191 Years Ago

Today, 191 years ago, a young man named Joseph Smith received into his possession, the gold plates. An ancient record of the people in the ancient Americas. He had no idea how receiving those plates

would change his life. From the moment he had them in his possession, he was constantly sought after and attacked. People never stopped trying to get them from him. His family suffered so much at the hands of keeping them safe. 

I am not saying that Joseph Smith is some perfect man. He is far from, but so are the rest of us. When one talks about prophets, I feel like they are expecting him to be at the standard of Jesus Christ Himself. That isn't true however. God can make whomever He sees fit to do His work, be who does it. You see, there is only one Jesus Christ. There is only one perfect person who has walked this Earth and that is He. No prophet that walks this earth will ever be at that same level. That would mean Christ was not the only perfect One to walk this earth. Yet, He was. 

To those who do not know the story of Joseph Smith or who do not see how it could be possible, I want you to understand that I get it. It all seems a bit out there. But when I look at it. When I listen and study. Personally, I think it sounds a bit more crazy the idea of something like that not happening. We talk about this God who is unchanging and loves us unconditionally, so why would one say He has left or abandoned us? Why would we be any different than the rest of His children? Well, we aren't. He still loves us. He still speaks to us. Which is why, He brought His church back and with it, gave us a prophet on the earth again. 

I don't have all he answers to all the questions, but what I do have is what I know, in my heart, to be true. One may ask, how can you know? Simply put, my faith in God and the fact that He told me. 

As I said before, God knows and loves us. That has not and never will change. He wants to answer our prayers. He wants to hear from us. So I did that. I prayed. I have prayed about so, so many things in my life. And He has always been there. Are there answers I get that I don't like. Yes. Lots of times. That is because He knows better than I and my mere human mind can only see so much. He has the big picture. So I trust Him. Based on my experience, it seems to turn out pretty amazingly. 

All of that, I never would have had, if someone, Joseph Smith to be specific, had not gotten down on his knees and asked God a question. If he has not been willing to follow God and one day receive the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon and the doctrine contained in its pages, changes lives. It has changed my life. 

191 years ago that book began its journey once again on this earth again. 

And it will continue forever. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and I can only continue to thank my loving God that I have it in my life, every day. 

Much Love Always, 

MJ Baird