Coming to Know Brother Joseph Again

I'm sorry about the delays in posting new material.  Things have been as busy as I can remember of late.  I began teaching my first college course, LDS Church History 1805 to 1844 this past week.  All of the sudden my many thoughts of complaint about how much professors assigned us to do seems so much less valid.  Little did I know that the professor put ten times as much effort, study, and work into the classes I was taking as I put into those same courses.  When I'm not working on my next lecture for class, I am trying to get ready for my comprehensive exams, a grueling task in which your preparation never quite seems to be enough.  Though in the process I've had a great time just rediscovering the joy of reading.  Thanks to my professors, I have had a wonderful book list that has generally been enjoyable as well as instructive to me.  Then, of course, I am enjoying the time that I am blessed to spend with Julianne this summer.  As the picture below demonstrates, my charming two year old nephew keeps me on my toes and reminds me that I need to continue trying to impress Julianne because he just might steal her away from me.

All in all, it has been a wonderful, if busy, summer.  The blessings have far outweighed any inconveniences due to the hectic schedule.

Among the blessings this summer has brought me is an opportunity to be among the millions who will come to know Brother Joseph again.  Preparing for my classes has been an intensive labor and I never quite feel ready enough.  But at the same time, they have reminded me of a history that I had not given as much attention to lately as it deserved.  Excepting the Savior who excels us all in all things, none of us can be an expert in everything.  Our mortal limitations and the limitations imposed upon us by time compel us to choose areas to specialize in and then to give less attention to other areas.  The field of history is no exception.  You cannot be a specialist in more than a couple of areas.

Years ago I determined that I had a better shot of making a contribution to the field if I studied a non-Joseph Smith era topic.  So many bright historians study Joseph Smith that breaking into that arena seemed almost impossible.  My jobs at Education in Zion and then with Ron Walker allowed me to become more of a specialist in the Utah period.  So, for the last seven years or so, my interests have been more directed towards the history of the Church from 1850 to about 1930.  My time was spent with Brigham Young and a few of the other prophets and people of that period, and I just didn't have as much time to study everything Joseph Smith.

In preparing for this class, I have had a chance to reacquaint myself with Joseph and this dynamic and wonderful story of the early Church.  I had forgotten so much!  And so as I've started to read for class, I have just enjoyed coming to know Brother Joseph again.  Everything impresses me, but one thing that has stood out has been his determination.  In the 1835 account of the First Vision, Joseph kneeled and attempted to pray 3 times, each time being overpowered by the adversary.  But he kept trying and persisting.  And then with that third prayer, the light came and darkness was banished away.  After that vision, Joseph never doubted it.  Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris both had confirming visions that led them to participate in the work, but both gave into the doubts and rationalizations that most of us let get in the way of our past spiritual experiences.  I don't blame them for needing reassurances.  I need them all the time.  But Joseph was special in this regard.  Even when a minister told him it wasn't true and when problems arose, Joseph never doubted that he had in reality had a vision.  Oh that I could be like Joseph and trust in that which the Lord has given me!

And so I find myself tonight grateful for this chance to come to know Brother Joseph again!

Brett