October 2007 General Conference Address by Elder Robert D. Hales: "Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets"

This lesson was taught on Sunday, February 24, 2008, by Linda Johnson.

We began class by thinking about the three most important truths of our existence as outlined in this statement by Elder Hales:

"Personal revelation is the way we know for ourselves the most important truths of our existence: the living reality of God, our Eternal Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ; the truthfulness of the restored gospel; and God's purpose and direction for us."

Our hope for today' class is that each of us will go home feeling more eager to seek personal revelation.

A pattern for personal revelation is revealed in part in the story Elder Hales tells about reorganizing a Stake Presidency with Elder Marion G. Romney.  We discussed this statement by Elder Romney and how we can apply it to our own every day errands: "I have learned that when we are on the Lord's errand, we have His blessings to accomplish whatever we are asked to do."  We may not be selecting the next Stake President, but our work is just as important to God.  

There is a pattern for receiving revelation in D&C 138: 1-6, 11.  Other ideas of things that help us receive revelation?

-fasting...having a chance to turn our attention from the procurement, preparation, clean up of food to more spiritual things

-reading the scriptures with purpose

-having a reason/ purpose/ motivation behind our prayers

-asking

-having patience in uncertainty

-striving to replace fear with love

Another story told by Elder Hales in this talk is that of David O. McKay seeking a witness of god as a youth.  In spite of his earnest inquiries, the witness he was hoping for "did not come until many years later while serving his mission in Scotland."  The answer to our prayers may be "not now--be patient and wait."  

Remember the suffering the Savior went through to get to where he is today.  Are we expecting to grow without going through our own suffering?  We need to be willing to suffer patiently.

Enoch, Abraham & Moses received revelation while seeking the welfare of their people.  Elijah received a still small voice.  Daniel received guidance in a dream.

The pattern of revelation is centered on the Atonement.  Why is that, or how is that so?

-Christ bridges the gap so that we can feel the spirit in spite of our imperfection.

-Christ has suffered all so that he can know exactly how we are feeling

-Christ suffered for each one of us, and knows us personally

-We are told to ask in faith, nothing wavering.  Because of the atonement, we can be so bold as to ask god in spite of our shakiness...the atonement allows us to repent of our doubts and to approach god even when our faith is not always equal to the task

Lots of times we don't get the answer to prayer that we are seeking.  Problems with depression and/ or anxiety can interfere with our ability to feel good things.  Getting treatment for such illnesses can help restore our ability to feel the spirit.

Think about the difference between being handed a feast on a silver platter, and being a hunter-gatherer out foraging for your food.  Although we are occasionally handed answers from the Lord in the "silver platter" way, more often we must hunt and gather small bits of information.  The hunter-gatherer method takes more time; it forces us to build more muscles; we have to make our own decisions and can't blame god for "making" us do things; we often must take steps without the assurance we were hoping for.

Can you think of a time when you found your answers in this more laborious way?  When you've walked to the edge of the light and then had to take a step in the dark?  As we struggle for answers, often over a period of years, we discover for ourselves where our true desires lay.  Our hearts are revealed to us.  We can struggle and struggle for an answer, and then it can come overnight.  Or it can come piece by piece.

"Our responsibility is to seek personal revelations for ourselves and for the responsibilities the Lord has given us."  It can be so hard when we want another person in our life to change.  We can pray for the Lord to guide us in our actions and thoughts toward that person that we love.  He will not take their agency from them, but he can help us know how best to use our own agency in reference to them.

Sometimes we receive revelation that we have not even sought.  An inspiration will come as a free gift, unbidden, on occasion.

Our willingness to obey whatever the Lord may ask of us helps us receive answers in some instances.  Are you really willing and planning to do whatever you are told?

Immersing ourselves in the words of god can really help us sort out our thoughts.

You may try keeping a promptings journal.

We may not understand or "know the meaning of all things" but we can be assured that god loves each of his children.

Joseph Smith Lesson #3: Jesus Christ, the Divine Redeemer of the World

This lesson was taught on Sunday, February 17, 2008, by Aubrey Potter.

This chapter is filled with things we probably already know about our Savior, Jesus Christ.  As you reflect on these doctrines, ask yourself how they affect your daily life.  And how can you more effectively teach these doctrines to others, especially children?

