Description
You Don’t Know Me!
Sunday Afternoon, 3:15 pm, April 7, 1844, in a grove about one quarter mile east of the temple in Nauvoo, Illinois. The occasion was the second day of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph Smith Jr. stood up and notwithstanding a strong wind blowing commenced to deliver one of the greatest sermons of his life to an estimated audience of some 10,000 people, reportedly, the largest ever assembled in Nauvoo. He asked for the prayers of the saints and then began to speak without notes. He said, “I do not intend to please you with oratory but with the simple truths of heaven edify you.” And those truths flowed in a profusion of doctrine that is estimated to have lasted more than two hours.
The previous day he had promised that he would prove to his enemies that God was still with him and that he was not a fallen prophet as they had asserted. And surely, the Almighty was with him for no man could know what Joseph knew unless God had taught him. He taught who and what God was—where man came from and what he was destined to be. He spoke of man’s eternal progression and the plan of salvation and progression. It was absolutely profound!
Near the end of it, Joseph speaks personally—poignantly. He says to the large audience,
You don’t know me; you never knew my heart. No man knows my history. I cannot tell it: I shall never undertake it. I don’t blame anyone for not believing my history. If I had not experienced what I have, I could not have believed it myself.
It is as though Joseph recognizes and sympathizes with those who struggle to believe all that he has taught, brought forth, and claimed. It is no different now than it was then—Joseph Smith’s bold claims are hard for some to accept. His character was just as much under attack then as now—perhaps more so—they watched him personally, but Joseph knew who he was and the challenge of faith that he was and would be to all mankind from that day forward. He continued,
I never did harm any man since I was born in the world. My voice is always for peace. I cannot lie down until all my work is finished. I never think any evil nor do anything to the harm of my fellowman.
And then as a powerful warning and prophecy as relevant now as then, he said,
When I am called by the trump of the archangel and weighed in the balance, you will all know me then. I add no more. God bless you all.
And he closed his remarks.
Those of you who have learned by the power of the Holy Ghost that Joseph was indeed a prophet and you are on the covenant path—it will be well with you. Those of you, however, who have judged Joseph rashly beware! The day is coming when you will know of a certainty that you were wrong.
Sources:
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph by Joseph Fielding Smith p. 361-362
Copyright Glenn Rawson 2022
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