Just Like Joseph

By Alelie Coronel-Camitan

Did Joseph Smith really see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

A true story from the Philippines.

Lhensay bounced in her seat next to her mom as their jeepney drove through town. Sunday was Lhensay’s favorite day of the week! She loved going to Primary and learning about Jesus Christ.

The jeepney pulled up to their stop. Mom held Lhensay’s hand as they walked to the church.

After sacrament meeting, Lhensay walked to Primary with her friend Maria. On the board there was a picture of a young man praying in the woods.

“Good morning!” Their teacher, Sister Cruz, pointed to the picture. “Does anyone know who this is?”

“That’s Joseph Smith!” Lhensay said.

Sister Cruz smiled. “Yes, that’s right. And what did Joseph Smith do?”

Lhensay looked back at the picture. She knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet, but she didn’t know much else.

“He was the first prophet of our church,” Maria said.

“Right again!” said Sister Cruz. “When Joseph was young, he didn’t know which church to join. He went into the woods and prayed to God to find out which one was true. He also asked for forgiveness of his sins. As he prayed, a very bright light appeared. Do you know who was in that light?”

Lhensay and the rest of her class waited.

Sister Cruz put another picture on the board. This one showed two men standing above Joseph Smith in the air. They wore white robes and shone brightly.

“Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ showed themselves to Joseph,” Sister Cruz said. “They told him that he would restore Jesus’s Church. We call it the First Vision.”

Lhensay raised her hand, eyes wide. “Was it for real?” she asked.

Sister Cruz nodded. “Yes, it was!”

Lhensay’s heart felt warm. She knew that what Sister Cruz had said was true.

That night, Lhensay kept thinking about Joseph Smith. “Mom, how can I see Heavenly Father and Jesus, like Joseph Smith did?” she asked.

Mom gave Lhensay a hug. “Most of us won’t see Heavenly Father and Jesus like Joseph Smith did. But They can still speak to us through thoughts and feelings from the Holy Ghost. Then you can know They are always with you.”

Lhensay thought about the way her heart felt warm when Sister Cruz told them about the First Vision. That was the Holy Ghost, sending her a message from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! She smiled and hugged Mom back. They had spoken to her, just like they had to Joseph Smith!