Aubrey read many of the quotes from the lesson.  As she read to us, sisters interjected their own thoughts.  Here are some of the things we discussed:

-What is an advocate?  A lawyer.  He pleads your case before the judge.  He is on your side, he is by your side.  He sits next to you in the court room, not above you.  He is not looking down on you and passing judgement on you.  You feel braver with an advocate by your side.  Being alone is scary.

-Pray to God to take your fear away and give you the strength to do your duty.  

-Share your realizations about the gospel with your children.  When your eyes are opened and you understand something for the first time, or in a new way, share your excitement, share your experience with others.  They will feel your enthusiasm.  We don't have to wait to see Christ in person to have our eyes opened to him and his truths.  

Question: What day-to-day things do you do that help you to remember?

-Michelle Rackley: in family scripture study before school our children pick a picture of a scripture story from their box.  After sharing the story, we write a commitment and sign our names to it.  For example, "I can be like Peter today by choosing faith instead of fear."  We put this statement on the fridge to look at throughout the day.

-Scriptures on our mirrors, pictures of the Savior in each room, inspirational words to read when we're in the bathroom, etc.  All of these things can help us to remember the Savior throughout the day.  One sister has had success with leaving her scriptures open on the counter in the kitchen.  She can read a verse when she walks by, and think about it until she has time to read another verse.  Another sister keeps a set of scriptures in the kitchen that she can study while she's microwaving something, waiting for people to gather for dinner, etc.  In this way she has been able to read the Book of Mormon five times a year!  

Ellen Fisher said that Lowell looks forward to the promise of being able to "stand" before the Lord.  Aubrey remembered a seminary lesson in which the teacher tried to bring home the idea that this earth life is temporary, and has very different "rules" of experience than our eternal life.  For instance, right now we can't remember our time with god in the pre-mortal realm.  Right now we are buffeted by temptation and sin.  Right now we get hurt and sick and die.  These are just temporary parts of our earthly test.  These will not be the way things are for eternity.

Sondra mentioned seeing the Fishers in the temple Thursday night.  She said that when she moves slow enough to pay attention to the actions of those around her, she can see the spirit at work in their lives.  Sitting back and observing Ellen helping Lowell is like seeing the Savior.

Brooke talked about reading in 3 Nephi when the righteous people are waiting for the sign of the Savior's coming.  As a reader you know that he is just about to come, and you want to yell out to the people not to worry, he will be arriving soon.  This reminded me (Andrea) of a friend that I am watching go through a very difficult time.  I asked her if she knew that in three years, if she just could hold on and not give up, things would be better, would she stick it out?  She said yes.  If the Savior told you, just don't give up and in 24 days things will take a radical turn for the better, it might be easier to hang on for the 24 days.  But it can be so hard to hang on one day at a time, not knowing when relief will come.  Even if it is just around the corner, we can't see that.  This lead into a discussion of the fact that when the gospel feels hard to live, it may be because we are not using the Atonement effectively.  We don't have to hang on and hang on without help.  Even if things are going to be hard for 24 more days, or three more years, or the rest of our lives on earth, we can have the Savior by our side each step of the way.  We don't have to wait for his love and help, even as the trials continue on.

Aubrey read John 14:27 ("Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid").  She referred us to a talk given by Elder Maxwell ("Plow in Hope" April 2001 Conference address) in which he said to think of that verse as a commandment: "Let not your heart be troubled!"  

Joseph Smith Lesson #2: God the Eternal Father

This lesson was taught on 10 February 2008 by Sondra Soderborg.

Three things Joseph learned about God from the First Vision:

1) The Father and the Son are individual beings

2) Their power is greater than the power of evil

3) We are fashioned in God's image

Some questions from the lesson to ask yourself:

1. Why are these three truths so important?  How has knowing these things about God changed your life?

By comprehending the character of God we better understand ourselves.  Read John 17:3 ("And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true god, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.")  Coming to know God is our purpose, and through that we come to know ourselves.  God wants us to know and understand ourselves.

2. What things do you know for a certainty about God's character?

-He has a vital respect for agency

-He is profoundly gentle.  Sondra shared an experience in which she felt called to repentance by the Spirit, but at the same time she was aware of God's gentleness and reassurance, which replaced the sense of mistake and softened the blow of the initial realization of error.  

