JSH 1-20

No matter how many times I read about the prophet Joseph Smith's experience, I always seem to be touched by the Spirit with a confirmation of the truth of the events. The religious craze that was happening during the early years of Joseph's life is somewhat similar to how life is now, though hopefully it has gotten better. The part that amuses me most is that each church would try "to establish their own tenets and disprove all others" (v9) just to get followers. Even Joseph caught on to the fake enthusiasm by the converts and leaders as explained in v6 when they all started to say bad words about other sects.
I have no doubt that Joseph was confused at all the craziness and I am glad he came to understand that if God "gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid" he might venture. I might venture myself to ask for guidance in my own life more often while I am on the subject. My testimony for the First Vision grows stronger when I contemplate how earnestly Satan desired to stop Joseph Smith from accomplishing his communion with God. This event is the single turning point for the whole earth and starts the path towards everything good that has happened in the last thousand years!
Not only did the truths of the existence of God as a personal being, the separate and distinct personage of Jesus Christ, and the promise established by James to ask of God for wisdom all come in this short amount of time, but also the reality of an unseen force trying to destroy the work of God. I love that Joseph knows how important his calling and work is because of the opposition that came from the devil when he said, "I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his [satan's] kingdom, else why should the powers of darkness combine against me?" (v20). I definitely want to be an annoyer of satan and his kingdom. I want to deprive him of many souls that he would love to have control over, it would be my greatest pleasure in life because it would save a fellow brother or sister from an awful fate dealing with Lucifer for eternity.