I Was Ordained to This Very Calling
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What do we mean when we say Joseph Smith was a prophet of God?
Joseph Smith was a prophet in the same way that Moses, Isaiah, or Paul were prophets—God spoke directly to Joseph just as He did to the ancient prophets. Elder Wilford Woodruff said of Joseph Smith: "He had to be taught, not by man nor by the will of man, but he required the angels of God to come forth and teach him; it required the revelations of God to teach him" (Deseret News, Nov. 26, 1873, 676; see also D&C 13; 110; 128:20–21).
Was the mission of Joseph Smith foretold in ancient scripture?
Yes. Among the ancient prophets who foresaw the mission of Joseph Smith were Isaiah, who foretold the deliverance of a book to one who is "not learned" (see Isaiah 29:10–14; Joseph Smith—History 1:64–65); Ezekiel, who referred to this same book as "the stick of Joseph" (Ezekiel 37:15–19); and Joseph of Egypt, who prophesied of a "choice seer" who would bring this record to light (see Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 50:24–33; 2 Nephi 3:6–15).
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