As a witness and a revealer of Christ, Joseph Smith had much to say about the Resurrection.

For example, when asked about what the fundamental principle of the Mormon Church was, he succinctly wrote:

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it." (“Chapter 3: Jesus Christ, the Divine Redeemer of the World,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 45–56.)

That is quite an interesting response, considering how many things there are that Mormons believe and do. Behind all of the white-shirted missionaries, the glorious temples, the humanitarian work, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the large families, is Christ’s empty tomb. This empty tomb is the motivating factor for all that Mormons do.

Since this is the key doctrine, Joseph Smith went into detail explaining the nature of the Resurrection. We rely upon both his teachings and the scriptures he revealed to understand his perspective.

The best source of information on the Resurrection comes from the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. This is a book of scripture comparable to the Bible, and contains teachings that clarify its doctrines.

One of the prophets in the Book of Mormon explained and defined the Resurrection this way:

“Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death.”

“The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.”

“Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.”

“Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption.” (Alma 11:42-45)

These four verses explain that:

• All people will resurrect, both wicked and righteous, male and female.
• We will get the same body back. There is no reincarnation.
• We will resurrect with a “prefect frame,” or the correct version of our body. That is, if we have deformities, they will be removed.
• Our bodies will never die again, nor will they get sick, ill, or “see corruption.”
• There is a judgment associated with the resurrection.

Indeed, Joseph Smith had seen the Resurrection in vision. Being a prophet, you would expect that. He would need to have all the facts in order to be a competent witness.

Speaking at a funeral, Joseph Smith taught:

"I will tell you what I want. If tomorrow I shall be called to lie in yonder tomb, in the morning of the resurrection let me strike hands with my father, and cry, 'My father,' and he will say, 'My son, my son,' as soon as the rock rends and before we come out of our graves.”

"And may we contemplate these things so? Yes, if we learn how to live and how to die. When we lie down we contemplate how we may rise in the morning; and it is pleasing for friends to lie down together, locked in the arms of love, to sleep and wake in each other's embrace and renew their conversation.”

"Would you think it strange if I relate what I have seen in vision in relation to this interesting theme? Those who have died in Jesus Christ may expect to enter into all that fruition of joy when they come forth, which they possessed or anticipated here.”

"So plain was the vision, that I actually saw men, before they had ascended from the tomb, as though they were getting up slowly. They took each other by the hand and said to each other, 'My father, my son, my mother, my daughter, my brother, my sister.' And when the voice calls for the dead to arise, suppose I am laid by the side of my father, what would be the first joy of my heart? To meet my father, my mother, my brother, my sister; and when they are by my side, I embrace them and they me. …”

"More painful to me are the thoughts of annihilation than death. If I have no expectation of seeing my father, mother, brothers, sisters and friends again, my heart would burst in a moment, and I should go down to my grave. The expectation of seeing my friends in the morning of the resurrection cheers my soul and makes me bear up against the evils of life. It is like their taking a long journey, and on their return we meet them with increased joy. …”

"To Marcellus Bates [a Church member whose wife had died] let me administer comfort. You shall soon have the company of your companion in a world of glory, and the friends of Brother Barnes and all the Saints who are mourning. This has been a warning voice to us all to be sober and diligent and lay aside mirth, vanity and folly, and to be prepared to die tomorrow." (“Chapter 14: Words of Hope and Consolation at the Time of Death,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 171–81.)

What impresses me about this vision is, first, that it actually happened. “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7). God is a god of transparency and openness.

The second thing that impressed me is how personal it is. He refers to his anticipated feelings for being with his family again. When he was martyred at age thirty-eight, his father and older bother were dead, plus half of his children had died in childbirth. This hope was real. It was grounded in real pain, but also in a real conviction that Christ had actually risen.

For Joseph Smith the Resurrection was a spice that added zest to his family and friendship. Whatever happened—death, disease, separation—Joseph Smith could take it in stride knowing that in the end Christ would win out. In the ultimate sense there are no obstacles to joy.

