TheSaviorinKirtland

KarlRicksAnderson

©2012KarlRicksAnderson.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanyformorbyanymeanswithoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher,DeseretBookCompany(permissions@deseretbook.com),P.O.Box30178,SaltLakeCityUtah84130.ThisworkisnotanofficialpublicationofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints.TheviewsexpressedhereinaretheresponsibilityoftheauthoranddonotnecessarilyrepresentthepositionoftheChurchorofDeseretBook.DeseretBookisaregisteredtrademarkofDeseretBookCompany.

LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationDataAnderson,KarlR.,1937–author.

TheSaviorinKirtland:personalaccountsofdivinemanifestations/KarlRicksAnderson.

pagescm

Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.

ISBN978-1-60907-166-0(paperbound)1.JesusChrist—Apparitionsandmiracles—Ohio—Kirtland.2.Visions—Ohio—Kirtland.3.TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints—History—19thcentury.4.TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints—Doctrines.5.KirtlandTemple.I.Title.

BX8643.J4A532012

289.3'771334—dc232012019685

PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmericaMalloyLithographingIncorporated,AnnArbor,MI10987654321

ToElderNealA.MaxwelltheremarkablemodernApostleanddiscipleoftheSaviorwhogavemethe

assignment

TableofContents

PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPrologueTheSaviorPrepares“theOhio”TheLordGathersHisPeopleChristTeachesandMagnifiesHisProphetChristProtectsHisSaintsfromtheAdversaryChristTeachesofHimselfWitnessesoftheSaviorSecondaryWitnessesoftheSaviorJosephandtheThreeWitnessesTestifyinKirtlandVisionsofDeityAssociatedwithChurchStructureChristConverseswithJosephandSidneyinaVisionoftheEternitiesAHouseoftheLordonEarthAgainVisionsofDeityintheKirtlandTempleChristFulfillsthePromisedEndowmentChristRaisesanEnsignandBeginsaLong-AwaitedGatheringChristReturnsKeysforFullSalvationApril3,1836:AMotherLodeofChristologyEpilogueAppendix

Preface

IhavedevotedmorethanfortyyearsofmylifetoworkingtohelpfulfilltheLord’spromiseinDoctrineandCovenants124:83thatHewould“buildupKirtland.”Mywife,Joyce,andI,alongwithoursmallfamily,wereexcitedtomovetoKirtlandin1967becauseofitsrichChurchhistory.WefellinlovewithJosephSmithandtheearlySaints,whosedeepfaithandwillingnesstosacrificeallthattheyhadtoestablishthislastgospeldispensationmadethemspiritualgiants.Theylefthomes,lands,andinmanycasesfamilies,toobeytheLord’scommandmenttogathertoKirtland.Fromthere,husbands,fathers,andsonswerecalledtoleaveKirtlandandgoonmissionsthroughouttheUnitedStates,Canada,andevenacrosstheAtlantic—agiantsteptoreachtheentireworldwiththemessageoftherestoredgospelofJesusChrist.In1989,IwroteJosephSmith’sKirtlandtotelltheepicstoryofthesebravemenandwomenwhomwevenerate.

Sincethattime,ithasbecomeevidenttomethatasimportantastheirstoryis,therealandtoooftenoverlookedstoryisthatoftheSaviorandhowHepersonallyandvisiblydirectedHisChurchandtaughtHisSaints.AsIstudiedmoreextensively,manybefore-unnoticedevidencesofChrist’sleadershipcameintofocus.IndisputableevidencesofHisdivinityandleadershipsurfaced.ItbecameobviousthatearlyChurchmembersknewandrecognizedthattheSaviorwastheirleader.ItbecameclearthatthereasonfortheChurch’sphenomenalandhighlyimprobablegrowthisthatJesusChristHimselfwasinchargeandinKirtlandHewasfulfillingmillenniaofpromisesfromtheOldandNewTestamentsaswellasfromtheBookofMormon.

In1994,IspentadaywithElderNealA.Maxwell,alatter-dayApostle,andhisfamilyinKirtland.Afterwehadvisitedtogetherseveralsacredsitesandreviewedmuchscriptureandhistory,heaskedmetowritethisbook.HenotedmyknowledgeandloveofKirtlandandaddedthattherewasamotherlodeofChristologyinKirtlandthathadneverbeenmined.HeaskedmetoseekouttheChrist-centeredteachingsandevidencesoftheSaviorinKirtlandandwritethem.Urgingpatience,inspiration,andthoroughnessinresearch,hesuggestedthatIletitpercolateandcautionedthatInotbetooquicktopublishit.(Iamnotsurehemeantformetotakeeighteenyears—Imayyethavetoanswerforthat.)Centraltohischallengewasthis:“WriteitontheChristologyofKirtland—whatweknowthatweotherwisewouldnotknow,thevisionsoftheuniverse,andwhatwegainfromtherevelations...CombineyourinsightsintoChristand

yourloveofKirtlandwiththehistory.”ItismysincerehopethattheessenceofElderMaxwell’srequesthasbeen

honoredandthathewouldbehappywiththeresult.Intheend,thechallengeIfacedwashowtodistillthevolumesofscripture,journals,andhistoricalaccountsaswellasspeechesandwritingsoftheProphetJosephSmithandhisassociates.Muchmoreremainsyettobemined.MystudyofKirtlandhasindeedbeenhumblingandlifechanging,anditpromisestobethatforallwhowillseektofindtheSaviorinKirtland.ItismydesirethatmembersoftheChurchandotherswillgainagreaterawarenessofKirtland’ssignificanceand,moreimportant,themotherlodeofChristologythatcomestousthroughthissacredplace.

Acknowledgments

IamdeeplyindebtedtothemanywhomadesignificantcontributionstoTheSaviorinKirtland.

Thisbookwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthegenerousandexpertassistance,supportandencouragementofRichardLloydAnderson.Richarddevotedmassiveamountsoftimeandofferedconsiderableinput.Hemadehimselfimmediatelyavailabledayornight.Unselfishlyopeninghisextensivecollectionofsourcedocuments,journals,accounts,andotherinformation,Richardengagedinpatientdiscussion,guidance,consulting,andwisecritique.Herevieweddrafts,checkedsources,madesuggestions,andprovidedinvaluableinsights.AsallwhoknowRichardwillattest,hedoesnotseekrecognitionandwillneverreceivefullcreditforhisinfluenceonsomany.Ashisyoungerbrother,Ipaytributeandexpressmylove,brotherhood,andappreciationforhislifelongexample.

IamindebtedtoCarmadeJongAndersonandTysonSnowforthehighqualityoriginaldrawingsthatcontributesomuchtothisbook.CarmaisarecognizedartistandtheChurch’sforemostauthorityonclothingwornbytheearlySaints.Shegenerouslygaveasignificantnumberofhourstocarefullysupervisingthedevelopmentandaccuracyofthedrawings.Tysonisaremarkableyoungartistwhoisendowedwithamazingabilityasanartistandsculptor.Hisexceptionalcapabilitiesgobeyondartisticskillstoanabilitytoplacehimselfinthesituationofhissubject.Hecarefullyworkedandreworkedthedrawingstoensurehistoricalaccuracyandtoconveyafeelingforthecontentofeachchapter.

Capableeditorscontributedtothequalityofthisbook.LongtimefamilyfriendandablecollegeEnglishprofessionalMaurineReintjescontributedsignificantly.Maurinespentseeminglyendlesshoursediting,makingsuggestionsandaddinginsightstoimproveclarityandquality.RichardandBeverlyAnderson,newfoundfriends,gavehelpatacriticaljuncture.Theyspentlonghourscheckingandensuringfootnoteaccuracy.UsingbackgroundsinEnglishcompositionandChurchhistory,theyfurtherimprovedthemanuscriptbyaddingsummarymaterial,producedcharts,andofferedsuggestions.

IexpressappreciationtoCoryMaxwellofDeseretBookCompanyforhis

interest,encouragement,andpersonaldirectionofthemanuscript.GratitudeisalsoexpressedtoSuzanneBrady,managingeditoratDeseretBookCompany,forherpersonalinterestinthemanuscriptandmasteryofChurchhistory,aswellasforhercompetentandcarefulediting.

Finally,tomywifeandlong-sufferingcompanionoffiftyyears,Iexpressmygreatestlove,appreciation,andthanks.WithoutJoyce’sunfailingsupport,encouragement,andendurance,thisworkcouldneverhavebeenaccomplished.Shepatientlyworkeduntoldhours,withoutcomplaint,typingeverywordthroughnumerousdrafts,proofs,andendlesscorrectionsandrevisions.Shefoundsources,madesuggestions,checkedfootnotes,filedmaterialanddidjustabouteveryothermundanedutyimaginableinundertakingsuchaproject.Joycehasbeenpartofeverymajorendeavorofmylife,includingtoleratinghundredsoftripsthroughChurchhistorysites,cemeteries,libraries,bookstoresetc.

Othersalsohavehelpedtremendously.AlthoughIwouldliketoacknowledgeeachandeverycontribution,myappreciationmustofnecessitybeexpressedpersonally.

Introduction

Kirtland,knowntodayas“TheCityofFaithandBeauty,”wasalargelyforgottenplaceinthehistoryoftheChurchoncetheSaintsleftitin1838.Itappearsthatafterthattime,Kirtlandsimplydisappearedfromtheconsciousnessofourpeople.

OncetheSaintshaddepartedfromtheiroriginalgatheringplaceinOhio,theLordtoldthem,“I,theLord,haveascourgepreparedfortheinhabitants[ofKirtland]”(D&C124:83).PerhapsthatscourgealsoaffectedthemindsoftheLatter-daySaints.Formanyyears,peoplerememberedlittlemoreofKirtlandthanthatatemple,nolongerownedbytheChurch,hadbeenbuiltthere.NauvoowasoftenperceivedasthedominantandlongestlastingperiodofearlyChurchhistory.

In1979,however,aneventoccurredinKirtlandthatchangedallthat.OnOctober14ofthatyear,PresidentEzraTaftBenson,alatter-dayprophetandatthattimepresidentoftheQuorumoftheTwelveApostles,stoodinKirtlandandsaidwithpropheticauthority,“Thusthescourgethatwasplaceduponthepeopleinthatprophecyisbeingliftedtoday.”HeprophesiedthattheSaintscouldnow“lookforwardtogreatprogressinthispartoftheLord’svineyard.”1Then,withdecisiveleadership,heprovidedimpetus,support,anddirectiontothefulfillmentofthatprophecyuntilhisdeath.

Withtheliftingofthescourge,theLordbegantherebuildingofKirtlandinfulfillmentofHispromise.PartoftheLord’soriginaldeclarationwasthiscommitment:“Nevertheless,I,theLord,willbuildupKirtland”(D&C124:83).Certainly,thebeautifulandcarefullycraftedHistoricKirtlandRestorationispartofthatfulfillment;anotherimportantaspectisbuildingupKirtlandintheminds,hearts,andhistoryofHispeople.Recenteffortsatrestoration,additionalwritings,andmanymorevisitorshaveallworkedtogethertoremovethecloakofobscurityfromKirtland.“TheCityofFaithandBeauty”isnowreclaimingitsvaluableplaceintheremembranceoftheSaints.

Notes^1.EzraTaftBenson,addressatgroundbreakingfortheKirtlandWardmeetinghouse,October14,1979,

ChurchHistoryLibrary,TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,SaltLakeCity,Utah.

Prologue

In1820ourHeavenlyFatherintroducedJesusChristtotheProphetJosephSmithwiththecommand,“HearHim!”1FromthatgloriousbeginningtheSaviorhasbeenthecenterandfocusofourreligion.In1831,Christdeclaredthattherewouldbe“noeyethatshallnotsee,neitherearthatshallnothear”Hisvoice.2ThroughthefollowingpagesofTheSaviorinKirtland,myhopeisthatthereaderwillseetheSaviorandhearHisvoicewithgreaterclaritybylookingattheRestorationthroughthelensofChrist.InnootherplaceduringtheearlyyearsoftheRestorationwasthislenssofocusedasinKirtland,Ohio.

Throughinspiration,JosephSmithdesignatedthelandofKirtlandasShinehah.3TheLordtoldAbrahamthatShinehahmeant“thesun.”4Asraysofthesungivelightandlifetotheworld,soalsodidtheraysofgospellightemanatingfromKirtlandgivelightandeveneternallifetotheworld’sinhabitants.NotonlydidthesundawnupontheworldfromKirtlandbutthroughElijahitalsoilluminatedtheeternalworld.ThesourceofthatlightisJesusChrist—thelightandlifeoftheworld.TheLorddeclaredinKirtlandthatHeiseven“thelightofthesun,andthepowerthereofbywhichitwasmade”(D&C88:7).

Kirtland,landof“thesun,”wasalsothelandoftheSon,ourSavior.Hepreparedtheland,gatheredHisfollowers,andprotectedthemfromtheadversary.InKirtlandtheSaviorpromisedHisSaints,“Iwillappearuntomyservants,andspeakuntothemwithmineownvoice.”5Heappearedinvisionorspoketomorethantwenty-threeofHisservantsthere.Morefirst-personwordsofChristhavegonetotheworldfromKirtlandthanfromanyotherlocationinhistory.ThroughHisdirectvoiceofrevelation,ChristcomprehensivelytaughttheworldaboutHimself,Hismissionofatonement,andthepremortalandpostmortalworlds.HestructuredHisChurchinKirtlandandcalleditsleadersbypersonalrevelation.HetaughttheminvisionaswellasthroughtheSpirit.HecommandedHispoverty-strickenSaintstobuildHisfirsttempleintwothousandyears.Heshowedthemthepatternandthengavethemtheassistanceandpowertobuildit.InKirtlandtheveryheavensthunderedmanyadditionalwitnessesofChrist’svisionsandvoice.Hesentangels,heavenlychoirs,anddivinemessengers—whoreflectedHisdivinityanddirectionfromheavenabove—withkeysandauthority.Finally,HedispatchedHislatter-daymessengersfromKirtlanduntoallnationsinfulfillmentofancientprophecy.TheSaviorknewKirtlandwell.ThestoryofKirtlandisinrealityastoryofChrist.Kirtlandand

Christcanneverbeseparated.

Notes^1.JosephSmith–History1:17.^2.Doctrine&Covenants1:2.^3.FromtheoriginaltextofDoctrine&Covenants82and104.OrsonPrattdescribestheinspiredprocessof

substitutingnames:TheSeer2,no.3(March1854):228.^4.Abraham3:13.^5.Doctrine&Covenants110:8.

Chapter1

TheSaviorPrepares“theOhio”

Thouwassentforth...[toOhio]topreparethewaybeforeme,andbeforeElijahwhichshouldcome

—Doctrine&Covenants35:4ThestoryofChristpreparingthelandofKirtlandisasoldastimeandwas

withoutdoubtforeseenintheheavenslongbeforemanappearedupontheearth.

Fromthebeginning,sacredeventstotranspireinKirtlandwereundoubtedlyplannedandevenannounced.JosephSmithemphasizedthatcrucialtemplework,thekeysforwhichwerereceivedinKirtland,constituted“avoiceofgladnessforthelivingandthedead.”1Christordainedsuchredemptiveevents“beforetheworldwas.”2Ancientprophetswere“firedwithheavenlyandjoyfulanticipations”oftheseevents,whichwould“bringabout...thesalvationofthehumanfamily.”3ChristfiredwithjoyfulanticipationthesouloftheancientprophetMalachiasHetoldhimofsacredeventstotranspireintheKirtlandTemple.4AftertheSavior’sresurrection,HecommandedfollowersontheAmericancontinentto“writethewords”ofprophecyHegavetoMalachiregardingeventstotranspireinKirtland.5

ItappearsthatChristprepared“theOhio”forcenturiesbeforeHegatheredHispeoplethere.Evidenceofthispreparationcanbefoundinseventeenth-centuryEngland.KingCharlesIIgavethestateofConnecticutathinsliceoflandthatincludedthelandofKirtland.Thisthinslicewaseventuallywhittleddowntoa120-mile-wideareaoflanddesignatedastheConnecticutWesternReserve.SettlementwasprimarilybypeoplefromNewEngland.TheWesternReserveseemstocorrespondapproximatelytotheareatheLordcalled“theOhio.”

