Easter Lesson--April 20,2014

Lesson for April 20, 2014 Our lesson today is about Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Witnesses for Jesus Christ and is given by Amy Fehlberg. Something she read stuck with her—that Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ both brought about things that help people and their salvation—Jesus Christ atoned for our sins and Joseph Smith helped restore the gospel so we can benefit from the Atonement. Joseph Fielding Smith was the nephew of Joseph Smith and the grandson of Hyrum Smith. Joseph Fielding Smith learned about Joseph Smith from his father, Joseph F. Smith. Amy gained her testimony from her father who is interested in Church history. We can enjoy the blessings and benefits that are a result of Joseph Smith restoring the gospel. We can help others gain a testimony of Joseph Smith by teaching them to read the Book of Mormon, help them read Joseph Smith’s own testimony, help our children to teach each other about the Restoration. We can point out to teenagers that older people have experienced the world, but of course Joseph Smith had not yet been tainted by the world, so of course God would choose to restore the gospel through someone untainted by the world. Joseph Smith had a knowledge of the plan and the restoration by the gift of God. If we struggle with saying that we know that the gospel is true, we have a spiritual knowledge that is different from scientific knowledge. Before Joseph Smith saw God, he was a fourteen-year-old boy with only the education of about the fourth grade. But he had been taught well by his parents. If he had been educated by the world, he would no longer be innocent and have to unlearn it. Sister Bahr said it was not the learned who believed in Christ. Someone who is learned would have to unlearn the falsehoods of the world. Sister Cantrell said the Lord had judged the contents of Joseph Smith’s heart and judged him worthy to restore the gospel. Joseph Smith probably knew that who the Lord calls, He qualifies. He had to do it with the Lord’s help. In the Book of Mormon it says that the Lord will make him great. As long as we put our trust in the Lord and know he will help us do difficult things. If we are supposed to forgive seven times seventy, how many times will the Lord forgive us? Having the gospel in our lives helps us through them. We need to put our trust in the Lord so we can do all things that the Lord wants us to do. We don’t have to do it alone, as Joseph Smith had Hyrum. How do we treat our younger siblings? Hyrum was a helper to his brother, which is not often the case with older brothers. The Lord said that he loves Hyrum because of the righteousness of his heart. Hyrum had deep tenderness of heart and loved that which is right. He loved his brother better than his own life. They had been through a lot together and knew they could trust each other. Emily Campbell said that their trials and bearing each others’ burdens have made her children love each other more than she loved her siblings. God wants us to treat each other as sisters and brothers so we can have heavenly love for each other. Joseph said that Hyrum’s name would be written in the Book of the Lord as a pattern for others to follow. They supported each other. Who is our companion here on earth? The Holy Ghost, friends, families, companions, all help us, because we can’t do it alone. Joseph Smith said his testimony last of all is that Jesus Christ lives.