I wanted to put together some historical accounts that show that Joseph Smith used a seer stone in his translation of The Book of Mormon. This page shows accounts of some of the people close to Joseph (specifically Emma Smith, Martin Harris, David Whitmer, and William Smith) stating that heContinue Reading

When I first read this story from Elder Burton, I first thought of the translation of the Book of Mormon. A simple stone in the hands of the an average person is just that – a stone. The Lord provided a Urim and Thummim to translate the text of theContinue Reading

The following is an excerpt from Elder Nelson’s autobiography. He relates an experience where he saw President Harold B. Lee following his passing. I learned about his (President Harold B. Lee) passing while I was home playing games with the children, still full of the festive spirit remaining from ChristmasContinue Reading

I love this experience shared by Elder Matthew Cowley: When I went over to New Zealand on my first mission, I had only been there a day or two when a nice sister came running to me. And she said, “Come over, please.” I was all alone. I didn’t haveContinue Reading

Elder Heber J. Grant shared this experience involving John Taylor: I recall one incident showing how song has the power to soothe irritated feelings and bring harmony to the hearts of men who are filled with a contentious spirit. It occurred many years ago and involved a quarrel between twoContinue Reading

Summer 1838, Orson returned from serving as a missionary in England to Far West, Missouri just as trouble began. Orson was very ill and exhausted. Unable to get out, friends called on him and filled his ears with news of the escalating conflict between the Latter-day Saints and angry locals.Continue Reading

  Mary Fielding Smith (1801-1852) was a woman of remarkable faith and testimony. She is one of my heroes. She was the wife of Hyrum Smith and her oldest son, Joseph Fielding, and her grandson of the same name, both became presidents of the Church. Young Joseph Fielding later reported thisContinue Reading

Many of us have had experiences with the sweet power of prayer. One of mine was shared with a stake patriarch from southern Utah. I first met him in my medical office more than 40 years ago, during the early pioneering days of surgery of the heart. This saintly soulContinue Reading

  The following account comes to us from chapter 6 of the book entitled, The Prophet Joseph: Essays on the Life and Mission of Joseph Smith, by Larry Porter and Susan Easton Black: The power that rested upon Joseph Smith in his prophetic calling manifested itself in many other waysContinue Reading