AdecadeafterthesigningoftheDeclarationofIndependence,America’sCongressoftheConfederationincludedOhioasapartoftheNorthwestTerritory.InwhatiscalledtheNorthwestOrdinanceof1787,CongressinsertedtwoprovisionsthatwouldhavebeenimportanttotheLord.Theyassuredreligiousfreedomforallsettlersandstated,“Schoolsandthemeansofeducationshallforeverbeencouraged.”6Ohiowasadesirableplaceforsettlers,asextolledbyGeorgeWashington:“IfIwasayoungman,justpreparingtobegintheworldorifadvancedinlife,andhadafamilytomakeprovisionfor,IknowofnocountrywhereIshouldratherfixmyhabitation.”7

Fromthebeginning,ChristpreparedanentirelandandthenselectivelypeopleditwitharemarkableGod-fearingfrontierfolk.ThestoryofKirtland’spreparationrevealstheirstrongmoralvalues,personaltrials,incrediblyhardwork,generosity,andgreatfaith.ThestorynotestheirresponsetothepromptingsoftheLordtolisten,move,nurture,andprepareafrontierlandfortheadventofthegospelthereandtheultimatebuildingofthefirsttempleofGodintheRestoration.Kirtland,knownintimatelytotheLord,wasbeinggroomedforagreatmission—greaterthananythingwitnessedintwothousandyears.TheSaviorpreparedKirtlandandthencommandedHisSaintstogatherthere.Intheveryearlydaysofthisland,however,thestorybeganquietly,and

itsplayerswerefew.Decadesbeforethegospelwasbroughtthere,theLord,asearlyas1798,

begantonudgekeypeopleandtheirfamiliesto“theOhio.”ItwasnoaccidentthatthefamilyofafuturememberoftheFirstPresidency,FrederickG.Williams,movedtherethatyear.Itmustalsohavebeenintheeternalplanthatotherfamiliesoffuturegreatnesswouldcongregateinandaroundthisunderdevelopedlandofpromise.TheSnowfamily,includingLorenzoandElizaR.,camein1811.AyearlatertheindustriouscolonizerIsaacMorleywithhiswife,Lucy,settledontwohundredacreswheremattersofimportancewouldlateroccur.In1814,JohnandElsaJohnson(laterinstrumentalinpurchasinglandforthetemple)settlednearKirtlandwiththeirtwosons,LukeandLyman,whointimebecamemembersofthefirstQuorumoftheTwelveApostles.

TheLordalsoplantedotherfutureApostlesinOhio,whereHewouldpreparethemtoreceiveHisword.HesentOrsonHydein1819andParleyP.PrattandLymanWightin1826.FuturebishopsEdwardPartridgeandNewelK.WhitneyarrivedinOhioby1820and1823,respectively.Theincrediblegoodthatthesemenweretoperformcannotbemeasured.TheLordnotonlysummonedandpreparedHisfutureleadersbutalsoassembledhundredsofotherfutureChurchmembersintheOhio.KirtlandwasreadytoreceivethegospelandinduetimewelcometheProphetoftheRestoration,JosephSmith.

Atlast,inthelateautumnof1830,theLordformallybeganHisworkinKirtlandbysendingfourmissionarieswestwardtotheIndians—OliverCowdery,PeterWhitmerJr.,ZibaPeterson,andParleyP.Pratt—andtheystoppedthereforashorttimeenroutetoMissouri.ThesemencontactedasuccessfulpreachernamedSidneyRigdon(ParleyhadknownhimfromearlieryearsinOhio),whohadmanycongregationsintheareabutonespecificallylocatednearKirtland.ThisSidneyRigdon,whomtheLordcomparedtoJohntheBaptist,8hadaforeordainedmissiontopreparethepeopleforthecomingofChristandElijah.Hehadbeencarefullygroomed,andhisworkswereknown.TheOhiowasbeingreadied,andSidneyRigdonwastoplayanearlykeyroleinthatpreparation.

PreparingtheWayTheSaviorgaveSidneyRigdonaspecificmissiontopreparethewayfor

thegospeltobetakentoOhio.In1830,HetoldSidney,“Thouwastsentforth[toOhio],evenasJohn,topreparethewaybeforeme,andbeforeElijahwhichshouldcome,andthouknewestitnot.”9JustasJohntheBaptisthadpreparedhis

peopletoreceiveChrist,soSidneyRigdonwaspreparinggreatnumbersofpeopleintheKirtlandareatoreceiveChrist’sChurch.ManyofJohn’sfollowersacceptedChrist’smessagewhentheyheardit.ManyofSidney’sfollowerslikewiseacceptedChrist’slatter-daymessagewhenitcame.SidneypreparedhundredsinOhiotoembraceChrist’srestoredgospelandtobereadyfortheSavior’sinitialappearanceinOhio.

Thesetwoforerunnershadothersimilarities.InbothcasesJohntheBaptist’sandSidneyRigdon’spreachingenabledtheChurchtotakeimmediateroot.Bothwereferventandeffectivepreachers.Peopleflockedtoeach.JustasmanypeoplehadgoneoutfromJerusalemandallJudeatohearJohn’smessage,10soalsodidlargenumbersoffollowersattendSidney’smeetings.Meetingswereheldoutdoorsbecausechurcheswerenot“largeenoughtocontainthevastassemblies”Sidneyattracted.11Bothpreachedrepentance—Johninthe“wilderness”ofJudea12andSidneyinadevelopingareastillconsideredsomethingofawilderness.NeitherhadauthorityfromGodtobestowtheHolyGhost.BothknewandeffectivelytaughtexistingBiblescripture.

JustastheLordhadpreparedJohntheBaptistasayouth,soalsoHepreparedSidney.13Sidney’spreparationforsomeoftheLord’smostcriticalassignmentsbeganstep-by-stepasaboy.Evenashelaboredonhisfather’sfarm,hehadapassionforlearning.Heoncewrotethathe“hadaninsatiablethirstforreading.”14HissonJohnWickliffeRigdondescribedthisthirst,saying,

Sidney...borrowedallthehistorieshecouldgetandbegantoreadthem.Hisparentswouldnotlethimhaveacandletoreadbynight;hethereforegatheredhickorybark(therewasplentyofitaroundtheoldfarm),andheusedtogetitandatnightthrowitontheoldfireplaceandthenliewithhisfaceandheadtowardsthefireandreadhistorytillnearmorningunlesshisparentsgotupanddrovehimtobedbeforethattime.15

Asayouth,Sidneydesiredaformaleducation.HissonfurtherstatedthatSidney“pleadedwithhisfatherandmothertolethimgo...toschool,buttheywouldnotconsenttolethimgo,saying...hewasabletoworkonthefarmandhecouldnotgo.”16Apparently,Sidneyspenthistimeinworkandstudy.Itwassaidofhim,“Hewasneverknowntoplaywiththeboys.”17

Sidneyvowedthatdespitenotbeingallowedtogetaformaleducation,hewouldteachhimself.OnecansurmisethattheLorddirectedSidneytothescripturesandotherstudies.Insolitude,withoutinteractionwithotherstudents,hereadandwasnodoubttutoredbytheSpirit.Hadhepursuedaformal

education,hemighthavebeeninfluencedbythosealreadyentrenchedinscripturalbiases.HemightalsohavebeenenticedtostudyaprofessionthatcouldhaveledhimawayfromhisGod-givenmissiontoprepareOhiofortherestoredChurchandtoreceivepersonalvisitationsfromChristandElijah.Sidneygrewuponthefamilyfarm,andcircumstances,includingthedeathofhisfather,forcedhimtoremainthereforhisfirsttwenty-sixyears.

TheLordendowedSidneywithaphotographicmemory.Becauseofhisloveoflearning,eagernesstoread,andabilitytoretainwhatheread,Sidneybecameknowledgeable,especiallyinhistory,theBible,andtheEnglishlanguage.Hissonwrote:

Inthisway,hebecameagreathistorian,thebestIeversaw.Heseemedtohavethehistoryoftheworldonhistongue’sendandhegottobeagreatbiblicalscholaraswell.HewasasfamiliarwiththeBibleasachildiswithhisspellingbook....Readingbookswasthegreatestpleasurehecouldget.HestudiedEnglishgrammaraloneandbecameaveryfinegrammarian.Hewasverypreciseinhislanguage.18

Twenty-sixyearsoflearninginsolitudegaveSidneyasolidbaseintheBible.Hewasbeingpreparedforhislife’smission.

TheKeytoSidney’sLifeAllofhislifeSidneywasadedicatedstudentoftheBible.Hereaditnot

onlybythedimlightofthehickoryfirebecausehisfatherrefusedtogivehimacandlebutalsowhenheapprenticedtobecomeaministerin1819.19Inpursuinghisself-taughtcourseoflearningtheBible,hereadandmemorizedextensiveportionsofthescriptures.

SidneytrulylovedandimmersedhimselfintheBible.Ashissonsaid,“[He]wasasfamiliarwiththeBibleasachildiswithhisspellingbook”andcouldrecall“everythingheread.”20SidneydescribedhisknowledgeoftheBibleas“farinadvanceofallothers.”21HisloveoftheBibleinducedhimlatertoaffiliatewiththeCampbellitemovement,whosemottowas“WheretheScripturesspeak,wespeak;wheretheScripturesaresilent,wearesilent.”22

Sidney’sgroundingintheBibleplayedalargerrolelater,notonlyinpreparingpeopletoreceivetherestoredgospelbutalsoinhiscriticalmissionasscribeforJoseph’stranslationoftheBible.

Sidney’sMissiontoServetheLordEarlyinlife,SidneywasawareofhismissiontoservetheLord.Looking

back,hewrotethat“fromhisearliestinfancy”23his“rulingprinciple”wastoservetheLord.24Althoughhiscallasaforerunnerwasconfirmedafterthefact,theLordmusthaveimpressedituponSidney’smindearlyinhisyouth.HefelthiscallingstronglyenoughthathewroteaboutitasifitweretherevealedwordoftheLord:“ItheLordcalledhim[Sidney]fromhisplowasIdidAmos.”25Sidney’ssonwrotethathisfather“wasofanaturalreligiousturnofmindandhedelightedinpreachingthegospel.”26SidneyhadaGod-giventalentforpreaching.Ashissonexpressedit,“Naturemadehimanorator.”27

In1819,whenSidneywastwenty-six,hiscareeropportunityfinallycame.HechosetoapprenticeforaministerialcareerwithaBaptistministerwholivednotfarfromSidney’shomeinwesternPennsylvania.OnApril1ofthenextyear,aboutthesametimeJosephSmithreceivedhisFirstVision,Sidneyreceivedhiscertificateofordinationandbecameaminister.28Ashewouldsoondiscover,however,ratherthanhavingfoundhiscalling,hewouldspendthenextsixyearsinbroaderlearning,practice,andpreparationforahighercalling.

KeyStepsinSidney’sPreparationDuringthenextsixyears,Sidney’sliferevolvedaroundthreeactivitiesthat

laterhadsignificantbearingonhisdivinelyappointedmissions:1.Hedevelopedaneight-yearassociationwithAlexanderCampbell.In

1821,SidneyvisitedCampbellandwas“wonovertothereformcause.”29HeevenhelpedpioneerthatReformmovement,whichsoughtforarestorationofthegospel.Sidney’ssondescribedtheCampbellitereligionasasimplefaith.“Therewasnotmuchtotheirconfessionoffaith,”hewrote.“ItwastobelieveontheLordandSaviorJesusChrist,bebaptizedfortheremissionofyoursins,andtaketheBibleforyourguidewasalltherewasofit.Itssimplicityrecommendeditselftothegeneralpublic.”30

TheLord,leadingSidneythroughhisassociationwithCampbell,formulatedthebasisofhispreparingnortheasternOhiofortherestoredgospel.B.H.Roberts,prominentscholarandanLDSGeneralAuthorityforfifty-sixyears,said,“Theworkofthesereformers[AlexanderCampbellandSidneyRigdon]wasapreparatoryworktothecomingforthofthefullnessofthegospel,ImaysaythatperhapsmorepeoplejoinedtheChurchinanearlydayfrom[the]‘Disciples’[Campbellites]thanfromanyotherdenominationwhatsoever.”31

2.Heacceptedhisfirstministerialassignment.InJanuary1822,SidneyascendedthepulpitasministerofPittsburgh’slargeBaptistchurch.“Fameandfortuneseemedtobewithinhisgrasp,”32hissonsaid.ButSidneyhadservedonlytwoandahalfyearswhenacrisisofconsciencearose.StrictBaptistleadersrequiredhimtoteachthedoctrineofinfantdamnation.Sidneycouldnotdoso.HedidnotbelieveittobeintheBibleand“wouldnotteachit.”33Thoughitmeantforsakingthevocationheloved,whensomethingbecameamatterofconscience,Sidneyfollowedahighervoice.HisbasicBiblefoundationforcedhimtomakewhatwasprobablyhishardestdecisioninthirty-oneyears.Wheremanymighthavecompromised,Sidneyresignedhisposttomaintaintheintegrityofhisreligiousbeliefs.Heleftwhathefeltwashiscalling,butdoingsodrewhimclosertotheLord.Helaterwrotethatitwasdone“forconsciencesake,”andhisdefiningdecisioncame“after...deliberation,deepreflection,andsolemnprayertohisHeavenlyFather.”34

Inhisministerialassignment,helearnedthattheLordhadalwaysrequiredHispeopletomakeharddecisions,tosacrificefameandworldlyhonorbychoosingGodoverman.Hehadtheintegritytobetruetohisconscience,whichguidedhimnottotradehisfaithandbeliefsforfameandfortune.Hisagonizingdecisionforeshadowedafuturedecisionsixyearsdowntheroad.WhentherestoredChurchcametoKirtland,hewouldlistentoahighervoice,andonceagainSidneywouldrejectfameandfortuneasheresignedanotherministerialpostinMentor,Ohio.

3.Hechosethehumblelifeofatanner.AfterresigninghisvocationasarenownedministerinPittsburgh,Sidneylostthemonetarymeanstosustainhisfamily’sbasicneeds.Hethendecidedtoapprenticeunderhisbrother-in-law,whoknewthetanner’strade.Sidneysoldsomelandandinvestedmoneyinatannery.Hesaidhediditbecausehehad“nowaybywhichtosustainhisfamily,besideshisownindustry.”Heleftalifeof“wealth,popularityandhonor,”optingforanewlifeof“nothingbutpovertyandhardlabor.”35

Sidneysaidhistwo-yearexperienceasatannerwasa“humbleoccupation”thatbrought“sorrowandhumiliation.”Itwasasevereblowtohispride,hecontinued,thatwhenpastfriendssawhim“inthegarbsuitedtotheemploymentofatanner,therewasnolonger...courtesyandfriendshipmanifested”;rather,they“lookeduponhimwithcoolnessandindifference.”36Fewvocationswouldhavebeenmorehumblingtohimthanthatofatanner.TheexperiencemayhavebeentheLord’spurpose—toteachhumilitytoSidney.Itcameafterhisformalreligiouspreparation,whichproducedremarkablesuccessandpopularity.ThisexerciseinhumilitypreparedhimforhismissiontoadvancetheSavior’slast

dispensation.PerhapsSidney’shumiliatingexperienceswerethevehicletheLordusedto

humblehimsufficientlyforhismission,whichwas,intheSavior’swords,“topreparethewaybeforeme,andbeforeElijah.”37Heseemedtostrugglewithpride.TheLordlatersaidofhim,“I,theLord,amnotpleasedwithmyservantSidneyRigdon;heexaltedhimselfinhisheartandreceivednotcounsel”;“lethimhumblehimselfbeforeme.”38

Afterenjoyingthefameofahighlyacclaimedorator,hewasnowfacingacongregationofsmellyanimalskinsimmersedinvatsofammoniaandlime.Hisdailylaborwasnolongerpreachingtoliveaudiencesbutscrapinghairfromthehidesofdeadanimals.Fortwoyearsthefineapparelofanoratorwasreplacedbytheroughclothesofatanner.

