Mary Noble Receives Testimony of Joseph Smith's Divine Mission

In the spring of 1834, when Joseph Smith came from Kirtland, Ohio to Mary Noble's father's estate in Avon, Livingston County, New York, Mary beheld a prophet of the Lord for the first time. She recorded: 'This was the first time I ever beheld a prophet of the Lord, and I can truly say at the first sight that I had a testimony within my bosom that he was a man chosen of God to bring forth a great work in the last days.' During this visit, Joseph Smith held meetings in the nearby area, and Mary had the privilege of serving at her father's house where the Prophet and other Church leaders were guests. She recorded: 'His society I prized, his conversation was meat and drink to me.' When Joseph Smith and other leaders held a meeting in Geneva (the Orton neighborhood), 'Elder Rigdon preached, Brother Joseph bore testimony of the truth of the Book of Mormon, and of the work that had come forth in these last days.' Mary testified: 'Never did I hear preaching sound so glorious to me as that did. I realized it was the truth of heaven, for I had testimony of it myself.' This direct testimony received in the presence of the Prophet Joseph Smith became a permanent foundation for Mary Noble's faith, sustaining her through all the trials and experiences of her life in the Church.