Joseph in Egypt • Bro. Donny Osmond • Special Episode • Come, Follow Me

Hello, my friends. Welcome to another episode of Follow Him. My name is Hank Smith. I am your host. I am here with my Handsome and smart co-host John by the way John. I was listening to a song the other day and the soloist said I am handsome I am smart and I thought John should sing this song Hank, I am testing the limits of the processor chip in this MacBook Pro. I have got improved my appearance All the way to the right. It's starting to smoke in the back. But I'm doing the best I can That's so great. John, we are privileged. This is a special episode of Follow Him one that I have been looking forward to I can't tell you how long. In fact, I'll tell the story here in a minute. We have Brother Donnie Osmond with us Donnie welcome to follow him great to be with you I just have to add something to what you just said when I recorded that song the true lyrics to his John is handsome John is smart John's a walking work of art. Those are the real lyrics That's the Donnie translation right there. That's exactly right The DST I want that edition the DST Which means don't say that but yeah, it's gonna be with you guys. I've been looking forward to this We're gonna be talking about one of my favorite subjects Joseph. I Done so much research on that man. I played him for 2000 shows It's starting in 92 but actually I've been singing his song about him Close every door and any doom will do and all that stuff here in Vegas every night I sing close every door The lighting and everything is so dramatic. So I've been singing about Joseph pretty much 30 years as I search for guests to be on the show I write down thoughts and impressions that come to mind John. I bounce ideas off of you all the time I had this impression Lisa spice a member of our team can tell you this it was years ago Just after our last old Testament year. I thought wouldn't it be great if we could get Donnie to come on the show and As we drew closer to this old Testament year. I tried a number of different avenues on social media and things Well, I wasn't really having any success. I figured you know what this probably is gonna happen even after years of hoping I actually think I said out loud in a prayer Looks like this is not gonna happen. Maybe this wasn't an impression. Maybe this was just me wanting to talk to Donnie Osmond Lord if this is gonna happen You're gonna have to do some serious magic because I have come to roadblock after roadblock Donnie's obviously very busy Within 48 hours of saying that vocal prayer. I was talking to Donnie Osmond on the phone I'm going wait. How did this happen? I think it was the Holy Ghost I felt an impression say we were waiting for you to ask like And I thought that probably would have been helpful had I gone to the Lord At least once and said if you want this to happen could you help me once I invited the Lord it happened and Donnie's been nothing but gracious Well, thank you It's happened so many times in my life. You go as far as you can and then you turn it over to the Lord He does work miracles. Yes, we have to work hard but faith and our Heavenly Father's abilities to make miracles happen It works It's happened so many times in my life now Now John let's start with you before we turn the time over to Donnie first of all when you think Joseph of Egypt What do you think of could this be one of the greatest stories ever? With family with betrayal with redemption with forgiveness. I just crazy forgiveness With hey, maybe God had this in mind then for shadowing future events of what Joseph's posterity would do. I mean how do you overstate what a great story this is? You've known me for a long time. I've often said to me. This is one of if not the greatest story ever told with the drama and the characters and the depth and like you said the principles that are taught and the emotion it really is Divinely put together Donnie as you've been thinking what is your hope for today? I hope I can get through without looking like an idiot Because I'm talking to theologians here on a serious note. I hope that I can convey my inner most feelings about a man who I've studied so much I've tried to live his life on stage and off John mentioned a bunch of attributes Joseph is kind of a guiding light to me because it is probably one of the greatest stories in Holy writ in general because there's so many principles you can take from it The forgiveness is just one major factor It's the constant dedication to his covenants. I look at this man Who was 17 at the time? That he was attempted to be killed was thrown in the pit 17 I teach the 17-year-olds in Sunday school. It was your age. I was doing the Donnie Marie show at 17 You're trying hard to Understand who you are as a person and then your brothers try to kill you 13 years in slavery and imprisonment But he never gave up on his covenants. He never gave up on God You would think that some a young man like this. I've done my best. Thanks a lot But he never did Then this is a large swath and then we're going to get into the details of it But he started interpreting dreams when it was around 28 years old He interpreted the dreams of the baker and I called him the butler in Joseph and the amazing technical dream coach But he was a cup holder or something like well, but me Yeah, which is so weird handle your own cup will you but he needed a cup holder? Put it on the table will you The cup holder Joseph said you're gonna Get your old job back the bakery says you're gonna die. He was so in tune with Inspiration to the Holy Ghost He knew exactly what was gonna happen Now those are all the things we know about Then think about the fact that it took two years for the cup holder to say oh by the way there's this guy But he still didn't give up his devotion to his covenants to the god of Abraham, Isaac and his father Israel You stay true to his covenants. That's why he's a guiding light to me He knew when to run away when there was a Compromising situation like we know of potifers wife He's such an example to me Especially when I started living his life on stage now. It was a musical. It's a comedy There's all kinds of funny things that we did on stage But when I sang close every door to me I lived it I was behind bars Guys, I have to tell you I don't want to get too dramatic here, but when you're acting apart And you're singing that music and you're behind bars there were nights you guys I literally started crying Because I felt like I was in jail. That was the turning point That's when he started climbing out of this proverbial pit He prevailed He is a guiding light to me and has been for so many years I'm excited to hear more about your experiences That is why I Invited you on donny. I am not a professional actor. John can do a pretty mean Barney 5 But other than that. Oh, I've heard it. I've seen it. Yeah I know enough to know that a professional actor Will learn everything they can About a character will invest in this character will think about moments of their lives and really really try to become the person Put themselves in their shoes from their perspective. How did they see this? What were they thinking? What were they feeling? There are five places if I remember correctly there are five places in Genesis Where it mentions that Joseph wept He balled his eyes out Let's take for instance when his brothers come and plead for food And he saw them they didn't recognize him But immediately after that he went into the other room and cried his eyes out now. I've got a theory about this two theories That if he would have just said guys I'm your brother right there and then It would all been over He wouldn't have tested them and tried them But here's where I don't have scriptures to back this up, but here's what I'm going to say I think one of the reasons why he had to lead the room and cry his eyes out His brothers tried to kill him They sold him into slavery he suffered in dungeons And he finally got to a point where he's now second in command. He's the prime minister of Egypt He had to go in the other room and say why did they do this to me? Why would they kill me? Yes, I was favored of my father, but it was the birthright it rubened fell because of morals sin It fell upon me His father Didn't just say you're my favorite child. He gave him the coat now for many years you guys correct me if I'm wrong on this because I'm not a Theologian I always thought the coat represent priesthood authority The research that I've done I've come to find out it represents more of a Worthiness of a birthright It's not like I have authority. No, this is I am now the spokesperson of the family No, put yourself in the brother's position And I used to think this when I dreamed that in the field one day the corn gave me a sign As I sang that to my brothers and they were listening to or watching me with these angry faces Which is the way we were directed to Your 11 sheaves of corn all turned and bound to mine my sheep was quite a sight to see a golden sheep and tall Yours were green and second rate and really rather small And the way I sang it was so innocent I Dreamed that in I was just this young 17 16-year-old kid at the time living this role Hey guys, I just dreamt this dream and you were bowing to me. Isn't that cool? Now be one of the brothers for a second