TheForerunner’sMinistryInDecember1825,Sidneytookhiswife,Phoebe,andtheirthreechildren

anddepartedontheiryetunknownmissiontoOhio.TheymadetheirnewhomeonlandbelongingtoPhoebe’sfatherinBainbridge,fifteenmilessouthofKirtland.Sidney’sfamilywasenthusiasticallyreceived.AlmostimmediatelyhewasinvitedtopreachinMantua,wherehetaughttheReformedBaptist,orCampbellite,beliefintheBibletotheSnowfamily,includingLorenzoandElizaR.,wholaterbecameprominentChurchmembers.

InJune1826,SidneypreachedafuneralserviceforaBaptistministerinMentor,barelytwomilesfromKirtland.TheMentorcongregationeventuallyinvitedhimtofilltheirministerialvacancy.HardworklearnedonthefamilyfarmandinthetanneryservedSidneywellasherigorouslypreachedtheCampbellitemessagetosurroundingtownssuchasKirtland.LikethepreachingofJohnofold,Sidney’smessagewassimple:“repentanceandbaptism,fortheremissionofsins.”39HetaughttheCampbellitemessagetomanyfamilies,includingthoseofEdwardPartridge,IsaacMorley,NewelK.Whitney,JohnMurdock,FrederickG.Williams,OrsonHyde,andLymanWight.ThesefamilieslaterbecamedevoutbelieversandleadersintherestoredChurchofJesusChrist.

Sidneytraveledfarandwide.HewasledsixtymileswesttopreparethefamiliesofParleyP.Pratt,MiloAndrus,andothers.HetraveledfiftymileseasttothePennsylvaniaborderandfiftymilessouthtoOhiotownssuchasHiram,Nelson,andMantua.HeprobablyestablishedmorethantwelveReformedBaptistcongregationsinawidegeographicarea.Hesuccessfullyfulfilledhiscallingtopreparethewayfortherestoredgospel.Sidney’sphenomenalworkfor

theSaviorisrecordedinmanyjournalsofthosewhojoinedtheChurchwhenitcametoKirtland,thusshowingasuccessfulfulfillmentofthisdivinework.

Sidney’sstrictmessageconcerningtheBibleappealedtohonestseekersoftruthwhomhewaspreparingfor“onemightier”thanhe.40EdwardPartridgewrotethathewasattractedbecauseSidney’smessagewas“nearerrightthananyotherhehadheardof.”41ElizabethAnnandNewelK.WhitneycametoSidneybecausehisprinciples“seemedmostinaccordancewiththescriptures[andwere]tousthenearestpatterntoourSaviour’steachings,untilParleyP.PrattandanotherelderpreachedtheeverlastinggospelinKirtland.”42

OrsonHydewrotesimplythathebecameaconvertofSidney’sfaithbecausehewas“forciblystruckwiththedoctrineofimmersionorbaptismfortheremissionofsins,andmanyotherimportantitemsofdoctrinewhichwereadvocated.”43LymanWightwasstruckwiththesamedoctrine.Hewrote,“IheardSidneyRigdonpreachwhatwasthencalledtheRigdonitedoctrine.AfterhearinghimgothroughtheprincipleofbaptismfortheremissionofsinsIwentforwardandwasbaptizedbyhishands.”44

JohnMurdockindicatedinhisjournal,“Itcausedmetorejoice,believingthatIhadatlastfoundapeoplethatbelievedtheScriptures...sowellagreeingwithmyfeelings,andtheyprofessedtobeinsearchoftruthasIwas,thereforeIunitedwiththem.”45JohnalsonotedthatwhilehefeltthatevenSidneyhadnotyetfoundthefulnessofthegospel,“Ibelievethathe...[was]honestlyseekingforthetruth.”46

OneofSidney’smostsignificantconvertstotheCampbelliteswasParleyP.Pratt,latertobeoneofthefirstmembersoftheQuorumoftheTwelveApostlesinKirtland.ParleywasthemanwholatertaughttherestoredgospelofJesusChristtoSidney,whoaccepteditandwasbaptized.ParleysaidhewasinitiallydrawntoSidneybecauseSidneytaughtprinciplesfamiliartohim,explaining:

Mr.SidneyRigdoncameintotheneighborhoodasapreacher...andwhatwasmyastonishmentwhenIfoundhepreachedfaithinJesusChrist,repentancetowardsGod,andbaptismforremissionofsins,withthepromiseofthegiftoftheHolyGhosttoallwhowouldcomeforward,withalltheirhearts,andobeythisdoctrine!

Herewastheancientgospelindueform.HereweretheveryprinciplesthatIhaddiscoveredyearsbefore;butcouldfindnoonetoministerin.Butstillonegreatlinkwaswantingtocompletethechainoftheancientorderofthings;andthatwas,theauthoritytoministerinholythings—the

apostleship.47

ThecommonthreadintheseaccountsisthatSidneyRigdoncarriedouthisinterimmissionsuccessfully.Sidney“commencedtobaptize,andlikeJohnofold,thereflockedtohimpeoplefromalltheregionroundabout—personsofallranksandstandingsinsociety—therich,thepoor,thenobleandthebrave,flockedtobebaptizedofhim....Hesoonhadlargeandflourishingsocietiesthroughoutthatwholeregionofcountry.”48

FourMissionariesCometoOhioInNovember1830,theLorddispatchedfourenthusiasticmissionaries—

OliverCowdery,ParleyP.Pratt,PeterWhitmerJr.,andZibaPeterson.TheirmissionwastotraveltotheouterreachesoftheUnitedStates,theuncivilizedMissourifrontier.TheyweretocarrythemessageofChrist’srestoredgospeltotheIndians.OntheirwaytheywalkedintoSidneyRigdon’slifeinMentor.TheyintroducedhimtotheChurchofChristandgavehimacopyoftheBookofMormon.Sidney’sfive-yearmissionasaCampbelliteministertookanunexpectedturn.Thefourmissionariesignitedsmolderingreligiousfervorwithinandaroundhim.ThatfireburnedbrightlyandextensivelyforoversevenyearsintheKirtlandarea.AfterreadingtheBookofMormon,followedbyprayerandmeditation,Sidneybecame“fullyconvinced...byarevelationfromJesusChrist,whichwasmadeknowntohiminaremarkablemanner.”49

JohnWhitmer,thefirstChurchhistorian,characterizedSidney’srevelationasavision:

SidneyRigdon,hehavingbeenaninstrumentinthehandsoftheLordofdoingmuchgood.Hewasinsearchoftruth;...heobtainedawitnessfromtheLord,ofthetruthofhiswork.AfterseveraldaystheLordheardhiscries,andansweredhisprayers,andbyvisionshowedtohim,thatthiseminatedfromhim[God]andmustremain,itbeingtheFulnessofthegospelofJesusChrist.50

Consequently,SidneysubmittedhimselfforbaptisminChrist’srestoredChurch.Withnewspiritualenergy,hestartedonamissionofconversion.HetaughtandconvertedpeopleincongregationsfromatleasttenOhiocommunitieswhoknew,respected,andbelievedhim.ManypeoplejoinedtheChurchbecauseofhisinfluence,prominence,andreputation.SidneyhadpreparedthemtorecognizethetruegospelofJesusChristnowfoundinthenewlyrestoredChurch.Thisnewconvert’smissionaryeffortswere

extraordinarilysuccessful,andhehadafloodofimmediateconversions.Inthelasttwomonthsof1830,OhioconvertsequaledChurchmembershipinNewYork.ManyofthenewlyconvertedmembersinOhiowerepromptlyordainedtothepriesthood.

ParleyPrattdescribedthefertilereligiousenvironmentthatwaspreparedbySidney:

Thenewsofourcomingwassoonnoisedabroad....TheinterestandexcitementnowbecamegeneralinKirtland,andinalltheregionroundabout.Thepeoplethrongedusnightandday,insomuchthatwehadnotimeforrestandretirement.Meetingswereconvenedindifferentneighborhoods,andmultitudescametogethersolicitingourattendance;whilethousandsflockedaboutusdaily;sometobetaught,someforcuriosity,sometoobeythegospel,andsometodisputeorresistit.

Intwoorthreeweeksfromourarrivalintheneighborhoodwiththenews,wehadbaptizedonehundredandtwenty-sevensouls,andthisnumbersoonincreasedtoonethousand.Thediscipleswerefilledwithjoyandgladness;...faithwasstrong,joywasgreat.51

JosephSmithandtheSaintsinNewYork,despitebeingtoldthefieldwas“whitealreadytoharvest,”52didnotanticipatethattheLordcouldprepareaharvestfieldsowhiteorapeoplesoreadytoacceptChrist’srestoredgospel.ThusthefertilegroundofOhioemergedastheholygroundof“theOhio.”

PreparingKeyLeadersSidneyRigdonpreparednotonly“theOhio”butalsokeyleaders.Through

hisinfluence,asignificantcoreofChurchleadershipemerged.Sidneyreachedout,converted,andbaptizedseveralprominentcitizenswholaterassumedmajorleadershiproles.EmilyCoburn,whomovedtoOhioinearly1831,observedthatmostoftheconvertshadsignificantstatusinKirtland:“TheywereestablishingaMormonchurchinthatthrivinglittlevillage.Themembersnownumberedaboutonehundredpersons,thegreaterpartofwhomwerethebrightestandbestofthecommunity,merchants,lawyersanddoctors.”53

Thefollowinglistidentifiesthosein“theOhio”whowerelatercalledtosignificantChurchofficesandmadeanimpactinChurchleadership:

•FirstPresidency:SidneyRigdon,FrederickG.Williams,andLorenzoSnow

•QuorumoftheTwelveApostles:OrsonHyde,ParleyP.Pratt,LukeS.

Johnson,LymanE.Johnson,54andLymanWight•PresidingBishopric:EdwardPartridge,IsaacMorley,NewelK.Whitney,

JohnCorrill,andTitusBillingsInadditiontofindingandpreparingfuturepriesthoodleaders,Sidney

preparedwomenforfutureleadershipintheReliefSociety.TheLordplacedtwowomeninOhio,whereSidneycouldfindthem:ElizabethAnnWhitneyandElizaR.Snow,whohadbeenstaunchmembersofhisCampbellitecongregations.ElizabethlaterservedascounselortotwoReliefSocietypresidents,firstEmmaSmithandthenElizaSnow.ElizaherselfservedaspresidentoftheReliefSocietyfortwenty-oneyears.

SidneyFulfilledHisMissionsinKirtlandSidneyexcelledinperformingthemissionsgivenhimbytheSavior.Before

theKirtlandperiodbegan,theLordgaveSidneyatleastsixspecificassignmentstowhichhededicatedhislife.SidneyfulfilledthementirelyduringtheKirtlandyearsasfollows:

1.“Preparethewaybeforeme,andbeforeElijah."55SidneylaboredhardtobaptizeandpreparethepeopleandtheKirtlandTemplefortheappearanceoftheSaviorandElijah.Withothers,he“wet[thewallsofthetemple]with...tears.”56WhentheSaviorandElijahcameonApril3,1836,thepeopleandthetemplewereprepared.

2.“Watchoverhim[Joseph]thathisfaithfailnot."57FewspentasmuchtimewithJosephSmithasSidneydidduringtheKirtlandyears.WhenJosephmetSidney,theLordcharacterizedJosephasHisservantandsaid,“InweaknesshaveIblessedhim.”58SidneyobviouslyhadnofearofexperiencedandcombativeministersorotherswhocouldhavetriedtointimidateorpubliclyhumiliateJoseph.Sidneywastheidealcompanion.HistoryshowsthatJoseph’sconfidenceandfaithgrewsteadilythroughSidney’scompanionship.SeldomhastheLordgivenanyonetheresponsibilityto“watchover”hisprophet.

3.“Thoushaltwriteforhim;andthescripturesshallbegiven."59SidneyservedasscribeforJosephfromthetimetheyfirstmet.SidneywasatthesideoftheProphetashetranslatedpartsoftheBible,includingthebookofMoses.Speakingoftheirworktogether,theyrecorded,“Weweredoingtheworkoftranslation,whichtheLordhadappointeduntous,”withJosephastherevelatorandSidneyasthescribe.60ConcerningthetranslationofsectionsintheBible,Josephoncereferredtoitas“ourwork.”61OnemonthbeforetheyreceivedthevisionrecordedinDoctrineandCovenants76,theLord,speakingtobothof

them,said,“VerilyIsayuntoyoumyservants,JosephSmith,Jun.,andSidneyRigdon,saiththeLord,itisexpedienttotranslateagain.”62AlthoughtheworkoftranslationwasclearlyJoseph’sassignment,“theremusthavebeenfrequentperiodsofdiscussionaboutvariouspassagesandideas.”63JosephbenefitedfromSidney’sextensiveknowledgeofandinsightsintotheBibleaswellashiswritingability.

4.“Tarrywithhim,andheshalljourneywithyou;forsakehimnot."64InthisdirectivetheLordjoinedJosephandSidneyatthehipinmissionarywork.Thetwomentraveledtogetherextensivelyasmissionarycompanions.IneachoftheProphet’slengthymissionaryjourneys—seveninallduringtheKirtlandyears—SidneyandJosephjourneyedsidebyside.

5.“Thoushaltpreachmygospelandcallontheholyprophetstoprovehis[JosephSmith’s]words,astheyshallbegivenhim."65Sidney’sspeakingcapabilitywasrenownedthroughoutnortheasternOhioandwesternPennsylvania.JosephSmithandOliverCowderyreferredtohispreachingasforcible,logical,powerful,able,devout,appropriate,andsublime.66ProbablythebestexampleofhispowerfulpreachingcameduringtheKirtlandTemplededication.Oliver,theeloquentspeaker,usedsuperlativelanguagetoshoweradulationuponSidney,whospokefortwoandahalfhoursatthededication.HewrotethatSidneyquotedfromscriptureand

drewtearsfrommanyeyes....

...Hiswholesoulappearedtobefiredwithhissubject.Arguments,strongandconclusiveseemedalmosttoviewitheachotherforutterance....

...Tosayonthisoccasionheshowedhimselfmasterofhissubjectanddidwell,wouldbedoinghiminjustice;tosayheacquittedhimselfwithhonorordidverywell,wouldbedetractingfromhimrealmerit;andtosaythathedidexceedingwell,wouldbeonlyhaltingpraise.67

6.“Iwillordainyou...tobeaspokesmanuntomyservantJoseph.”68PresidentGeorgeQ.CannonatteststoSidney’ssuccessasspokesmanforJoseph.HepublicallyrecognizedandpraisedSidney,saying:“ThosewhoknewSidneyRigdon,knowhowwonderfullyGodinspiredhim,andwithwhatwonderfuleloquencehedeclaredthewordofGodtothepeople.HewasamightymaninthehandsofGod,asaspokesman,aslong[as]theprophetlived,oruptoashorttimebeforehisdeath.”69

TheLord,throughrevelation,gaveSidneyasignificantadditional

assignmenttotraveltoMissourito“consecrateanddedicatethisland,andthespotforthetemple,untotheLord.”70SidneyperformedthisdedicationonAugust2,1831,ascommanded,andthenextdaytheProphetJosephSmithdedicatedthetemplesiteinIndependence.SidneystoodasJosephSmith’sfirstcounselor,acceptingkeyresponsibilitiesforelevenofthefourteenyearsJosephledtheChurch.ItissignificantthattheLorddirectedmorerevelationsintheDoctrineandCovenantstoSidneythantoanyoneelseexceptJoseph.

