Embedded Files
Legacy Goal:
''Come closer to Christ by learning about the
Prophet Joseph Smith.''
Joseph Smith
When Joseph Smith was first visited by the angel Moroni, he was told that he would one day receive the gold plates—but only when he had shown enough faith, obedience, and preparation. Moroni gave him a very specific instruction: when the time came, he wasn’t to go alone to retrieve the plates. He was to bring someone with him—his older brother Alvin, whom Joseph deeply admired and trusted.
But then came the heartbreak.
Not long after Moroni’s visit, Alvin suddenly died at just 25 years old. The loss was devastating. The Smith family was crushed, and Joseph, still just a teenager, was left with overwhelming grief and confusion. Not only had he lost his brother, but he now wondered if he had somehow ruined God’s plan.
Still determined, Joseph returned to the hill Cumorah and tried to take the plates anyway—but he was rejected. Moroni told him he had not yet done what was required. He wasn’t ready. And to Joseph, it must have felt like he had failed completely. He misunderstood the command, acted too soon, and now the sacred work seemed delayed… maybe even lost.
But here's the powerful truth: that moment of failure was not the end of Joseph's story.
Joseph didn’t give up. He repented. He learned. He kept coming back—year after year—for four more years. And when the time was finally right, when he was spiritually prepared, the Lord trusted him with the plates. The Restoration moved forward. The Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph’s calling was fulfilled.
This moment in Joseph’s life reminds us of something we all need to hear: Failure isn’t final.
God doesn’t give up on us when we make mistakes. He gives us space to grow, learn, and try again. Your missteps don't disqualify you—your willingness to return to God is what matters most. That’s how Joseph moved forward, and that’s how we can too.
Joseph’s story teaches us that even when life doesn’t go as planned—even when we make mistakes, feel unworthy, or believe we’ve messed everything up—God doesn’t give up on us. He can still work with us, shape us, and move His plan forward through us.
Joseph was young. He was grieving. He was still learning. And yet, he didn’t walk away. He let his failures humble him, not define him. He kept showing up. He kept trusting. And because of that, God still entrusted him with one of the most sacred missions in history—to bring forth the Book of Mormon and restore the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Your failures don’t disqualify you. In God’s hands, they can become part of your preparation.
Jesus Christ is the Redeemer, which means He doesn’t just forgive our sins—He heals our mistakes, strengthens our weaknesses, and turns our messes into miracles. When we feel like we’ve failed—spiritually, emotionally, or socially—He doesn’t turn away. He invites us to come closer. Just like Joseph Smith, we can bring Him our brokenness, our doubts, and our imperfect efforts, and He will still lead us forward.
Through Christ, failure is never final. It becomes part of our learning, our becoming, our restoration. He doesn't just patch us up—He restores us, transforms us, and makes us whole. Because of Him, no story is too messy, no heart too broken, and no mistake too big to be made new.
Martin Harris
Martin Harris made a serious mistake when he lost the 116 pages of the Book of Mormon translation. It was a heartbreaking moment that caused deep sorrow and regret—not just for Joseph Smith, but for Martin himself. But Martin didn’t let that failure define him. He humbled himself, sincerely repented, and showed that he was still willing to be part of God’s work, even if he wasn’t perfect.
Later, when the time came for the Three Witnesses to seek a heavenly confirmation of the Book of Mormon, Martin joined Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer in the woods to pray. But at first, the angel didn’t appear. Martin, overwhelmed by guilt, stepped away and said, “It is because of me that the angel won’t come.” He believed his past mistake made him unworthy and offered to remove himself so the others could receive the vision.
But Martin didn’t give up. Alone, with a humble heart, he poured out his soul to God. And finally, the angel appeared to him, and he was shown the gold plates. With deep emotion, he later testified, “It is enough; mine eyes have beheld.”
Martin Harris teaches us that God doesn’t expect us to be flawless—He asks us to be faithful. Martin’s willingness to repent, to keep trying, and to trust in the Lord qualified him to stand as one of the Three Witnesses. Even when he was separated from the Church later in life, he never denied what he saw and heard. He wasn’t perfect—but he was willing. And that was enough.
Sometimes we feel like we’ve messed up too badly—that our mistakes, regrets, or weaknesses disqualify us from being part of anything meaningful in God’s plan. We might think, “I had my chance and I blew it,” or “I’m just not good enough to be of use by the Lord.”
Martin’s story reminds us that Jesus Christ doesn’t expect perfection—He invites us to keep reaching, keep repenting, keep drawing nearer to Him.
When we feel like we’ve failed, we don’t have to run away. We can turn toward the Savior. We can grow from the experience. And we can find ourselves closer to Him than we’ve ever been—not because we were perfect, but because we were humble, faithful, and willing to come back.
Oliver Cowdery
Oliver Cowdery was one of the earliest and most important supporters of Joseph Smith in bringing forth the Book of Mormon. As Joseph’s scribe, he witnessed miracles—but he also had to learn through struggle. When Oliver asked for the chance to translate the plates, he was excited, ready, and full of faith. But when he sat down to do it—nothing happened.
Why? Because Oliver expected the answer to come without effort. The Lord gently corrected him:
“You took no thought save it was to ask me… You must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right.”
(Doctrine and Covenants 9:7–8)
In this moment, Oliver learned a life-changing truth: personal revelation isn’t something that just drops into your mind without effort—it requires humble, faithful effort.
God wants us to wrestle, ponder, study, and seek. Only then does the Spirit whisper, guide, and confirm. Oliver Cowdery thought he could just ask and immediately receive. But the Lord taught him, and all of us, that we need to put in the work.
So what is something you’ve been praying about or hoping for guidance on?
Ask yourself:
Have I truly studied it out?
