Gordon B. Hinckley, 15th President of the Church, 1995–present
How great indeed is our
debt to [Joseph Smith]. His life began in Vermont and ended
in Illinois, and marvelous were the things that happened
between that simple beginning and tragic ending. It was he
who brought us a true knowledge of God, the Eternal Father,
and His Risen Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. . . . He was the
instrument in the hands of the Almighty. He was the servant
acting under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ in
bringing to pass this great latter-day work.
"A Season for Gratitude,"Ensign, Dec. 1997, 2.
When I first heard him [Joseph Smith] preach he brought heaven and earth together, and all the priests of the day could not tell me anything correct about heaven, hell, God, angels, nor devils; they were as blind as Egyptian darkness. When I saw Joseph Smith he took heaven, figuratively speaking, . . . and opened up, in plainness and simplicity the things of God, and that is the beauty of his mission.
Discourses of Brigham Young, 458; Deseret News, Dec. 30, 1857, 341.
If there is no other man under the heavens that knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God I do, and I bear testimony of it to God, angels and men.
Deseret News, Mar. 25, 1863, 306.
Joseph Smith was the
messenger whom the Lord sent to prepare the way before him.
He came and under direction of holy messengers laid the
foundation for the kingdom of God and of this marvelous work
and a wonder that the world might be prepared for the coming
of the Lord.
In Conference Report, Apr. 1920, 107.