-He loves us unconditionally

3. Is there something you have learned about yourself through understanding the nature of God?  

4. Is there a change in yourself you've sought to make because of your knowledge of the nature of God?  

The lesson closed with a reading of Moroni 7:48 ("pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.")

Living by Faith, Not Fear (Elder Cook--Oct. 2007)

Jan. 28, 2008

Purpose: For the Ann Arbor RS Sisters to increase their knowledge of the atonement and know what they needed to do personally to be filled with more faith and choose faith over fear.

Choosing to be filled with faith instead of fear is something I struggle with on a daily basis. Think about it. The common negative feelings that women generally feel (inadequacy, depression, despair . . .) stem from indulging in fearful thoughts we've created of that have been put there by Satan. Choosing to listen to those thoughts instead of one of faith create thoughts, words, and actions that aren't completely in line with how Heavenly Father would have me live.

So, I asked the Sisters "What do YOU fear?" I asked them to just shout these answers out as I wrote them all across the board:

not being good enough (wife, daughter of God, mother . . . )
violence
money
retirement
death
illness
death of loved one
children
school

There were many other answers. So, I asked, "Do we have reason to fear?" YES! With everything that is constantly bombarding us today, we do. BUT we know we've been given all that we need to rely upon faith. We know that faith needs to be founded upon Jesus Christ in order to produce salvation (not faith in other--ourselves, parents, friends, husbands . . . )

So, What produces or strengthens your faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ? For me it is hearing, reading, remembering testimonies of Him.

I told the sisters that for the next 18 min. they would be listening to testimonies of the prophets and apostles of our Savior. Before I played the CD I let them know that they would feel the Spirit. That they would feel it strongly and that they would leave RS today with a greater understanding of the atonement. I also told them that the spirit would tell them what they needed to do or change in order to be more filled with faith.

As we listened to the CD (which is filled with witnesses of Christ: Hinckley, Hunter, Faust, Monson, Erying, McConkie, Packer, . . . . and others), I placed the pictures of these men on the board covering up our fears.

When the CD was over, I asked the sisters, "What do YOU need to do so that their words and the words in the scriptures ring SO loudly in your mind that any fearful thought will just be a quiet whisper--that any fearful thoughts won't even be felt?"

We took a few minutes to listen to the sister's answers.

In closing, I said that I knew it was possible to live our lives filled with faith ALL the time, by the things we choose to participate in and the thoughts we choose to fill our minds. I closed by reading in Alma 13:5 that living "in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son". By living in and through the atonement of Christ we can always choose faith.

Side Note: I can make copies of the CD if anyone is interested. I received this CD from my nephew on a mission. Since then, I've listened to it a couple times a day. It is amazing to see and feel how the spirit fills our home when I play it and how I am able to focus on their words of Christ, instead of any fearful ones I may be having. Contact me if you are interested in a copy: rackley_michelle@yahoo.com.

I also appreciated Anne following up on this lesson in her lesson the following week. As a teacher, I often wish I could do a follow up the next week and ask sisters what they may have done differently as a result to the things we discussed and the things we felt we needed to change. Follow-ups are great teaching tools that can help us all work a little harder and be a little better at implementing the things we learn on Sunday.

18 November 2007: Visiting Teaching Conference

Today was our ward visiting teaching conference. Thanks to all the men who did their best to fill in for the women today so that as many of us as possible could attend our conference. We each received a nice booklet about visiting teaching that you could probably get a copy of by contacting Shirley Thornton. Here is the outline of our lesson today:

Dear Visiting Teacher:

*You are the chosen messenger of the Relief Society (presented by Karen Rees)
-Karen remembers the day in 1982 when her first son was born and her ward reported 100% visiting teaching for the month. Visiting teaching is very important to her, and that is a very happy memory for her because it means that each of the 200 sisters in her ward had received a visit.

*You are the link connecting each woman with her organization (presented by Shirley)
-For this part, each of us wrote our names on a strip of paper and we formed a giant chain out of all the strips.

*To the sick you are the angel of mercy (Jessica Edwards)
-Jessica had severe preeclampsia and had to have her baby delivered early. She was only able to go home with the baby from the hospital if she had help. Her family couldn't come, but a group of sisters from the ward came to her aid.

*To the shut-in you are the sunlight (Liz Hedquist)
-Liz visits a sister in our ward with MS who lives in a nursing home. She has told Liz that it is so wonderful just to have someone to talk to.