UnderstandingSidneyRigdonSidneyRigdonpaidaheavypricetojointheChurch.Congregations,

communities,andleaders,bothreligiousandotherwiseintwostates,heldhiminhighregard.JosephSmithwrotethatSidney“wasrespectedbytheentirecommunity,andhisnamewasatowerofstrength.”71TheProphetrecognizedthatSidney’sformercongregationhadtakengoodcareoftheRigdonsandtheirsevenchildren.Hewrote,“Hiswantswereabundantlysupplied,”addingthathisneedswereeven“anticipated.”72ByjoiningtheChurch,Sidneyandhisfamilysacrificedallofthesebenefits.JosephfurthercharacterizedSidney’sdilemmaasfollows:“IfheshouldunitewiththeChurchofChrist,hisprospectsofwealthandaffluencewouldvanish;hisfamilydependentuponhimforsupport,mustnecessarilysharehishumiliationandpoverty.Hewasawarethathischaracterandhisreputationmustsuffer.”73

SidneyRigdonjoinedtheChurchinKirtlandatconsiderablesacrifice.OthermembersoftheChurchhadgreatstatusandmorematerialgoodsthandidheandhisfamily,butothershadgenerallylefttheirhomestogathertoOhioorMissouri.Sidney,aleaderofgreatrepute,stayedtoliveamongpeoplewhoknewhimandwhofeltbetrayedwhenhedefectedfromtheirreligiontojointheMormons.Theyconstantlytriedtodestroyhimandbroughtpressureonhimeverychancetheygot.TostopgreatnumbersofSidney’sparishionersfromfollowinghimintotherestoredChurch,formerministerialcolleaguesandcongregationalleadersattemptedtodefamehimanddestroyhisreputation.ByaccusingSidneyofcollaboratingwithJosephSmithtostealamanuscriptandpublishitastheBookofMormon,theyattemptedtodestroythecredibilityoftheChurchandofJosephSmith.TheyaccusedSidneyofconnivingwithJosephtoconcoctfalserevelationsandaccountsofvisions.BecauseJosephwasnotaspolishedastheseasonedSidney,theyaccusedSidneyoforiginatingthisnewchurch.ThesefalseaccusationsfollowedSidneytothegraveandbeyond.HissonJohnwasstillattemptingtorefutethemmanyyearsafterhisfatherhaddied.

Churchmembersmuststillrefutesomeoftheaccusationstoday.74

Sidney’ssonJohnrecalledthattheMentorcongregationsaidthathisfather“might[have]gonedowntothegraveasoneofthegreatdivinesoftheage,butnowhehadgoneandthrownitallawayandwasa-goingtofollowafoolofaboywhoclaimedanangelhadappearedtohim.”75

DuringthetimeheservedasacounselorandscribetoJosephSmith,Sidneywastarredandfeathered,beaten,arrested,falselyimprisoned,andsuffereddebilitatinghealthproblems.Whilebeingtarredandfeathered,hewasinjured,perhapsirreparably,withaseverebrainconcussion.Herelated,“Theybrokeintomyhouse[,]drag[ged]meoutofmybed—outofthedoormyheadbeatingonthefloor.[T]heydrag[ge]dmeoverthewoodpile[,]andontheywentmyheadthumpingonthefrozenground,afterwhichtheythrewtarandfeathersonme.”76

Johnalsosaid,“They...poundedhimtilltheythoughthewasdead.”77WhenthemobhadfinishedwithSidney,JosephSmithalsothoughthistrustedcompanionwasdead.Hesaidthatwhenhevisitedhisfriendthenextday,he“foundhimcrazy,andhishead[was]lacerated...exceedingly;...andhecontinueddelirious[for]somedays.”78

Sidneymightbecomparedtoamilitaryofficerwhoiswoundedandphysicallydisabledinbattle,neverabletoachievebattlereadinessorgreatnessagain.Effectsfromthebrainconcussion,coupledwithanearlierconcussion,mayexplainSidney’son-again,off-againerraticbehavior,79whichwasknowntomany.RegardingSidney’sbehavior,NewelK.Whitney,anadmirerofSidneyandaconverttohisCampbellitecongregation,observed,“IwaswellacquaintedwithElderRigdonanumberofyearsbeforehecameintothischurch....Hewasalwayseitherinthebottomofthecellarorupinthegarretwindow.”80Medicalauthoritieshaveobservedsimilarunexplainablebehaviorsofpatientswhohavesufferedsevereheadtrauma.CouldSidney’smedicalconditionexplainhisirrationalcomment,overheardinLibertyJail,totheeffectthatSidney’ssufferingexceededChrist’s?CoulditexplainhisconfrontationwithBrighamYounginNauvooasSidneyattemptedtosucceedJosephSmithaftertheMartyrdom?Wemayneverunderstandsuchactions,butwecanappreciateSidney’searlierdevotionandsacrifice.Perhapshewasacasualtyinthebattlewiththeadversary.Hecertainlywasavictimoftheadversary’sattempttodestroyJosephSmithandthusChrist’srestoredChurch.

PerhapsthesaddesttimeforhisformerassociatesinthehighestcouncilsoftheChurchwaswhentheymettoputSidneyontrialforhismembershipinthe

Church.BrighamYoungmadeitcleartotheChurchcouncilthathemadehisjudgmentoutofloveandnotmalicewhenhesaid:“IamwillingthatyoushouldknowthatmyfeelingsforSidneyRigdonasaman,asaprivatecitizen,areofthebestkind.Ihavelovedthatmanandalwayshadtheverybestfeelingsforhim;IhavestoodindefenseofhislifeandhishouseinKirtland,andhavelainonthefloor,nightafternight,andweekafterweek,todefendhim.”81

ItappearsthatSidney,totheendofhislife,stronglydefendedtherealityofhisknowledgethatJosephwasaprophetofGod.HissonJohn,speakinginageneralconferenceoftheChurchin1905,reportedthathequestionedhisfatherabouthisfeelingstowardJosephSmithandtheChurchjustbeforehisdeath.TheminutesoftheconferencedocumentJohnW.Rigdon’sremarks:

Hisfather[Sidney]wasemphaticinhisclaimthatJosephSmithwasaProphetofGod,thatanangelhaddeliveredtotheboyProphettheBookofMormonplates,andthat,notwithstandinghefelthehadbeenill-treatedbysomeChurchleadersheknew,nevertheless,thattheworktheyrepresentedwasinverydeedtheGospelofChrist.

ThespeakersaidthathisfatherwaspresentatthemeetingheldimmediatelyafterthedeathoftheProphet,andthatBrighamYoungwasthechosensuccessorofthemartyredpresident.82

Inhisbiographyofhisfather,JohnRigdonwrotemoredetailsofthisinterviewheldneartheendofSidney’slife.JohnapproachedhisfathertoaskhimforafinalaffirmationordenialofJosephSmithandtheBookofMormon.Johnwrote:

Iwenttomyfather’sroom;hewasthereandalone....Itoldhim...youareanoldmanandyouwillsoonpassaway,andIwishtoknowifJosephSmith...obtainedthatbook[BookofMormon]insomeotherwaythanwhathehadtoldyou.Givemeallyouknowaboutit,thatImayknowthetruth.Myfather...lookedatmeamoment,raisedhishandabovehisheadandslowlysaid,withtearsglisteninginhiseyes:“Myson,IcanswearbeforehighheaventhatwhatIhavetoldyouabouttheoriginofthatbook[BookofMormon]istrue....”Healsosaidtome...that‘Mormonism’wastrue;thatJosephSmithwasaProphet,andthisworldwouldfinditoutsomeday.83

DespiteSidney’sfallfromleadership,onefactisclear.InKirtlandhewasdevotedtoJoseph.DuringtheKirtlandyears,heprovedhimselftobeanindispensablestrengthandsupporttoGod’schosenprophet.Duringthe1830s,

SidneywasoneofthegreatleadersoftheChurch,withoutwhomtheChurchcouldnothavebeenfirmlyestablished.SidneystoodbyJosephwhenotherChurchleadersforsookhimduringKirtland’sdarkdaysoffinancialdisasterandpersecution.BytheendoftheKirtlandperiod,SidneyhadwonderfullyfulfilledallofhisGod-givenmissions.TheKirtlandyearswereindeedSidney’ssignificantyears.

Notes^1.Doctrine&Covenants128:19.^2.Doctrine&Covenants128:22.^3.JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2d

ed.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),4:609–10;“TheTemple,”TimesandSeasons3(May2,1842):776.

^4.Malachi3–4.^5.3Nephi24–25.^6.DocumentsofAmericanHistory,ed.HenrySteeleCommagerandMiltonCantor,2vols.(Englewood

Cliffs,N.J.:PrenticeHall,1988),1:131.^7.GeorgeWashingtonWritings,sel.JohnH.Rhodehamel(NewYork:LiteraryClassicsoftheUnited

States,1997),687.^8.Doctrine&Covenants35:4.^9.Doctrine&Covenants35:4;Matthew3:3.^10.Matthew3:5–6.^11.“HistoryofJosephSmith,”TimesandSeasons4(June1,1843):209–10;TimesandSeasons4(May15,

1843):194.^12.Luke3:3;Matthew3:1–2.^13.Doctrine&Covenants84:27–28.^14.RichardS.VanWagoner,SidneyRigdon:APortraitofReligiousExcess(Provo,Utah:Maxwell

Institute,2002),5.^15.JohnWickliffeRigdon,“‘INeverKnewaTimeWhenIDidNotKnowJosephSmith’:ASon’sRecord

oftheLifeandTestimonyofSidneyRigdon,”ed.KarlKeller,Dialogue1,no.4(Winter1966):20.^16.Keller,“Son’sRecord,”20.^17.Keller,“Son’sRecord,”20.^18.Keller,“Son’sRecord,”20.^19.F.MarkMcKiernan,“TheConversionofSidneyRigdontoMormonism,”Dialogue5,no.2(Summer

1970):73.^20.Keller,“Son’sRecord,”20;J.WickliffeRigdon,“LifeStoryofRigdon,”4,inVanWagoner,Sidney

Rigdon,5n11.^21.VanWagoner,SidneyRigdon,8n28.^22.VanWagoner,SidneyRigdon,20.^23.VanWagoner,SidneyRigdon,6n15.^24.Sidneywrotelateinlifethat“myfear,saiththeLord”washisrulingprinciple.Hewasthescribefor

Doctrine&Covenants76:5,wheretheterms“saiththeLord”and“fearme”wereusedinconjunctionwith“serveme.”Thephrase“whereismyfear?saiththeLord”inMalachi1:6pointsouttherelationshipofaservanttohismaster.SidneyfeltthathismissionwastoservehisMaster.

^25.VanWagoner,SidneyRigdon,6n15.

^26.Keller,“Son’sRecord,”20.^27.Keller,“Son’sRecord,”20.^28.HansRollmann,“TheEarlyBaptistCareerofSidneyRigdoninWarren,Ohio,”BYUStudies21(Winter

1981):47.^29.Rollmann,“BaptistCareerofSidneyRigdon,”49.^30.Keller,“Son’sRecord,”22.^31.B.H.Roberts,NewWitnessesforGod,3vols.(SaltLakeCity:GeneralBoardoftheYMMIA,1911),

3:349–50.^32.Keller,“Son’sRecord,”21.^33.Keller,“Son’sRecord,”21.^34.TimesandSeasons4(May15,1843):193.^35.TimesandSeasons4(May15,1843):193.^36.TimesandSeasons4(May15,1843):193.^37.Doctrine&Covenants35:4.^38.Doctrine&Covenants63:55;124:103.^39.TimesandSeasons4(May15,1843):194.^40.Luke3:16.^41.AndrewJenson,Latter-daySaintBiographicalEncyclopedia,4vols.(SaltLakeCity:AndrewJenson

HistoryCompany,1901–36;repr.,SaltLakeCity:WesternEpics,1971),1:219.^42.ElizabethWhitney,inEdwardW.Tullidge,TheWomenofMormondom(NewYork:Tullidge&

Crandall,1877;repr.,SaltLakeCity:n.p.,1975),35.^43.“HistoryofOrsonHyde,”MillennialStar26(November19,1864):744.^44.TheHistoryoftheReorganizedChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints,vol.1(Independence,Mo.:

HeraldHouse,1951),151–52.^45.JohnMurdock,“ABriefSynopsisoftheLifeofJohnMurdock:TakenfromanAbridgedRecordofHis

Journal,”7,inL.TomPerrySpecialCollections,HaroldB.LeeLibrary,BrighamYoungUniversity,Provo,Utah.

^46.Murdock,“BriefSynopsis,”8.^47.ParleyP.Pratt,AutobiographyofParleyP.Pratt,ed.ParleyP.PrattJr.(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,

1985),13.^48.TimesandSeasons4(August15,1843):210.^49.TimesandSeasons4(August15,1843):290.^50.FromHistoriantoDissident:TheBookofJohnWhitmer,ed.BruceN.Westergren(SaltLakeCity:

SignatureBooks,1995),3–4.^51.Pratt,Autobiographyv,36.^52.Doctrine&Covenants6:3.^53.EmilyM.Austin,Mormonism;or,LifeamongtheMormons(Madison,Wis.:M.J.CantwellBookand

JobPrinter,1882),58–60,inLarryC.Porter,“‘YeShallGototheOhio’:ExodusoftheNewYorkSaintstoOhio,1831,”inOhio,ed.MiltonV.BackmanJr.,RegionalStudiesinLatter-daySaintChurch

Historyseries(Provo,Utah:DepartmentofChurchHistoryandDoctrine,BrighamYoungUniversity,1990),6.

^54.AlthoughLukeandLymanJohnsonwerenotCampbellitesorReformedBaptists,theywouldhaveknownofSidneyRigdonandprobablyheardhimpreach.TheHiramarea,inwhichtheylived,washeavilyCampbellite.In1827,SidneyorganizedaCampbellitecongregationwithinfivemilesoftheirhome.TheJohnsonandSnowfamilies(whowereCampbellites)werenodoubtfriends.LorenzoSnowformedacloserelationshipwithLukeandLymanJohnsonwithwhomhe“hadbeenintimatelyacquaintedallthrough[their]boyhooddays”(LorenzoSnow,“ReminiscencesoftheProphetJosephSmith,”[SaltLakeCity,Utah]DeseretEveningNews,December23,1899,17).InFebruary1831,threemonthsafterSidneyRigdonwasbaptized,SidneybaptizedLymanJohnson.

^55.Doctrine&Covenants35:4.^56.HistoryoftheChurch,2:414;MessengerandAdvocate2,no.6(March1836):274.^57.Doctrine&Covenants35:19.^58.Doctrine&Covenants35:17.^59.Doctrine&Covenants35:20.^60.Doctrine&Covenants76:15.^61.HistoryoftheChurch,1:211.^62.Doctrine&Covenants73:3.^63.RobertJ.Matthews,“APlainerTranslation”:JosephSmith’sTranslationoftheBible,aHistoryand

Commentary(Provo,Utah:BrighamYoungUniversityPress,1975),39.^64.Doctrine&Covenants35:22.^65.Doctrine&Covenants35:23.^66.MessengerandAdvocate2,no.6(March1836):275;JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesus

ChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2ded.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),1:270;2:414.

