Joseph Smith resumes the translation of the scriptures, a branch of his calling, and Sidney Rigdon is his scribe.
Consider how earnestly Joseph Smith sought to do God's will:
"Knowing now the mind of the Lord, that the time had come that the Gospel should be proclaimed in power and demonstration to the world, from the Scriptures, reasoning with men as in days of old, I took a journey to Kirkland, in company with Elder Sidney Rigdon on the 3rd day of December to fulfil the above revelation."
Joseph Smith wasn't just receiving revelations in response to curiosity. His mind was set to fulfill God's will. When he first ask which Church to join, with the real intent to act, to do God's will, he didn't stop there. He was duty bound to fulfill the commandments that were given to him in the revelations.
Joseph Smith received more revelations about stewardship. His labor with Sidney Rigdon was fruitful:
"From this time until the 8th or 10th of January, 1832, myself and Elder Rigdon continued to preach in Shalersville, Ravenna, and other places, setting forth the truth, vindicating the cause of our Redeemer; showing that the day of vengeance was coming upon this generation like a thief in the night..." (p. 241)
Joseph translates and preaches the Gospel. In response to inquiries about the New Testament (1 Corinthians 7:14 and Revelation), he receives more revelation.
Joseph Smith discovers that the Bible had really been tampered with:
"Upon my return from Amherst conference, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures. From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded everyone according to the deeds done in the body the term Heaven, as intended for the Saints' eternal home must include more kingdoms than one."
In response to this inquiry, Joseph Smith received one of the greatest revelations of this dispensation, on the kingdoms of glory. D&C 76 is worthy of a lifetime of study, but verses 8-11, 19-23 provide great insights into how to obtain revelation. This is how Joseph Smith described the revelation:
"Nothing could be more pleasing to the Saints upon the order of the kingdom of the Lord, than the light which burst upon the world through the foregoing vision. Every law, every commandment, every promise, every truth, and every point touching the destiny of man, from Genesis to Revelation, where the purity of the scriptures remains unsullied by the folly of men, go to show the perfection of the theory [of different degrees of glory in the future life] and witnesses the fact that that document is a transcript from the records of the eternal world. The sublimity of the ideas; the purity of the language; the scope for action; the continued duration for completion, in order that the heirs of salvation may confess the Lord and bow the knee; the rewards for faithfulness, and the punishments for sins, are so much beyond the narrow-mindedness of men, that every honest man is constrained to exclaim: 'It came from God.'" (p. 253)
Joseph Smith's revelation explaining a key to St. John's Revelation includes questions and answers, the last of which describes the role of two witnesses, who are the two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days.
In another revelation, the Lord even used code names for His servants: Ahashdah [Newel K. Whitney], Gazelam or Enoch [Joseph Smith, Jun.,] and Pelagoram [Sidney Rigdon]." How cool is that?!
"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him even an hundred fold, yea, more." (D&C 78:19)
Gratitude. Be grateful.
Roberts provides an interesting note at the end of this chapter to explain that the First Presidency of the Church has operated since the days of Adam. Peter, James, and John constituted the First Presidency of the Church who conferred the keys to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Noah also held this office.
Consider how earnestly Joseph Smith sought to do God's will:
"Knowing now the mind of the Lord, that the time had come that the Gospel should be proclaimed in power and demonstration to the world, from the Scriptures, reasoning with men as in days of old, I took a journey to Kirkland, in company with Elder Sidney Rigdon on the 3rd day of December to fulfil the above revelation."
Joseph Smith wasn't just receiving revelations in response to curiosity. His mind was set to fulfill God's will. When he first ask which Church to join, with the real intent to act, to do God's will, he didn't stop there. He was duty bound to fulfill the commandments that were given to him in the revelations.
Joseph Smith received more revelations about stewardship. His labor with Sidney Rigdon was fruitful:
"From this time until the 8th or 10th of January, 1832, myself and Elder Rigdon continued to preach in Shalersville, Ravenna, and other places, setting forth the truth, vindicating the cause of our Redeemer; showing that the day of vengeance was coming upon this generation like a thief in the night..." (p. 241)
Joseph translates and preaches the Gospel. In response to inquiries about the New Testament (1 Corinthians 7:14 and Revelation), he receives more revelation.
Joseph Smith discovers that the Bible had really been tampered with:
"Upon my return from Amherst conference, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures. From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded everyone according to the deeds done in the body the term Heaven, as intended for the Saints' eternal home must include more kingdoms than one."
In response to this inquiry, Joseph Smith received one of the greatest revelations of this dispensation, on the kingdoms of glory. D&C 76 is worthy of a lifetime of study, but verses 8-11, 19-23 provide great insights into how to obtain revelation. This is how Joseph Smith described the revelation:
"Nothing could be more pleasing to the Saints upon the order of the kingdom of the Lord, than the light which burst upon the world through the foregoing vision. Every law, every commandment, every promise, every truth, and every point touching the destiny of man, from Genesis to Revelation, where the purity of the scriptures remains unsullied by the folly of men, go to show the perfection of the theory [of different degrees of glory in the future life] and witnesses the fact that that document is a transcript from the records of the eternal world. The sublimity of the ideas; the purity of the language; the scope for action; the continued duration for completion, in order that the heirs of salvation may confess the Lord and bow the knee; the rewards for faithfulness, and the punishments for sins, are so much beyond the narrow-mindedness of men, that every honest man is constrained to exclaim: 'It came from God.'" (p. 253)
Joseph Smith's revelation explaining a key to St. John's Revelation includes questions and answers, the last of which describes the role of two witnesses, who are the two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days.
In another revelation, the Lord even used code names for His servants: Ahashdah [Newel K. Whitney], Gazelam or Enoch [Joseph Smith, Jun.,] and Pelagoram [Sidney Rigdon]." How cool is that?!
"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him even an hundred fold, yea, more." (D&C 78:19)
Gratitude. Be grateful.
Roberts provides an interesting note at the end of this chapter to explain that the First Presidency of the Church has operated since the days of Adam. Peter, James, and John constituted the First Presidency of the Church who conferred the keys to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Noah also held this office.
No comments:
Post a Comment