Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith was a hero because he did whatever he needed to do to teach others about how to truly be happy and about his experience in witnessing his Heavenly Father in person. Joseph Smith was told by an angel of God to go to a forest and the angel led Joseph to a rock and underneath it were the Golden Plates which were ancient records. He was then commanded to help translate them with his brother Hyrum Smith. "We still continued the work of translation, when, in the ensuing month (May, 1829), we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of the plates. While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us." ("Joseph Smith." Joseph Smith. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.) When Joseph Smith was translating the Golden Plates with his brother, he had several opportunities to share about it with others. Though some were interested in it, there were also others who thought that it was completely uncalled for. They neglected Joseph Smith and treated him very poorly. The others who did not accept the knowledge within the Golden Plates neglected Joseph Smith and treated him very poorly and even led them to tar and feather him. "Even though Joseph was often persecuted and sometimes imprisoned on false charges, his first thoughts were always for his family. He wrote to his wife, Emma, while he was imprisoned in Missouri." ("Joseph Smith." Joseph Smith. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.) Joseph Smith was persecuted for his beliefs and was treated very mean and yet he still found ways to be happy and be positive. He was separated from community in jail several times over false charges to attempt to make him stop telling others about what he believed in but he still kept teaching. He believed in his God and trusted him so much that anything that happened to him would not restrict him from believing in his religion.

Joseph Smith was persecuted all the time but he never got revenge and fought back. He held strong in doing his God's work while still being kind to all people. When Joseph's work was done with the Golden Plates, he was locked in a jail room with his brother Hyrum and later one day, they were attacked by a mob and were killed. "We sometimes think that dying for a cause is the purest display of devotion, but living for something is usually much more demanding. Joseph Smith did both. He wore out his life in God's service, suffering derision and violence for the things he believed. He did not die in public with the sympathy of the world; he was shot by a mob while he was locked in a jail on false charges." ("Joseph Smith." Joseph Smith. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.) Though Joseph was a strong teacher, he did not just translate the plates for pride. All he wanted was for all people to have eternal happiness. "So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation." ("Joseph Smith." Joseph Smith. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.) Joseph was discriminated just about everywhere but he still trusted in the Lord and knew that everything was going to work out. Though Joseph was discriminated often, he always found ways to be kind and happy towards others.

Though Joseph was persecuted and tried on his beliefs, he remained very committed and held on to his decision in trusting in his God and never denied any of his beliefs. As Joseph translated the plates, he taught the gospel to others who were interested and got in trouble with the cities in the towns because they thought it was disrupting society. "Even though Joseph was often persecuted and sometimes imprisoned on false charges, his first thoughts were always for his family. He wrote to his wife, Emma, while he was imprisoned in Missouri." ("Joseph Smith. History & Belief of the Mormon Prophet | Mormon.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 29 Jan. 2016.) He always found a way to be positive and still serve his God and his beliefs no matter what. The people of the towns that Joseph visited tried to get him to quit teaching about his beliefs but he still continued to do his Heavenly Father's work. "We still continued the work of translation, when, in the ensuing month (May, 1829), we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of the plates. While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us." ("Joseph Smith." Joseph Smith. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.) We can follow Joseph Smith's choices he made in life to get closer to the Lord and be blessed like he was. We can look up to Joseph Smith as a selfless hero who gave his life for the happiness of others.

Joseph Smith was a hero because he worked for the Lord and did whatever he needed him to do, he  held strong in being kind to all people including the ones that were mean to him, and he remained very committed to his decision in trusting in his God and never denied any of his beliefs. Joseph was persecuted all the time and mostly on false charges but he still held onto his beliefs, remained kind to others, and still taught others about his beliefs. Joseph Smith has been an inspiration to me my whole entire life. He has inspired me to not be afraid to tell others about the Mormon religion. He has also inspired me to improve on being kind to others who are maybe not so nice to me. He has also inspired others around me and I have seen the change that it makes on the person as well. Joseph Smith is a Hero to the world and has impacted the world positively. He has been seen as a hero because he worked for the Lord and did whatever he needed him to do, he held strong in being kind to all people including the ones that were mean to him, and he was very committed and held on to his decision in trusting in his God and never denied any of his beliefs. "Through him, the Lord accomplished a great and marvelous work that included bringing forth the Book of Mormon, restoring the priesthood, revealing precious gospel truths, organizing the true Church of Jesus Christ, and establishing temple work. On June 27, 1844, Joseph and his brother Hyrum were killed in an attack by an armed mob. They sealed their testimonies with their blood." ("Joseph Smith." Joseph Smith. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.)