“What Joseph Taught,” New Era, Dec. 2007, 10
What Joseph Taught
A new book can help us learn more about the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
The Prophet Joseph Smith once said, “I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the whole world.”1 Today we can see that what the Lord brought about through him—the Restoration of the gospel and Christ’s true Church—has indeed revolutionized the world.
The stories of Joseph Smith’s First Vision and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon have been told countless times by missionaries throughout the world. And many of his revelations and teachings, as well as his history, are widely available in the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. Yet relatively few people, including Church members, have had more than glimpses of the vast breadth and depth of Joseph Smith’s teachings. But that’s about to change.
Beginning in 2008, adult members of the Church will be studying from Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, a book containing statements from the Prophet’s many sermons, letters, and journals, and well as other sources. Never have the teachings of Joseph Smith been as readily available and widely distributed as they will be in this book.
Over the next two years, the New Era will share many of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s teachings with you so that you too can become familiar with them and ponder them. We hope that you will recognize the foundation Joseph Smith laid for all that has come after him and that you will want to learn even more about him.
Joseph Smith’s Great Concern
“It is my meditation all the day, and more than my meat and drink, to know how I shall make the Saints of God comprehend the visions that roll like an overflowing surge before my mind.”
Joseph Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 520.
Brother Joseph, by David Lindsley