Book Of Mormon Evidence Conference

 This is the 15th International Book of Mormon Evidence Conference put on by the Firm Foundation starting on Thursday, April 9 through Saturday, April 11th.

 Along with the conference speakers, there were lots of vendors and their products on display.

Lower floor vendors.

Actual Sword owned and used by Joseph Smith Jr on display. The keeper of the sword is Howard Carlos Smith.  When I talked to him about the sword, he said they found out that Joseph Smith Jr. bought the sword from someone used.  It was about one hundred years old when he acquired it.

Joseph Bates Noble-Sword of Testimony

Emma Smith in remembrance of her loving husband took the head coffin of Joseph’s oak rescue casket and had made 12 canes representing the 12 Tribes of Israel, and she gave one cane to each of 12 upstanding individuals. Joseph Bates Noble was one of those upstanding individuals. The Noble family has had possession of one of these precious canes which has now been allowed to be shared with the world.

The Joseph Bates Noble 1872 Family Bible has inside of it two locks of hair. One lock is from Joseph Smith and the other from his brother Hyrum. These have only been available to show publicly for a few months. Also in that Bible are original photographs of Erastus Snow, Orson Pratt, President John Taylor and many others. This amazing relic reminds us all of the importance of God and Family.

A body guard named Joseph Bates Noble was with the Prophet Joseph Smith as he made his way towards Carthage. Several miles out of Nauvoo the Prophet gave Major Noble his personal Legion Sword as a token of their friendship. This legion sword has been hidden away for 165 years spending most of its time in an old home in West Bountiful, Utah. It has been handed down from father-to-son in the Noble family for a special purpose in sharing a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and Joseph Bates Noble a defender, Bishop, friend, and body guard to The Prophet.

June 18th, 1844 - Unsheathing his sword the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I call God and angels to witness that I have unsheathed my sword with a firm and unalterable determination that this people shall have their legal rights, and be protected from mob violence, or my blood shall be spilt upon the ground like water, and my body consigned to the silent tomb, but if there is one drop of blood shed on this occasion, the sword shall never again be sheathed until Christ comes to reign on earth.

While I live, I will never tamely submit to the dominion of cursed mobocracy. I would welcome death rather than submit to this oppression; and it would be sweet, oh, sweet, to rest in the grave rather than submit to this oppression, agitation, annoyance, confusion, and alarm upon alarm, any longer.

I call upon all friends of truth and liberty to come to our assistance; and may the thunders of the Almighty and the forked lightnings of heaven and pestilence, and war and bloodshed come down on those ungodly men who seek to destroy my life and the lives of this innocent people.

I do not regard my own life. I am ready to be offered a sacrifice for this people; for what can our enemies do? Only kill the body, and their power is then at an end. Stand firm, my friends; never flinch. Do not seek to save your lives, for he that is afraid to die for the truth, will lose eternal life. Hold out to the end, and we shall be resurrected and become like Gods, and reign in celestial kingdoms, principalities, and eternal dominions, while this cursed mob will sink to hell, the portion of all those who shed innocent blood.

God has tried you. You are a good people; therefore I love you with all my heart. Greater love hath no man than that he should lay down his life for his friends. You have stood by me in the hour of trouble, and I am willing to sacrifice my life for your preservation.

May the Lord God of Israel bless you for ever and ever. I say it in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, and in the authority of the Holy Priesthood, which He hath conferred upon me.”

(The people said “Amen.”) HC Volume 6 page 500

Artifacts found in Heartland America.

2nd Floor Vendors Area.

Local Tourist 

This picture original picture painted by David Lindsley, renowned LDS painter unveiled his newest picture at the conference. It depicts Abraham Lincoln reading and pondering the Book of Mormon. John Lindsley's paintings are in many of the LDS Temples throughout the world.

Bronze sculpture of Joesph Smith Jr.  

Timothy Ballard speaking to us.

There were over 60 Distinguished Speakers for us to choose from.  The one's we heard were absolutely wonderful.  We started our days a 9:00 am and they lasted until 10 pm.  On Saturday night we did not get out of there until almost 11:00 pm listening to Rodger K. Young on the signs of the times.    

The information we received from the conference was life changing.  What a wonderful experience to attend this seminar.  I know it's starting to sound like a advertisement for the Firm Foundation, but I can't say enough about this conference.  They did a unbelievable job.  It was a real eye opener.  I can't believe they only charge $15 per person or $30 for your family for the entire three day conference.  I highly recommend it.  

The next conference will be held in October right after General Conference.  This one will be held somewhere in the Salt Lake City area. If your interested in attending, you can get more information by going to their website or calling them.  The website and number are on the flyer at the top of the page.