I Will Consecrate That Spot That It Shall Be Made Holy

The Lord called Joseph Smith to repentance many times & Joseph candidly spoke of his own faults on many occasions. So why was he called to be THE prophet of this last dispensation?

Because God works through the simple, the imperfect, the humble. Over & over again.

He works with "rough stones" (Joseph Smith), the “wretched" (Nephi), the "slow of speech" (Moses), the “hate[d] (Enoch), the "weak" writers (Moroni), the forgetful (brother of Jared), the doubters (Thomas), the deniers (Peter), the betrayers (Judas). I could go on!

WHY does he choose such people?

You mean, why not just call perfect people?!

The Lord told Joseph: "For unto this end have I raised you up, that I might show forth my wisdom through the weak things of the earth." (D&C 124:1)

Joseph's like, oh thanks 😉

"God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (1 Cor. 1:27)

"The weak things of the world shall come forth & break down the mighty & strong ones” (D&C 1:19)

Yes, He chooses weak things! On purpose! What better way to manifest His work & glory?

Sinners, fishermen, tax collectors, harlots, lepers, Pharisees, Samaritans, adulterers, beggars. He chooses them! Changes them.

Are we not all beggars?

Simple. Flawed. In need of Him.

We are bread & fishes. Water. Clay. Rocks. Sticks. A brass ball. A leather sling. A ram's horn.

But with God? We feed thousands. Turn to wine. Heal the blind. Become light. Part seas. Point the way. Slay giants. Break walls.

Of the seemingly unimpressive stretch of ground where the Nauvoo temple was to be, God said:

“If ye labor with all your might, I will consecrate that spot that it shall be made holy. (D&C 124:44)

He makes the spot holy.

We cannot judge the materials or the means or the people God chooses.

The babe in a manger, son of a carpenter, humble teacher, MESSIAH who was despised & rejected… He can make ANY spot, ANYthing, ANYone holy.

Back to Joseph.

“He did not claim to be divine, nor a perfect man. He claimed only to be a mortal man with human feelings & imperfections, trying honestly to fulfill the divine mission given to him." -James E. Faust

Fulfill he did! To the very end.

Praise to the man❤️