I can't stand you Joseph You're just this little kid Now our father has favored you But worse than that Their peers were probably mock at you talk about bullying Their peers were probably say so naturally You're low on the totem bowl. Hey Dan you didn't get it. They were probably being bullied like great no wonder they were angry But why did they want to kill me? There's that much vitriol We've heard stories over and over again where anger can get the best of people unto death Where anger has such a cancer It's such a great example. That's where we go back to the what we first said the story of Joseph There's so many principles to learn in this One of them is anger Don't let it get you that's why he had to leave and cry many times that oh man This is really difficult heavily father How do I get over this feeling of this anger that I have towards my brothers that tried to kill me Then ultimately look what he did He forgave them But he put them through the test didn't he Especially you're gonna keep Benjamin back. Oh, but you'll kill our dad He took a chance to say no you bring your father here and inside he's saying Probably crying inside bring my father back to me. Oh, I got to tell you a story I hope I can even get through this without being emotional I At the end of the show When they go back and get Jacob to bring him to Egypt when I say your brother Is me and there's a party on stage and everybody's jumping up and down and joyful. I exit stage I go get myself into the chariot this golden chariot and the stage fills with fog And everybody leaves And Jacob came to Egypt his chariot of gold of gold and I look and I see my father Coming towards me With fog on the floor and he sees me and he falls to the floor I get out of the chariot and I pick him up out of the fog Then he hands me my coat That's tattered and torn That his father has kept for all those years holding on to Who he thought was dead he loved Joseph that much And then I look at him in the eyes and I say I close my eyes to start the song Just acapella and you guys there were so many nights The heep both of us were just crying our eyes Because it was real Can you imagine with the real moment When Joseph saw his dad for the first time and gave in that tattered coat However that happened that over that took place it did take place Because he did get that coat that his father kept all those years and held on to the love Of his child Who he thought was dead Let a story of love and compassion And I felt it every night John before we go any further We do have listeners all over the world so there may be someone listening who's saying Who are they talking to this week? Who is this Donnie Osmond? John give us a bio give us a background of Donnie I will from memory okay If you make a mistake I'll fill you in a little bit okay Yeah would you? Would you please? I'm the fifth of six children My sisters Jerry and Sally they had Osmond family albums My sister Becky too who's younger than me we all loved the Osmond brothers I think they first appeared on the Andy Williams show Your older brothers before you you joined them and then you started joining him too Just amazing harmonies barbershop stuff at first incredible harmonies The kind of harmonies only a family could have because they they just sang so beautifully together It was the Osmond brothers for many years I think that President Kimball actually called them on a mission they were missionaries For the church then over time Donnie and Marie. Oh, what did you sing together? A little bit country A little bit rock girl right And that show we used to watch that show because those were our people these guys are in the church and think I just love about the Osmond family They have never left the coming of path just watching them Over the years going to Branson Missouri Donnie and Marie show for so many years and they had Paul Paul end on that land Which I always you always crack me up Because he had vibrato and his voice But we used to Watch it for years Then of course of all the parts Donnie that you could be associated with How beautiful how wonderful is it That Joseph was the part correct me if I'm wrong Andrew Lloyd Weber wrote Joseph Was he in college was he was well for those who don't know who Andrew Lloyd Weber is he wrote Joseph obviously Jesus Christ superstar cats the phantom of the opera if you look him up He's the most successful playwright in history. It's fun to be able to have his phone number call him up Just talk to him whatever but Can I give you a story about how I got the gig? Oh He's dude absolutely to answer your question Andrew was 19. I think Tim Rice was 20 Was the first one they ever wrote it was 20 minutes long. Yeah It was a little high school project that he wrote it was a that's what I thought high school project That's what it was is 20 minutes long and it's turned into be one of the most celebrated musicals in history I'll try to give you the short version Debbie and I were living in Irvine, California at the time Debbie She's a pillar of light. She's really in tune with the spirit She started getting these feelings the week really should move Sweetheart I've worked for 10 years to get back on the charts and I just had two hit record soldier of love and sacred emotion and you want to move This is where I need to be to continue my career and she's I know But it's just the feelings they keep getting then all of a sudden you guys I started getting these feelings of Go to acting school you guys. I'm not interested in acting. So go to acting school So I enrolled in acting school a Beginner class and intermediate class and advanced class all at the same time class course I also got the feeling start training your voice to beat theatrical Said what why would I do that? So I pursued it. We sold our home We looked all different places ended up in St George Utah, which was not in 1991 the mecca of show business The sense they they've have some really good theaters with like two economy stuff like that It didn't make any sense, but we both felt good about it The script of Joseph came in I thought this would be interesting It's gonna require acting. It's gonna require a theatrical voice And it's gonna require us to move and we're renting a home in St George. You see where this is going now They said the auditions are gonna take place in New York City on such and such a date I was so busy with my acting classes and stuff in Los Angeles. I said the only way I can make this audition is to take a red eye Flight in New York do the audition go back on the plant and get back to Los Angeles I see only I can do this audition on the way to the airport is back when we have CDs I stopped a tower of records on sunset and got the CD of a soundtrack I said I'm gonna learn closer. Be door and any dream will do on the plane on the way. I'll be ready Of course get on the plane put my headphones on I hit play and I fall asleep The next thing I know I'm landing. Oh, no. I'm unprepared I go to this theater You guys is just like the movies you got this one they call it a ghost lamp on stage a pianist with a piano and upright piano And you got these silhouette of these high-powerful producers and directors that you cannot see is just a silhouette in the audience five people out there Next person up donny osm and there's a line of people to audition Donnie osman and I get on the mic I said mr. Dobinski my producer. I hate to tell you this. I'm unprepared Guys, you don't say that to a producer He had a cruffy voice. He said well, you gotta sing something I said well, I'll sing on the piano. I kicked the piano player off. I sing a couple of my songs on the piano There's no applause these guys are jaded. I hear him say you gotta sing something from the show kid I said well if you want me to sing something I'll sing closer to the door the hardest of the two. I'll sing closer to the door But I've got to read the lyrics. He said yeah, go ahead. Go ahead. He was very impatient The piano starts before I sang I said I'm unprepared and all of a sudden I felt no you're prepared You're already prepared for this you've gone to acting class you studied theatrical voice You've been singing all your life now just execute So I started singing Every door to me very softly Hide all the world from me and then I started being bar all the windows And shut out the lights and I kept going do what you and I started building for my longers I'll find Rompes of mine for I have been promised a land of then we did the instrumental and then I Do the ending for we know we shall find Our own piece of mine for we have been promised and I took a big breath a land of Our own and I held it forever And I stopped you could hear a pym drop in that theater The next thing I heard was this gruffy voice that said Come here kid I walk out into the audience as I got closer. I could see the faces start to materialize There were several people there. I looked at Garth. He said sit down I'm canceling the rest of the auditions. You're my Joseph That's how I got it Was just before I sang I felt this You're prepared. I thought back to what my mother would always say to all of our children Prepare yourself and the opportunity will come You don't prepare yourself when the opportunity presents itself. No prepare yourself And the only way to know is through the spirit In order to get