Oh, How We've Benefitted From Brother Joseph Smith

Oh, how we've benefitted
From our Brother Joseph Smith
For through him we've been gifted
With God's light that does transmit

We've a truer understanding
Of Heavenly Father and His plan
We've a book for our handling
And a deeper love for man

We've holy temples for binding
Upon four corners of the earth
We've latter-day words for finding
Our own spiritual rebirth

By the universal power
Given of the Holy Ghost
Knowledge of God's truth does shower
To teach what's needed the most

There to warm within the heart
A witness filled with strength
As to the mind light imparts
A testimony gained at length

Then how bright we are with truth
To love our families and neighbors
Passing hope in Christ to our youth
As were serving Him in our labors

Precious Fruits of the First Vision
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Ensign February, 2009, 4

[Verse 1] Oh, how we've benefitted From our Brother Joseph Smith For through him we've been gifted With God's light that does transmit We've a truer understanding Of Heavenly Father and His plan We've a book for our handling And a deeper love for man [Pre-Chorus] We've holy temples for binding Upon four corners of the earth We've latter-day words for finding Our own spiritual rebirth [Chorus] Oh, how we've benefitted Oh, how we've benefitted With God's light that shines in us Oh, how we've benefitted Oh, how we've benefitted To love as He has loved us [Verse 2] By the universal power Given of the Holy Ghost Knowledge of God's truth does shower To teach what's needed the most There to warm within the heart A witness filled with strength As to the mind light imparts A testimony gained at length [Pre-Chorus] Then how bright we are with truth To love our families and neighbors Passing hope in Christ to our youth As we're serving Him in our labors [Chorus] Oh, how we've benefitted Oh, how we've benefitted With God's light that shines in us Oh, how we've benefitted Oh, how we've benefitted To love as He has loved us [Bridge] Let the witness stay within Let the truth keep leading on Hands to lift, and hearts to mend Till the doubts are all but gone [Final Chorus] Oh, how we've benefitted Oh, how we've benefitted With God's light that shines in us Oh, how we've benefitted Oh, how we've benefitted To love as He has loved us Oh, how we've benefitted Oh, how we've benefitted Passing hope in Christ to us

Pray to KNOW- A Pillar of Light Through the Trees

 

Put your life beside this brother's
And seek for Christ's light all around
Look for those lessons above others
There you will be on holy ground

In a grove of trees where morning light gives birth
Young Joseph Smith humbly knelt, desiring much to know
If and where God's kingdom was still upon the earth
Thus, to him- God and His Son, as personages did show
To commence the restoration and teach mankind their worth

In the end, as a prophet, he went like a lamb to his slaughter
Having done the best that could be done
"Oh Lord, my God," his last words were recorded after
Do not doubt for a moment, right then,  he saw the Son!

No man or prison door could stop
This glad message his to bear
As a martyr he was shot!
But, his vision we still share

His lifelong mission

Alone was his to do

It started with a vision 

And ended this way too

Now, Stiffen, not slacken

Your spiritual spine
Testify as a lion
Start with "I KNOW" each time

Verse 1] Put your life beside this brother's And seek for Christ's light all around Look for those lessons above others There you will be on holy ground In a grove of trees where morning light gives birth Young Joseph Smith humbly knelt, desiring much to know If and where God's kingdom was still upon the earth Thus, to him- God and His Son, as personages did show [Pre-Chorus] To commence the restoration And teach mankind their worth In the end, as a prophet He went like a lamb to his slaughter [Chorus] I KNOW, I KNOW His vision still lives on I KNOW, I KNOW The Son was there that dawn No man or prison door Could stop this glad message near I KNOW, I KNOW We still share what he saw here [Verse 2] Having done the best that could be done "Oh Lord, my God," his last words were recorded after Do not doubt for a moment, right then, he saw the Son! As a martyr he was shot! But, his vision we still share His lifelong mission Alone was his to do It started with a vision And ended with one, too [Pre-Chorus] Now, Stiffen, not slacken Your spiritual spine Testify as a lion Start with I KNOW each time [Chorus] I KNOW, I KNOW His vision still lives on I KNOW, I KNOW The Son was there that dawn No man or prison door Could stop this glad message near I KNOW, I KNOW We still share what he saw here [Bridge] From grove to grave The witness still remains What Heaven showed him then Still answers hearts and claims [Chorus] I KNOW, I KNOW His vision still lives on I KNOW, I KNOW The Son was there that dawn No man or prison door Could stop this glad message near I KNOW, I KNOW We still share what he saw here

We Often Underestimate the Lord's Redeeming Power

We often underestimate
The Lord's redeeming power
It's only us who hesitate
To be saved in that desperate hour

His mercy fills the heart with peace
His love does ever flow
May our humility increase
For the Shepherd calls: "Come Follow"

Oft to our knees may we descend
To feel what He does share
He strengthens the weak without end
There we find, He's been ever there!

