Lesson Summary from August 9th

Joseph Smith Lesson Chapter 38

The Wentworth Letter

"Mr. John Wentworth, Editor and Proprietor of the Chicago Democrat, requested information for his friend, Mr. George Barstow, who was writing the history of New Hampshire. Mr. Barstow did not include the Prophet's account in his history because he decided to cover events only through the year 1819 in his book. But the Wentworth Letter has immense value to Latter-day Saints. It is an original account by Joseph Smith testifying of his sacred call from God, his visions, and his ministry and teachings. It recounts the rise and growth of the Church and the persecutions of the Saints. It contains a prophetic declaration of the Church's future success in the earth under the protective hand of the Great Jehovah. It also contains several important details not found elsewhere in the Prophet's teachings, including a description of the gold plates and a sketch of the contents of the Book of Mormon. Significantly, it is the first time that Joseph Smith himself published an account of his First Vision. Concluding with the 13 declarations of the Church doctrine now called the Articles of Faith, it stands as a powerful witness of the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith."

"The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."


This lesson was taught by Kathy Bradshaw

Link to lesson on LDS.org