through this sojourn we call life. We can't do it alone I look at Joseph, which is our topic today. Boy, was he proven why was he tested I'm not putting myself on the same platform as Joseph But there were moments where I was in a dungeon in my I lost my career and everything Right just before I sang that song For Garth to binsky I felt something that said you are prepared. I'm with you now just do it I love that It was a great experience Now one more other experience with that song During rehearsals Phil Reno. I can't remember his name Phil Reno my conductor He would always literally slap my hand because I would sing as a pop sing Close every door to me hide all the world from me All these licks you know We're Shut out to light He said what is that You can't sing like that Andrew Lugweber didn't write it that way it was kind of a joke between the two of us all throughout rehearsals Teach me close Every door to me the lyrics are the most important things long story short at the end of closer to door for we know we shall Find that high note I would sing that everyone's well rehearsal and feel would say no Don't do that Andrew did not write that note. It's not in the script Everyone so I'll just a tease him. I would sing it opening night Everybody's nervous including me Because Andrew Lugweber is dead center third seat third row back the press are all in the back But the very end of the show I Do a reprisal have of close every door close every door to me I'm in the outfit the armor and everything hide all the world from me bar all the windows is shut out the light Then at the very end for we know we And I look at Phil and this is all in nanoseconds if looks could kill He would have killed right there For we know we And I nailed it and he was so set and I thought okay, I'm gonna be fired I'm gonna get fired by Andrew Lugweber. I did a cardinal sin You never do this in the world of theater particularly to Lord Lloyd Weber We're taking our bows I've got the narrator next to me Janet Metz an amazing singer standing ovation the press are up there recording and I point to Andrew Come on up Andrew Do that Without permission You don't do that he gets out of his seat and walks up on stage the place is going Bazaar oh hi here's Andrew Lugweber walks up next to me between the narrator Our net genimess it myself we all hold hands and we take one final bow As we bow he looks at me and he says Where have you been keeping that voice all these years? I That was all I needed right there And I told Phil Reno that and I said in your face, buddy Well, what was so funny I'm leaving out the most important part at the end of the show He comes up to my dressing room Andrew Lugweber and he says and I don't do a very good accident. He says you know, Donnie That note that you sang at the end of close every door. I said yes, I'm so sorry. I said yeah, I did not write that note I said I'm so sorry. I'll take it out. He said I actually kind of liked it keep it in So every time I hear Somebody sing that note I said that's my note baby that's my note That is beautiful. I love the look Don't you dare Sometimes in life you have to take chances not unrealistic chances, but sometimes Like in that audition process you just have to say Go for it believe in yourself That's the other thing that I've learned from from Joseph. He could have given up so many times you guys So many times he didn't he said I believe in my god and he believes in me I can prevail. I can do this and he never lost his faith There are times in my life that I look back where they were dark very dark because I lost my career All my money everything But I never lost my faith in my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ Thank you for that Since we're still talking bio here it would be okay to tell us a little bit more about Deb My wife it's an interesting story how we met she was actually dating my brother Jay first Okay, I stole my wife from Jay Right Coincidentally as we are recording this it's his birthday today So Jay if you're watching happy birthday my bro happy birthday I was dating this girl named Tammy and we double dated to a Dalton John concert Up in Salt Lake City at the Salt Palace Debbie was in front with her date Jay and I was in back with Tammy Debbie and I were doing all the talking I remember seeing the audience And Elton sat down to it's a little bit funny your song this feeling and you guys I remember looking over at my brother's date and saying to myself I'm gonna marry that girl someday and I did I told Elton the story I said Elton you know your song It's the reason I found my wife She is my a senif Who was Joseph's wife She was converted To the god of Abraham Jehovah What you said a while ago is a wow Never heard anybody say that but when you could say the god of Abraham Isaac and of my father Is it interesting way to say it isn't it? Of course, well go get your dad. Yeah, we're all starving here in Canaan in the future looked rough Jacob's family was finding it tough The family left them on prepared. I mean I know this play Of all the things he would pack He brought the coat. I just never thought of that That is the moment that brings me to tears You guys do that beautifully when here's Joseph's father again So that's the part and he has the coat but what a moment that's one of the reasons why There's a lot of Broadway plays as we all know But this one is out of books that we consider to be the word of god And it's just a different Connection when all this is actually a true story and it's from the scriptures that I love For you to have that part for all these years gotta be by design Do you know what's interesting? I've done a lot of studying about this particularly as a teacher Sunday school teacher The reason why the Savior taught in parables and here on preach to the choir because you guys know this Is it transcends translation of the story of Joseph regardless of the translation or who's telling it the principles Transcend translation Jesus parables of the ten virgins and the the prodigal son all that's to Joseph and his Coat and his brother all of these principles Transcend any translation because the story cuts right through They speak to generations millennia Anybody who has a family Get any generation it's not a specific generation or a time That story of dead makes me think I need I'm gonna listen to my wife My mom had the greatest say Father was the head of the home, but mother was the neck that turned the head You know she doesn't say hey, we need to move We need to go to St. George and That moment of okay It all made sense it made sense in hindsight this lesson I gave in sense to go yesterday We ended it with a statement from Elder Holland about trusting the Lord and I've capped it off with I'm 68 you guys are 16 17 years old. I have a whole lifetime to look back on and I can see Where there's only one footprint in the sand so many times in my life You just have to trust trust God just like Joseph trusted God his entire life Despite the adversity that he was under So often we hear I'll keep the commands and everything will be all right Well here's a kid who got him out When Padafra's wife And what does he get for that more years in prison? There's got to be a level of Things will work out eventually You got a patience wait upon the Lord Let's talk about that moment with Padafra's wife as uncomfortable as it is to talk about She tried to seduce him And he ran Now what was he doing there in the first place He was a servant he had to be there But he'd never let go of his covenants which is a great lesson in living in the world but not of it He was surrounded by all this decadence and opulence all that stuff down right evil in certain places But he ran now here's what's interesting about The balance of this story his wife Padafra's wife went to her husband and say This is what Joseph tried to do to me now Padafra he was in charge of the guard He had every bit of authority to have him killed Why didn't he kill him? He threw him in prison He saved his life Why did he do that? Because the only thing I can surmise from this is that His wife is a little bit of a troublemaker he knows it He knows Joseph he knows the integrity of Joseph so he's I'm going to spare your life But for the sake of my appearance to the public because my wife is going to go out there and sell this against Joseph I got to do something I got to appease the situation I'm sorry Joseph but this is what I got to do But I'm going to spare your life Now, your Joseph and say thank you very much. I appreciate it Now I'm a person. Okay For doing the right thing God I said you go back to Joseph in section 121 God were art thou and where's the pavilion that covered the hiding place Don't give up don't ever lose trust in the Lord When he was back in that prison even after he told the cup holder Or the butler is what I said in Joseph in the basic technically dream coat So you're going to get your job back It took him two years to say oh by the way there's this guy in prison But he was patient Joseph was patient He waited upon the Lord on the Lord's time. I always love the saying If you want to make God laugh make plans All right It's got to be on his time on his watch Donnie we have listeners who we hear from who are in real Just as Joseph was real heartache real pain We actually do have people who