At another time Joseph Smith tried to describe what he saw, what the resurrected people would look like. He fumbled for words, but used expressions such as "loveliness," "glorious," "glory and bloom." He also spoke of “the old man with his silvery hairs will glory in bloom and beauty.” He finally gave in to exasperation and confessed, “No man can describe it to you—no man can write it." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 368.)

Of course we wish he could have said more. But then again words kept failing him, so the silence creates that much more excitement.

Both of my grandmothers are dead. So are two of my uncles. Then add to this tally my classmates, friends, acquaintances, and just the people I have rubbed shoulders with in this life. So many people I know have gone on. As I think about it, there is an ever increasing crowd of dead people who know me, care for me, and love me. I hope that when the Resurrection actually happens, that I will be ready for them. It will be a great big family reunion.

How often do we listen to our religious leaders, (Bishopric members, Stake Presidencies, General Authorities) and think to ourselves that it was meant for the person sitting next to us, or across from us, or down the row from us, but certainly not us? How often do we tell ourselves that the bit of counsel given just doesn't apply? So then, we toss it out of our head as quickly as it entered?

Maybe this happens more among the singles of the church for much of the advice is given to fathers, mothers or families in general. In which case it is much easier to decide that the counsel has nothing to do with us, then to look and see how it could apply. Sigh . . .

"...I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning..." 1 Nephi 19:23

As Nephi did for the scriptures, so to can (and should) we do for all the counsel from the Lord. For if we do not do so, I know we will miss out on many great blessings. This truth was brought home to me once through the experience of a dear friend.

Last year in Stake Conference, our Stake Presidency reiterated the need to get out of debt, set aside money for rainy days, and then they said wherever your food storage is add another six months worth to it. Upon coming home from the meetings that day, my dear friend resolved to follow the counsel given. This was not an easy feat. My friend is 28, single, and living away from home. Where she had a decent job, she had a lot of debt (between credit cards and car). How was she to pay all that off, set aside money for the future, and acquire (let alone figure out where to put it in a small apartment) six months of food storage, when she was barely getting by on what she was making?

With these grave concerns in mind, yet the firm decision to obey in her heart, my friend went to her knees in prayer. She asked the Lord to help, then got up and went to work. For months she worked hard, sacrificed, and continually prayed. And do you know what? She did it! By the end of last year, she was totally debt free, had money in the back, and food stashed away. How grateful she was that she had followed the Stake President's counsel, a few weeks later when she was unexpectedly laid off work.

Though unsure how long her unemployment would last, my friend was not afraid. She had listened to and had obeyed the counsel from her leaders, and she was prepared. Not having to worry about payments due on either credit cards, or car payments was such a relief to her in this time. Knowing she had enough food to last her for six months if necessary gave her peace. Having money in the bank to cover rent, gas, and even fast offerings (to help others in need) made it possible for her to go on as if all in life were normal until she could find another job.

As one week melded into another, I grew more and more concerned for the welfare of my dear friend. I knew that she was out of work, and though she was actively looking for employment, she was finding nothing. One day I voiced my concern to her to which she quoted the scripture,

"...if ye are prepared ye shall not fear . . . "
Doctrine and Covenants 38:30

That was when she shared with me her story and how she had followed the counsel of her leaders and because of this she was prepared. Though her funds were getting lower and she did need to find another job soon, in the mean time she was okay. (I am happy to report that a few days ago my dear friend received an unexpected phone call that resulted in a job offer. This new job was even better then the one she had lost over a month ago.)

As illustrated though the example of my friend, the Lord wants us to be prepared, so that we can live free of fear. This is why we have living Prophets, Apostles, and Priesthood Leaders. They call us to repentance, come unto Christ, and they are the watchmen on the tower who can see afar off to warn us of danger. When we heed their warning call, we will be able to meet what life brings our way with happiness and peace, not fear and regret.

