The organization of the Church 161 years ago "in the most humble of beginnings" laid the groundwork for a "great Church drama that eventually would affect not only that generation of men, but the entire human family," said President Howard W. Hunter.
President Hunter of the Council of the Twelve paid tribute Sunday morning to the Prophet Joseph Smith and testified of his divine calling."What they did ranks among the most important events ever to have transpired since the death of Jesus and His apostles in the meridian of time."
He said present at the organization of the Church were six men, honorable and respectable citizens but unknown outside their immediate neighborhood.
The small group gathered under the direction of Joseph Smith Jr., said President Hunter.
"He declared to them and all others who would listen that he had received profound and repeated heavenly communications, including an open vision of God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
"The Lord commanded this young man . . . to reinstitute the Church that had existed in New Testament times and that in its restored purity should again be designated by the name of its chief cornerstone and eternal head, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself."
Young Joseph was mocked just as in the early Christian era the wise men of Athens era mocked the apostle Paul, declared President Hunter. "Yet Paul was the only man in Athens who could clearly delineate the difference between the formality of idolatry and the heartfelt worship of the only true and living God.
"As with Paul, many scorned Joseph Smith and scoffed at his teachings when he declared that he had received revelations from the Lord."
Others, however, loved him to the extent that they volunteered to die for him.
"His greatness consisted in one thing, the truthfulness of his declaration that he saw the Father and the Son, and that he responded to the reality of that divine revelation," said President Hunter.
"Today, from those humble beginnings those many years ago, there are units and members of that Church almost literally around the face of the earth. . . . Millions in America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the islands of the sea not only have been able to hear, but in many cases, to accept and commit to these saving principles of gospel truth."
President Hunter concluded with his testimony.
"I testify that the boy Prophet, who in so many ways remains the central miracle in the 161 years of this Church's experience, is living proof that, within God's hands and under the direction of the Savior of the world, weak and simple things should come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones.
"On this anniversary season of the organization of the Church, I bear testimony of its truthfulness."
