Mormon, they exercise the priesthood, they go on missions, they pat their tithes and offerings, all under a system of religion founded on divine revelation given to Joseph Smith, the Prophet.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard

A descendant of the Smiths, Elder M. Russell Ballard said of Joseph Smith at the celebration, “This remarkable monument to his name here in Sharon, Vermont, was dedicated one hundred years ago by my great grandfather, President Joseph F. Smith.  As he spoke of visiting Tunbridge, the birthplace of his father, Hyrum, and contemplated the dedication of this monument to Uncle Joseph whom he loved, ‘his voice choked with emotion, and his eyes filled with tears.”  Continuing to speak, he said, ‘My heart is like that of a child.  It is easily touched, especially with love.’”

Elder Ballard is a third-great-grandson of Lucy Mack and Joseph Smith, Sr.

Elder Ballard said that Joseph’s role was foreordained long before this life, quoting Brigham Young:  “It was decreed in the council of eternity, long before the foundations of the earth were laid that [Joseph Smith] should be the man, in the last dispensation of this world, to bring forth the word of God to the people and receive the fullness of the keys and power of the Priesthood of the Son of God.  The Lord had his eye upon him, and upon his father and upon his father’s father, and upon their progenitors clear back to… Adam… He had watched that family and that blood as it has circulated from its fountain to the birth of that man.  He was foreordained in eternity to preside over this last dispensation.”

Elder Ballard continued, “It was Asael, the Prophet Joseph’s grandfather, who said:  “It has been borne in upon my soul that one of my descendants will promulgate a work to revolutionize the world of religious faith.”

President James E. Faust

“No person can understand this Church and its mission without knowing of its divine origin,” said President James E. Faust.  “Every person who claims membership in the Church should have his or her own personal witness concerning the truthfulness of the remarkable story of Joseph Smith, of his beginnings, of his teachings, or his testimony, and of his life.

“The early history of this Church is quite complete, and has been combed over many times, but the impression that looms largest is the stature of Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith will be discussed, debated and challenged, but no one can argue with the success of the work which he introduced. 

President Thomas S. Monson

President Monson said, “Though reviled ad persecuted, the Prophet Joseph never wavered in his testimony of Jesus Christ.  His peers watched him lead with dignity and grace, endure hardships, and time and again rise to new challenges until his divine mission was completed.  Today that heritage he established still shines for all the world to see.  The teachings he translated and his legacy of love for his fellow men continue in the millions of hearts touched by the message he declared so long ago.

“Few in this dispensation have paid so dearly for an irrevocable testimony of Jesus Christ as did the Prophet Joseph Smith. On June 18, 1844, he gave what was to be his last sermon.  He very likely knew that he would not again address his people.  His concluding remarks were these:  ‘God has tried you.  You are a good people… I love you with all my heart.  Greater love hath no man than that he should lay down his life for his friends.

Tourists linger around the Joseph Smith Monument on December 23, 2005.

“’You have stood by me in the hour of trouble, and I am willing to sacrifice my life for your preservation.  May the Lord God of Israel bless you forever and ever.’  His words sank deep into the hearts of the people.  It was the last time in the flesh that they were to listen to… his voice, or to feel… his inspiration. 

“Ultimately, the Prophet Joseph was slain by evil men who assumed the Church would collapse after his death. George Q. Cannon, who served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and as a counselor to several Church presidents wrote, ‘The enemies of truth were sure that they had now destroyed the work.  And yet it lives, greater and stronger after the lapse of years.  It is indestructible, for it is the work of God.  And knowing that it is the eternal work of God, we know that Joseph Smith who established it was a prophet holy and pure.”

Goodbye to Sharon

President Hinckley was so warm to this small group on this very cold day.

After President Hinckley taped his part for the live broadcast from Sharon, it was time to go.  Those who had been with him in Vermont gathered around as he was leaving — almost as if they wanted him to linger a little longer.  Almost spontaneously a song arose, “We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet.”  President Hinckley sang along for he knew that this day, it was meant for another prophet.  We all felt right in tune.  

President Hinckley looked one last time towards the monument and the cabin site where the Prophet Joseph was born.  It was a tender moment.

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