listen from Penitentiaries just last night John I told Donnie this as we talked on the phone A woman came to me and said hey I listened to your show Through this period of I was getting a divorce It really wasn't anything we said it was more the way she felt Donnie I would love to hear from your perspective. Here you are Really trying to invest into this character This must have been on your mind over and over How do you feel when you are in severe trial In dark dark places How do you find hope I just need something to hold on to and I can make it through please God send me A little light Why has everything taken from me? There have been moments in my life again I'm not going to try to compare But I have gone through some really dark times I was 15 Maybe 14 I did a concert in Nashville, Tennessee And a place was in an arena a place was sold out Everybody was having a great time And the next day In a front page is a picture of my brothers and me On stage and the guy ripped me apart Say it was the worst concert I've ever seen in his life It's a tacky and it's bubble gum and all this stuff Maybe a year or two after that rolling stone magazine came out With an article that said the worst day in rock and roll history was the day Donnie Osmond was born I mean I've been through this my whole career Now granted I have some wonderful fans out there but you get darts When you're a target and you're a big big target you'll get darts How do you get away from that? How do you withstand that? I go back to many conference talks I love conference. I listen to it and I read the conference talks on my phone over and over again There's a common Theme in many talks that says By living the gospel principles The standards of the church It's not going to take away all your problems But it'll give you strength to bear them It'll give you just enough hope. I'm reminded of elder bednars talk when he says Step into the darkness and the light will follow you If you're living your life right You're going to be in those moments where it guys. I don't think I can do this I trust you lord and you take the step and he will follow you I'm reminded of another. Oh, this was such a wonderful experience a couple weeks ago I had the privilege of having President and sister Christopherson at my show here in Vegas Not very many people get an opportunity of having a private audience with a member of the first presidency in their dressing room so after the show and they really enjoyed themselves and I said was it a little loud he said no we loved it. It was great. It was fun and I said well president This is a great opportunity That I've got to seize Is there some advice? I don't think he'd mind me telling it The world what he told us. I said what would you tell Me and my family to do right now He sat there and I watched this Second council of the first presidency receive inspiration He looks up at me and he says No one is immune from temptation He said keep that in mind even the very elect can fall as we learn in the scriptures And here's how you avoid the temptation He started quoting Elder Holland's final talk when he came back from the dead basically Elder Holland We've all heard the talk if you haven't you got to listen to this talk He said I've been given a message to bring back to pray And when you've prayed Pray again And when you've prayed again Pray some more Unceasingly to answer your question For those who are suffering Trust in God It's not going to save you from your divorce or your problems health issues or whatever But it'll give you strength It'll give you that light as you go into a dark place You know he's there I've felt it so many times in my life I have such a testimony that he loves you He loves us Our savior loves us If you let him into your life Your burdens will be eased Yeah If we could circle back John I I failed to ask this question So here's Joseph and Potiphar's wife When they showed you your costume for that What Like oh There is the man That's all I wore I hated this loincloth But you know what guys This thing kept me in the gym It really did because with this all you're wearing on stage It kept me oh you know what else it should do Hold on There's the coat There's the coat Wow look at that Yeah There's the coat There it is Now I got a funny story I got to tell you about the coat When I was filming the movie The show was pretty much over And now we do the film And that's released to the world So I've done my 2000 shows life performances We fly over to England To the Pinewood Studios That's where they shot all of the James Bond movies and I love 007 I was filming Joseph in a James Bond studio I thought I've made it I've made it in life This was the end of Joseph for me It was the end of the road And we're going to close up shop And we're going to find something else Just before I walk out to do this final scene in my loincloth I turned to my dresser His name is Steven McMulkin I said Steven Here are the keys to my car In the trunk you'll find two large suitcases I want you to steal the coat I want you to steal the armor I want you to steal everything in my dressing room This is my stuff I started to think I like it Blood sweat and tears Six years, 2000 shows in that coat I'm not going to let that be hanging in some warehouse, some plays They all turned their heads and I guess they had a good laugh That Donnie just stole the coat That's awesome And the winecloth Oh and this, I got to show you this is the golden cup There it is There's the cup that I would turn over That's what I did for 2000 times What unique thing would you then tell the youth That find themselves in temptation There's potifers, wives All around them Much more than ever before What was it going on in Joseph's mind I can't do this How could I do this Well I think Of what I've told my students in my studies go class Sometimes like with Joseph you Find yourself in a compromising situation Have you already made a decision before hand what you're going to do in that situation Because if you have you know what you're going to do If you haven't the Temptations that the flesh will take over And the adversary's got you I had an experience This is when I was really trying hard to get my career going over in the UK I was at the Montro music festival This back when it was called the Montro Jazz Festival There were some bands I'm not going to tell you which ones But their lyrics were not the best let's put it that way okay I had to follow this one band Um, I mean, I don't even want to mention the name because the name of the band is awful I had to follow them and then this other band which was even worse followed me I'm in what we call the green room Waities to go on this whole show is being televised And it was live My manager at the time said and I'm wearing this leather jacket I'm trying to look cool with my torn jeans and stuff like that play the part and Really trying hard to get my career going He said it's so hot here. I'll go get you something to drink. I said okay, thanks So I'm watching the monitor and I see him come up next to me I know what he's got in his hand. He's got two glasses of ice cold beer He gives me one of them So I said okay, I'm gonna test him I start to put it to my lips and I'm just about to drink And I put it down and I look at his eyeballs were this big And I said Well, what would you have done had I drank that beer His response I'll never forget it surprised me He said I would never have forgiven myself because I was the one that made you compromise Wow Interesting just that lesson decide beforehand decide beforehand Am I going to Take it to the limit first of all, why would you go to the precipice with just one little push you're gonna fall over Don't stay away from the edge Now granted I've had to to a certain extent in my life Play the part be out there doing the rock and roll stuff, but I'll go to the edge There've been television roles and even songs that I've turned down. I knew it would be hits But it would compromise my standards Going back to what I said earlier trust in the Lord When I was about probably eight Seven or eight years old my mom would have us memorize scripture She was the greatest she was this a scholar a theologian Elvis Presley would call it all the time on the phone because he wanted to be a preacher He loved to talk about the gospel because he loved gospel music Wanted to be a preacher so he'd call my mom all the time She would make us learn these scriptures and one that is my guiding light Is Proverbs 356 Trust in the Lord with all vine heart lean not until I know an understanding and all their ways acknowledge him And he shall direct that paths in other words make a decision beforehand Don't put yourself in a bad situation if you do find yourself in a situation be in the world But not of it be like Joseph this thing. I mentioned about Elvis. I got to tell you a funny side to that My brother Alan Was at the house when he called one day when Elvis called picked up the phone. He said hello, and he hears this voice. There's your mother there He said yeah, who's calling he said um, this is Elvis He didn't put two into the gallon. He said mom So I'm going to Melvus is on the phone for you This help is presently How many Elvis's do you know exactly are you in the Lord? Are you our home teacher? Oh, that's great. I would love to keep