Learn how a prophet of God used his talents in writing, editing, and publishing to serve others and teach of Christ.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints come from all sorts of backgrounds. Each person who comes to Christ has valuable talents to offer—unique ways they can serve and uplift others. The Lord wants us to practice these talents, and as he illustrates in his parable of the talents, he promises to magnify them as we do (Matthew 25:21).
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We can find an example of someone who used his talents to bless others in the life and ministry of John Taylor, the third president of the Church. On “John Taylor–Prophets of the Restoration,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides videos and articles about Taylor’s life, such as the video “Ministry of John Taylor: The Gifted Writer and Record-Keeper,” which portray how President John Taylor’s profession as a writer and editor helped the success of the early Church and its members, and prepared him for his future service as a prophet of God.
President Taylor was a gifted writer and record-keeper, and he contributed his skills as a writer and editor for the church-affiliated newspapers The Times and Seasons, The Nauvoo Neighbor, The Wasp, The Mormon, and overseas newspapers The Star of Deseret (France) and Zion’s Banner (Germany). These newspapers combatted the harassment, falsehoods, and bad press widely published about the Church, and clarified the doctrine and teachings about Jesus Christ espoused by the Saints.
Known for his bold and persuasive writing, President Taylor earned nicknames among Church members like “Defender of the Faith” and “Champion of Truth.” Brigham Young said of him, “He has one of the strongest intellects of any man that can be found;…He is one of the strongest editors that ever wrote.”
President Taylor became president of the Church from 1880 to 1887, during which time he helped canonize the Pearl of Great Price, produced a new edition of the Doctrine and Covenants that included 27 new sections, and wrote extensively to defend the Church against intense government pressure. He also published two book-length writings to expound on his understanding of Jesus Christ and his gospel, covering topics such as divine revelation, justice and peace, and the necessity of Jesus Christ’s role as a mediator between God and humanity.
Throughout his life, President Taylor exemplified the faithful servants from Matthew’s parable of the talents as he offered his talents to serve others and was magnified by the Lord in his efforts. How can we share our talents for a greater purpose?
Learn more about the third prophet of the Church by watching the video “Ministry of John Taylor: The Gifted Writer and Record-Keeper” and exploring more information about him on the page “John Taylor–Prophets of the Restoration.”
Source: ChurchofJesusChrist.org
—Chantelle LaFrance, Latter-day Saint Insights
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To refresh your memory on Christ’s parable of the talents and learn how to participate in the Lord’s work, read this talk by Elder Dale G. Renlund: “Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior.”