As teens you are constantly bombarded by the influences of the media. Whether it’s what’s seen in movies and television, in magazines and books, or what you listen to on the radio there are constant chirping voices encouraging you to step away from the values and morals you’ve been taught.

I’ve noticed a trend in recent years when it comes to television shows that gear their messages towards teens. Whenever these shows are advertised we hear words like, “The newest craze in America,” or “The hottest new show.” We are made to think these shows are what all teens must be watching. These shows must be the ones that represent what the youth of today are really all about, right? How sad it is that most of these shows glorify teenage sex without the consequences, drinking under the legal age limit and making it look fun, peddling the idea that smoking a little pot isn’t going to hurt you. And after a while, you begin to believe it.

In the booklet For the Strength of Youth put out by the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed Mormon Church), teens are strongly advised to be careful about the entertainment they choose.

“Whatever you read, listen to, or look at has an effect on you. Therefore, choose only entertainment and media that uplift you. Good entertainment will help you to have good thoughts and make righteous choices. It will allow you to enjoy yourself without losing the Spirit of the Lord” (For the Strength of Youth, p.17).

Unfortunately finding good things to watch on television or in movies isn’t too easy. Still, we have a choice with everything we are confronted with. Especially you who are teenagers must be vigilant in keeping yourself away from evil influences.

“Satan uses such entertainment to deceive you by making what is wrong and evil look normal and exciting. It can mislead you into thinking that everyone is doing things that are wrong” (For the Strength of Youth, p.17).

Doesn’t that sound familiar? A friend of mine who has a teenage son was watching a movie with him one night. She was disturbed by the way girls in the movie dressed, and braved a question to her son.

“Do the girls at your school ever dress like that?”

He immediately shook his head. “No, Mom, they don’t. In fact they’d be sent home if they tried going to school dressed like that.”

Due to his openness she tried one more question.

“Would you date someone who dressed like that?”

Again he immediately shook his head. “No way. It’d make me way too uncomfortable.”

This mother realized precisely what leaders of the Latter-day Saint Church have been trying to impart for years: just because you see it in the media doesn’t make it fact.

Pornography is another tool of Satan’s to influence you to make wrong choices. It is especially addictive.

“What may begin as a curious indulgence can become a destructive habit that takes control of your life. It can lead you to sexual transgression and even criminal behavior. Pornography is a poison that weakens your self-control, changes the way you see others, causes you to lose the guidance of the Spirit, and can even affect your ability to have a normal relationship with your future spouse” (For the Strength of Youth, p.19).

I have seen the effects of pornography in the life of a very good friend. Her husband was first introduced to it by his father at the age of eleven. It took hold of him quickly, skewing his perception of women and relationships, and almost destroyed their marriage. It took a few years but he has since gone through the repentance process and is now free of the addiction. That’s not to say it may not happen again, but my friend is now attentive to anything that may come into their home. If you find yourself confronted with even the slightest temptation to expose yourself to pornography, run away as fast as you can.

Another glamorized behavior is that of violence. I can remember when all it took was one or two hits and a guy was knocked out cold. Now you watch a fight scene and hit, after hit, after hit, after vicious hit is inflicted. We have become too desensitized when it comes to violence, and the more we savor it the less we will find ourselves in the company of the Spirit. Violence contradicts every message the Savior has given about love for one another.

Joseph Smith, a latter-day prophet who lived several years ago, once put together a set of articles regarding the faith of our Church. In the last one, number 13, we are given wonderfully simple counsel as to what we should look for in our entertainment:

“If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (Articles of Faith 1:13).

I can testify that the things we watch, see, and hear will have a strong influence over us. We must be so careful in the things we choose to expose ourselves to. Look for movies, shows, concerts, music, internet sites, magazines and books that are virtuous, lovely, of good report, and praiseworthy. It is in these uplifting areas we will find ourselves the happiest and most at peace.