Joseph lost both his outer garment and his freedom twice. His brothers stripped him of his coat and sold him into slavery. Potiphar's wife used his outer garment to falsely accuse him. But he remained faithful through both trials. Don't let repeated setbacks shake your faith.
Joseph and Nephi
Joseph's brothers resented his dreams foretelling their subservience to him. Laman and Lemuel resented Nephi for the same reason. Their anger reflected their own insecurities. Nephi and Joseph were wise to "heed them not," but to move forward, trusting God.
Units of Production or Consumption
President Dallin H. Oaks observed that parental influence has declined as families have evolved from working together to merely living under the same roof. Nephi testified that as his people built a city together, they were happy. Setting shared goals and producing things together builds cohesiveness and unity.
Multiply and Replenish
God wants His children to marry and raise children. When that is not possible, we can follow the example of Adam and Eve while they were still in the Garden of Eden: multiplying and replenishing the earth by tending the personal gardens in which God has placed us.
Happiness in Family Life
Leo Tolstoy said that all happy families are alike. The Family Proclamation teaches that happy and successful families turn toward God, help family members change and grow, treat one another with kindness, and participate in meaningful activities together.
“He Lived Great”
John Taylor wrote that Joseph Smith "lived great" and that he "lived for glory." Jesus promised to help us live "more abundantly," and Nephi affirmed that he and his people "lived after the manner of happiness." With the Savior's help, we can intentionally engage in activities which bring long-term satisfaction and fulfillment.
Your Most Holy Places
Nephi, the brother of Jared, and Moses all climbed mountains to speak with God. Joseph Smith entered a grove of trees for the same purpose. We build temples to give us similar spaces, where our prayers may be more easily answered and where we can draw closer to God and be changed by Him.
Living by Divine Patterns
Moses, Solomon, and Nephi all built sacred edifices according to divine blueprints. The Lord instructed church members in 1833 to do the same. Just as we build temples according to divine patterns, we can find joy when we align our lives with eternal principles.
These Truths
The Declaration of Independence of the United States articulates several important principles which are affirmed in modern revelation. These principles include the equality of God's children, our universal ability to recognize truth, and the right of each person to seek after happiness.
Feeling Condemned
Joseph Smith prayed because he felt inadequate to his divine calling. Nephi offered a similar prayer, detecting a contrast between his behavior and the miracles he had seen. Feelings of inadequacy can be helpful if they turn us toward the Source of grace.