Have I put in the effort to understand or make a decision?
Then, have I asked the Lord with real intent?
Like Oliver, we often don’t get instant answers. But when we truly reach, when we study it out, when we invite Christ into our questions, He responds—quietly, personally, and powerfully.
The path to revelation isn’t just about receiving—it’s about becoming. And as we learn to put in spiritual effort, we are brought, step by step, “Nearer, [our] God, to Thee.”
Emma Smith
Emma Smith is a powerful example of someone who bore trials and heartaches with patience and a quiet strength.
She buried six of her children—tiny infants taken too soon—some in her arms, others while she was alone, without even the comfort of her husband beside her.
Time and again, Joseph was gone—sent on missions, hiding from mobs, or locked in prison—leaving Emma to carry the weight of family, faith, and survival alone.
She faced crushing poverty, trading what little she had for food. More than once, she was forced to flee her home with her babies in her arms—once while a mob stormed their house, threatening their lives.
On another occasion, she hid the sacred gold plates under her skirts to protect them.
Her family was driven from home to home, across frozen rivers and unfamiliar towns, often with nowhere to go and no one to turn to.
And still, she stayed. Still, she believed.
Emma bore the weight of being the prophet’s wife—praised by some, condemned by others, and always watched. She served as the first president of the Relief Society, compiled the Church’s first hymnbook, and supported the translation of the Book of Mormon—all while enduring heartbreak, exhaustion, and loneliness.
Emma Smith suffered more than most could bear, but she was full of fierce, faithful devotion. Her sacrifices were not always seen—but they were sacred. She was a disciple of Christ in every quiet, gut-wrenching way.
Before Joseph left for Carthage, Emma asked him for a blessing. With no time to spare, Joseph asked her to write the blessing she desired and promised he would sign it when he returned.
In the blessing, Emma prayed for wisdom and the gift of discernment from Heavenly Father. She asked for a fruitful, active mind so she could better understand God’s purposes and His will. She specifically prayed for a humble heart, and expressed her hope that she could find joy in the blessings promised to those who obey God. With quiet faith, she wrote, “I desire that whatever may be my lot through life, I may be enabled to acknowledge the hand of God in all things.”
Emma teaches us that you don’t have to know how everything will work out to move forward in faith. She didn’t have all the answers. Life was scary and unpredictable. But she chose to trust God, take the next step, and do what He asked.
It is believed that Emma’s favourite hymn was “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.” There is a line in this song that probably gave her the confidence to keep moving forward:
“He lives to comfort me when faint. He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears. He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart. He lives all blessings to impart.”
Just like Emma, when we choose to trust the Redeemer with our future—whether we’re facing big decisions or everyday struggles—we begin to feel His presence more deeply and see His hand in our lives. That trust builds a relationship with Him that is personal, powerful, and full of peace.
Hyrum Smith
Hyrum Smith was Joseph’s older brother. He was almost 6 years older than Joseph.
Back then, the oldest child, especially sons, carried more responsibility and were expected to teach and lead the family. In religious families like the Smiths, the oldest child was often seen as someone who should model faith and principles for the younger siblings. After Alvin died, Hyrum became the oldest Smith child, and these expectations fell on him.
Hyrum would have been 20 when his 14-year-old brother came home claiming that he had seen God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Hyrum Smith was a man of quiet strength and deep humility. He had every reason to choose an easier path—he was a successful farmer, had a large family to care for, and could have lived a peaceful, comfortable life. But when his younger brother Joseph was called as a prophet, Hyrum didn’t seek status or recognition. Instead, he humbly stepped into a supporting role, offering his whole heart to the Lord’s work.
Even when mobs attacked, when the Saints were driven from their homes, and when he was unjustly thrown into jail, Hyrum didn’t complain or question. He never sought to lead—he simply wanted to serve. He remained steadfast by Joseph’s side, not out of pride or obligation, but because of his humble testimony of the restored gospel. Hyrum gave everything not to be seen, but to be faithful.
The ultimate act of Hyrum’s humility came when they were contemplating whether or not to ride to Carthage Jail and turn themselves in.
“You are the oldest,” Joseph said, turning to his brother. “What shall we do?”
“Let us go and give ourselves up, and see the thing out,” said Hyrum.
“If you go back, I shall go with you,” Joseph said, “but we shall be butchered.”
Grasping Joseph’s shoulders, Hyrum boldly claimed, “If we live or have to die, we will be reconciled to our fate.”
The phrase “reconciled to our fate” means we will accept whatever happens to us, even if it’s difficult - and we will find peace.
Hyrum willingly chose to go with Joseph to Carthage. He wasn’t commanded to go—no one expected it of him—but in his quiet, selfless way, Hyrum stood by his brother one last time. With calm resolve, he said goodbye to his beloved family, knowing it could be his final farewell. He didn’t go seeking honor or attention—he went because he loved the Lord and was willing to lay down his life for the gospel he knew was true. And he did.
We can learn from Hyrum that true discipleship requires sacrifice, a humble heart, and a steadfast spirit. His life teaches us that following Jesus Christ sometimes means giving up things we deeply care about—our comfort, our time, our popularity, even personal dreams or friendships that pull us away from what’s right. But Hyrum shows us that the blessings of sacrifice for Christ far outweigh anything we give up.
His quiet, unwavering example reminds us that when we humbly put God first, even when it’s difficult, we are blessed with peace, strength, and a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Hyrum didn’t need recognition—his steady faith and humble heart were his greatest offering.
President Dieter F. Uchtodorf explained, “Being steadfast in our faith does not mean that we will be free from the storms of life, but it means we know where to find peace in the middle of them.”
So like Hyrum, being humble and steadfast does not mean we avoid trials and hardships - it is about knowing where to turn when they come.
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