Obtaining my
testimony of Joseph Smith took a little bit longer than my
testimony of the Savior, but it was in studying his life and
in studying the events that occurred through his experiences
as a youth and then later as the prophet through his family,
that I realized how he was called as a prophet of God and
how important he was. He was someone who didn't have an easy
life, someone who had a lot of persecutions, who had many
obstacles in his path, but who always sought the presence of
the Lord and who always tried to do his best to be a good
example. He is someone who is an example of charity, an
example of love, and also of humility. Someone who forgives
enormously despite the difficulties that he had, an example
not only for his family, but also for the members of the
Church around him. Joseph Smith, when you study a little bit
more about him, you discover that he's someone who didn't
have a lot of education. He's someone who couldn't
necessarily have the same opportunities as others, but
through his humility, through his relationship with his
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, he was able to do all
these things. And today, I have this testimony of him. I
know that he is a prophet of God. It is through his example
. . . it's this example that I can, myself, see, and I can
know, a little bit, how to apply that in my life in a
practical way with others and with my family on a daily
basis. This example, I want to follow for myself and for my
future family as well.
If I could speak
to people who speak French, I would inspire them to
understand a little bit better why Joseph Smith was such an
important prophet, because thanks to him today, God has
restored the gospel of Jesus Christ in this fulness. God
restored this authority on the earth, and thanks to this
authority, we have temples today. We have temples everywhere
in the world. Not yet in France, but that will come. And
thanks to this authority in the temple, we have the
possibility of being married for eternity, which allows our
family to be together forever after this life. This is
something that is absolutely tremendous, that is not only
accessible to members of the Church, but that is accessible
to everyone in the world. Everyone is encouraged to one day
be ready to be with their family for eternity and to prepare
to make all these promises that we make in the temple with
God. And these promises help us have a more personal
relationship with our Heavenly Father, to better understand
why we are here, what we are doing on earth, and how we can
one day return to be with God and with our family, not only
with the people who love us, but with our family for
eternity, and live and feel this peace, this love that he
has taught us.
