I feel as though I’ve lost my testimony of Joseph Smith, could you help me out please?

Dear Gramps,
In the category of obedience on the Ask Gramps site, there’s a heading which asks why is it that amongst all the Christian denominations in the world, only the Mormons get as well as sometimes lose there testimonies… well towards the bottom of your answer you said these words… “anyone and everyone who loses their testimony does so through the process of violating the principles of righteousness to the extent that they no longer in possession of the gift of the
holy ghost that was conferred on them at baptism.” My question is, Gramps, I still feel good feelings inside me, but I feel as though I’ve lost my testimony of Joseph Smith, but I still get these amazing feelings of the Spirit, not all the time but I do get them. I’m confused, Gramps, could you help me out please?
Andy

Dear Andy,
The fact that you may be losing your testimony of the prophet, Joseph Smith, does not mean that you have lost your testimony of all truth. But, believe me, you are on the way! Joseph Smith, the first to admit it, was just a man, subject to all the foibles of human nature, the same as all other men. But he was a man to whom God himself appeared, together with His Beloved Son, the Savior of the world. He was even chastised by the Lord, and published that revelation in the Doctrine & Covenants—

And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men. For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words– Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble. Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware thou wilt fall (D&C  3:6-9).

(That same chastisement applies also to you, if thou art not aware thou wilt fall).
Yet Joseph remained true to the faith throughout his life, was accepted by God, was schooled by angelic messengers and gave his life for the cause that he was called to embrace. Concerning his martyrdom, John Taylor, a witness to the event wrote that following, which statement has been included in that same scriptural record—

Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient time, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood! (D&C  135:3)

If you are losing your testimony of the greatest prophet of God in the history of the world, what do you think is the matter? A testimony of the truth is given only by the Holy Spirit. If you are losing that testimony you are losing the influence of the Holy Spirit. This is a time to examine yourself, and ask where your life may be out of order, and how you might modify your actions, or your words, or your thoughts to be more in tune with the Holy Spirit and not presume to sit in judgment of the Lord’s anointed, but to take counsel from his hand, the Spirit would return and you would know again that sacred knowledge that can only be given to you from God.
Gramps