Joseph Smith, Jr.

“ The world persecutes me, it has always persecuted me. The people at Carthage, in a public meeting lately, said, 'as for Joe, he's a fool, but he's got Some smart men about him.' I'm glad they give me so much credit. It is not every fool that has sense enough to get smart men about him. ”

“ While thinking of this matter, I opened the Testament promiscuously on these words, in James, 'Ask of the Lord who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not [James 1:5] .' I just determined I'd ask him. I immediately went out into the woods where my father had a clearing, and went to the stump where I had stuck my axe when I had quit work, and I kneeled down, and prayed, saying, '0 Lord, what Church shall I join?' Directly I saw a light, and then a glorious personage in the light, and then another personage, and first personage said to the second, "Behold my beloved Son, hear him." ”