Joseph Smith's Christlike Attributes | Jack H. Goaslind

Joseph Smith's Christlike attributes attest to the fact that this his greatest desire was to emulate the Savior and do His will. Read the speech here: https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jack-h... Read more about Jack H. Goaslind here: https://speeches.byu.edu/speakers/jac... Subscribe to BYU Speeches for the latest videos:    / @byuspeeches   Read and listen to more BYU Speeches here: https://speeches.byu.edu/ Follow BYU Speeches: Facebook:   / byuspeeches   Twitter:   / byuspeeches   Instagram:   / byuspeeches   Pinterest:   / byuspeeches   © Brigham Young University. All rights reserved. "In late May the Mississippi River runs swift and high, sparkling and bubbling in the midday sunlight. Birds sing; the air is redolent with fragrances; distantly you can hear a soft Sabbath bell toll; the earth and all about is richly abundant with life. Some eleven miles to the east, across the farmlands away from the great Mississippi, stands the small town of Carthage, Illinois. On Sunday, May 21, of this year, my family and I solemnly walked the paths of Carthage and examined anew the momentous events of that place. I could not help but look toward today’s assignment, knowing I would stand before you marvelous and gifted students at BYU and your devoted administration and faculty, wanting and wishing with all my heart that each of you could feel what I was feeling at that moment as I tried to absorb it and take it all in—knowing this would be the exact anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and of his brother Hyrum Smith, June 27, 1995. One hundred and fifty-one years ago today, Joseph, the prophet of the Restoration, and Hyrum, patriarch of the Church, gave their individual lives for the sake of their testimony of Jesus Christ. In the fifth hour after noon, each suffered multiple shots. It is interesting, and I think even important, that in Jewish symbolism the number five denotes sanctification and/or purification. Five hours after noonday Joseph and Hyrum died. Neither brother sought death, but it was not unforeseen. Joseph had forebodings as early as April 1829, when the Lord told him, “And even if they do unto you even as they have done unto me, blessed are ye, for you shall dwell with me in glory” (D&C 6:30). Joseph went to Carthage, in his words, “like a lamb to the slaughter” (D&C 135:4). The ruthless death of these brothers was their final witness of the Savior whom they served. As John Taylor wrote of Joseph: Like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, [he] has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood. . . . . . . The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force. [D&C 135:3, 5] In sealing his testimony with his blood, Joseph followed the pattern of the Savior. It was in reference to the Savior, the “mediator of the new testament,” that Paul taught, “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead” (Hebrews 9:15–17). I will never forget Carthage and the impression it left on my soul. Nauvoo was next. This is where I met a missionary couple whose strong and humble witness of Joseph so affected me that I asked if they would write down their feelings for me about their mission in the City of Joseph. A few weeks ago I received a reply from Elder and Sister Wood that seems appropriate here. They said: Since our call to serve a mission at the Nauvoo Visitors’ Center, our knowledge and testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith has grown immensely. We [already] knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. . . . We also knew that he had undergone many trials for the Church, but we didn’t know or realize just what he endured and to what lengths and depths he went to help bring forth the kingdom of God and restore it to the earth. One day, while testifying to a couple in front of the Christus [statue] that Jesus Christ gave his life and atoned for our sins so we, his brothers and sisters, might return to live with our Heavenly Father, I suddenly realized more fully that Joseph Smith gave [up] his life, too, . . . that we might have the fullness of the gospel." - Jack H. Goaslind