Scripture Journey

“Chapter 14: Words of Hope and Consolation at the Time of Death,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),171–81

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This lesson is about death and overcoming the grief we experience in facing the death of loved ones.  Joseph lost an unbelievable number of loved ones in his life.  He consoled himself and those around him with detailed descriptions of his visions of the afterlife and the resurrection.

A poignant quote from him is this one: “More painful to me are the thoughts of annihilation than death. If I have no expectation of seeing my father, mother, brothers, sisters and friends again, my heart would burst in a moment, and I should go down to my grave. The expectation of seeing my friends in the morning of the resurrection cheers my soul and makes me bear up against the evils of life. It is like their taking a long journey, and on their return we meet them with increased joy. … "

One might argue that the pain and agony of losing loved ones is enough to drive one to believe in God, not the opposite, for only by believing in God and in an afterlife and a resurrection can one overcome the incredible agony of losing a child.  And one thing Joseph did was think about and ponder and pray about the feelings of those who did lose children, and his heart was obviously particularly soft towards mothers who lose children: 

“A question may be asked—‘Will mothers have their children in eternity?’ Yes! Yes! Mothers, you shall have your children; for they shall have eternal life, for their debt is paid.”6

“Children … must rise just as they died; we can there hail our lovely infants with the same glory—the same loveliness in the celestial glory.”7

President Joseph F. Smith, the sixth President of the Church, reported: “Joseph Smith taught the doctrine that the infant child that was laid away in death would come up in the resurrection as a child; and, pointing to the mother of a lifeless child, he said to her: ‘You will have the joy, the pleasure and satisfaction of nurturing this child, after its resurrection, until it reaches the full stature of its spirit.’ … "

These concepts may strike some as overly solicitous, as trying too hard to console the grief of a woman who lost an infant.  And yet there is a feeling of rightness in them, a sense that these concepts make sense and ring true and make the world right and a better place.  These are the sort of doctrines that one can feel are true.

Chapter 12: Proclaim Glad Tidings to All the World,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),148–57

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This lesson discusses missionary work and why LDS members should do it.  I think one of the most persuasive concepts of LDS missionary work is found in this quote from Joseph Smith

“We don’t ask any people to throw away any good they have got; we only ask them to come and get more. What if all the world should embrace this Gospel? They would then see eye to eye, and the blessings of God would be poured out upon the people, which is the desire of my whole soul.”14

It is hard to argue with this concept, which was repeated time and again by President Hinckley in recent periods.  LDS doctrine recognizes that truth may exist in many sphres, in virtually any religion, and that each man possesses some part of it.  Some may possess more and some less.  An LDS missionary does not ask anyone to give up truth: merely to consider what he or she offers, what the Book of Mormon and the LDS faith offers, and discover for themselves if there is any additional truth there that can augment what this person has already found.

“Chapter 11: The Organization and Destiny of the True and Living Church,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),135–47

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Fascinating that Joseph Smith accurately predicted the future growth of the LDS Church on the very day the church was organized: "...you know no more concerning the destinies of this Church and kingdom than a babe upon its mother’s lap. You don’t comprehend it...It is only a little handful of Priesthood you see here tonight, but this Church will fill North and South America—it will fill the world."

I suppose anyone with a lot of hope about a new church could say something like that so in some ways it doesn't qualify as a prophesy that is evidence of his prophetic powers.  But it does at least demonstrate that he had tremendous faith in the Church and its potential. 

“Chapter 10: Prayer and Personal Revelation,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),125–34

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One of the most revolutionary concepts that Joseph Smith restored to the Earth is the concept of personal reveleation.  It really shouldn't be so revolutionary. But most people had ceased believing that God would speak directly to men.   Most people don't believe that today.  I have a hard time understanding why this concept is so difficult.  I don't see how you could accept the Old Testament as scripture and believe otherwise.  It is full of men (and women) speaking to God and to angels, often directly.  How could it be the case that God would speak to men then, but not now?  Joseph Smith made this point rather eloquently in the quotations contained in this lesson.  And it makes complete sense.

He also pointed out how important it is for men and women to pray for everything, not just for spiritual blessings.  I need to do better at that. 

Lesson 14: “For a Wise Purpose”, Book of Mormon Class Member Study Guide, 9

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This is an image of Jacob wrestling with either an Angel (as many interpret the scripture) or with God himself.  See Genesis 32:25.  In this scene, the struggle lasts through the night and Jacob's leg is out of joint, but he will not release the heavenly being until the being gives him a blessing.  The blessing he gets is a new name, Israel, which in the Hebrew tongue means "he will rule as God."  This wrestle comes about as Jacob is struggling with what to say when he inevitably must face Esau, his older twin brother, who remains angry with him because Jacob supposedly stole Esau's birthright.  Jacob ended up having this wrestle or struggle throughout the night before he ends up speaking with this heavenly being.

I am posting this image because Jacob's wrestle reminds me of the language that Enos uses as he describes his own efforts to gain a testimony of God and Christ:

2 And I will tell you of the ^awrestle which I had before God, before I received a ^bremission of my sins.

Enos goes on to pray throughout the day and the night until he finally receives assurance that his sins are forgiven and speaks directly with God.  These passages both describe a symbolic spiritual struggle with God or His representative that apparently needed to occur before the blessing could be conveyed: the forgiveness of sins for Enos, the new name for Jacob (Israel). 

I have never prayed as hard as Jacob or Enos.  I shouldn't expect to have the same level of spiritual enlightenment unless I too an willling to sacrifice what they did, to pray as hard as they did. 

2008 Priesthood and Relief Society Lessons “Chapter 9: Gifts of the Spirit,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),114–24

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2008 Priesthood and Relief Society Lesson “Chapter 8: The Everlasting Priesthood,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),101–13

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The restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood to the Earth is a very audacious claim.  Joseph Smith claims he and Oliver Cowdery were visited by Peter, James and John and given this priesthood.  This is the sort of black and white statement that is either true or it is not.  If true, the ramifications are significant.   

2008 Priesthood and Relief Society Lessons: "Chapter 7: Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),88–100

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2008 Priesthood and Relief Society Lesons: “Chapter 6: The Mission of John the Baptist,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),79–87

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2008 Priesthood and Relief Society Lessons: “Chapter 5: Repentance,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),69–77

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