asking you about the principles you learned playing the part Let's talk about family and betrayal Is Joseph is being drug away by this caravan we find out later John you'll have to correct me here the brother say something Like we still hear his cries in our ears. It's been decades They've suffered with this decision as well. Yeah, there's some regret. Yeah And what did you learn from Joseph as you tried to put yourself in his shoes about Family and betrayal Well, I got to be careful about that because my brothers didn't sell me into Los Angeles. Okay, they didn't throw me in a bit They were not those guys or brothers What happens when the person or the people who are supposed to love you Betray you and how do you Not allow that Become the centerpiece of your life because that can happen Now this betrayal becomes In essence who I am I'm defined by that's probably I'm defined by this betrayal and Joseph that doesn't happen Tim like you said he does not Give up on his covenants He does not give up on God. So in those moments in the show. I mean there's 2000 shows how many times are you Drug away by the Ishmaelites Is there anything that went through your head anything that you thought how would this be to be betrayed by The very people that are supposed to care for you That's what I love and in Genesis 42 and Joseph is hearing them talk about still with The weepings of Joseph it really speaks to the human experience of betrayal I have an experience that I'll tell you I think I can mention his name because he's passed away now In the dark years the 80s. I couldn't get a record deal in this process of trying to climb out of the pit My proverbial pit. I had all these record deals pending In the eleventh hour they'd fall apart I wrote a song about a call groove. I wrote alliances put in money where their mouth is took just a little too long Said oh your great singer yeah, we'd love you in the time to sign the contract We've changed our mind Well, I had a sign contract with Quincy Jones Michael Jackson's producer He said we're gonna blow the world away Sign contract Ready to go eleventh hour. He said I can't do it My field people say it is too hard to get radio play I have to cancel the contract guys. I got to suit it like crazy Now here's the principle that I learned from that experience If I had vitriol against him if I had anger if I had all this pent up in me In the long run who loses I do in many instances you just have to lick your wounds Say okay Heavenly Father that Avenue didn't work Open up another door for me and I'll try that Otherwise you're living your life in regret and anger hatred Yeah, it'll consume you It it will consume you I would rather say okay, it didn't work All right Heavenly Father give me strength to go another path And maybe the Lord allows us to go down these dead end roads To strengthen us Maybe the Lord allows that to happen to teach us a lesson that we can use later on in our lives Everything is an experience if you try with humility to say guide me Heavenly Father guide me I will do vi will somebody said in a talk the other day It was really interesting the way they put it and I'm not gonna put it in the same impactful way But he said I kept praying I want to do this I really would like this to happen Heavenly Father The humbly I'm speak I want this to happen and after all this praying and weeks and weeks and weeks he realized I started every sentence with I and me Instead of thine indeed The fact that Joseph has this situation he didn't choose in part of first home but says This is what I have I will make something great out of this and then happens again Right and again and again, I said how many tests do I need Yeah Be patient and wait upon the Lord because you'll always come through for you He's there Now and you're gonna learn a lesson from it What you started with Donnie was I think at the beginning of our recording the anger I think it was President Oaks that gave a talk called where will this lead He had the power as Pharaoh's right hand man Could a wife to my louder put them all in prison. Let's see how you like it But who would that have destroyed Joseph that question of where will this lead that's takes a maturity Some patients take humility to step back and say I could do that but where would that lead John there's an interesting point to follow up on that There's a comes a point in time where you say enough Don't push me any further turn the cheek and I've learned this hard lesson in my life as well Don't cross me anymore Don't do that which is why he tests them have you actually changed Because I'm not gonna re-enter this It's exactly what Joseph was doing to him he was testing them In our lives we have to find those moments not all the time where we say there's the line don't cross it I've had to do that in business because I've been taking advantage of many times in my life First time is your fault the second time it's my fault Right yeah, I'm not gonna let it happen to me anymore. I say that with confidence because the Savior did it When he went into the tent he was not to some weak little person He went in there and turned the tables over on the money changers He said don't do this anymore stop He was authoritative But then just like in section 121 Reproving b times and increase the love You have to do both You have to be able to forgive you have to be able to have boundaries The Lord is the perfect example of that Donnie I'm interested in the conversations you and I have had leading up to this you said you did the show Six years 2000 shows that's quite an investment in scripture study I don't think I can ever say I studied a certain character in the scriptures Every night for six years 2000 times yeah for two thousand and really invested I'm really gonna put my heart and soul into this and feel what he felt and see what he saw John you told me I mean even just the few hours you played amulac You said it changed you yeah, we did a voice recording of the whole book Mormon where every character was spoken by a different person Oh, what an honor to be amulac I can't even imagine oh my goodness amulac who how can we witness this awful scene when the people oh I can't even imagine that's just a one of the most horrible parts of the book of Mormon it is I read it and the director said do it again and double the emotion And I didn't take the acting classes Just for a couple hours As I was reading it I was I don't usually read this that way I've read this before but I put an in for an emphasis on this and I just thought Am I getting some help? So now let's talk about doing jails of two thousand times Yeah, I needed a lot of help You drag yourself to the theater I know exactly what you went through John because When you really throw yourself into a part something takes over I don't know the words that have the vocabulary to explain it. I just know what it feels like Sometimes when I sing and people have pointed this out Just don't you close your eyes too much when you sing well. I go to a different place I actually live the experience. So you say you know two thousand times over six years I still live it every night every night here in Vegas. I sing close every door Five nights a week. I go through that trajectory the second verse really gets to me Because close every door it sits it up But the second verse just give me a number Instead of my name Forget all about me and let me decay I do not matter. I'm only one person Destroy me completely then throw me away Those are harsh words When I sing it I'm singing it as Joseph not as Donnie Osmond If my life were important I would ask will I live or die? But I know the answers life far from this world. That's where the crescendo happens and the keychains close Every door to me keep those I love from me children of Israel are never alone And then for we know we shall find we shall find our own piece of mine for we have been promised A land of our own but I'm really up high at the very end I live it every night So when you talk about the feelings of what you did I get it man. I completely understand it That feeling engulfs you and it gives you even more energy to project and become that character And you know in that song at first I love how it's like Joseph gets to strike from somewhere And then Children of Israel are never alone and this testimony suddenly comes out. I'm okay I'm gonna get through this because of God because of the God of my father Yeah, and then he says for we know we shall find our own piece of mine because we have been promised from God a land of our own We belong we matter He gives me chills now just saying the words But can you imagine on stage with the orchestra and the energy of the audience and the spotlight and the Sound it's a great feeling. I love show business in that in that regard. It's a tough business to be in But when it works it works. It was great I don't think I could even sing in the tabernacle choir because Well, first of all, I can't sing but second of all My emotions would overtake me if I'm singing it as well with my soul I couldn't get through it. How do you do that? How do you sing that and not let the emotions overtake you so that you have to say to the audience I need a minute Like Joseph dead. I'm gonna go over here and weep for a little while and then come back out I guess it's called focus You focus