The Youth!

Our family is studding the Joseph Smith History for the past couple of days. We are reading from the Prophet's words on his own History and we are amazed of the many things we have learned. We stop at every point we want to talk about.

So last night we read verse 22-23,
22 I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase; and though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sects—all united to persecute me.

23 It caused me serious reflection then, and often has since, how very strange it was that an obscure boy, of a little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily labor, should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of the most bitter persecution and reviling. But strange or not, so it was, and it was often the cause of great sorrow to myself.

Joseph's life would never be the same and from this point on he will be persecuted until he is killed.
One thing came to me last night when we read. Our Youth, our children. Maybe to the world they do seam very normal and of no importance, but Satan know how important they are and what they can do to frustrate his evil work. As time comes to a close and the second coming is near, Satan knows he has one last chance, to drag as many as he can down with him. he has done this before.
So here is Joseph, facing the same problems our kids face.
What is today in yours , and my, kids life that is causing them to go away from what it could be the greatest work of their life. sure many will not be called as a prophet of God, but any little good thing they can do counts and by eliminating their influence, makes it easy for the enemy to work his purposes.
The enemy will always tempt us with things He knows is very hard for us to overcame.
Well, How they can stand firm? Well, you have to read the rest of the story... (hint, verse 24).
But this I have to say, even at age 15, Joseph was one of the strongest men , spiritually.
He had sorrow for all that was happening but no fear.... Verse 24 tells where his strength came from..
Let me know what you think it is...

Hugs
Carmen