These beautiful woods near the town of Palmyra in the state
of New York have come to be known as the sacred grove.
It was here on a spring morning much like this in 1820
that Joseph Smith, Jr., a sincere and tender hearted boy
of 14, knelt in prayer seeking to know his standing before
God and to receive divine direction about the religion
he should follow.
Joseph had purposely chosen this quiet grove of trees near
his home so that he could pray privately and undisturbed.
As he began to pray, Joseph was seized upon by a dark
destructive power that nearly overcame him.
However, this demonic influence fled as a column of
light appeared, descending until it enveloped the boy and
his surroundings.
Standing within the light above him in the air, there
were two glorious beings, glorious beyond the power of
words to describe.
The first of these, God our Heavenly Father, motioned
toward the other, the Lord Jesus Christ, and said,
Joseph, this is my beloved Son.
Hear Him.
In this magnificent vision, the Father and the Son
commissioned Joseph Smith as the instrument by whom they
would reestablish the ancient Church and gospel of Jesus
Christ upon the Earth.
As a manifestation of the love of God, the significance of
this event cannot be overstated.
The centuries-long night of spiritual darkness had ended.
God again spoke to man.
Divine priesthood authority to act in the name
of God would follow.
The blessings of the Savior's infinite atonement would be
accessible, not only to mankind on earth but even to
the spirits of the dead as they await the Resurrection.
As a youth I came to this hallowed place one summer
night alone.
I sought a divine confirmation of the truth of what Joseph
said had happened here.
Though I prayed earnestly for what seemed a long time, no
answer came to me, and I left keenly disappointed.
Some weeks later, though, as I sat at home reading and
pondering the words of the Book of Mormon, the Holy Ghost
filled my soul and gave me the answer I had been seeking.
By this spiritual communication, not limited to
words, indeed more powerful than words, I was given to
know that the Father and the Son had in fact appeared to
Joseph Smith here, and that his witness and the witness of
all the holy scriptures concerning
Jesus Christ are true.
Since then, that spiritual witness has been reconfirmed
to me many times in various places and circumstances.
I found that it was not necessary for me to be here in
this sacred grove to receive that testimony through the
Holy Spirit, just as it is not necessary for you to come here
or any other special place to receive the same spiritual
confirmation.
Your Heavenly Father knows you and the hopes and desires of
your heart wherever you are.
As with me, He'll speak to you in His own time and way.
And if you're sincere and willing to act on his answers,
he will reveal to you what you desire to know.
Despite unrelenting persecution, Joseph Smith
never yielded in his testimony of the reality of God the
Father and His Son Jesus Christ and what occurred here.
His life ended in a martyr's death just 24 years later.
His compelling witness of the living God and the resurrected
Redeemer now carries the added force of having been sealed
with his own blood.
From here has gone forth anew this same witness borne by the
prophets and apostles of old.
And now after the many testimonies which have been
given of Him, Joseph Smith later declared, this is the
testimony last of all which we give of Him, that He lives.
For we saw Him even on the right hand of God and we heard
the voice bearing record that He is the only
begotten of the Father.
As one of his apostles today in humility yet with full
conviction, I testify that Jesus of Nazareth, born 2,000
years ago, is the divine Son of God.
He was crucified, died and rose again the third day and
ascended into heaven to sit down on the
right hand of the Father.
He is full of grace, mercy and truth, and as many as will
believe in him, repent and be baptized in his name, and
endure in faith to the end will enjoy peace in this life
and salvation in His heavenly kingdom.
I attest that Jesus is the holy Messiah who was
prophesied to come and who was further prophesied will come
again to reign upon the earth.
His appearance in this sacred grove and what followed
thereafter constitute the beginning preparations for
that glorious and much anticipated second advent.
I too bear witness that He lives in the name of Jesus
Christ. Amen.