Joseph Smith

Latter-day Apostles

Here you can read earlier apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints testify of the prophet Joseph Smith. You can read more about the living prophet, the twelve apostles and other Church leaders here.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915-1985)."Unto Joseph Smith, seer of latter days, the Lord of heaven spoke these words: "The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee; While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand." (D&C 122:1-2.) Why will it ever be thus? Because Joseph Smith is the restorer of the knowledge of Christ and of salvation; because he translated the Book of Mormon, which contains the fulness of the gospel; because he received revelations as numerous and glorious as those given to Moses and Isaiah; because angelic ministrants gave him keys and powers and priesthoods, which enabled him and his successors to bind on earth and have their acts sealed everlastingly in the heavens-all these are but a few of the reasons why we honor the name of Joseph Smith." (Bruce R. McConkie, "The Caravan Moves On," Ensign, Nov 1984, 82)

Elder Dallin H. Oaks "Like other faithful Latter-day Saints, I have built my life on the testimony and mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. In all of my reading and original research, I have never been dissuaded from my testimony of his prophetic calling and of the gospel and priesthood restoration the Lord initiated through him. I solemnly affirm the testimony Joseph Smith expressed in the famous Wentworth letter of 1842: ".. 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." ("Joseph, the Man and the Prophet," Ensign, May 1996, 71)

Elder D. Todd Christofferson. "I bear witness of the reality and love of God, our Heavenly Father, to whom Jesus gave all glory. I love and bear witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Through his personal association with the Lord, his translation and publication of the Book of Mormon, and the sealing of his testimony with his martyr's blood, Joseph has become the preeminent revelator of Jesus Christ in His true character as divine Redeemer. Jesus has had no greater witness nor more devoted friend than Joseph Smith." (General Conference, April 2008).

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. "I testify out of the certainty of my soul that Joseph Smith entertained an angel and received at his hand an ancient set of gold plates. I testify of that as surely as if I had, with the three witnesses, seen the angel Moroni or, with the three and the eight witnesses, seen and handled the plates." ("True or False," Liahona June, 1996).

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917-2008). "I would like to bear my testimony--I know that Joseph Smith saw what he said he saw, that the heavens opened and God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to an unlearned youth reared in the backwoods of New York. As a special witness of the name of Jesus Christ in all the world, I promise you that if you seek the Lord, you will find Him. Ask, and you shall receive. I pray that you may do so and testify to the ends of the earth that the gospel of our Lord and Savior is restored to man!" (Pure Testimony, General Conference, October 2000)

L. Tom Perry. "Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, the Lord's mouthpiece, and the restorer of all things important to building the kingdom of God and preparing for the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we seek our Savior, it is important that we seek Him through His Church. It is through His restored Church that we receive all the saving ordinances necessary to return to Him." ("What Seek Ye?," Liahona, May 2005, 84-86).

Elder Richard G. Scott. "The scriptures record that throughout history, on occasions of exceptional importance, God the Father's voice has been heard. On repeated occasions Jesus Christ has personally appeared to select individuals. Yet there is only one supernal, singular instance of which we have knowledge that God the Father Himself appeared in person. This was done with His precious Holy Son, Jesus Christ, to an audience of one. That one was young Joseph Smith Jr., an extraordinary spirit prepared before the foundation of the earth. He would become the greatest prophet sent to earth. About to come forth was the return of priesthood authority, the complete Restoration of the Church established by the Savior, with additional scripture required for our time provided by continuing revelation from the Savior. - Our benevolent Father came from His vast creations to this earth to clarify truth, to disperse the intense clouds of spiritual darkness, to establish His true identity, to restore a fulness of truth, and to provide the only way to obtain secure, spiritual guidance. This momentous Restoration began with the Father's simple phrase "This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" ("Truth Restored," Liahona, Nov 2005).

Elder Robert D. Hales. "Joseph Smith-as a 14-year-old boy-exercised unwavering faith and followed James's direction to "ask of God" (James 1:5). God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to him and gave him instructions. How glorious was this First Vision to the first prophet of this last dispensation! Sixteen years later in the Kirtland Temple, he was visited by the Savior again and testified, "We saw the Lord .. and his voice was the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father" (D&C 110:2-4). To all those whose souls are hungering for faith, I invite you "to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written" (Ether 12:41) ("Finding Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ," NewEra,
                                             December 2007, 32-36)