on the the task at hand Yes, I get caught up in the motion, but I don't let it get the best of me because There's a lot of things going through my mind to distract what I'm doing But you have to learn how to focus and say okay, I have a mission. I always go back to that audition Just before I started singing I'm with you. You're prepared. No, execute it John last year we had Carol costly on the show with us she talked about the family proclamation I didn't know this before we brought her on the show We asked her about how she became interested in the church and she just said the osmonds It wasn't I had a roommate and I had this and that oh yeah, I had the osmonds. It was 100% she said the osmonds What's that been like? Donnie. I mean Joseph was the same way people kept saying if Pharaoh can we find such a one as this They notice something about him John, I know you wanted to talk about this with present Kimball Yeah, the story that I heard was that he had called your family as missionaries I would love to hear more about that I remember the moment put yourself in my family shoes first presidency calls us up and said We'd like you to give the first presidency in the 12th of fire side Okay I have never got that call have you making yeah Give us your testimonies in a little fireside. I'll never forget it I don't know how many feet away from president Kimball. He's sitting there Members of the 12 not all of them, but a lot of them in the first presidency It was my turn to bear my testimony Now Can you imagine bearing your testimony to the first presidency and the 12 what are you gonna say? Yeah, how old are you 15 15 oh Something like that 16 maybe he can't drive yet, but yeah, no I don't remember exactly what I said, but I do remember one moment and I'll never forget it I was looking at president Kimball in the eyes. You know how we always say I know the present Kimball is a true prophet God I looked at him and said I know you are a true prophet of God who What a moment that was I started crying because the spirit just took over and I looked at the prophet in his eyes and said I know your prophet Oh, I got to tell you story about president Hinckley He asked me to perform at the conference center. So I sang this song and he got up and spoke afterwards and And it was really a wonderful wonderful evening It always go stage left to go to the tunnel to go to the church office building. There's that tunnel to get on golf cart So he leaves in a distance I'm following behind and there's a corner I turn the corner and he's right in front of me sitting in his golf cart So I slapped him on the knee and I said hello, buddy I called the prophet a buddy and you know what he did He slapped me on my knees and said hello, buddy We're buddies man. I love that just the coolest guy Oh, that is that is wonderful. I'm a Hinckley Ike throwing through So I love those stories. Was that an interesting thing to represent the church to the world? What was that like? Well, don't put that much pressure and responsibility honest, but Every member of missionary. Let's look at it that way whether you know it or not people are watching you They know you're a member of the church. Maybe not as high profile as we've been but We went to Germany. The year was like 1970 or something like that just trying to get our career going things were really starting to pick up in England Nobody knew us in Germany Our tour guide took us to this restaurant There was famous for 101 different kinds of beer. We sit down on the table and he said you've got to try you got a sample They have samples and my dad bless his heart He was a Joseph he said no apple juice is fine. Thank you Our tour guide said hey This is what this restaurant is known for you're not even known in this country nobody will know you just got to try This is what we're famous for My father looked at him again firmly and said apple juice will be fine You gave us all apple juice the next day front page in this paper With a picture the osmonds prefer apple juice to Munich beer What would the story have said had been right done that Exactly Maybe we're high profile, but every member You represent the church somebody's watching you Don't compromise be like Joseph run away be in the world, but not of it I've asked this question a lot. How do you stick to your principles and be in show business? It's such a simple answer either believe it or you don't Make a choice. There's no gray area. Do you believe the gospel is true? Or you don't if you believe it's true Then live it. It's so simple live the gospel The decisions are made beforehand I'm sure your family did not make that decision there. Hey guys. Should we do this? No should we do this? Yeah My dad said there's the red line. Don't cross it Donnie music speaks to people in a way that speaking Can't I remember hearing all their hall and one saying we should sing and pray a lot more and talk a lot less Here you have this story put to music It can become like scripture It can speak scripture You have this incredible gift that you have worked on and honed and it changes lives it speaks to people Including John and I How does that work in your mind exactly taking the story of Joseph the text the black and white the words and Putting it to music. Why does that change the story for us? I know exactly what you're saying because I live it every night That I do a show. I could say close every door to me hide all the world from me bar all the windows and shut out the light Do what you want with me hate me and laugh at me Darken my daytime torture my nights That's an act that's great close Every door to me Hide all the world from the whole different meeting So music with lyrics it brings back memories if I sing Is it she? The Fault means so different than isn't she lovely isn't she wonder right? The words are important, but the notes enhance the words get your words You can't weigh the feeling close every door to me hide all the world just give me a number Instead of my name when I sing that on stage. I look at certain people in the audience They don't know that I'm looking right at them, but I'm singing right to that person just give me a number Instead of my name and then I back down forget all about me and let me decay I do not matter I'm only one person Destroy me completely and I really then I get in touch destroy me completely Then throw me away then I mean if my life were then I really get into it But it's the notes and the intensity of the note that really conveys the message To me people like What'd you call him Lord Weber Lord's Webber. Yeah, that's his title now Lord remember it used to be Sir like Weber, but it's Lord like Weber This is inspired. This is one of God's prophets. We're singing about him Is that inspiration to you? It doesn't he write that by inspiration I'm convinced he was I'm convinced because it is withstood the test of time Yeah, it comes from Holy Rit. I can't lose the story was inspired the person he's writing about is Amazing The life he lived the trials he went through the truth that's taught they he wanted to teach it Exactly, but let's give a lot of credit to Tim Rice He is the lyricist But Andrew put the magic to it and the combination of Tim Rice and Angela Weber when they put all that together it was gold Absolutely gold and they expanded on it create more and more and more to where's to our musical now Yeah, the still going Still going well, we'll go forever. There's certain things I've done in my life in my career Puppy love that's generational it belongs to a certain generation Little kids have no idea puppy love was that Donnie and Marie is generational. Yes, it'll be on YouTube for however long But Joseph will always be there The other thing is let's get down to business Mulan to defeat the Hans I'll always be captain shane Those two things but mainly Joseph because it speaks to so many generations with such a positive message It does I gotta tell you the story the story of Joseph It deals with some pretty bad stuff that was going on He was wonderful But the decadence and the impurities of the society that was awful Some of the costumes if you watch the video let alone the live show, you know, it kind of raises an eyebrow Especially like I'm in a loincloth So I'm almost naked on stage And like I said earlier motivation to keep me in the gym and work out but some of the costumes they were like a nude color and Looked a little bit, you know Uncomfortable, but it was the biblical story Here's the funny part this gentleman And his wife came to the show and I hope I don't get into trouble, but very faithful in the gospel. This is a story of judging never judge Got him great seats best seats in the house They left in the middle of the show I got a message back from him How dare you perform in a show that the costumes are that I'm not revealing because they weren't revealing but Everybody was covered up just that it was suggestive I guess or whatever The reason I say this because don't judge anybody Be careful. Don't be self-righteous We have the truth We have the fullness of the gospel and a lot of people on this earth are wonderful people the great Christians Inspired yeah all over be Christ-like in all your dealings Don't elevate yourself more than anybody my parents taught me that Yes, I've been able to be very fortunate in this business