I Am Your I Am Your Advocate Advocate with the with the FatherFather

B. H. RobertsB. H. Roberts

Notwithstanding he was troubled on every side, [Joseph Notwithstanding he was troubled on every side, [Joseph Smith] could compose his mind to instruct the Church on Smith] could compose his mind to instruct the Church on such doctrines as the complete salvation of their dead; such doctrines as the complete salvation of their dead; how to proceed with the administration of all ordinances how to proceed with the administration of all ordinances given for and in behalf of the dead… and the relationship given for and in behalf of the dead… and the relationship of man to God. …of man to God. …

He He livedlived his his lifelife, as I have said elsewhere, , as I have said elsewhere, in in crescendocrescendo, , it grew in intensity and volume as he approached its it grew in intensity and volume as he approached its close. Higher and still higher the inspiration of God close. Higher and still higher the inspiration of God directed his thoughts; bolder were his conceptions, and directed his thoughts; bolder were his conceptions, and clearer his expositions of them. clearer his expositions of them.

Joseph’s three Recorded Visions Joseph’s three Recorded Visions with Saviorwith Savior

The CallThe CallThe First Vision (JS 1)The First Vision (JS 1)

The VisionThe VisionThree Degrees of Glory (D&C 76)Three Degrees of Glory (D&C 76)

The KeysThe KeysKeys to the Last Dispensation (D&C 110)Keys to the Last Dispensation (D&C 110)

#1- “The Call”#1- “The Call”

1832 Account of the1832 Account of theFirst VisionFirst Vision

and while in (the) attitude of calling and while in (the) attitude of calling upon the Lord (in the 16th year upon the Lord (in the 16th year

of my of my age) a piller of fireage) a piller of fire light above light above the the brightness of the sun at noon brightness of the sun at noon day come day come down from above and down from above and rested upon me rested upon me and I was filled and I was filled with the spirit of god and with the spirit of god and

the (Lord) opened the heavens upon the (Lord) opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying Joseph (my son) thy sins are forgiven thee. go thy (way) Joseph (my son) thy sins are forgiven thee. go thy (way) walk in my statutes and keep my commandments… walk in my statutes and keep my commandments…

my soul was filled with lovemy soul was filled with love and for many days I could and for many days I could reioice with great Joy and the Lord was with me but [I] reioice with great Joy and the Lord was with me but [I] could find none that would believe the hevnly vision could find none that would believe the hevnly vision nevertheless I pondered these things in my heart nevertheless I pondered these things in my heart

M. Russell BallardM. Russell BallardApril ConferenceApril ConferenceIn the spring of 1820, a pillar of light illuminated a In the spring of 1820, a pillar of light illuminated a grove of trees in upstate New York. Our Heavenly grove of trees in upstate New York. Our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son appeared to the Father and His Beloved Son appeared to the

Prophet Prophet Joseph Smith. This experience began the Joseph Smith. This experience began the restoration of powerful doctrinal truths that had been lost for restoration of powerful doctrinal truths that had been lost for centuries. Among those truths that had been dimmed by the centuries. Among those truths that had been dimmed by the darkness of apostasy was the stirring reality that we are all the spirit darkness of apostasy was the stirring reality that we are all the spirit sons and daughters of a loving God who is our Father. …sons and daughters of a loving God who is our Father. …

In that unprecedented appearance of the Father and the Son in the In that unprecedented appearance of the Father and the Son in the Sacred Grove, the very first word spoken by the Father of us all was Sacred Grove, the very first word spoken by the Father of us all was the personal name of Joseph. Such is our Father’s personal the personal name of Joseph. Such is our Father’s personal relationship with each of us. He knows our names and yearns for us relationship with each of us. He knows our names and yearns for us to become worthy to return to live with Him.to become worthy to return to live with Him.

#2 “The Vision” #2 “The Vision”

Feb 16, 1832Feb 16, 1832

John Johnson HomeJohn Johnson Home

Translation of the BibleTranslation of the Bible

John 5:29John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have And shall come forth; they that have done good , unto the resurrection of life; and they done good , unto the resurrection of life; and they that that have done evil, unto the resurrection of that that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnationdamnation

Section 76Section 76

5 For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, 5 For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end. unto the end.

