Trust in the Spirit that Leads to Do Good
More Reflections on Doctrine and Covenants Section 11
Joseph and Emma Smith suffered great hardships and were reduced to poverty during the early days of the Restoration and the period of the translation of the Book of Mormon. In addition to these trials, Joseph Smith faced constant opposition from wicked men. Near the end of his life, in an epistle directed to the saints, the Prophet described his feelings about these events and gloried in tribulation:
And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the envy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God knoweth all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it. (D&C 127:2)
In the midst of these perils and trials, these afflictions and tribulations, many miracles accompanied Joseph Smith and his associates. Besides Oliver Cowdery and among those who came to the Prophet’s aid were Joseph Knight, Sr., the Whitmer family, and Hyrum Smith. For example, Joseph Knight, Sr. recorded an experience with the young Prophet:
Joseph Cald me into the other Room and he set his foot on the Bed and leaned his head on his hands and says ‘… it is ten time Better then I expected.’ Then he went on to tell the length and width and thickness of the plates, and said he, ‘they appear to be Gold.’ But he seamed to think more of the glasses or the urim and thummem then [than] he Did of the plates, for, says he, ‘I can see any thing; they are Marvelus. Now they are writen in Caracters and I want them translated.’ (Backman, Jr. and Cowan, Joseph Smith and the Doctrine and Covenants, p. 15)
David Whitmer also recorded miracles that occurred during the early Restoration, including the mysterious ploughing of a field and the appearance of the angel Moroni to others besides Joseph. The Lord’s hand guided everyone involved in the Restoration, and the Lord blessed those who desired to assist in the work.
Hyrum Smith was one of the most faithful friends of the Prophet and the most eager to assist. The Lord Himself held forth Hyrum’s life as an exemplary life to follow. In essence, the Lord’s first revelation to Hyrum Smith was a commendation of his faithfulness and an admonition to patience and obedience. The Lord admonished Hyrum Smith to cleave unto Him with all his heart, to hold his peace, to patiently study the word of God as it continued to come forth, to seek the Kingdom of God, and to build upon the Rock or the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Hyrum sought to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion. He sought for wisdom and the riches of eternal life. He did much good. He cried repentance. He kept God’s commandments and assisted to bring forth the Lord’s work. He trusted in the Spirit that leads to do good, to do justly, to walk humbly, and to judge righteously. He received the Lord’s Spirit that enlightened his mind and filled his soul with joy. Like his brother the Prophet Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith learned to receive personal revelation, and by receiving personal revelation, Hyrum Smith received Jesus Christ.
At this point in the story of the Restoration, the Aaronic priesthood had been restored and the Book of Mormon was still being translated. The True Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had not yet been restored. Thus Hyrum Smith learned to cleave unto the Lord and to receive personal revelation even before the organization of the Lord’s Church was fully in place.
Hyrum Smith learned patience as he waited to receive the Lord’s word, His rock, His church, His gospel, and His doctrine. The Lord’s counsel to Hyrum Smith applies just as well to those of us now who seek further light and knowledge, more scripture, and to discern the True Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from all counterfeits. Our work, like Hyrum’s work, is simply to keep God’s commandments with all our might, mind and strength. Like Hyrum Smith we can believe in Christ and receive Him, and thereby obtain power to become the sons and daughters of God.