Cast Testimonies Continued:
My testimony has really been strengthened by being involved in Joseph Smith: Lover of the Cause of Christ. My parents joined the church the year before I was born and I always felt like knowing the prophet Joseph Smith and feeling a close personally connection with him was reserved for people with pioneer ancestry. But after I got married, I realized that although I knew he was a prophet with my head (I knew the Book of Mormon was true, so he must be a prophet) I didn't feel a great love for him and his mission on earth. I really felt like my testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God was the weakest point of my testimony. And I really started to be afraid, after seeing people I knew leave the church after reading anti-Mormon literature about Joseph Smith, that my entire testimony that the church was true could be in jeopardy if I did not obtain a firm conviction that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Last year I began to pray for a testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I began to feel the truth of it as I read his words in the scriptures and as I listened to the apostles testify of his divine mission. I felt my testimony strengthen bit by bit. And then I began to share it during testimony meeting in my ward. When Angie said that she was directing a play about Joseph Smith, I felt a strong impression to try out. As I have watched Brother M. portray Joseph Smith, he has really come alive to me. Jayd (Joseph in the play) always acted the way I would have imagined Joseph acting. Even in scenes where Joseph is simply carrying on an inaudible conversation with someone else, Jayd preached and testified just as Joseph would have. As I learned about Joseph Smith's life from the testimonies of others, I realized he was a perfect example of Christlike love, humility and patience. He loved people, he had such great hope, he trusted so completely in Father in Heaven. He was a righteous man. His character was completely in line with the teachings of the Savior. I cannot think of a better instrument for our Father in Heaven to bring about the restoration. My testimony now burns in my heart and I feel that I could defend the prophet with clarity and conviction. Through participating in this play I feel a personal connection to The Prophet and I know he is as much a prophet as was Adam, Noah and Moses. I feel that through my participation in the play, the Lord has fulfilled the promise in Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
- Krissy E. (Sarah M. Pomeroy)