^67.MessengerandAdvocate2,no.6(March1836):275–76.^68.Doctrine&Covenants100:9.^69.GeorgeQ.Cannon,inJournalofDiscourses,26vols.(London:Latter-daySaints’BookDepot,1854–

86),25:126.^70.Doctrine&Covenants58:57.^71.TimesandSeasons4(September1,1843):305.^72.TimesandSeasons4(September1,1843):305.^73.TimesandSeasons4(September1,1843):305.^74.OnefalseandimplausibleaccusationwasthatSidneyRigdonwasthesourceoftheBookofMormon.

AccordingtotheSpauldingtheory,RigdonsupposedlystoleamanuscriptfromauthorSolomonSpauldingwhenSidneylivedinPittsburgh.TheSpauldingmanuscriptwasastoryaboutafictionalbandofRomanswhobecamelostatseaandlandedinNorthAmerica.TheSpauldingmanuscriptwasfoundandpublishedin1885andbearsnoresemblancetotheBookofMormon,butsomecriticsstillraisethisfalseaccusationtoday.

^75.Keller,“Son’sRecord,”24.

^76.ManuscriptminutesofApril6,1844,GeneralMinutesCollection,inVanWagoner,SidneyRigdon,115n36.

^77.Keller,“Son’sRecord,”26.^78.HistoryoftheChurch,1:265.^79.WhenSidneywassevenyearsold,hewasthrownfromahorse.Hisfootcaughtinastirrup,andhewas

draggedsomedistancebeforebeingrescued.HisbrotherLoammiwrote:“Hereceivedsuchacontusionofthebrainaseverafterwardseriouslyaffectedhischaracter,andinsomerespectshisconduct.Hismentalpowersdidnotseemtobeimpaired,buttheequilibriumofhisintellectualexertionsseemstherebytohavebeensadlyaffected.Hestillmanifestedgreatmentalactivityandpower,butwastoanequaldegreeinclinedtorunintowildandvisionaryviewsonalmosteveryquestion”(inVanWagoner,SidneyRigdon,116–17n43).

^80.TimesandSeasons5(October15,1844):686.^81.TimesandSeasons5(September15,1844):648.^82.InConferenceReport,October1905,84.^83.JohnW.Rigdon,“LifeofSidneyRigdon,”185–95,inHistoryoftheChurch,1:123n.

Chapter2

TheLordGathersHisPeople

Inobediencetothecommandment...I...begantomakepreparationstogotoOhio....

Webadeadieutoallwehelddearonthisearth.—NewelKnight

As1831openedontheChurch,membersfoundthemselvesintwogeographiclocationsaboutfourhundredmilesapart.InandaroundKirtland,morethantwohundrednewlybaptizedSaintseagerlyawaitedtheLord’sinstructions.ChurchmembersinwesternNewYork,wheretheLordhad

establishedHisChurchninemonthsbefore,werescatteredinaradiusofonehundredmilesaroundFayette.TheLordhadalreadytoldhisprophetthatitwastimefortheSaintstoleaveNewYork.

InthreerevelationstheSaviordirectedtheNewYorkSaintstomovetoOhio.1Inthefirst,giventoJosephSmithinDecember1830,Hesaid,“AcommandmentIgiveuntothechurch,thatitisexpedientinmethattheyshouldassembletogetherattheOhio.”2JosephSmithannouncedthenewsataJanuary2,1831,conferenceatthePeterWhitmerfarminFayette.NewelKnight,afaithfulmemberfromtheColesvilleBranch,said,“Wewereinstructedasapeople,tobeginthegatheringofIsrael.”3Itwasshockingnewstopeoplewho,throughhardlabor,hadsettledinNewYork,developedfarms,builtbusinesses,andraisedfamilies.Churchmembers,mostofwhomhadbeenbaptizedlessthanayearbefore,hadnotbargainedtopullupstakessosoonandmovetoanothernewfrontier.

TheLordknewthisentailedsignificantsacrifices,andthisdisplacementwasonlythebeginningofwhatwouldbecomeapatternofsacrificeandmovementforyearstocome.Inthenextrevelation,givenJanuary2,1831,ChristofferedHisSaints“riches”inexchangefortheirsacrifice.Heexplainedthat“thewilloftheFather”wastogivethem“therichesofeternity,”whichwouldmakethem“therichestofallpeople.”4Toobtaintheseriches,however,theymustfirstobey“thecommandment[to]gototheOhio.”5Thiscommandmentwasdifficulttoobeybecauseitnecessitatedimmediateresponse.Nodoubt,theirquandarywaswhattodowiththeirhomes,farms,andproperty.TheSaviorgavethemthreeoptions:sellthem,rentthem,orleavethem,whichever“seemeththemgood.”6

Asmightbeexpected,someinitiallyresisted.JohnWhitmer,theChurchhistorian,said:“AftertheLordhadmanifestedtheabovewords[tomovetoOhio],throughJosephtheSeer,thereweresomedivisionsamongthecongregation,somewouldnotreceivetheaboveasthewordoftheLord:but[held]thatJosephhadinventedithimselftodeceivethepeoplethatintheendhemightgetgain.Nowthiswasbecause,theirheartswerenotrightinthesightoftheLord,fortheywantedtoserveGodandman;butourSaviorhasdeclaredthatitwasimpossibletodoso.”7

Somemembersweededthemselvesout.Thesacrificewasgreaterthantheirfaith,asJohnWhitmerindicates:“Itishardforthosewhoreceivethefulnessofthegospel,andcameintothenewandeverlastingcovenant[to]getclearofthetraditionsoftheirforefathers:andare[slow]tobemadetobelievethe

commandmentsthatcameforthintheselastdaysfortheupbuildingofthekingdomofGod,andthesalvationofthosewhobelieve.”8

Buttothefaithful,eventhoughtheystruggled,thecoursewasclear.

TheLordSendsLeadersto“theOhio”Thefirstpersontobesentto“theOhio”wasJohnWhitmer.Johnexplained

thathiscallcamefromtheLord,who“manifestedHimselftoJoseph.”ThesummonsdirectedthatJohn’sleadershipwouldstrengthenthenewlybaptizedSaints.Johnsays,“TheLord...gavecommandmentforme...togototheOhio,andcarrythecommandmentsandrevelationswithme,tocomfortandstrengthenmybrethreninthatland.”9HeleftimmediatelyandarrivedinKirtlandbyJanuary15,1831.

SidneyRigdon,whohadparticipatedasaforerunnerintheconversionofmostoftheOhioSaints,taughtthemthegospel,andsawthembaptized,wrotealetterofintroductionsotheywouldwarmlywelcomeJohn.EmphasizingthattheLorddirectedthistransfer,Sidneywrote:

TheLordhasdeclareduntousthatyouprayuntohimthatJosephSmithandmyselfgospeedilyuntoyou;butatpresentitisnotexpedientforhimtosendus.Hehasrequiredofus,therefore,tosenduntoyouourbelovedbrotherJohn,andwithhimtherevelationswhichhe[theLord]hasgivenuntous,bywhichyouwillseethereasonwhywecannotcomeatthistime.10

WithinweekstheLorddirectedJosephSmithandhiswife,Emma,togotoKirtlandandleaveNewYorkpermanently.Theirobediencewasremarkable,andtheypromptlyloadedupalltheirearthlypossessionsandleftinahorse-drawnsled.Thismoveentailedtravelingmorethantwohundredmilesbysleighinthemiddleofacoldandsnowywinter.Emmawasthensixmonthspregnantwithtwins.TheLordhadinspiredJosephtomakethisjourney,revealingtohimthatNewelK.WhitneywasprayingandpetitioningtheLordtosendJoseph.WhenJosepharrivedattheWhitneystoreinKirtland,hewalkeduptoBrotherWhitney,whomhehadnevermet,shookhishandand,withoutintroduction,greetedhimbysaying:“NewelK.Whitney,thouarttheman....IamJoseph,theProphet.Youhaveprayedmehere.Now,whatdoyouwantofme?”11

OneaccountindicatesthatJosephKnightSr.accompaniedJosephandEmmafromwesternNewYork.AsaresultoftherevelationgiventotheChurchto“gototheOhio”12andbecauseamobwasencroachinguponhim,Knighthad

beenpreparingtoleavehisfarminColesville.HeleftwithinhoursafterbeinginvitedtomakethearduousandcoldjourneywithJosephandEmma.Herecorded,“ILoadedupwhatICouldCaryandwentawaythatnite....IalsotookmywifeandDaughterforwewar[e][were]calcalatingtogosoonforwealitleBeforehadarevelationtogotoohio.”13

JosephKnightJr.recountedthatthisinvitationcamewithapricetohimpersonally:“MyFather...andJoseph...startedintheWinterwithmysleigh,whichcostmefiftydollars.”14

TheSaintsBegintoSellTheirPropertyTheseearliestmembersoftherestoredChurchplacedtheirlivesand

everythingtheyownedontheirfaiththatChristtrulyledthem.ManyChurchmembersputtheirlandupforsalewithoutdelay.FreebornDemillclosedthesaleonthirty-sixacresofhispropertyonMarch9,1831.15AaronCulverrecordedhissaleofonehundredacresonthesamedate.16PeterWhitmerSr.andhiswife,Mary,finalizedthedeedontheirone-hundred-acrelotinFayetteonApril1,1831.17

Havingtosellimmediatelycreatedabuyer’smarket.NewelKnightsaid,“Asmightbeexpected,wewereobligedtomakegreatsacrificesofourproperty.”18Newel’sbrother,JosephKnightJr.,said,“Therestofussaid[stayed]tillSpringandsoldwhatpropertywecould.”19

TheKnightfamily,fromColesville,NewYork,exhibitedexemplarywillingnesstoobeytheLord.JosephKnightSr.,knownas“Father”KnighttotheSaints,livedacomfortablelifeoperatingafarmandgristmillontheSusquehannaRiver.HedidnotsubmithimselfforbaptismuntiltheLordtoldhiminarevelationthatitwashis“duty.”20FouryearsearlierhehadbefriendedJosephSmithatapivotalpointintheProphet’slife.FatherKnightgavetwenty-year-oldJosephmuch-neededemploymentandevenlethimtake“ahorseandCutter”tocourtEmma.21AsJosephwastranslatingtheBookofMormon,Knightgavehim“somefewthingsoutoftheStore[:]apairofshoesandthreeDollarsinmoneytohelphimalitle.”22HealsogaveJosephandOliverCowderyfoodandnecessarypapersotheycouldcontinuetranslating.

BrotherKnightsaid:

Joseph...CameuptoseemeifICouldhelphimtosomeprovisons,[they]havingnowaytoBuyany....andIBoughtaBarralofMackrelandsomelinedpaperforwriting.And...somenineortenBushelsofgrainandfive

orsixBushels[of]taters[potatoes]andapoundoftea,andIwentDowntoseehimandtheyware[were]inwant....Andtheyware[were]gladfortheyware[were]out.23

ManyLeaveTheirPropertyFollowingChrist’srevelatoryinstructiontoleave“farmsthatcannotbe

sold,”24manyoftheSaintsdidjustthat.TheysimplygatheredwhattheycouldtakewiththemandpointedthemselvestowardKirtland.Astheyleft,JosephandEmmaSmithbecameperhapsthefirstpersonstoplacetheirpropertyonthealtaroffaith.InJanuary1831theyleftthirteenacresoflandandahomeinHarmony,Pennsylvania,whichwouldnotbesolduntilJune28,1833.25

Unabletosellhisfarmonshortnotice,JosephKnightSr.hiredanattorneytodisposeofhispropertyandembarked,notknowingwhatwouldhappen.HisattorneyplacedthisadvertisementinalocalnewspaperafterFatherKnighthadgone:

FORSALE,THEfarmlatelyoccupiedbyJosephKnight,situate[d]inthetownofColesville,neartheColesvilleBridge—boundedononesidebytheSusquehannaRiver,andcontainingaboutonehundredandfortytwoacres.OnsaidFarmaretwoDwellingHouses,agoodBarn,andafineOrchard.Thetermsofsalewillbeliberal—ApplytoWmM.Waterman.26

Newel,FatherKnight’sthirty-year-oldson,neverquestionedthecounseltomovebutpickedupimmediatelyandleftforOhio.Hispropertydidn’tcloseuntilafterhehadmoved.Hedescribedhisfeelingsashewalkedaway,sacrificingeverythinginleaving:

Inobediencetothecommandmentwhichhadbeengiven,I,togetherwiththeColesvilleBranch,begantomakepreparationstogotoOhio....

...Webadeadieutoallwehelddearonthisearth.27

SomeNewYorkersfeltthattheirMormonneighborsweredeceived.MartinHarris,thoughttobeonesuchperson,wasadmiredaswellaspitied.AneditorialintheWayneSentinel,publishedinPalmyra,reportedthedepartureofMartinandtheSaintsboundforKirtland:

Severalfamilies,numberingaboutfiftysouls,tookuptheirlineofmarchfromthistown[Palmyra]thisweekforthe‘promisedland,’amongwhomwasMARTINHARRIS,oneoftheORIGINALbelieversinthe’BOOKOF

MORMON.’Mr.Harriswasamongtheearlysettlersofthistown,andhaseverbornethecharacterofanhonorableanduprightman,andanobligingandbenevolentneighbor.Hehadarespectablefortune—andhehasleftalargecircleofacquaintancesandfriendstopityhisdelusion.28

PersecutionCentersinColesvilleSomeskeptics,notmotivatedbyrespect,soughttoaddgreaterhardshipto

thealreadyburdenedSaints.NewelKnight,afutureChurchleaderandsonofJosephKnight,discoveredthisfirsthand.Newel,designatedtoleadtheColesvilleSaintstoOhio,departedwithhisgroup.Aftertheyhadleft,troublemakersunderguiseofthelawneedlesslybroughthimbackforacourtproceeding.Hewrote:

Wehadproceededbutafewdaysonourjourney,whenIwassubepnaedasawitness,andhadtogotoColesville.Onarrivingthereitwasveryevidentthatthisplanhadbeenadoptedbyourenemiestoaddalittlemoretothepersecutionsalreadyheapeduponus.ThewholecompanydeclinedtravelinguntilIshouldreturn.29

PersecutionsetinsolidlyatColesvilleandbecametheSaints’lotformostoftheirearlyhistory.Nonetheless,theLordhadraisedupanddirectedgoodmenintheColesvilleareatoprotectandassistJosephSmithandtheSaintsforsometime,evenbeforethecommandcametogotoOhio.Oneofthosemen,arespectedattorneynamedJohnS.Reid,wasaskedbyFatherKnighttodefendJosephinBroomeCounty,NewYork,in1830.Reid,notaChurchmember,laterstated:“Apeculiarimpressionorthoughtstruckmymind,thatImustgoanddefendhim,forhewastheLord’sanointed.Ididnotknowwhatitmeant,butthoughtImustgoandcleartheLord’sanointed.”30

AfterReidhelpedJosephescapeamobofthreehundredpeople,hetestifiedofthepowerthatfinallyhelpedJosephandtheColesvilleSaintstodepart:“Iamwellawarethatwewereassistedbysomehigherpowerthanman;...Icannottellhowwesucceededingettinghimaway.Itakenoglorytomyself,itwastheLord’swork.”31

Despitetheongoingharassment,theLordblessedHisdepartingSaints.NewelKnightrecordsoneincidentinwhichtheLordcausedamiraculoushealingofhisaunt:

SoonafterIleft,myaunt,ElectaPeck,fellandbrokehershoulderinamostshockingmanner;asurgeonwascalledtorelievehersufferings,whichwere

verygreat.MyauntdreamedthatIreturnedandlaidmyhandsuponher,prayedforher,andshewasmadewhole,andpursuedherjourneywiththecompany.Sherelatedthisdreamtothesurgeonwhoreplied,“Ifyouareabletotravelinmanyweeksitwillbeamiracle,andIwillbeaMormontoo.”

