In January 1827, he married Emma Hale, whom he had met while he was working in Harmony, Pennsylvania. This period of preparation also brought the blessing of marriage into the Prophet’s life. (See Joseph Smith-History 1:33–54.) During these years, he also received “many visits from the angels of God unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that should transpire in the last days.” 2 Joseph returned to the hill each September 22 for the next four years to receive further instructions from Moroni. He was to begin an important period of preparation that would make him equal to the sacred task of translating the Book of Mormon. There he met Moroni and saw the plates, but was told that he would not receive them for four years. The next day, Joseph went to the hill where the Book of Mormon plates were buried. By the gift and power of God, Joseph was to translate the record and bring it forth to the world. This record was written by prophets who had lived anciently upon the American continent. As part of this work, Joseph was to go to a nearby hill, where a sacred record, written on gold plates, was deposited. He had been sent to tell Joseph that God had forgiven his sins 1 and had a great work for him to do. In answer to his prayer, Joseph saw a light appear in his room that grew brighter and brighter until the room was “lighter than at noonday.” A heavenly messenger appeared at his bedside, standing in the air, wearing a robe of “exquisite whiteness.” ( Joseph Smith-History 1:30–31.) This messenger was Moroni, the last Nephite prophet, who centuries earlier had buried the plates upon which the Book of Mormon was written and who now held the keys pertaining to this sacred record (see D&C 27:5).
#NIGHT BOOK SUMMARY CHAPTER 4 FULL#
“I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God,” he said, “for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my state and standing before him for I had full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation, as I previously had one” ( Joseph Smith-History 1:29).
On the night of September 21, 1823, Joseph retired to his attic bedroom in his family’s log home in Palmyra, New York, but he stayed awake after the others in the room had gone to sleep, earnestly praying to know more about God’s purposes for him. The young Prophet was now 17 years old, and he desired to know his standing before God and to receive forgiveness. More than three years had passed since the morning in 1820 when Joseph Smith had prayed to know which church he should join.
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