Verse 1] We often underestimate The Lord's redeeming power It's only us who hesitate To be saved in that desperate hour His mercy fills the heart with peace His love does ever flow May our humility increase For the Shepherd calls: Come Follow [Pre-Chorus] Oft to our knees may we descend To feel what He does share He strengthens the weak without end There we find, He's been ever there [Chorus] Come Follow Come Follow The Shepherd calls us near Come Follow Come Follow He's been ever there [Verse 2] When pride has kept us far away And shadow clings too long He meets us in the break of day And makes the broken strong No wound is hidden from His eye No tear too small to know He lifts the lowly when they cry For the Shepherd calls: Come Follow [Pre-Chorus] Oft to our knees may we descend To feel what He does share He strengthens the weak without end There we find, He's been ever there [Chorus] Come Follow Come Follow The Shepherd calls us near Come Follow Come Follow He's been ever there [Bridge] So let the humble heart arise And let the weary sing The mercy waiting in the skies Still gathers everything [Final Chorus] Come Follow Come Follow The Shepherd calls us near Come Follow Come Follow He's been ever there

Clean Hands and A Pure Heart

During His three day ministry,
Our Savior of the world
Called and authorized disciples,
In His doctrines they were schooled.
He healed the sick, and blessed children,
As He prayed for His people.
He then succinctly summarized
Principles of His gospel.

“Unto Me, come,” the Savior taught.
Come and make sacred covenants.
And, renunciate all your sins,
Unto baptismal ord'nance.
In His own time and His own way
And according to His will.
We can come to know Him,
As those in the land of Bountiful.

Once repentant, we are baptized,
Our hearts turn towards our God.
And the Holy Ghost prepares us
To stand Holy without spot.
Through Christ's merits, mercy and grace,
Our commitment does not drift.
He's our Light, which does guide us,
Our faith in Him, His gift.

There is purpose in our journey,
We walk in newness of life.
When we yield our hearts unto God,
We obtain the mind of Christ.
Where once carnal, we're cleansed and healed.
As with fire we're refined.
And the Holy Ghost sanctifies,
While the soul is purified.

When we've no more disposition
To do that which is evil-
Our hands are clean and we reach out.
We become His Disciple.
We should avoid and overcome.
And, repent, be cleansed from sin.
The Lord helps us do and be good
And change our hearts from within.

With clean hands and with a pure heart,
We ascend unto the hills
Where the sick and poor are now fed.
And there's faith, which God instills
May we offer our Lord pure hearts,
With clean hands as we were meant.
May we apply the atonement.
And, do as we are now sent.

He raised the dead.
He healed the sick.
He cleansed leprosy.
He knows my heart.
He knows my hands.
And, I know He loves me.

He prayed for them.
And blessed children.
And, He called "Come and see".
He knew their heart.
They saw His hands
And, they wrote words for me.

[Verse 1] During His three day ministry Our Savior of the world Called and authorized disciples In His doctrines they were schooled He healed the sick And blessed the children As He prayed for His people Then He spoke the simple order [Pre-Chorus] “Unto Me, come,” the Savior taught Come and make sacred covenants Renunciate all your sins Unto baptismal ord'nance In His own time And His own way And according to His will We can come to know Him [Chorus] Come and see Come and see He knows my heart Come and see Come and see His grace makes me clean (come and see) [Verse 2] Once repentant, we are baptized Our hearts turn towards our God And the Holy Ghost prepares us To stand holy without spot Through Christ's merits Mercy and grace Our commitment does not drift He's our Light He guides us [Pre-Chorus] There is purpose in our journey We walk in newness of life When we yield our hearts unto God We obtain the mind of Christ Where once carnal We're cleansed and healed As with fire we're refined And the Holy Ghost sanctifies While the soul is purified [Chorus] Come and see Come and see He knows my heart Come and see Come and see His grace makes me clean (come and see) [Bridge] When we've no more disposition To do that which is evil Our hands are clean And we reach out We become His disciple We should avoid and overcome Repent, be cleansed from sin The Lord helps us do and be good [Final Chorus] Come and see Come and see He knows my hands Come and see Come and see I know He loves me (come and see) He raised the dead He healed the sick He cleansed leprosy He knows my heart He knows my hands And I know He loves me