Iarrivedattheplace,wherethecompanyhadstopped,lateintheevening;but,onlearningoftheaccident,Iwenttoseemyaunt,andimmediatelyonmyenteringtheroomshesaid,“O,BrotherNewel,ifyouwilllayyourhandsuponme,Ishallbewellandabletogoonthejourneywithyou.”Isteppeduptothebed,and,inthenameoftheLordJesusChrist,rebukedthepainwithwhichshewassuffering,andcommandedhertobemadewhole;anditwasdone;forthenextmorningshearose,dressedherself,andpursuedthejourneywithus.32

TheExodustoOhioThesedisplacedSaintstrustedimplicitlyinGod.Withanunshakablefaith,

theyloadedtheirearthlygoodsonwagonsorcanalboats,knowingtheywereGod’slatter-dayIsrael.JohnWhitmerdescribedthespiritthatdrovetheirexodusfromNewYork:“TheLordhadmanifestedhiswilltohispeople.ThereforetheymadepreperationstoJourneytotheOhio,withtheirwives,andchildrenandallthattheypossessed,toobeythecommandmentoftheLord.”33

TheseSaintsobedientlywalkedawayfromcomfortablesituations,friends,and,inmanycases,parents,brothersandsisters,orgrownchildren.AnespeciallypoignantstoryistoldofBetsyPeckandherfiancé,Cornelius.TheSaints’exodusendedtheirengagement.HezekiahPeck,Betsy’sfather,forbadetheirmarriageunlessCorneliusjoinedtheChurchandwentwiththem.Corneliusrefusedtodoeither.Seventy-twoyearslater,Cornelius’sniece,HarrietShay,vividlyrecalledhisheartbreakasBetsylefthimbehind:“ThatdaywasmadeimpressiontomeasIwitnessedthesorrowofUncleCorneliuswhowasatourhousewhenthewagontrainwentby.”34

LocalpeoplerememberedwatchingtheMormonsleaveandtakealltheypossessed.Onesaid,“Thetrainconsistedofthreebaggageandelevenpassenger-wagons.”35HarrietShaywrote:“IdistinctlyrememberseeingthefollowersofJosephSmith,Jr.,ofMormonfame,gobymyfathers,GeorgeClappers,houseontheeastsideoftheSusquehannaRiver....

“Tothebestofmyrecollectiontherewereeight(8)orten(10)wagons.Theywerecoveredlikewesternemigrantwagons,andweredrawnbyoxen.”36

JosephHervydescribedthesedepartingSaintswalkingbesidetheirwagons:“Mymemoryisthatsometwentyorthirtywomen,girls,menandboys,onfootandintwoold-fashionedwesternemigrantwagonscomprisedtheemigratingparty.”37

AswithancientIsrael’sexodus,thejourneytoKirtlandwasfullofchallenges.Itwasmadedifficultbyinclementweather,imperfectconstructionofthefairlynewErieCanalinNewYork,andblocksoficeinLakeEriethatdelayedtheSaints’departurefromBuffalo.TheSaintsalsoexperiencedsicknessandfoodshortages.ThebodyoftheSaintscameinthreeseparategroups,leavinginAprilorearlyMay1831.NewelKnightledalmostseventySaintsfromColesville,NewYork.MartinHarrisreportedlyheadedthegroupofaboutfiftySaintsfromtheManchesterandPalmyraarea.ThomasMarshandLucyMackSmith,theProphet’smother,shepherdedabouteightySaintsfromFayette.TheLordwatchedovereachofthesegroupsastheyjourneyed.

ThetravelofthegroupfromFayetteisbestdocumentedinthedetailedaccountleftbyLucyMackSmith.TheytookthefirstlegoftheirjourneyfromNewYorktoKirtlandontheErieCanal,thewaterwayconnectingBuffaloonthewestandtheHudsonRiverontheeast.TheSaintsboardedabarge,whichwouldhavebeenpulledbyhorsesordraftanimalswalkingonatowpathalongthebank.Astheystarted,Lucyremindedthegroup,asshewouldlaterdoateachjunctureoftheirtrip,thattheLordwatchedoverthem:

Ithencalledthebrethrenandsisterstogether,andremindedthemthatweweretravelingbythecommandmentoftheLord,asmuchasFatherLehiwas,whenheleftJerusalem;and,iffaithful,wehadthesamereasonstoexpecttheblessingsofGod.Ithendesiredthemtobesolemn,andtolifttheirheartstoGodcontinuallyinprayer,thatwemightbeprospered.38

Astheybegantheirjourney,Lucywasstunnedtorealizethattherewere“twentygrownpersons[and]thirtychildren,whowerealmostdestituteoffood.”Sheobserved:“Thiswasunaccountabletomeatfirst,butIafterwardslearnedthattheyhadconvertedtheirsubstanceintoclothing,expectingthatthosewhowereinbettercircumstanceswouldsupportthem,aswellasdefraytheirtravelingexpense;those,however,fromwhomtheyexpectedthemostassistance,disappointedthem.”39

TheLordassistedLucy’sgroupthroughthehelpofastrangerastheyweredepartingforKirtland.Sherelateshow“oneEsquireChamberlaincameonboard,andaskedme,ifIhadwhatmoneyIwantedtomakemyfamilycomfortable.Ireplied,thatIhadanabundanceformyselfandchildren,buthe

might,perhaps,findsomeonboard,whostoodinneedofassistance.‘Well,’saidhe,‘hereisalittlemoney,andyoucandealitoutasyoulike,’and,handingmeseventeendollars,helefttheboat.”40

Themostfrighteningexperienceonthecanaloccurredwhenthecanal’ssidewallgaveway,spillingessentialwateroutofthecanalandthuspreventingfurthertravel.Theprospectforrebuildingthesidewallquicklylookedbleak.Thegrouplackedfoodforanextendeddelay,andadelayposedproblemsaboutrendezvousingwithtwoothergroups—oneofwhichhadalreadyarrivedinBuffalo.LucyagainprovidedreassurancethattheLordledthem:

“No,no,”saidI,“youwillnotstarve,brethren,noranythingofthatsort;onlydobepatientandstopyourmurmuring.IhavenodoubtbutthehandoftheLordisoverusforgood;perhapsitisbestforustobehereashorttime.ItisquiteprobablethattheboatscannotleaveBuffaloharboronaccountoftheice;ifso,thetownmustinevitablybecrowdedwithfamilies,inwhichcaseitwouldbenexttoimpossibleforustogetintoacomfortablehouse.Arewenotinfarbettercircumstancesinourpresentsituation?”41

Thecanalwasrepairedwithunexpectedspeed,bringingtheMormonemigrantstoBuffalofivedaysafterleavingtheFayettearea.Lodgingwasdesperatelyneededforsisterswhosechildrenbecamesick.Lucywassuccessfulinfindingthenecessaryquartersforthewomenandtheirsickchildren.Sheboldlyspoketoalandlady,wholistenedtohergospelteachingandthengavelodgingtothemothersandsickchildren.HavingnomeansarrangedtosailonLakeErie,LucynowneededtofindtransportationtoKirtlandforherstrandedtravelers.Whileshewasforcedtobargainforscarcetransportation,anothermiraclecametoheraid.Shelocatedacaptainofaship,CaptainBlake,whobychancehadearliercaptainedashipownedbyherbrother,StephenMack.CaptainBlakeofferedthestrandedcompanydeckpassageonhisshiptoFairportHarbor,Ohio,justtwelvemilesfromKirtland.Lucy’sgroup,feelingblessedandgrateful,resumedtheirtripfromBuffalo.

TheLord’sAssistanceonLakeErieTheLordassistedtheFayetteSaintstoleaveBuffalobyresponding

dramaticallytotheirprayersandgrantingthemyetanothermiracle.TheBuffaloharbor,ontheeastendofLakeErie,filledwithchunksoficeinlatespringbecauseofwindsandwatercurrent.Captains,anxioustonavigatethelake,waitedfortheicechunkstomeltandbreakupsotheycouldlaunch.OnthedaytheFayetteSaintsweretodepart,CaptainBlakeaskedLucytohavehergroup

boardthevesselsothatiftheiceparted,hecouldstartatamoment’snotice.Hedispatchedoneofhiscrewtomeasuretheice,whichhereportedtobetwentyfeet.Thecrewmembersaidtheywouldn’tbeabletoleavefortwomoreweeks.Atthatpoint,Lucydescribedapromiseandaprophecyshehadmade.TheFayettegrouprealizedtheprophesiedfulfillment:

Isaid,“Now,brethrenandsisters,ifyouwillallofyouraiseyourdesirestoheaven,thattheicemaybebrokenup,andwebesetatliberty,assureastheLordlives,itwillbedone.”Atthatinstantanoisewasheard,likeburstingthunder.Thecaptaincried,“Everymantohispost.”Theiceparted,leavingbarelyapassagefortheboat,andsonarrowthatastheboatpassedthrough,thebucketsofthewaterwheelweretornoffwithacrash,which,joinedtothewordofcommandfromthecaptain,thehoarseansweringofthesailors,thenoiseoftheice,andthecriesandconfusionofthespectators,presentedascenetrulyterrible.Wehadbarelypassedthroughtheavenuewhentheiceclosedtogetheragain,andtheColesvillebrethrenwereleftinBuffalo,unabletofollowus.

Aswewereleavingtheharbor,oneofthebystandersexclaimed,“Theregoesthe‘Mormon’company!Thatboatissunkinthewaternineinchesdeeperthaneveritwasbefore,and,markit,shewillsink—thereisnothingsurer.”Infact,theyweresosureofitthattheywentstraighttotheofficeandhaditpublishedthatweweresunk,sothatwhenwearrivedatFairportwereadinthepapersthenewsofourowndeath.

AfterourmiraculousescapefromthewharfatBuffalo,wecalledourcompanytogetherandhadaprayermeetinginwhichweofferedupourthankstoGodforhismercy,whichhehadmanifestedtowardsusinourdeliverance.42

Althoughthe150-milevoyageonLakeEriewasfaster,morecomfortable,andlessstrenuousthantravelbyfootorinwagons,NewelKnightsaiditwasstilldifficult.HeandhisgroupofColesvilleSaintsfollowedMotherSmith’scompanyaboardaslowersloop.43Newelsaid:“Whenwesetsailonthelake,thewindscontinuedboisterous,andthevesselwastossedaboutinsuchamannerthatnearlyallthecompanywereseasick,whichmadeitratheradisagreeablevoyage.Wearrivedsafely,however,atourdestination.”44Lucycomfortedthoseofhercompanywhowereseasickbypayingtheship’scooktwenty-fivecentsfor“somehotwaterforthesickfolks.”45WilliamSmithdescribedhistwo-dayvoyageasbeing“longandtedious.”Hereportedthatthey

faced“manystorms,coldwindsandrains.”46

LikethegroupfromFayette,MartinHarris’sgroupalsoprobablycamebyLakeErie,landedatFairportHarbor,Ohio,andthenjourneyedtwelvemilessouthwesttoKirtland.TheColesvilleSaints,however,trekkedsoutheastabouttwentymilestoThompson,Ohio.

IngatheringHisSaintstoOhio,theLordwasnotjustmovingthemfromoneplacetoanother.Hewasdevelopingapeoplewithsteadfastfaith—apeoplewhowouldbestrongenoughtosacrificeworldlyenticementsfor“therichesofeternity.”47

Notes^1.Doctrine&Covenants37:3;38:32;39:15.^2.Doctrine&Covenants37:3.^3.“NewelKnight’sJournal,”inScrapsofBiographyinClassicExperiencesandAdventures(SaltLake

City:Bookcraft,1969),68.^4.Doctrine&Covenants38:39.^5.Doctrine&Covenants38:32.^6.Doctrine&Covenants38:37.^7.FromHistoriantoDissident:TheBookofJohnWhitmer,ed.BruceN.Westergren(SaltLakeCity:

SignatureBooks,1995),12.^8.Westergren,HistoriantoDissident,8.^9.Westergren,HistoriantoDissident,13.^10.E.D.Howe,MormonismUnvailed(Painesville:E.D.Howe,1834),110–11,inLarryC.Porter,“‘Ye

ShallGototheOhio’:ExodusoftheNewYorkSaintstoOhio,1831,”inOhio,ed.MiltonV.BackmanJr.,RegionalStudiesinLatter-daySaintChurchHistoryseries(Provo,Utah:DepartmentofChurchHistoryandDoctrine,BrighamYoungUniversity,1990),1.

^11.OrsonF.Whitney,inConferenceReport,April1912,50;ElizabethWhitney,“Autobiography,”Woman’sExponent7(August15,1878):51.

^12.Doctrine&Covenants38:32.^13.DeanC.Jessee,“JosephKnight’sRecollectionofEarlyMormonHistory,”BYUStudies17,no1

(Autumn1976):38;originalspellingandpunctuationretained.^14.“JosephKnight’sIncidentsofHistoryfrom1827–1844,”comp.ThomasBullockfromloosesheetsin

JosephKnightJr.’spossession,August16,1862,ChurchHistoryLibrary,TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,SaltLakeCity,Utah,inPorter,“‘YeShallGototheOhio,’”3.

^15.DeedBook13,p.298,BroomeCountyCourthouse,Binghamton,NewYork,inPorter,“‘YeShallGototheOhio,’”6–7.

^16.DeedBook14,p.299,inPorter,“‘YeShallGototheOhio,’”7.^17.DeedBookW.,p.318,locatedinSenecaCountyCourthouse,Waterloo,NewYork,inPorter,“‘YeShall

GototheOhio,’”13.

^18.“NewelKnight’sJournal,”68.^19.“JosephKnight’sIncidentsofHistoryfrom1827–1844,”inPorter,“‘YeShallGototheOhio,’”3.^20.Doctrine&Covenants23:6–7.^21.Jessee,“JosephKnight’sRecollection,”32.^22.Jessee,“JosephKnight’sRecollection,”36;originalspellingretained.^23.Jessee,“JosephKnight’sRecollection,”36;originalspellingretained.^24.Doctrine&Covenants38:37.^25.DeedBookno.9,p.290,SusquehannaCountyCourthouse,Montrose,Pennsylvania,inPorter,“‘Ye

ShallGototheOhio,’”2–3.^26.Broome[County,N.Y.]Republican,May5,1831,3.MicrofilmcopylocatedintheBinghamtonFree

Library,Binghamton,N.Y.,inPorter,“‘YeShallGototheOhio,’”7.^27.“NewelKnight’sJournal,”68–69.^28.Wayne[County,N.Y.]Sentinel,May27,1831,inPorter,“‘YeShallGototheOhio,’”19.^29.“NewelKnight’sJournal,”69.^30.TimesandSeasons5(June1,1844):551.^31.TimesandSeasons5(June1,1844):551.^32.“NewelKnight’sJournal,”69.^33.Westergren,HistoriantoDissident,12–13;originalspellingretained.^34.JacobMorrisPapers,no.1656,OlinResearchLibrary,CornellUniversity,Ithaca,NewYork.,inPorter,

“‘YeShallGototheOhio,’”8–9.^35.FrederickG.Mather,“TheEarlyDaysofMormonism,”Lippincott’sMagazine36(August1880):204,

inPorter,“‘YeShallGototheOhio,’”8.^36.JacobMorrisPapers,inPorter,“‘YeShallGototheOhio,’”8–9.^37.StatementofJosephHervy,Oneonta[N.Y.]Herald,January18,1900,JacobMorrisPapers,inPorter,

“‘YeShallGototheOhio,’”9.^38.LucyMackSmith,HistoryofJosephSmithbyHisMother,ed.PrestonNibley(SaltLakeCity:

Bookcraft,1958),196.^39.Smith,HistoryofJosephSmith,197.^40.Smith,HistoryofJosephSmith,196.^41.Smith,HistoryofJosephSmith,198.^42.Smith,HistoryofJosephSmith,204–5.^43.Asloopis“avesselwithonemast,themain-sailofwhichisattachedtoagaffabove,toaboombelow,

andtothemastonitsforemostedge....Sloopsareofvarioussizes,fromthesizeofaboattothatofmorethan100tonsburthen”(NoahWebster,AmericanDictionaryoftheEnglishLanguage[1828;repr.,SanFrancisco:FoundationforAmericanChristianEducation,1980],s.v.“sloop”).

