Lessons of 2026
Lesson No. Twenty-Six

The Prophet Joseph Smith and the Wentworth Letter

Our pre-earth life. All children of God receive their first lessons in the pre-earth life. (See D&C 138:56). Over an extended period of time, we developed capacities, abilities, talents, gifts, interests, and our personalities. We brought all of this with us when we began our mortal experience on this earth.

The best and perfect example of this doctrine is the great Jehovah who came to earth as Jesus Christ. Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles taught that in the pre-existence “we developed talents, gifts, and aptitudes; there our capacities and abilities took form; there, by obedience to law, we were endowed with the power, in one degree or another, to believe the truth and follow the promptings of the Spirit. And the talent of greatest worth was that of spirituality, for it enables us to hearken to the “Holy Spirit and accept that gospel which prepares us for eternal life” (New Witness for Articles of Faith, p. 61). Jesus, as the first born in the spirit and the only begotten Son in the flesh, inherited from His Father the talent of spirituality in a fulness. This made possible Jesus’ infinite and eternal atonement.

The Prophet Joseph Smith grew in his gift of spirituality. Joseph was born in humble circumstances and he grew up with little formal education, but his great gift of spirituality made it possible for him to grow in spiritual capacity, and to fulfill his calling. At the age of 21 Joseph began translating the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God using the Urim and Thummim. Later Joseph brought forth many revelations, often using the Seer Stone. As Joseph matured he grew in spiritual capacity to where he could write something as profound as the Wentworth Letter without the aid of the Urim and Thummim or the Seer Stone.

One of the great evidences that Joseph Smith was called by God is the breadth and depth of his contributions to the work of the Lord. “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it” (D&C 135:3). Considering all that Joseph did in restoring the Gospel of Jesus Christ making possible for the work of the Lord to go forth on both sides of the veil, this is remarkable statement is justified.

The Wentworth Letter stands as a powerful witness of the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith. In addition to being Prophet, Seer, and President of the Church, Joseph had many other responsibilities. In May 1842, he became mayor of Nauvoo, which meant that he was also chief judge of the Nauvoo Municipal Court. He was a lieutenant general and commander of the Nauvoo Legion. And in February 1842, he assumed the role of editor of the Times and Seasons, a Church periodical that was published twice a month. The Times and Seasons provided a way for Church leaders to communicate with the Saints, publish revelations and important discourses, and share news of the Church.

While the Prophet served as editor, the Times and Seasons published documents of great importance, one of which was the Wentworth Letter published on March 1,1842. Most members know very little about this masterpiece, of which B. H. Roberts wrote:

“The letter is one of the choicest documents in our church literature; as also it is the earliest published document by the Prophet personally.… For combining conciseness of statement with comprehensiveness of treatment of the subject with which it deals, it has few equals among historical documents, and certainly none that excel it in our church literature.”

The Wentworth Letter has tremendous value to members of the Church. It concludes with 13 declarations of belief which is now called the Articles of Faith. It is an original account by Joseph Smith testifying of his sacred call from God, his visions, and his ministry and teachings. It recounts the rise and growth of the Church and the persecutions of the Saints. It also contains several important details not found elsewhere in the Prophet’s teachings, including a description of the gold plates and a sketch of the contents of the Book of Mormon. Significantly, it is the first time that Joseph Smith himself published an account of his First Vision.

The Wentworth Letter contains a powerful prophetic declaration, now referred to as The Standard of Truth:

“The standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (Joseph Smith, 1842).

Testimony. Those who have eyes to see and ears to understand will marvel with me at how the prophecies contained in The Standard of Truth are being fulfilled in this very day. Persecutions of much which is good rages; powerful criminals mobs have combined; armies have assembled and war rages around the earth; calumny, making false and defamatory statements about that which is good is common place.

We live in a most remarkable time. Regardless of persecutions, mobs, armies, and calumny the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is going forth boldly, nobly and independent with over 88,500 full time missionaries world-wide, a new record. Ward, branches, and stakes are being organized in many parts of the world. The building of temples and temple work is accelerating throughout the earth.

I further testify that, “The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught” (D&C 3:1). The truth of what the Lord said in this verse brings great confidence in the future to everyone else who strives to stay on the “covenant path.”

Released on July 19th. 2026.