7 7 And to them will I reveal all mysteriesAnd to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the , yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom. kingdom.

10 For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power 10 For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.nor yet entered into the heart of man.

Joseph’s Response to “The Vision”Joseph’s Response to “The Vision”

I, Joseph the Prophet, in spirit beheld,I, Joseph the Prophet, in spirit beheld,And the eyes of the inner man truly did seeAnd the eyes of the inner man truly did seeEternity stretched, in a vision from God,Eternity stretched, in a vision from God,Of what was, and now is, and yet is to be:Of what was, and now is, and yet is to be:

"Those things which the Father ordained of old,"Those things which the Father ordained of old,Before the world was, or a system had runBefore the world was, or a system had runThrough Jesus, the maker and Saviour of all,Through Jesus, the maker and Saviour of all,The Only Begotten (Messiah), His Son.The Only Begotten (Messiah), His Son.

And I heard a great voice, bearing record from heaven:And I heard a great voice, bearing record from heaven:He's the Saviour and Only Begotten of God:He's the Saviour and Only Begotten of God:By him, of him, and through him the worlds were all made,—By him, of him, and through him the worlds were all made,—Even all that career in the heavens so broad:Even all that career in the heavens so broad:

Whose inhabitants, too, from the first to the last,Whose inhabitants, too, from the first to the last,Are saved by the very same Saviour of ours.“ (Times and Seasons 4:82)Are saved by the very same Saviour of ours.“ (Times and Seasons 4:82)

#3 (The Keys of the Dispensation)#3 (The Keys of the Dispensation)

Section 110Section 1104 I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I 4 I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I

am your advocate with the Father.am your advocate with the Father.

5 5 Behold, your sins are forgiven youBehold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; ; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice.therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice.

7 For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; 7 For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.

9 Yea the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly 9 Yea the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out, rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out, and the endowment with which my servants have been endowed in and the endowment with which my servants have been endowed in this house.this house.

10 And the fame of this house shall spread to foreign lands; and this is 10 And the fame of this house shall spread to foreign lands; and this is the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured out upon the the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured out upon the heads of my peopleheads of my people

Jesus the AdvocateJesus the Advocate

D&C 45D&C 45

3 Listen to him who is the advocate with the 3 Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before Father, who is pleading your cause before him—him—

4 Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and 4 Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, …death of him who did no sin, …

5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my 5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my namebrethren that believe on my name

Jesus, Our FriendJesus, Our Friend

D&C 93:45D&C 93:45

45 Verily, I say unto my servant Joseph 45 Verily, I say unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., or in other words, I will call Smith, Jun., or in other words, I will call you friends, for you are my friends, and ye you friends, for you are my friends, and ye shall have an inheritance with me— shall have an inheritance with me—

Eliza R. SnowEliza R. Snow

Thou hast the blessing and gift to Thou hast the blessing and gift to know know in whom thou has put thy trust--he is in whom thou has put thy trust--he is

thy thy friendfriend and thy great Benefactor. … and thy great Benefactor. …

Thy steps shall be trac'd in prudence--Thy steps shall be trac'd in prudence--thy examples are worthy of imitation, thy examples are worthy of imitation, and thou mayest ever confide in the and thou mayest ever confide in the friend of thy bosomfriend of thy bosom. Thou mayest . Thou mayest open thy mind to thy Creator and thy open thy mind to thy Creator and thy

requests shall be granted because thou hast an advocate requests shall be granted because thou hast an advocate even even JesusJesus, & in his name thou art invited to pay thy , & in his name thou art invited to pay thy devotions to the Most High, and in and thro' his name thou devotions to the Most High, and in and thro' his name thou mayest ever rejoice in the New & everlasting covenants; mayest ever rejoice in the New & everlasting covenants; (Patriarchal Blessing, Isaac Morley)(Patriarchal Blessing, Isaac Morley)