^44.“NewelKnight’sJournal,”69.^45.Smith,HistoryofJosephSmith,205.^46.WilliamSmith,WilliamSmithonMormonism:ATrueAccountoftheOriginoftheBookofMormon

(Lamoni,Iowa:HeraldSteamBookandJobOffice,1883),19.

^47.Doctrine&Covenants38:39.

Chapter3

ChristTeachesandMagnifiesHisProphet

Ididcallupon[JosephSmith]bymineangels,myministeringservants,andbymineownvoiceoutoftheheavens.—Doctrine&Covenants136:37

ThattheLordwouldidentifyJosephSmithasHischosenprophetofthe

latterdayswasforeseenbyancientprophets.InthepremortalexistencetheLordordainedthismanofhumblecircumstances.1HetaughtJosephpersonally.Heprovidedintenseinstruction.HedirectedhisancientprophetsfrompastdispensationsofHisChurchtoteachandtoconfertheLord’spriesthooduponthefledglingprophet.TheLordsaid,“Ididcallupon[JosephSmith]bymineangels,myministeringservants,andbymineownvoiceoutoftheheavens.”2

Asayoungboyuntaintedbythewaysoftheworld,JosephSmithsoughtspirituallearningfromonhigh.HepreferredtogethisspiritualeducationdirectlyfromthescripturesandtheLordratherthanfromministersandchurchesoftheday.Heoncetoldhismother,LucyMackSmith:“Mother,Idonotwishtopreventyourgoingtomeeting,oranyoftherestofthefamily’s;oryourjoininganychurchyouplease;but,donotaskmetojointhem.IcantakemyBible,andgointothewoods,andlearnmoreintwohours,thanyoucanlearnatmeetingintwoyears,ifyoushouldgoallthetime.”3

TwohistoriansandauthorswhohavewrittenaboutJosephSmithconclude,“HisknowledgeoftheBibleandhisbiblicalstyleofwritingsuggestthatmuchofhisearlyeducationcamefromthatsource.”4

LucysaidthatJosephwas“muchlessinclinedtotheperusalofbooksthananyoftherestofthechildren,butfarmoregiventomeditationanddeepstudy.”5AsJosephmatured,henotonlyimmersedhimselfmoredeeplyintheBiblebutalsocontinuallysoughtheavenlyinstruction.Itseemsthisdesirewasadrivingforcethroughouthisshortlifeofthirty-eightandahalfyears:“Thebestwaytoobtaintruthandwisdomisnottoaskitfrombooks,buttogotoGodinprayer,andobtaindivineteaching....

“ThereisneveratimewhenthespiritistoooldtoapproachGod.”6

TheLordprovidedJosephwithstellarseculartraininginKirtland.HefurnishedJosephwithaccesstoprominentmensuchasSidneyRigdon,therenownedexperiencedminister;OrsonHyde,ofsuperiorintellectandmasteroflanguagesinhislaterlife;andJoshuaSeixas,notedprofessorofHebrew.TheKirtlandperiodismarkedbyformalschooling,andJosephwasastarpupil.TheLordconstantlychallengedJosephtogaineducationinKirtland.Hetoldhim,“ThegloryofGodisintelligence.”7HedirectedJosephto“studyandlearn,andbecomeacquaintedwithallgoodbooks,andwithlanguages,tonguesandpeople.”8Inresponse,Josephorganizedschools:theSchooloftheProphets,theSchooloftheElders,theSchoolofMineApostles,theHebrewSchool,andtheKirtlandHighSchool.

TheancientprophetJosephofEgypt,sonofJacob,prophesiedofJoseph

Smith’ssignificanceasalatter-dayprophet.HeidentifiedJosephbyname.9HethenprophesiedthattheLordwouldmakeaspokesmanandascribeforJoseph,whowouldsupplementhisdeficienciesinspeakingandwriting:“AchoiceseerwillIraiseup....Andoutofweaknessheshallbemadestrong....AndtheLordsaid...Iwillmakeforhimaspokesman.AndI,behold,Iwillgiveuntohimthatheshallwritethewritingof[JosephSmith].”10

IntheKirtlandareatheLordraisedupSidneyRigdon,amanwell-versedintheBibleandarenownedorator,whoasdirectedbytheSpiritandtheProphetwouldwriteandspeakforJoseph.11EarlyleadersandmembersoftheChurchwereawareofJoseph’sweaknessesinlanguage,education,andbooklearning.Forexample,inNovember1831,agroupoftheProphet’sclosestconfidantsmetinJohnJohnson’shomeinHiram,Ohio,andsuggestedthatsomeonewithbetterlanguageskillsbeusedtocomposewordsofrevelation.12BeforemovingtoKirtland,EmmaSmith,whoperhapsknewJoseph’sweaknessesbest,describedhislimitedlanguageabilities:

JosephSmith...couldneitherwritenordictateacoherentandwell-wordedletter,letalonedictateabookliketheBookofMormon....

...Iamsatisfiedthatnomancouldhavedictatedthewritingofthemanuscriptsunlesshewasinspired;for,whenactingashisscribe,[he]woulddictatetomehourafterhour;andwhenreturningaftermeals,orafterinterruptions,hecouldatoncebeginwherehehadleftoff....Thiswasausualthingforhimtodo.Itwouldhavebeenimprobablethatalearnedmancoulddothis;and,foronesoignorantandunlearnedashewas,itwassimplyimpossible.13

JosephSmithhadlittleformalschooling.Hestatesthathisfamily’spovertyrequiredthatheworktoprovidemeagernecessitiesoffrontierlife,whichhadlimitedhiseducationalattainment:

MyFatherJosephSmithSiegniormovedtoPalmyraOntarioCountyintheStateofNewYorkandbeinginindigentcircumstanceswereobligedtolabourhardforthesupportofalargeFamilyhavingninechilldrenandasitrequiredtheexertionsofallthatwereabletorenderanyassistanceforthesupportoftheFamilythereforeweweredeprivedofthebennifitofaneducation[;]sufficeittosayIwasmearlyinstructtidinreadingandwritingandtheground<rules>ofArithmaticwhichconst[it]utedmywholeliteraryacquirements.14

Duringtheearly1830s,WilfordWoodruff,Joseph’scompanionduringthemarchofZion’sCampandlaterthefourthpresidentoftheChurch,characterizedJosephas“illiterate”whilemostoftherevelationsintheDoctrineandCovenantsweregivenduringthisperiodoftime:“WhenJosephSmithreceivedtheserevelationshewasanilliterateboy,likeDavidamongthesheep....

“...He,althoughanilliterateyouth,presentedtotheworldtheGospelofJesusChristinitsfulness,plainnessandsimplicity,astaughtbyitsAuthorandhisApostles.”15

TheancientprophetJosephprophesiedthatJosephSmithwould“bemadestrong.”16BytheendofJoseph’slife,theLordhadmoldedhimintoastrongleaderandamatureprophet.In1844aNauvoovisitordescribedJoseph’ssuperioreducation,well-roundedknowledge,andlanguagecapabilities:

Ihavebeenconversantwiththegreatmenoftheage;and,lastofallIfeelthatIhavemetwiththegreatest,inthepresenceofyouresteemedProphet,GeneralJosephSmith....IhavefoundhimasfamiliarinthecabinetofnationsaswithhisBibleandintheknowledgeofthatbookIhavenotmetwithhisequalinEuropeorAmerica....

TheGeneralappearsperfectlyathomeoneverysubject,andhisfamiliaritywithmanylanguagesaffordshimamplemeanstobecomeinformedconcerningallnationsandprinciples,which...mustsecuretohisinteresttheaffectionsofeveryintelligentandvirtuousman....Iamastonishedthatsolittleisknownabroadconcerninghim....

...Hedivesintoeverysubject,anditseemsasthoughtheworldwasnotlargeenoughtosatisfyhiscapacioussoul,andfromhisconversationonemightsupposehimaswellacquaintedwithotherworldsasthis.17

In1844,afterapersonalinterviewwithJoseph,JosiahQuincy,graduateofHarvardUniversityandaprominentcitizenandlatermayorofBoston,commented:“Borninthelowestranksofpoverty,withoutbook-learningandwiththehomeliestofallhumannames,[JosephSmith]hadmadehimselfattheageofthirty-nineapoweruponearth.OfthemultitudinousfamilyofSmith...nonehadsowonhumanheartsandshapedhumanlivesasthisJoseph.Hisinfluence...ispotenttoday,andtheendisnotyet.”18

HowdidJosephgrowfromeducationalinadequacytoattainrespectededucationalandspiritualstature?ItisevidentthattheLordtutoredJoseph,hiswillinganddevotedprophet.WilfordWoodruffunderstood,saying,

Howcouldhe,anilliterateboy,dothatwhichthewholeofthelearningoftheChristianworldforseventeencenturiesfailedtodo?BecausehewasmoveduponbythepowerofGod,hewasinstructedbythosemenwho,whenintheflesh,hadpreachedthesamegospelthemselves,andindoingthishefulfilledthatwhichFatherAdam,Enoch,Moses,Elias,Isaiah,JeremiahandJesusandhisApostlesallprophesiedabout.19

TheSaviorTaughtJoseph“byMineAngels”TheLordHimselfacknowledgedthatHesentangelstoteachJosephSmith.

Hesaid,“Ididcallupon[JosephSmith]bymineangels,myministeringservants.”20EarlyleadersandmemberswhoknewtheProphetwereawareofangelsoftenteachingandgivingJosephknowledgeofthingsnotknowntohim.JohnTaylor,astronganddedicatedCanadianconvertwholaterbecameChurchpresident,testified:

WhenJosephSmithwasraisedupasaProphetofGod,Mormon,Moroni,Nephi...andPeterandJohnandothers...cametohimandcommunicatedtohimcertainprinciplespertainingtotheGospeloftheSonofGod....HewasindebtedtoGod....WhointhisgenerationknewanythingaboutTemplesandtheirusesuntilJosephrevealedit?Nobody.Whoknewanythingaboutbaptismforthedeaduntilthen?Nobody.Whoknewanythingaboutthepastorthefuture?21

AssociatesofJosephSmithwereamazedbythegreatnumberofancientprophetswhoappearedtoJoseph.JohnTaylorspokeofJoseph’sfamiliaritywithprophetsandangelswhopersonallyappearedandspokewithhim.HesaidthatJosephSmithwasplaced“incommunicationwiththeLord,and...withtheancientapostlesandprophets;suchmen,forinstance,asAbraham,Isaac,Jacob,Noah,Adam,Seth,Enoch,andJesusandtheFather,andtheapostlesthatlivedonthiscontinentaswellasthosewholivedontheAsiasticcontinent.Heseemedtobeasfamiliarwiththesepeopleaswearewithoneanother.”22

WilfordWoodruffdescribedtheconstantvisitations,saying,“[JosephSmith]wastaughtforyearsbyvisionsandrevelations,andbyholyangelssentfromGodoutofheaventoteachandinstructhimandpreparehimtolaythefoundationofthisChurch.”23DuringJoseph’slife,hesaworcommunicatedwithmorethanforty-sevenangels:Elias(Gabriel,Noah),Raphael,Moses,Enoch,Isaac,Enos,TwelveancientApostles,Seth,Mahalaleel,AlvinSmith,Adam(Michael),Eve,Elijah,Jacob,Methusaleh,TwelveNephiteApostles,

Jared,Cainan,JohntheBaptist,Paul,Abraham,ZelphtheLamanite,Nephi,Mormon,andMoroni.24

Inaddition,JosephSmithsawandonoccasioncommunedwithlargegroupsofangels.Forexample,JosephrecordedthefollowingencountersintheKirtlandTemple:

•“Weallcommunedwiththeh[e]avenlyhost’s[ofholyangels].”25

•“Angelsministereduntothem[manyofmybrethren],aswellasmyself.”26

•“Angelsmingled...theirvoiceswithours....theirpresencewasinourmidst,andunseasingprasesswelledourbosomsforthespaceofhalfanhour.”27

•“IbeheldtheTemplewasfilledwithangels,whichfactIdeclaredtothecongregation.”28

Josephandothersdescribedsomeoftheangelstheysaw:PaultheApostle29:“[Paul]isabout5foothigh;verydarkhair;dark

complexion;darkskin;largeRomannose;sharpface;smallblackeyes,penetratingaseternity;roundshoulders;awhiningvoice,exceptwhenelevatedandthenitalmostresemblestheroaringofaLion.Hewasagoodorator.”30

Peter,thechiefApostle:“Hewasaverytallpersonage,blackeyes,whitehair,andstoopshouldered;hisgarmentwaswhole,extendingtonearhisankles;onhisfeethehadsandals.”31

AdamandSeth,theoldestprophets:“MybrotherAlvin...wasaveryhandsomeman,surpassedbynonebutAdamandSeth,andofgreatstrength.”32

Moroni,thelastBookofMormonprophet:“Thestatureof[Moroni]wasalittleabovethecommonsizeofmeninthisage;hisgarmentwasperfectlywhite,andhadtheappearanceofbeingwithoutseam.”33

AdamandEve,ourfirstparents:“Theirheadswerewhiteassnow,andtheirfacesshonewithimmortalyouth.TheywerethetwomostbeautifulandperfectspecimensofmankindIeversaw....Adamwasalargebroadshoulderedman,andEve,asawoman,wasaslargeinproportion.”34

Nephiteprophet,possiblyMoroni:“WhenIwasreturningtoFayette,withJosephandOliver...averypleasant,nice-lookingoldmansuddenlyappearedbythesideofourwagonandsaluteduswith,‘goodmorning,itisverywarm,’atthesametimewipinghisfaceorforeheadwithhishand....Iinvitedhimtoride....Buthesaidverypleasantly,‘No,IamgoingtoCumorah.’...Weallgazedathimandateachother,and...theoldmaninstantlydisappeared....

