This morning I reread “The King Follett Discourse”, given by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1844, just three months before his death. Elder B.H. Roberts said that Joseph Smith “lived his life in crescendo”, and that “as a teacher he reached the climax of his career in this [The King Follett] discourse”. After reading the discourse again, I agree that it is indeed the climax of Joseph’s teaching. After expounding upon the nature of God and our relationship with Him, Joseph says: “This is good doctrine. It tastes good. I can taste the principles of eternal life, and so can you.” He was right. I could “taste” the truthfulness of those teachings as I read them. Here are just a few of the statements that really impressed me:
- “If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves.”
- “All governments ought to permit every man to enjoy his religion unmolested.”
- “Having a knowledge of God, we begin to know how to approach Him, and how to ask so as to receive an answer.”
- “The mind or intelligence that man possesses is [co-eternal] with God himself.”
- “The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge.”
- “All will suffer until the obey Christ himself.”
- “The best men bring forth the best works.”
If you’re looking to better understand your purpose in life, where you fit in the grand scheme of things, or your relationship with God, I recommend reading this discourse. It can be found at the following links:
I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that he was inspired to restore the original gospel of Jesus Christ to the Earth. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and that by obeying his gospel we can have greater happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