David A. Bednar,
“Clean Hands and a Pure Heart,”
Ensign, Nov 2007, 80–83

renunciate- to formally reject or give up (something), especially as an expression of a religious belief:"those who are willing to renunciate violence can follow a different path."

What is our Highest Mission? Temple Bound

What is our highest mission?
But serving in the temple;
For it expands our vision
Of our Father's love for His people.

Behold the field is ripe.
The harvest is ready.
Reap it with all your might-
Steadfast and steady.

They are yours to receive,
These, the newest of the sheaves.
Let us help them, now, to gather
And prepare them for the garner.

That their growth is not wasted...
For then they will have tasted-
The power of Godliness
That, there in, does manifest.

Clearly,when we are baptized
We should have placed before our eyes-
A vision of the higher ground,
That we might be temple bound.

For the whirlwinds will harrow up,
In mighty attempts to interrupt-
The day of sacred endowment;
For there in is empowerment.

Thus we'll leave God's House armed with power
Honorably, with a name and standing;
That the blessings of heaven will shower
By illuminating us unto understanding.

When a new temple's announced
The excitement is pronounced;
That even the bells of Hell do ring
But, we'll not fear such a minor thing!

For as the tribes of hell are on the move
The greater wisdom of God does prove;
That the fire of the covenant burns brighter still
As the Saints have a mission to fulfill.

Verse 1] What is our highest mission? But serving in the temple; For it expands our vision Of our Father's love for His people. Behold the field is ripe. The harvest is ready. Reap it with all your might- Steadfast and steady. [Pre-Chorus] They are yours to receive, These, the newest of the sheaves. Let us help them, now, to gather And prepare them for the garner. That their growth is not wasted... For then they will have tasted- [Chorus] Temple bound, temple bound A vision on higher ground Temple bound, temple bound We are called, and we are found The power of Godliness There in does manifest [Verse 2] Clearly, when we are baptized We should have placed before our eyes- A vision of the higher ground, That we might be temple bound. For the whirlwinds will harrow up, In mighty attempts to interrupt- The day of sacred endowment; For there in is empowerment. [Pre-Chorus] Thus we'll leave God's House armed with power Honorably, with a name and standing; That the blessings of heaven will shower By illuminating us unto understanding. When a new temple's announced The excitement is pronounced; [Chorus] Temple bound, temple bound A vision on higher ground Temple bound, temple bound We are called, and we are found The power of Godliness There in does manifest [Bridge] That even the bells of Hell do ring But, we'll not fear such a minor thing! For as the tribes of hell are on the move The greater wisdom of God does prove; That the fire of the covenant burns brighter still As the Saints have a mission to fulfill. [Final Chorus] Temple bound, temple bound A vision on higher ground Temple bound, temple bound We are called, and we are found The power of Godliness There in does manifest Temple bound, temple bound Let the covenant burn bright now

Elder David A. Bednar
Honorably Hold a Name and Standing
Ensign, May 2009, 97

Alma 26:5
Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye,
for ye did thrust in the sickle,
and did reap with your might,
yea, all the day long did ye labor;
and behold the number of your sheaves!
And they shall be gathered into the garners,
that they are not wasted.

sheaves = newly baptized members of the church
garners = holy temples

The Prophet Joseph Smith

The Prophet Joseph Smith

Is our special witness

Of the resurrected Christ

Whom he had seen in light

As one called, he restored the gospel

Through the priesthood this was possible

And through modern day revelation

We've the Book of Mormon translation

Where prophets shared of  the Father's love

For we're all spiritual offspring of Him

He built holy temples for God above

And taught of ordinances within them

Yes, he testified of a Living Jesus

Who revealed Doctrines and Covenants 

He laid the gospel's foundation for us

His name's to be known as a rock or offense

Often, for him, the veil was parted

Then, with his own blood, as a martyr

He died as a personal witness

Of the work we are left to finish

And we will not forget The light he held before us We take up what he left And walk the path still open

