Today’s article appeared in the June 2020 issue of The Gospel News in the Blast from the Past column, where you can learn fascinating facts about Church history.

June 1939, eighty-one years ago this month, it was revealed to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles at a June conference in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, to recommend Brother Joseph Lovalvo to be ordained an apostle.

When he was ordained, the gift of tongues was spoken and the interpretation given that God had called him as one of the apostles of old. Being only 29 years old, Brother Joe wondered how he could carry the weight of this calling. One day he had the following experience:

“All of a sudden the Power of God came upon me and lifted me up from my bed and upon my feet in the middle of the room. A personage appeared to me, dressed all in white, with a sword in his hand. He spoke these words: ‘I am Michael, the archangel, and I have been sent to you by God, to teach you how to use this sword.’ He then proceeded to put the sword in my hand. It was about three feet long, two-edged, and the hilt was all engraved in gold. As I took the sword, he held his hand on mine and the Power of God came upon me and the Glory of God filled my soul. The sword just came alive!”

Brother Joe felt as if he had grabbed a live wire.

“The angel left and appeared again and said, ‘God has sent me to you to teach you how to use this sword. Paul and Peter used this sword. Now you must use it.’ He put the sword in my hand and this time let me go. He didn’t hold my hand. The glory and power of God came upon me and once again, the sword became alive. All fear and every doubt left me. I knew now that God had called me as one of the twelve apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ.”

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.