For Sunday School today I created a chart for those in my class of all of the descriptions of the Prophet Joseph Smith that can be found in 2 Nephi Chapter 3.

Descriptions of Joseph Smith in 2 Nephi 3

Verse Description
2 Ne 3:5 “A righteous branch unto the house of Israel”
2 Ne 3:6 “[A] choice seer unto the fruit of my loins”
2 Ne3:7 “[H]e shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins”
2 Ne3:7 “[T]o the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers.”
2 Ne3:8 “[H]e shall do none other work, save the work which I shall command him”
2 Ne3:8 “I will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work.”
2 Ne 3:9 “And he shall be great like unto Moses”
2 Ne3:11 “[U]nto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins
2 Ne3:11 “[T]o the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.”
2 Ne 3:13 “[O]ut of weakness he shall be made strong”
2 Ne3:14 “[T]hat seer will the Lord bless”
2 Ne3:14 “[T]hey that seek to destroy him shall be confounded”
2 Ne 3:15 “And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father.”
2 Ne3:15 “And he shall be like unto me [Joseph of Egypt]”
2 Ne3:15 “[F]or the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation”
2 Ne3:24 “[T]here shall rise up one mighty among them”
2 Ne 3:24 “[W]ho shall do much good, both in word and in deed
2 Ne3:24 “[B]eing an instrument in the hands of God”
2 Ne3:24 “[W]ith exceeding faith”
2 Ne 3:24 “[T]o work mighty wonders”
2 Ne3:24 “[A]nd do that thing which is great in the sight of God”
2Ne3:24 “[U]nto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel”

I love the powerful witness that the Book of Mormon bares of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Today in our discussion several comments mentioned an interesting point that I had not thought of fully before. To us all of these descriptions of life of Joseph Smith have  already been fulfilled. However when young Joseph translated the Book of Mormon all of these prophecies were yet to be fulfilled. It is fascinating to imagine how Joseph must have felt reading these words. Certainly, he would have had a sense of pride, but also perhaps a sense of dread. These were high expectations being placed on the back of a young and obscure farm boy. Could he really “work mighty wonders” and help to restore the house of Israel? Could he really live up to the comparisons to Joseph of Egypt and to Moses?

I realized that Joseph must have felt as many of us do when we read our Patriarchal Blessing. These incredible promises must have seemed impossible. How could God use him as an instrument to accomplish such a great work? And so, we can take great strength and courage from the fact that every single one of these prophecies were fulfilled in the life of Joseph Smith. If God could use him to do such great things, then he can do the same with us.

 



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