[Verse 1] The Prophet Joseph Smith Is our special witness Of the resurrected Christ Whom he had seen in light As one called, he restored the gospel Through the priesthood this was possible And through modern day revelation We've the Book of Mormon translation [Pre-Chorus] Where prophets shared of the Father's love For we're all spiritual offspring of Him He built holy temples for God above And taught of ordinances within them [Chorus] The Prophet Joseph Smith Our special witness Of the resurrected Christ The Prophet Joseph Smith Our special witness We will stand and testify [Verse 2] Yes, he testified of a Living Jesus Who revealed Doctrines and Covenants He laid the gospel's foundation for us His name's to be known as a rock or offense Often, for him, the veil was parted Then, with his own blood, as a martyr He died as a personal witness Of the work we are left to finish [Bridge] And we will not forget The light he held before us We take up what he left And walk the path still open [Chorus] The Prophet Joseph Smith Our special witness Of the resurrected Christ The Prophet Joseph Smith Our special witness We will stand and testify [Outro] Of the work we are left to finish Of the work we are left to finish

"With a Spirit-derived assurance in place, you can go forward in the Lord's work and continue deepening your relationship with your Heavenly Father while pursuing or awaiting answers. If you determine to sit still, paralyzed until every question is answered and every whisper of doubt resolved, you will never move because in this life there will always be some issue pending, things yet unexplained."

Elder Christofferson said that "Joseph Smith's prophetic calling is key to our religion." Yet even with his large contributions, he is not its foundation — Jesus Christ is the foundation, and it is His Crucifixion and Resurrection that every other element of God's plan for the salvation of His children is built upon.
Elder Christofferson shared three ways the Prophet Joseph Smith is the great latter-day revelator of Jesus Christ — his personal witness of the Savor's Resurrection, his translation and publication of the Book of Mormon and through sealing his testimony with his own blood.
"Among mortals, the Lord Jesus Christ has had no surer witness, no more committed disciple, no more loyal advocate than Joseph Smith, His prophet, seer and revelator. By his personal witness of the resurrected Savior, ... [he] has laid before the world the preeminent revelation of Jesus Christ for our time."

The Prophet Joseph 

the great 'latter-day revelator'

Learning from the teachings of leader guides people to Christ

By Marianne Holman

Published: Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013 Rexberg Idaho

Great Trees Deep Roots- Joseph's Role in Restoring the Savior's Gospel

A witness can't be denied
Forgotten or ignored
As, from it you cannot hide
For it came from the Lord

Honed and prepared
He was in need of strength
Humbly he shared
How he developed faith

The keeping of records
And the bearing of truth
Has come through great efforts
As great trees have deep roots

As the founder of a cause
How would he lead? at what cost?
Would he be willing to die?
Who would take his place? and why?

Sometimes all you have
Is your faith to hold on to
And the hope that perhaps
All your family will be true

Amidst a war of words
How can you know what's right?
Let your questions be heard
For wisdom, seek God's light

Scriptures come with power
Unto the heart of man
Teaching any hour
Heaven remains open

[Verse 1] A witness can't be denied Forgotten or ignored As, from it you cannot hide For it came from the Lord Honed and prepared He was in need of strength Humbly he shared How he developed faith [Chorus] The keeping of records And the bearing of truth Has come through great efforts As great trees have deep roots As the founder of a cause How would he lead? at what cost? Would he be willing to die? Who would take his place? and why? [Verse 2] Sometimes all you have Is your faith to hold on to And the hope that perhaps All your family will be true Amidst a war of words How can you know what's right? Let your questions be heard For wisdom, seek God's light [Bridge] Scriptures come with power Unto the heart of man Teaching any hour Heaven remains open [Chorus] The keeping of records And the bearing of truth Has come through great efforts As great trees have deep roots As the founder of a cause How would he lead? at what cost? Would he be willing to die? Who would take his place? and why?

Thoughts are from this series on youtube

Joseph Smith's preparation, faith, and leadership in restoring the Savior's gospel.

The tree roots metaphor highlights the enduring strength from keeping records and bearing truth, referencing challenges like a "war of words" and the need to seek divine wisdom.