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Joseph Had To Wait

Recently, I was reminded of JSH 1:59,62 where Joseph Smith was asked to meet each year on the same day for instruction from the angel Moroni. Here are some questions for discussion:

* Were the years before Joseph actually got the plates a time of growing and preparation for him?

* Why did the Lord not want him to get more instruction, like each week or month instead of annually?

* Do you think the plates being gold and his family being poor made selling the plates a temptation?

* Maybe being able to keep a secret was very important?

Wait To Joseph

1. I do think Joseph had to mature. He was only 14 at the time of the First Vision, and I think it just follows logically that he needed to mature and age a little bit -- for a couple of reasons. One, so that he could understand better what was happening, and two, so that people would take him seriously.

2. I've read elsewhere that Joseph received instruction in mass quantities -- I think he needed time to digest the information and to make it a part of his life before he could learn more. He didn't receive just line upon line, but volume upon volume.

3. Yes. Wouldn't you be tempted?

4. The Lord places high value on being trustworthy and having integrity. Joseph had to prove he could be trusted, just as we are proved.