*To the bereaved you are sympathy and understanding (Karen Aungst)
-When Summer's dad passed away, Karen sent her a card saying that she was keeping Summer in her prayers. That meant a lot to Summer.

*To the lonely you are a friend in need (skit by Nan Mastie, Kesli Aiken & Telia Anderson)
-This skit was our comic relief. Nan played a woman who did not want to be visit taught. Kesli and Telia played her committed visiting teachers. After nearly a year of phone calls and unannounced visits, Nan finally invited Kesli and Telia in when they came to her door dressed in bathrobes and shower caps.

*To the inactive member you are a challenge; a call to duty (Andrea Richards)
-I read an email that my mother sent me about a less active sister that she visits:
"I visit teach Lisa L. and her college-age daughter Tara. Lisa was baptized as a child but doesn't know anything much about the church. She doesn't even know if she believes in God or life after death. When I first got her name, I could rarely reach her by phone, and she didn't return messages. Her husband and son look very scruffy, and some members refused to go to the home because they were afraid of the family. I found her husband a little strange, but more like possibly slightly brain-damaged (I found out later that he has a panic disorder). Her son was huge and silent and dressed all in black, with long black hair. (Think of an overweight Professor Snape.) However, they never seemed threatening to me.

"Over the course of a few years, though, Lisa warmed up to me, and we now have really enjoyable visits. One thing that happened is that her nephew, whom she raised as her own son, was killed in Iraq. I found out about it and offered to help with food. Her work took care of that, and she didn't really want help from the church. I told Bishop T., however, and both of us went to the funeral home (separately). I think that meant a lot to her and her husband. A couple of weeks later, I saw him in Winco, and he was very warm and friendly to me.

"Last Christmas, Lisa gave me a basket full of homemade jams. When my dad died last month, I sent a letter to the sisters I VT and explained why I had had to be out of town most of the month. Lisa sent me a sympathy card. It really touched me.

"Tara is also very friendly. She also knows basically nothing about the Gospel...but she is nice. Bill, the husband, always stays in the room while I visit, so he hears the message too.

"I have learned that I can find something in common with almost everyone I meet. Many times people aren't knowledgeable about their own church, or they have personal reasons for not coming. There are so many different reasons: they are shy, depressed, too busy and overburdened, offended, living against the principles of the gospel and not ready to change, not in the habit, unwilling to go against a spouse's wishes. But most people eventually like people who like them. I try to find something I genuinely like about the sisters I meet, and the relationship grows from there. Also, I remember that God loves each sister I'm asked to teach, and He wants me to share His love with them."

*To the doubtful you are the answer to her questions (Sondra Soderborg)
-Sondra talked about how her father can always tell if the people from church who come to visit him are there in order to get the visit checked off and say they did it, or if they have a genuine interest in him. As you can imagine, he responds very differently to these two types of visits. She emphasized how vital it is that we visit without a spirit of judgment...that we listen to the things people want or need to talk about, and not let ourselves be shocked by whatever they may say. She reminded us that it is not only the less active sisters that have doubts and questions about our faith, and that we all need people who can listen without judging.

*To the active member you are a reminder of her blessings (Julie Kincaid)
-Julie has noticed that visiting with her sisters makes her more aware of and grateful for her own blessings. We all have trials, but most of us would prefer to keep our own rather than trade with another. When we take the time to immerse ourselves in the life of another sister, it gives us some important perspective on our own situation.

*To all who know you, you are the symbol of love and devotion.


We were all served a delicious pumpkin dessert and some refreshing ice water...sorry you can't experience that electronically! We also received new visiting assignments, so if you weren't there you may want to contact Shirley to get yours.

Have a great week!

11 Nov 2007 SWK#22: Revelation: "A Continuous Melody and a Thunderous Appeal" by Shannon Allen

Today Shannon Allen taught Lesson #22 from the Spencer W. Kimball Manual on Revelation. She emphasized a number of statements from the manual. The first one she selected was from page 237:

President Kimball trusted in the principle of continuing revelation, declaring that it was “the very lifeblood of the gospel of the living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”2 This trust, said Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “was clearly a part of the makeup of this very special man.”3 President Kimball took his responsibility as President of the Church seriously, knowing that he was the only person on the earth who was authorized to receive revelation for the Church. He testified: “I know that the Lord called me to this position. I know that there are greater prophets, perhaps, than I, but I wish to do all I can to carry forward the work of the Lord as he wants it done. Every night and morning I kneel and pray with deep sincerity that the Lord will inspire me and reveal to me the direction I should go and what I should tell the people of this Church.”4

I (Potato Girl) was impressed by the image of the prophet praying morning and night for guidance. I thought how helpful it would be in my life if I would pray this fervently for guidance in the various stewardships I've been entrusted with.