and be on a platform when I go on stage It's a platform people come to see a star. I learned this from Elvis when he walked off stage. He was just over Last guy you know When that curtain comes down I leave the star on stage I'm a grandpa. I'm a father. I'm a husband Don't elevate yourself Even though we know we have the truth the fullness of the gospel and the gospel still being restored They're still in the process of restoration There's still great people out there who are celestial Be careful about putting yourself in that kingdom before the Lord judges That's a great line this conversation I had with President Christopherson the other day within that conversation he said Pride Which is pretty much what the book of Mormon is all about is The the fall of these nations was all about pride Be careful of pride and it's so easy to get it in show business because You surround yourself with all these oh you're great. I love you your show was fantastic I've never seen it's fantastic if I now you go home and says I must be really great People are just saying how great I don't do that Let the Lord someday say well done now good and faithful servant Then I'll accept it. I really like that and that was Joseph's life. Yes. How do you tell the story without Showing the world he was thrown into yeah, which is much worse than the actual color He's such a humble man. He was in such a powerful position Yet he was humble enough to say father Brothers Was it gochem that he had to move to yeah, he said move out of gochem my family's coming in There's a best part of the land and you're gonna have it He could have said I'm much better. I'm gonna stay in the palace No, it's part of the family. He was a great father raised two wonderful children He was a wonderful father wonderful husband dedicated to his wife I could go on and on about Joseph because he's like my role model I'm so glad I had the great opportunity To do that audition in New York City and go for it and take the chance and go for the high note And here my producer say you're my Joseph Because Joseph is my role model. I love it Donnie. I got off the phone with you I went upstairs and and my wife said you just talked to Donnie Osmond. I said I know And he's the nicest guy. He's the nicest guy. I felt like we were old friends. We were chatting Did you tell John what I texted you just before I said hey, we're excited to talk to you tomorrow Tell you this but I have to cancel I have to cancel Well, I'm like space space space space space space space just kidding Oh So my stomach drops. Let me tell you a personal Donnie story My wife and I when we were first married Kim and I lived it to some condominiums I think I first ran into it at Desert Book University Mall and you were super nice Well, I came over one day Knocked on your door. Would you see happy birthday to my sister Sally and Hank Donnie's so nice Tours the house with this sits down at the grand piano and sings happy birthday to Sally The scream heard around the world is when I played that video for so But it's so kind So down to earth. Yeah, Kim and I were just okay. We love this go. Did you ever received my invoice for that? It must have been lost in the mail Hahaha And Donnie as the gospel been part of that I mean because you donnie osman But then you're still brother osman to church and your grandpa Here's what helps me the most the temple I love the fact that nobody's different we're all the same Everybody's dressed the same Everybody's in white we're all trying hard Yeah, people kind of recognize me a lot stuff But let me get right down to it. We're all trying hard. We're all doing our best That's what I love about the temple is that foot transition That's why I loved when they called me and asked me to be on the mass singer Do you ever see me on the message as the peat I did? Yeah, I was the very first one that they called Deena cats. She was gonna actually book me on dancing with the stars She called me and said we got this new show It's called the mass singer. I said tell me more about it. I said all these singers are gonna put masks on She started explaining I said stop right there. I'm in Because everybody is on an equal ground I get the joke I get it. I was the very first one T-Pain beat me Barely, but I almost got it as a peacock, but it was so much fun I got kids coming to my show saying I had these two little nine-year-old boys They had a t-shirt on I got them up on stage the other day and they just had peacock on their t-shirt They just wanted to meet the peacock They didn't know anything about my career. They just want to meet the peacock So cool That speaks to who you are speaks to your family speaks to your wife I'm just like you yeah, I have a platform. Yes, but but I dress like a like a peacock Yeah The show starts airing and I've signed a non-disclosure. I can't tell anybody eventually told my wife obviously But I didn't tell my kids Nor my grandkids no way because it would get out The show airs and I get a call from my son Don He said dad I said what? He's dead Come on, what are you talking about? He said it's you isn't it. I said Don you can't say a word Ha ha Please don't tell your grandkids. He says I won't say we're dead But I got to tell you something my children are in love with the peacock Ha It's especially my oldest one Truman Comes the day. I've got to take the peacock mask off and the audience has screaming take it off Take it and Don was videoing his kids and Truman and all the kids earned in front of the television screaming take it off Take and I took it off and they went Grandpa Oh, that's that is awesome Every once in a while they refer to me as the peacock instead of grandpa. Yeah, that's awesome What a treat right what a treat for those kids. That's my grandpa. That's grandpa. Yeah And I've noticed that about the entire family it reminds me a little bit I know this is an odd comparison John we've talked about John the Baptist when he appears to These two ys a and says hello my fellow servants. You're John the Baptist. Yeah, how are we fellow servants? Yeah He seems like this person who says no, no, we're all Well, look at the savior look at the savior. He would come up and wash somebody's feet It's like really you're the savior you created everything and you're washing my feet Yeah, I even died for you. I I wrote a song called that start again. You know life's not always simple. You stumble and fall And things don't always work out and you feel small Then it goes to gone to say these scars are who I am And when you're walking through the valley just hold my hand So if you read the lyrics of that song that I wrote called start again. It's the atonement The scars are who I am And when you're walking through the valley of shadow death Hold my hand because I've been there before That's all right. You can start again It's really cool song that's that's another song in the show that I don't relate to Joseph It's just my own experiences of Talking about what the Lord did for us How do you come to a place of forgiveness? We talked a little bit about this earlier. It can consume you this anger But to not just forgive but to reconcile I find it interesting that after Jacob dies after Israel dies The brothers are scared again Now that our father is dead he's gonna come after us and Joseph Says to them again. No, no. Be not angry with yourselves Yeah, not just I'm not angry at you. I don't want you to be angry at you To me that is so inspiring and just another inspiring part of this story as you're playing that part and he Reveals who he is Doing that two thousand times. I'm sure there were moments where he thought how does someone do this? How does someone Say I'm your brother and he doesn't he doesn't beat her on the bush. He's like whom he sold I will never forget that. Yeah Let's talk about it Come to me. Does he say that John come near to me? Yeah, Genesis 45 verse four come near to me. I pray you and they came near and he said I am Joseph your brother whom he's sold into Egypt Moment Yeah, what a moment So in Joseph in the message of technical dream coat the moment was Can't you recognize my face? Is it hard to see that Joseph who you thought was dead your brother is me Who get the chills just reliving that experience Because they were all kneeling down face down on the ground as I'm saying can't you recognize my face Joseph is me and they all start looking up But Benjamin stayed down Now this isn't biblical, but it was the way it was choreographed They're staged But they all started looking up in unbelief And the chills that I got I'd started hugging my brothers That forgiveness started going throughout all the brothers, but then I saw my blood brother That Rachel bore Blood brothers and when he looked up Oh He was the last one for me to hug and we just embraced The audience went crazy the brothers go crazy. The orchestra starts playing this party music and everybody's jumping up and down I can't imagine what that was like In real life with the real brothers and the real Joseph There must have been so much weeping Of Please forgive us and then Joseph more or less said forgive yourselves Do not be angry with yourself. Yeah, let it go I joke around with my students and say come on guys who hasn't sold a brother. Let's Hasn't done that come on there. I throw many people into pits That's pretty incredible