#17 My servant Joseph still holds the keys of my kingdom... and he shall stand in due time on the earth... and fulfill that to which he is appointed.

After 16 posts it should be apparent from the evidence presented that the Marvelous Work and a Wonder is intricately interwoven with and dependent upon the literal return of Joseph Smith to the earth to fulfill the second part of his mission.

We have referred to when the Lord told Joseph Smith and the First Elders of the Last Kingdom that he would send them again:

"when I send you again... to warn the people" (section 88:80) Joseph Smith referred to this second work as the "second commission".

It is very difficult for many people to believe that God would really return someone from the dead after nearly 170 years. For this reason, many of my posts will address evidences of the return of Joseph Smith.

Today's entry deals with the revelation given to Parley P Pratt who was returning home from a mission after hearing about the martyrdom. Here is his account:

"How shall I meet an entire community bowed down with grief and sorrow unutterable? What shall I say? . . . I walked onward, weighed down as it were unto death. When I could endure it no longer, I cried out aloud, saying: O Lord! in the name of Jesus Christ I pray Thee, show me what these things mean, and what I shall say to Thy people? On a sudden the Spirit of God came upon me, and filled my heart with joy and gladness indescribable. . . . The Spirit said unto me: "Lift up your head and rejoice; for behold! it is well with my servants Joseph and Hyrum. My servant Joseph still holds the keys of my kingdom in this dispensation, and he shall stand in due time on the earth, in the flesh, and fulfil that to which he is appointed."

Not long after the revelation of brother Pratts, the mother of the Prophet Joseph Smith had a vision or dream in which Joseph appeared to her and made the following statement:

"That day is coming when I shall wave the scepter of power over my enemies. Be patient my brothers and sisters, the day is coming when you shall have eternal life and be rewarded for all your troubles.

These two revelations of Apostle Pratts and Mother Smiths are powerful testimonies that Joseph Smith holds the keys of the last dispensation and will return to to hold the scepter of power and to fulfill that which he was appointed, which includes bringing forth the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon, gathering the elect, sealing up the wicked, etc.