Standard of Truth | Issue #1 | A Story of Joseph Smith
An experience from Kirtland, Ohio
One of My Favorite Joseph Smith Stories
One of my favorite Joseph Smith stories is one where someone was attempting to condemn him in dramatic fashion. Joseph explains it in his journal:
“A man came to me in Kirtland & told me he had seen an angel dressed so & so. I told him he had seen no angel there was no such dress in heaven he got mad & went out in the street & commanded fire to come down out of heaven & consume me
I laughed at him & told him he was one of Baals prophets his God did not hear him. Jump up & cut yourself & he commanded fire from heaven to consume my house.”
Joseph Smith, Journal, 9 February 1843
View the original document here: Joseph Smith Papers
Why I Love This Story
I love this story so much. First, it is hilarious. Just thinking about this guy trying to condemn Joseph by calling down fire from heaven on Joseph and Joseph laughing at the guy because God did not hear him. Second, I love it because one of my favorite stories from the Old Testament is Elijah calling down fire from heaven. It was actually one of the Biblical stories that really impacted me as a teenager. The entire point was for the people of Israel who were worshipping Baal to choose once and for all whether they would worship Jehovah or that idol. As the fire falls from heaven and demonstrates that the only true God is Jehovah and that his power is apparent, the people were visibly struck and began to chant “The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.” (1 Kings 18:39)
In My Life
Throughout my life, as I have faced trials and uncertainties, that phrase, “The Lord, he is God” has often returned to my mind again and again. None of us know what kind of trials we will face, nor how long we will have to endure them before relief comes. We do not know how long we will have our loved ones with us or what physical maladies we will be afflicted with. We cannot be certain of financial comfort or that a world filled with sin, hate, and suffering will not intrude into our place of peace and happiness. But we have one certainty. The Lord, he is God. We do not know all of the battles we will have to fight in this life but we do know who the winner of this war will be. Jesus Christ, the Lord, has already paid the price for our redemption. The end is certain, even if the path along the way remains just our of sight. I hope everyone reading this can endure the trials of this life as they look forward to the great day of peace and restoration that will come at the Resurrection, when all of us will be able to shout “The Lord, he is God.”
“The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.” (1 Kings 18:39)
Until next time….
Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat & Professor Richard LeDuc
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P.S. | It’s Tangent Corner
Dr. Dirkmaat often references obscure facts from history that sends the show careening off on tangents that we assume our listeners enjoy (despite the considerable email evidence to the contrary). One tangent that has been mentioned several times on the show is Japanese Rice Tariffs. Why is this interesting?
First, it isn’t.
Second, the simple average tariff across all US imported goods is 2.87% with a 5% tariff on Japanese agriculture products. Japan on the other hand imposes a simple average tariff of 2.31% on all imported products, but a 778% tariff on rice. This enormous disparity provides the opportunity to teach on the economic principles of trade-offs and opportunity cost.
If you don’t think that is even mildly interesting then you don’t want to get Dr. Dirkmaat started on what he thinks the US needs to do to increase their share of global persimmon production to over 2%.
As a tip of the cap to President Ezra Taft Benson here is a USDA report on the competitive landscape of the Japanese Rice Market from July of 2018. Click here for a very boring USDA Report. Enjoy.
Richard LeDuc
Great report on the Japanese Rice market, any data on skim milk powder? I am looking to sell it internationally.