"Accordingly, as I had been commanded, I went at the end of each year, and at each time I found the same messenger there, and received instruction and intelligence from him at each of our interviews, respecting what the Lord was going to do, and how and in what manner his kingdom was to be conducted in the last days."
Joseph Smith--History 1:54
This is an idea found elsewhere in the scriptures, that we need to learn line upon line (Isaiah 28:10), including Jesus growing up and learning as he grew (Luke 2:52). It's all of life, really. Joseph Smith saw the first vision at a really young age, but he had to learn more and grow up a lot before he was ready to translate the Book of Mormon, and part of that were these yearly meetings with the angel.
We're impatient, and we keep looking for shortcuts, but there isn't a shortcut for growing up. We all have to learn, a little bit at a time. Hopefully, as we grow and progress, we're looking back at our former selves and wondering how we ever could have been so... whatever it is. We've all made some gigantic blunders in our lives, made mistakes that make us cringe. We've said mean things that we shouldn't have said, and been unkind at the very moments when we should have been forgiving. We've been people that we shouldn't have been and don't want to be.
Fortunately, just like Joseph Smith, and Jesus Christ, and all the prophets, and every person who has ever lived on this earth, we have the ability to stop and take a look back at our lives. We can change. Christ gave us the opportunity to repent... to take what we've learned so far and build on the good things and let go of the bad things. Today, let's take the time to review and to consider who we are and who we want to be, and how to get from one to the other. Let's include God in our review, and be open to his advice and assistance. If we want to change, God will help us to do so. Let's trust him, and tell him all of the obstacles, and then start making it happen, little by little, one day at a time (Matthew 6:34; 3 Nephi 13:34).
Joseph Smith--History 1:54
This is an idea found elsewhere in the scriptures, that we need to learn line upon line (Isaiah 28:10), including Jesus growing up and learning as he grew (Luke 2:52). It's all of life, really. Joseph Smith saw the first vision at a really young age, but he had to learn more and grow up a lot before he was ready to translate the Book of Mormon, and part of that were these yearly meetings with the angel.
We're impatient, and we keep looking for shortcuts, but there isn't a shortcut for growing up. We all have to learn, a little bit at a time. Hopefully, as we grow and progress, we're looking back at our former selves and wondering how we ever could have been so... whatever it is. We've all made some gigantic blunders in our lives, made mistakes that make us cringe. We've said mean things that we shouldn't have said, and been unkind at the very moments when we should have been forgiving. We've been people that we shouldn't have been and don't want to be.
Fortunately, just like Joseph Smith, and Jesus Christ, and all the prophets, and every person who has ever lived on this earth, we have the ability to stop and take a look back at our lives. We can change. Christ gave us the opportunity to repent... to take what we've learned so far and build on the good things and let go of the bad things. Today, let's take the time to review and to consider who we are and who we want to be, and how to get from one to the other. Let's include God in our review, and be open to his advice and assistance. If we want to change, God will help us to do so. Let's trust him, and tell him all of the obstacles, and then start making it happen, little by little, one day at a time (Matthew 6:34; 3 Nephi 13:34).
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