Shannon was a full-time missionary in Georgia, and frequently was asked about the issue of African Americans being denied the priesthood until the 1970s. She read us President Kimball's description of some of the preparation that went into receiving the revelation that it was finally time for all worthy male members of the church to have access to the priesthood and subsequent temple blessings:

“I knew that something was before us that was extremely important to many of the children of God. I knew that we could receive the revelations of the Lord only by being worthy and ready for them and ready to accept them and put them into place. Day after day I went alone and with great solemnity and seriousness in the upper rooms of the temple, and there I offered my soul and offered my efforts to go forward with the program. I wanted to do what he wanted. I talked about it to him and said, ‘Lord, I want only what is right. We are not making any plans to be spectacularly moving. We want only the thing that thou dost want, and we want it when you want it and not until.’ ”5

Shannon was particularly impressed that in spite of the social pressure on the church, and in spite of President Kimball's own fervent desire that the priesthood be extended to all worthy males, he wanted above all to do the Lord's will. She read:

“We had the glorious experience of having the Lord indicate clearly that the time had come when all worthy men and women everywhere can be fellowheirs and partakers of the full blessings of the gospel. I want you to know, as a special witness of the Savior, how close I have felt to him and to our Heavenly Father as I have made numerous visits to the upper rooms in the temple, going on some days several times by myself. The Lord made it very clear to me what was to be done. We do not expect the people of the world to understand such things, for they will always be quick to assign their own reasons or to discount the divine process of revelation.”6

Shannon asked us to raise our hands and talk about some of the things we think of when we hear the word 'revelation.' She told us that we often mistakenly think of it as something spectacular, something that we as individuals may not experiences. She said that as she prepared the lesson, she was struck by the importance of the act of seeking God's guidance. She read us this statement about the Father and Son's willingness to speak to us:

"Someone has said that we live in a day in which God, if there be a God, chooses to be silent, but The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims to the world that neither the Father nor the Son is silent. They are vocal and commune as proper and necessary, and constantly express a willingness, indeed an eagerness, to maintain communication with men."

God wants to be a part of our life, but we have to get on our knees and seek him.

She read us this statement:

"How presumptuous and arrogant for any man to say God is unapproachable, unknowable, unseeable, unhearable because that one himself has not prepared himself for the experience."

Shannon told us a story about the time in her life when she was trying to decide whether or not to go on a mission. She received an unexpected letter one day from a sister in the mission field that felt like an answer to her prayers for guidance. She prayed and asked god if this letter and the feelings she had reading it were indeed his answer for her.

She asked us how many times we should be getting on our knees in prayer each day. She asked us if we were relying on our own intellects to guide our lives without thought to what the Lord might want for us. She read this statement:

"It should be kept in mind that God cannot be found through research alone, nor his gospel understood and appreciated by study only, for no one may know the Father or the Son but “he to whom the Son will reveal him.” (Luke 10:22.) The skeptic will some day either in time or eternity learn to his sorrow that his egotism has robbed him of much joy and growth."

She concluded by reading this series of questions posed by President Kimball and challenging us to answer them on our own at home:

"Do you want guidance? Have you prayed to the Lord for inspiration? Do you want to do right or do you want to do what you want to do whether or not it is right? Do you want to do what is best for you in the long run or what seems more desirable for the moment? Have you prayed? How much have you prayed? How did you pray? Have you prayed as did the Savior of the world in Gethsemane or did you ask for what you want regardless of its being proper? Do you say in your prayers: “Thy will be done”? Did you say, “Heavenly Father, if you will inspire and impress me with the right, I will do that right”? Or, did you pray, “Give me what I want or I will take it anyway”? Did you say: “Father in Heaven, I love you, I believe in you, I know you are omniscient. I am honest. I am sincerely desirous of doing right. I know you can see the end from the beginning. You can see the future. You can discern if under this situation I present, I will have peace or turmoil, happiness or sorrow, success or failure. Tell me, please, loved Heavenly Father, and I promise to do what you tell me to do.” Have you prayed that way? Don’t you think it might be wise? Are you courageous enough to pray that prayer?"