don't be ingress yourselves I can forgive someone and say I forgive you, but you probably ought to be angry with yourself for quite a while Well, he allowed that to happen He allowed them to go through the pain. There's got to be reconciling of paying appinance as it were For the wrongdoings that you've made and then turn it over to the Lord because the atonement takes care of the rest of it How do we figure out how to reconcile you know we have people leaving the church Thinking that I'm so far off the covenant path There's no way back I just listened to this talk the other day was it president oaks You cannot go off the path Further than look the what what is it John Further than the reach of the atonement or further than that's it yeah So forgive yourself We all make mistakes. I've made enormous amounts of mistakes and I still need to apply that Principle of forgiving myself and pick yourself up move on Try harder you can hear the Lord saying that be not angry with yourself come near to me But was he a type of shadow of Christ or what yeah, I have two blessings my patriarchal blessing I could spend an hour talking about that one and then I have a father's blessing I'm gonna give you something. I don't really share my father's blessing or my patriarch blessing very much But I'm gonna give you an excerpt from my father's blessing. I was 21 years old My career was gone. I really had to rebuild myself. I'm trying to figure out what am I gonna do the rest of my life I've got children now. I've got a wife. I got to provide I've lost all my money. I've got to rebuild My parents were serving a mission over in Hawaii at the visitor center And I flew over there with my wife. We had one child at the time I called him about three weeks prior to the trip and I said father. I need a father's blessing I need some guidance. I need what Jacob did to his sons He said I will prepare for the next three weeks and I want you to prepare to I want the spirit to be very strong because I want this to come from the Lord not me I will not obviously read it to you because it's very personal, but the one excerpt from there There has been a guiding light for me And I can hear Joseph saying it. He said Never do a performance That you wouldn't do in front of a general authority That little statement right there has been a guide for me When all of these opportunities come in on my desk That might have a little bit of compromising Would I do that if President Christopherson was in the audience? Would I be embarrassed? I'm not embarrassed a one thing on this show what he saw the show That is a Joseph moment that is a Joseph moment Absolutely Take that one step further when my father said never do a performance that you wouldn't do front of general authority Never do a performance that you wouldn't do in front of the Savior Because he's watching He's watching How many times John doesn't say and the Lord was with Joseph He wanted to be Regis and because he had that desire the Lord was with him My hope is this week that all of our listeners will sit down with their family Let's talk about one of the greatest stories I've first told And all we can learn Watch the video. It's on YouTube watch it And then try to pick out a principle after finishing it turn to your children says what did you learn? Just give me one thing what principle did you learn? Yeah, there was singing there was dancing and all this colorful stuff, but what is give give me one principle It's a great little activity for a family to do Donnie we were interviewing Dr. Mike Harris Couple weeks ago. We looked at the moment where Jacob reconciles with Esau It all three of us we got to that moment and it said and Rachel came near with her children And you think he saw this yeah, he saw brother Reconcil he saw his father reconcil With his brother as a young boy He watched his father and his brother reconcile after years of a strangeness If you look at verse Genesis 33 verse 4 It sounds like the prodigal son it sounds like kind of a reunion and Esau ran to meet him and embraced him And fell on his neck and kissed him and they wept He lifted up his eyes and saw the woman and the children and said Who are those with thee and he said the children which God hath graciously given by servant then the handmaiden came near They and their children and they bowed themselves and Leah also with her children came near and bowed themselves And after came Joseph near and Rachel and they bowed themselves It's a little bit of a prequel again a type and shout of the Savior Speaking of that Donnie There is this moment where Judah offers himself In place of Benjamin here is the Savior's great great Whatever Grandfather saying I cannot go back to the father and the lad not be with me Take me instead Just another beautiful part of this story. Yeah. Oh take me instead. I can't go back to the father without all of these It'll kill him we did it to him once we will not do it to him again And here Joseph knows oh you're not the same brothers. I knew he was putting him to the test. He proved them Yeah And it goes to what you said earlier which is He's gonna have a boundary here. This he's not gonna re-enter this relationship If it's gonna be abusive, right? Am I gonna put myself back into that? I want to know if this is different now. Yeah hence the times he went and wept like crazy I Both sides with love and with concern Talk about being torn Oh my goodness I joke around I hope there's a really good Egyptian therapist that can walk him through this trauma I don't have a lot of feelings here I just want to say thank you I think that so many people will love Hearing from someone who said he joseph so completely and lived at that part probably like nobody else on the planet Seriously, I've loved it. Thank you so much and for anybody out there listening who Blunders if Donnie Osmond is the person you hope he is I got to experience it. I feel so lucky. I'm so blessed that I texted Donnie and said hey, my name's Hank Smith. This is our home for and the phone rings comes up Donnie Osmond So I okay, I'm gonna call him and I hope I don't get hey kid right don't call me again, right? I get this friend this friendly voice hey, I'm interested. What do you want to do? This is great It's been wonderful Donnie just a last message for our listeners all over the world some in Joseph's prime years Things are great And others in Joseph's darkest times. I think they'd love to just hear from you and Well, thank you for the opportunity We live in a very dangerous world right now I had a wonderful conversation with Elder Resban the other day And he said the church has never been stronger you watch the news The world is falling apart You talk to the general authorities the first presidency to 12 World's a great place They're the ones I'm gonna believe You can get sucked into all the bad things that are going on or you can Look at the glasses half full Because we know the ending of the story The savior wins in the end Yes, we're gonna have some turbulent times as we have right now But have faith in the Lord. He's in control He will prevail at the end What a wonderful time to be living When all of these prophecies are being fulfilled When I kneel down and say my prayers every night and every morning I thank my Heavenly Father for Being able to see these things happen see all these things transpire that profits have been writing about for thousands of years And we're watching it and we're living it We don't know when the second coming is gonna happen But be of good cheer the Lord's in control I love it. I love it. What a day We've been so rich we blessed and laughed and I feel so uplifted John I've said this before I know when I'm aligned with the spirit because I don't want it to end And I want to be better The Lord sees that too and we're gonna make mistakes Forgive yourself. That's the other thing might take away Forgive yourself try harder pick yourself up start again Allow the Atonement to be applied in your lives Because the Lord died for you. He paid for you sins His mercy will pick you up and allow him to do that He is mighty to save with that We want to thank brother Donnie Osmond for being with us today. What a treat for all of us And I can't forget to thank Dr. Brad Wilcox our wonderful friend Brad for helping me put this episode together We want to thank our executive producer Shannon Swanson our sponsors David and Verla Swanson and every episode we remember our founder. Oh, he would have loved this Steve Swanson. We hope you'll join us next week. We're gonna continue to talk about Joseph of Egypt on follow him As a thank you to our wonderful listeners We'd love to gift you the digital version of our book finding Jesus Christ in the Old Testament It offers short meaningful insights drawn from our past Old Testament episodes Visit follow him.co that's follow him.co To download your free copy today and you'll also find the link to purchase the print edition Thank you for being part of our follow him family Of course none of this could happen without our incredible production crew David Perry Lisa Spice will stoked it crystal Roberts Arey Elkwater Heather Barlow Amelia Kabwika Sydney Smith and Annabelle Swanson Whatever questions or problems you have The answers always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ Turn to him Follow him