Well yesterday we had pretty cool lesson on Joseph Smith.
In Joseph Smith History 1: 27 - 28 it says:
"27 I continued to pursue my common vocations in life until the twenty-first of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three, all the time suffering severe persecution at the hands of all classes of men, both religious and irreligious, because I continued to affirm that I had seen a vision.
28 During the space of time which intervened between the time I had the vision and the year eighteen hundred and twenty-three—having been forbidden to join any of the religious sects of the day, and being of very tender years, and persecuted by those who ought to have been my friends and to have treated me kindly, and if they supposed me to be deluded (to mislead or to deceive) to have endeavored in a proper and affectionate manner to have reclaimed me—I was left to all kinds of temptations; and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles (minor weakness) of human nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers (several) temptations, offensive in the sight of God. In making this confession, no one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant (extremely harmful) sins. A disposition to commit such was never in my nature. But I was guilty of levity (irreverence), and sometimes associated with jovial (cordial; joyous humor) company, etc., not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God as I had been. But this will not seem very strange to any one who recollects my youth, and is acquainted with my native cheery temperament.
By the way I added all of the italics. There are so many words in this that I got way confused when I first read it.
Brother Williams reminded us that Joseph was a teenager just like me and that the adversary used people to bring him down, and that if he could get just enough people to mock him he might be brought down and give up.
One thing that I pointed out was that also he can use that contention that those people cause to make Joseph angry. Because as I've showed in a past post when we let contention and anger rile us up than it shuts the door to the Savior, but it opens another one for Satan.
I am so grateful that Joseph did not let all of that contention enter into his heart.
He's such an example to me, because even though he made mistakes just like the rest if us we can always repent!
By the way I added all of the italics. There are so many words in this that I got way confused when I first read it.
Brother Williams reminded us that Joseph was a teenager just like me and that the adversary used people to bring him down, and that if he could get just enough people to mock him he might be brought down and give up.
One thing that I pointed out was that also he can use that contention that those people cause to make Joseph angry. Because as I've showed in a past post when we let contention and anger rile us up than it shuts the door to the Savior, but it opens another one for Satan.
I am so grateful that Joseph did not let all of that contention enter into his heart.
He's such an example to me, because even though he made mistakes just like the rest if us we can always repent!
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