SWK #21: "The Prophet Joseph Smith" by Sondra Soderborg

Dearest Sisters:

I have gotten so behind on our blog that I'm just going to start over. What follows is Sondra's handout from today's lesson. It is very similar to what she actually said. Enjoy!

Lesson 21: The Prophet Joseph Smith

November 4, 2007

President Kimball testified of Joseph Smith:

This young boy was entrusted with the greatest block of knowledge known to men. Remember, that spring morning not one of all the people in the world had absolute knowledge of God. There were many good people, but they had all walked in spiritual darkness these many centuries. But here was a boy who knew that morning in the grove in New York when the Father and Son came to him was perhaps the greatest revelation ever given to the world. (Manual p. 230)

The scriptures testify of Joseph Smith’s life: 2 Ne. 3:14-15. The words in Isaiah 29:11-12, 14 comforted Joseph and helped him understand his prophetic calling. He came to understand them at a very dark time in his life, when Emma, nearly dying in childbirth, delivered a son who lived only briefly, and Martin Harris told Joseph about the lost 116 pages of translation.

Joseph Smith had singular knowledge and responsibility. His claims and his work were audacious, and his burdens were at times almost unbearable. When he was allowed to show the plates to the witnesses to the Book of Mormon, Joseph’s mother wrote of his reaction:

He threw himself down beside [me] and exclaimed that “the Lord has now caused the plates to be shown to more besides myself.” “They will have to bear witness to the truth of what I have said, for now they know for themselves, that I do not go about to deceive the people … I feel as if I was relieved of a burden which was almost too heavy for me to bear, and it rejoices my soul, that I am not any longer to be entirely alone in the world.”

(Rough Stone Rolling, pp. 78-79).

Despite his unique position in the history of the world, his work could only go forward based on his righteousness and humility. David Whitmer describes Joseph challenged in an ordinary way, and unable to do his work without resolution:

One morning when he was getting ready to continue the translation, something went wrong about the house and he was put out about it. Something that Emma, his wife, had done. Oliver and I went up stairs and Joseph came up soon after to continue the translation, but he could not do anything. He could not translate a single syllable. He went down stairs, out into the orchard and made supplication to the Lord; was gone about an hour—came back to the house, asked Emma’s forgiveness and then came up stairs where we were and then the translation went on all right. He could do nothing save he was humble and faithful.

(Rough Stone Rolling, p. 77).

In the face of grave hardships that surrounded the early years of the church, Joseph suffered great harm and disappointment. In 1838, William W. Phelps, a high-ranking church leader in Missouri and the composer of some of our most important hymns, including “The Spirit of God, was excommunicated for disobeying counsel and using church money for his own purposes. His testimony at a trial helped put Joseph and other church leaders in prison. Two years later, on their way to Europe, two missionaries found him. With their encouragement, he wrote to Joseph asking forgiveness. Joseph Smith replied on July 22, 1840. His response, which demonstrates his commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ, said in part:

I must say that it is with no ordinary feelings I endeavour to write a few lines to you … at the same time I am rejoiced at the priveledge granted me. You may in some measure realize what my feelings, as well as Elder Rigdon’s & Bro Hyrum’s were when we read your letter, truly our hearts were melted into tenderness and compassion when we ascertained your resolves &c

It is true, that we have suffered much in consequence of your behavior—the cup of gall already full enough for mortals to drink, was indeed filled to overflowing when you turned against us: One with whom we had oft taken sweet council together, and enjoyed many refreshing seasons from the Lord “Had it been an enemy we could have borne it”

Believing your confession to be real and your repentance genuine, I shall be happy once again to give you the right hand of fellowship, and rejoice over the returning prodigal.

Your letter was read to the Saints last Sunday and an expression of their feeling was taken, when it was unanimously resolved that W.W. Phelps should be received into fellowship.

“Come on dear Brother since the war is past,

For friends at first are friends again at last.”

(Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, pp. 472-473).

William W. Phelps composed “Praise to the Man” after Joseph’s martyrdom.