The Stone and the Trolls: Joseph Smith's Frontier Boldness

Brothers and sisters, builders of the kingdom, have you ever felt the weight of the world pressing down, the scorn of those who cannot, or will not, see the light? Samuel the Lamanite, climbing that wall to warn the people of Nephi, knew that feeling. Ammon, at the Waters of Sebus, faced a similar trial. Joseph Smith, too, understood the cost of standing for truth.

The recent episode of *Thoughtful Faith* shines a light on a pivotal, often misunderstood, moment in Joseph Smith’s life – the period leading up to his martyrdom. It's a story brimming with intrigue, controversy, and a remarkable resilience that should stir the hearts of every Latter-day Saint, and every builder of God’s work.

We tend to think of revelation as a quiet, contemplative experience – a knock at heaven’s door. But listen to the full episode:

What we learn is that by the 1840s, Joseph’s interactions with the divine had evolved. He was drawing upon the wisdom of ancient prophets, conversing with angels, a seasoned traveler on the celestial road. This wasn't a retreat into isolation; it was a forge where the kingdom was hammered into shape.

Consider the context. Joseph wasn’t just preaching a new message; he was building a new society. A modern kingdom of God, as he called it. He was calling the Saints to gather, to lay the foundations for something real, something that would stand against the winds of opposition. He wasn't seeking mere converts; he was seeking builders.

And the opposition was fierce. Those who felt threatened by Joseph’s influence, by the rapid growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sought to discredit him at every turn. They launched attacks, fabricated stories, and even attempted to trap him with counterfeit plates – a ludicrously savage exhibition, as the podcast notes, intended to shock and ridicule. Like the frontier frontiersman who staged a performance to provoke laughter from those who looked down on him, Joseph faced the contempt of the sophisticated and the learned.

But here’s the crucial thing: Joseph responded not with defensiveness or bitterness, but with unwavering conviction and a deep love for the common people. He recognized that true strength wasn’t found in intellectual superiority, but in the faithfulness and generosity of ordinary men and women. He was happiest in the company of “plain folks,” those who lived according to the principles of the gospel, who were attentive to the needs of the poor, and who shared their substance with others. “I love a man better who swears a stream as long as my arm and is attentive to administering to the poor and dividing his substance than the long, smooth-faced hypocrites.”

The attempt to deceive Joseph with the Kinderhook plates, a desperate ploy to expose a fraud, ultimately failed. Joseph, drawing upon his knowledge of ancient languages, attempted to translate the characters, not to claim inspiration, but to understand their meaning. The fact that this translation was never recorded speaks volumes – it wasn't worthy of joining the sacred scriptures, a testament to Joseph’s own discernment and unwavering commitment to divine revelation.

This episode serves as a powerful reminder that building the kingdom of God is not a comfortable endeavor. It demands courage, resilience, and a willingness to stand firm in the face of adversity. It demands a willingness to be mocked, to be misunderstood, to be persecuted, even. Like Ammon, we must be willing to face the lions in our own day. Like the digital striplings, we must be prepared to face the enemy with faith and courage.

The challenges of Joseph’s time resonate deeply with our own. The world is full of destroyers, those who seek to tear down what is good and true. But we, the builders, have a different calling. We are called to raise up the fallen, to mend the broken, to build a Zion worthy of the name. Let us draw strength from Joseph’s example, and let us continue to gather Israel, one act of kindness, one moment of courage, one contribution to the Missionary Fund at a time. Your engagement here fuels gospel advertising in Ghana and beyond – a powerful demonstration of the charity flywheel in action. Claim your church on the map of churches and let your light shine!

And remember the words of Moroni: “And it is better that one man should die, yea, that a thousand should fall, than that one soul should perish.” (Moroni 10:4-5)