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Peter, My Brother (Kimball, BYU 1971)

Today I wish to talk about my brother, my colleague, my fellow Apostle—Simon Barjona or Cephas or Peter the Rock. Some time ago a newspaper in a distant town carried an Easter Sunday religious editorial by a minister who stated that the presiding authority of the early-day church fell because of self-confidence, indecision, evil companions, failure to pray, lack of humility, and fear of man. He then concluded, “Let us as people, especially those who are Christians and claim to abide by the Word of God, not make the same mistakes and fall as Peter fell.”[1] As I read this, I had some strange emotions. I was shocked, then I was chilled, then my blood changed its temperature and began to boil. I felt I was attacked viciously, for Peter was my brother, my colleague, my example, my prophet, and God’s anointed. I whispered to myself, “That is not true. He is maligning my brother.” A Man with Vision Then I opened my New Testament. I could find no such character as this modern minister describ

truth will cut its own way (Joseph Smith)

If I seem mankind to be an error, shall I bear them down? No, I will lift them up and in their own way too, if I cannot persuade them my way is better, and I will not seek to compel any man to believe as I do, only by force of reasoning, for truth will cut its own way. Joseph Smith