The question is, does a most magnificent tree need to be recognized by others to be magnificent, or does it’s magnificence transcend it’s need to be recognized?
Hyrum Smith might have been in the shadows most of the time, while Joseph got the recognition and spot light, but Hyrum was not searching for worldly recognition, he was searching to be seen by God. As you will soon see, God did see him and gave him the greatest recognition that one could receive in time or in eternity.
Before we talk about Joseph and Hyrum, let me show unto you a type or second witness. The Lord has said, “in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established” (Matthew 18:16). This type is found in the Book of Mormon in the book of Helaman. In chapter 3, we are introduced to one of Helaman’s sons by the name of Nephi and he is appointed to fill the judgment seat. Two chapters later he steps down as Chief Judge “to preach the word of God all the remainder of his days” (verse 5). In this same verse we are introduced to Nephi’s brother, Lehi, who likewise “took it upon him to preach the word of God… all the remainder of his days.” In the things of the Spirit or their mission they were not separated. Their success was miraculous and worthy off our time to go back and read in more detail. Let’s get a glimpse into how great this Nephi was:
Helaman 10:4-5
4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.
5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will. https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/hel/10?lang=eng
Pretty amazing, the Lord gave Nephi the sealing power! Ok, now we come to the scripture of most importance, which shows us how righteous Lehi is.
Helaman 11:19
And behold, Lehi, his brother, was not a whit behind him as to things pertaining to righteousness. https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/hel/11?lang=eng
So, what does that mean, well if we take the scriptures at face value, this was in chapter 11 whereas the sealing power was given to Nephi in chapter 10, which would suggest that Lehi too received the sealing power and was on equal footing with Nephi, even though Nephi got all the recognition. Interesting!
So, there you have it, a type or witness of Joseph and Hyrum.
“The Prophet Joseph Smith conferred upon Hyrum Smith all the keys, authority and gifts of the priesthood which he, the Prophet, held, and which were formerly held by Oliver Cowdery. The Lord also revealed to Hyrum Smith all that was necessary to make him completely and to the full degree, a witness with his brother Joseph, as a prophet, seer, revelator and president of the Church, and to stand through all time and eternity at the head of this dispensation with his brother Joseph, a witness for Jesus Christ . . . Thus, we see, Hyrum Smith became a president of the Church with Joseph Smith”
Joseph Fielding Smith (Doctrines of Salvation,1:218–19)
That sounds very much like, Hyrum, “his brother, was not a whit behind him as to things pertaining to righteousness.”
“The sealing of the testimony through the shedding of blood would not have been complete in the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith alone; it required the death of Hyrum Smith who jointly held the keys of this dispensation.”
Joseph Fielding Smith (Doctrines of Salvation, 1:218–19)
see also D&C 136:39; Hebrews 9:16–17).
Let me just leave my testimony to the fact that the Spirit has born witness to me as to the magnificence of this great man. I know that he was true to Joseph and gave Joseph the support that he needed to fulfill his mission; thus Hyrum fulfilled his mission. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Read this great article for some more neat facts about Hyrum.
5 Things You Did Not Know About Hyrum Smith The Patriarch. – MyLifeByGogoGoff http://mylifebygogogoff.com/2017/02/5-things-you-did-not-know-about-hyrum-smith-the-patriarch.html
Craig
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