“...Hewas,Ishouldthink,about5feet8or9inchestallandheavyset,

aboutsuchamanasJamesVancleavethere,butheavier;hisfacewasaslarge,hewasdressedinasuitofbrownwoolenclothes,hishairandbeardwerewhite,likeBrotherPratt’s,buthisbeardwasnotsoheavy.Ialsorememberthathehadonhisbackasortofknapsackwithsomethingin[it],shapedlikeabook.Itwasthemessengerwhohadtheplates,whohadtakenthemfromJosephjustpriortoourstartingfromHarmony.”35

Josephsawmorethanforty-sevenangels,butsomeofthemmaderepeatedvisits.Forexample,theangelMoroniinstructedJosephSmithatleasttwenty-twotimes.Josephoftenencounteredskepticswhodidnotbelievethatangelsappearedtohim.Infrustration,heoncetoldacongregation,“IhaveitfromGod,andgetoveritifyoucan.”36

TheSaviorTaughtJoseph“byMineOwnVoiceOutoftheHeavens”

JosephSmithoftenreceivedinstructionthroughtheLord’sown“voiceoutoftheheavens.”37HedescribedhowconsistentlythevoiceoftheLordcametohimastheChurchevolvedfromitsbeginningsinNewYorktohismartyrdominIllinois:“Whatdowehear?...ThevoiceofGodinthechamberofoldFatherWhitmer,inFayette,Senecacounty,andatsundrytimes,andindiversplacesthroughallthetravelsandtribulationsofthisChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints!”38

InPennsylvania,theLordspoketoJosephSmithandOliverCowderywhentheyreceivedtheAaronicPriesthood.OliverCowderydescribedhow,afterheandJosephhadgoneintothewoodstoprayonthebanksoftheSusquehannaRiver,theywereoverwhelmedwithjoy,wonder,andamazementuponhearingtheSavior’svoice:“Onasudden,asfromthemidstofeternity,thevoiceoftheRedeemerspakepeacetous,whilethevailwaspartedandtheangelofGodcamedownclothedwithglory,anddeliveredtheanxiouslylookedformessage,andthekeysofthegospelofrepentance.”39

IntheSacredGrove,JosephconverseddirectlywithDeity,whointroducedThemselvesandcalledJosephbyname.Josephsaid,“IaskedthePersonages...whichofallthesectswasright...andwhichIshouldjoin....IwasansweredthatImustjoinnoneofthem...buttocontinueasIwasuntilfurtherdirected.”40

AtthesecludedJohnsonfarmintheforestedareaofHiram,Ohio,theLordspoketoJosephandSidneyRigdondirectlyinthevisionrecordedasDoctrineandCovenants76.Theywrote,“Webearrecord...ofJesusChrist[whoisthe

Son,]whomwesawandwithwhomweconversedintheheavenlyvision.”41TheyreferredspecificallytohearingtheLord’svoiceatleastfifteentimesduringonevisionalone.

InthesacredatmosphereofJoseph’supperofficeattheKirtlandTemplein1836,herecordedthattheLordspoketohimandinstructedhim:“[I]marveledhowitwasthat[Alvin]hadobtainedaninheritancein[theCelestial]kingdom,seeingthathe...hadnotbeenbaptized....ThuscamethevoiceoftheLorduntome,saying:Allwhohavediedwithoutaknowledgeofthisgospel,whowouldhavereceiveditiftheyhadbeenpermittedtotarry,shallbeheirsofthecelestialkingdomofGod.”42

ThefollowingscripturesexemplifythattheLordcalleduponJosephSmith:•“ListentothevoiceofJesusChrist,yourRedeemer.”43

•“Iprophesy...thatthecommencementofthe[CivilWar]difficulties...willbeinSouthCarolina....Thisavoicedeclaredtome,whileIwasprayingearnestly.”44

•“Iwasonceprayingveryearnestly...whenIheardavoicerepeatthefollowing:Joseph,myson...letthissuffice,andtroublemenomoreonthismatter.”45

TheSaviorTaughtJosephthroughCountlessVisionsOnehistoricalresearcherfoundevidenceofseventy-sixvisionstheLord

gaveJosephSmithduringhislifetime.46WilliamTaylor,aconfidantoftheProphet,describedhowfamiliarJosephwaswiththeothersideoftheveil.“Heseemedtobejustasfamiliarwiththespiritworld,andaswellacquaintedwiththeotherside,ashewashere.”47

Apparently,oneofJoseph’sgreatestfrustrationswasteachingtheSaintsoftheoverpoweringknowledgeandunderstandinghehadlearnedthroughhisvisions.“Itismymeditationalltheday...toknowhowIshallmaketheSaintsofGodcomprehendthevisionsthatrolllikeanoverflowingsurgebeforemymind.”48

Itisfascinatingtocomprehendthedepthandbreadth,thespecificityandplainnessofthevisionstheLordgavetoJoseph.Inonevision,possiblygivenin1832atHiram,Ohio,Josephdescribedtherealityoftheresurrection:“SoplainwasthevisionIactuallysawmen,beforetheyhadascendedfromthetomb,asthoughtheyweregettingupslowly,theytookeachotherbythehand&itwasmyfather&myson.mymother&mydaughter,mybrother&mysister.”49

JosephandSidneysawinvisionthephenomenalgrowthoftheChurch,asrecordedbySidneyin1844:“WeknewfourteenyearsagothattheChurchwouldbecomeaslargeasitistoday....WesawbyvisiontheChurchofGod,athousandtimeslarger....Allthemembers[atthattime]metinconferenceinaroomtwentyfeetsquare.”50

JosephexpandedonthisvisionwhenthepriesthoodgatheredinalogschoolhouseinKirtland.WilfordWoodruffrememberedthat“JosephSmithwasfullofrevelation.Heforesawthispeople,andthisworkuntilitwaswoundup.”51JosephcontinuedtoprophesyoftheamazinggrowthoftheChurch:“ItisonlyalittlehandfullofPriesthoodyouseeheretonight,butthisChurchwillfillNorthandSouthAmerica—itwillfilltheworld....ThispeoplewillgointotheRockyMountains;theywilltherebuildtemplestotheMostHigh.Theywillraiseupaposteritythere.”52

InvisiontheSaviorinstilledanunderstandingoftheChurch’sfutureintheProphetJosephSmith.Joseph,inturn,instilleditinprospectivemissionariesandfutureleaderswhohadnotbeenintheChurchevenayear.BythepoweroftheSpirit,thesemenknewthedivinenatureofthework,buttheyhadlittlecomprehensionthattheChurchwouldbecomeaworldwideorganization.Howharditmusthavebeenforthe“wholeofthepriesthood”assembledinthatlittlelogschoolhouseinKirtlandtounderstandwhattheLordwoulddowithHisChurch.Inretrospect,theaccurateunfoldingofthisvisionisstunning.JosephprophesiedthattheChurch,beforeexpandingtoallcontinents,wouldfirstfillNorthandSouthAmerica.Atthebeginningofthetwenty-firstcentury,NorthandSouthAmericaaccountedfor83percentofChurchmembership.

TheSaviorTaughtJosephasaTranslator,Revelator,andSeerTheLordgaveJosephSmithkeyassignments.Hesaid,“Igiveuntoyoumy

servantJoseph...tobeatranslator,arevelator,aseer.”53ItisstaggeringtoconsidertheinstructionandlearningthattheLordgaveJosephashefulfilledthesethreeroles:

1.Translator.TheLordinspiredJosephtotranslatemorethan545pagesoveraneight-yearperiod.Thisincludes531pagesintheBookofMormon,translatedfromancientgoldplates.Josephtranslatedtheminaboutsixty-fiveworkingdays.(Thispagecountdoesn’tincludethelost116pages.)Inaddition,hetranslatedordictatedbyrevelationthebookofAbrahamfromthepapyrusscrolls,whichrepresents14pagesinabouteightdays.

TheLordtaughtJosepheffectivelythroughthetranslatingprocess.For

example,EmmaSmithrelatedhowtheLordexpandedJoseph’smind:“Onetimewhilehewastranslatinghestoppedsuddenly,paleasasheet,andsaid,‘Emma,didJerusalemhavewallsaroundit?’WhenIanswered,‘Yes,’hereplied,‘Oh!IwasafraidIhadbeendeceived.’HehadsuchalimitedknowledgeofhistoryatthetimethathedidnotevenknowthatJerusalemwassurroundedbywalls.”54

DavidWhitmeraddedthatJoseph“stoppeduntiltheygotaBible&showedhimwherethefactwasrecorded—Smithnotbelievingitwasawalledcity.”55

JosephlearnedmoreofthenatureofGodashetranslatedthebookofAbrahaminKirtland.Hewrote,“Iwanttoreasonalittleonthissubject[ofGod].Ilearneditbytranslatingthepapyruswhichisnowinmyhouse.”56

2.Revelator.TheLordrevealedmorethan494pagesofscripturetoJosephSmith,mostlyduringtheKirtlandyears.ThispagecountincludestheDoctrineandCovenants,whichconsistsof281pages.(Thisestimatedoesnotincludesignificantrevelationsthathavenotbeenformallycanonized.)JosephSmith’stranslationoftheBible(JST)contains3,410versesthatJosephmodifiedfromtheKingJamesVersionoftheBible.Ifprintedonsuccessivepages,thesechangedverseswouldequal213pages.ThebookofMoses(receivedaspartoftheJosephSmithTranslation)represents27pagesthatJosephdictatedbyrevelationinlessthanamonth.

3.Seer.Inhisroleasaseer,JosephforesawtheCivilWarandfuturewars.Helearnedprinciplesofastronomyandsawbeyondwhatwasrecordedandlaterprinted.Josephsometimesreceivedevenmorethanhedesired.Forexample,JedediahM.Grant,fatherofHeberJ.Grant,theseventhpresidentoftheChurch,relatedthatJosephoncehadavisionofwarsthatwouldcometopass.HeperhapssawthisvisionintheWhitneystoreonDecember25,1832.JedediahsaidJosephcouldnotendurethewholevision:

TheProphet...toldseveralofusofthenightthevisionsofheavenwereopenedtohim,inwhichhesawtheAmericancontinentdrenchedinblood....Healsosawthefathershedthebloodoftheson,andthesonthebloodofthefather...andnaturalaffectionforsooktheheartsofthewicked....TheProphetgazeduponthescenehisvisionpresented,untilhisheartsickened,andhebesoughttheLordtocloseitupagain.57

AdvancedprinciplesofastronomywererevealedtoJosephashetranslatedthepapyrusscrolls.Wearelefttowonderjustwhathesaw.Hesaid,“ThisafternoonIlaboredontheEgyptianalphabet[and]theprinciplesofastronomyasunderstoodbyFatherAbrahamandtheancientsunfoldedtoourunderstanding.”58

Asusedinancienttimes,theUrimandThummimwasatooloftranslationandlearning.LorenzoBrown,afriendoftheProphet,rememberedthatJosephtoldhimthathereadtheBibleandsawactualbiblicalscenesrevealedthroughtheUrimandThummim.“AfterIgotthroughtranslatingtheBookofMormon,ItookuptheBibletoreadwiththeUrimandThummim,”BrownreportedJosephassaying.“IreadthefirstchapterofGenesisandIsawthethingsastheyweredone.Iturnedoverthenextandthenext,andthewholepassedbeforemelikeagrandpanorama;andsoonchapterafterchapteruntilIreadthewholeofit.Isawitall!”59

TheLordTaughtJosephKnowledgeBeyondThatofExpertsofHisDay

BeginninginFayette,NewYork,andcontinuingtoHiramandKirtland,Ohio,theLordgaveJosephanunderstandingespeciallyaboutastronomythatwentfarbeyondtheknowledgeofscholarsofJoseph’sday.In1830,Josephbeganlearningknowledgeoftheheavensthroughtranslatingandreceivingrevelation.AtthattimescholarswerequotingGalileo,whodiedin1642.GalileodocumentedmanythousandsofpreviouslyinvisiblestarsthatmakeuppartoftheMilkyWaygalaxy.FrederickWilliamHerschelwasoneoftheleadingauthoritiesofJosephSmith’stime.Hediedin1822,shortlyaftertheFirstVision.Herschelhadexaminedeverystarinthestandardstarchartsandby1802hadcountedmorethanninetythousandstarsintheMilkyWay.Seemingly,thatwasthestateofknowledgeofourgalaxyintheearlynineteenthcentury.

ConsiderhowanumberofscientificauthoritiesofthatdaywouldhavescoffedandjeeredatJosephSmith’sknowledgeofastronomy.Inhisroleastranslator,revelator,seer,andprophet,JosephreceivedthefollowingstatementsfromtheLord:

•“Andwereitpossiblethatmancouldnumbertheparticlesoftheearth,yea,millionsofearthslikethis,itwouldnotbeabeginningtothenumberofthycreations;andthycurtainsarestretchedoutstill.”60

•“Forbehold,therearemanyworldsthathavepassedawaybythewordofmypower.”61

•“Andasoneearthshallpassaway,andtheheavensthereofevensoshallanothercome.”62

•“GodspakeuntoMoses,saying:Theheavens,theyaremany,andtheycannotbenumbereduntoman;buttheyarenumbereduntome,fortheyare

mine.”63

ThereisnodoubtthatJoseph’sadvancedknowledgeofastronomymetwithridiculein1830.ButthepreviousstatementsprovethattheLordrevealedfactsaboutastronomytoHisprophet.ConsiderhowoutrageousjustoneofJoseph’sstatementstotheworldseemedatthattime:“Millionsofearthslikethis...wouldnotbeabeginningtothenumberofthycreations.”64

RobertM.Hazen,anotedtwentieth-centuryprofessortrainedatMITandHarvardandwhohaswrittennumerousscientificbooks,confirmstheLord’sstatementastothevastnessandexpansivenessoftheuniverse:“Lookingoutwardtospace,weobservetensofbillionsofstarsineachoftensofbillionsofgalaxies—perhapsatrillionsolarsystemsexistforeveryhuman.Thereissomuchlefttodiscover....

“...Eachgalaxyholdstenstohundredsofbillionsofstarsinaregionthatmayexceeda100,000lightyearsindiameter.”65

Duringarelativelyshortperiod,twenty-fouryearsfromhisFirstVisionintheSacredGroveuntilhisdeathinCarthageJail,Josephwaslifted,supported,andtutoredbyChrist.Josephintimatelyknew,communedwith,andlovedtheSavior.HedesiredtobewiththeSavior.TheSaviorlovedJoseph.HeusedtheendearingwordfriendsfourteentimesinaddressingJosephandhiscompanionsinrevelations.Inonerevelation,theSaviorclearlydefinedHisrelationship,bothformalandinformal.HetoldJosephandotherleadersthatinfrontoftheworldHecalledthemservants,butonapersonalleveltheywereHisfriends.InKirtland,theSaviorgaveJosephthisassurance,“IsayuntomyservantJosephSmith,Jun.,orinotherwords,Iwillcallyoufriends,foryouaremyfriends,andyeshallhaveaninheritancewithme.”66

Joseph,asstudentandhumbledisciple,returnedthetitleoffriendtotheSavior,whowashisteacherandmentor.HeexpressedhisdesiretobewithChristforeverinthisheartfeltstatement:“GodismyfriendinhimIshallfindcomfort....IdesiretobewithChrist.”67

Notes^1.JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2d

ed.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),6:364.^2.Doctrine&Covenants136:37.^3.LucyMackSmith,HistoryofJosephSmithbyHisMother,ed.PrestonNibley(SaltLakeCity:

Bookcraft,1958),90.^4.RichardL.BushmanandDeanC.Jessee,“JosephSmith:TheProphet,”inEncyclopediaofMormonism,

ed.DanielH.Ludlowetal.,4vols.(NewYork:Macmillan,1992),3:1333.^5.Smith,HistoryofJosephSmith,82.^6.Minutesofgeneralconference,October2,1841,inHistoryoftheChurch,4:425.^7.Doctrine&Covenants93:36.^8.Doctrine&Covenants90:15.^9.2Nephi3:15.^10.2Nephi3:7,13,18.^11.Doctrine&Covenants35:20,23;100:9–11.^12.SeeDoctrine&Covenants67:5.^13.“LastTestimonyofSisterEmma,”Saints’Herald26(October1879):290.^14.KarenLynnDavidson,DavidJ.Whittaker,MarkAshurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,

Histories,1832–1844,vol.1oftheHistoriesseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2012),1:11.

^15.WilfordWoodruff,inJournalofDiscourses,26vols.(London:Latter-daySaints’BookDepot,1854–86),16:265–66.

^16.2Nephi3:13.^17.HistoryoftheChurch,6:269;TimesandSeasons5(April15,1844):501.^18.JosiahQuincy,FiguresofthePastfromtheLeavesofOldJournals(Boston,1883):399–400.^19.WilfordWoodruff,inJournalofDiscourses,16:266–67.^20.Doctrine&Covenants136:37.^21.Taylor,inJournalofDiscourses,17:374–75.^22.Taylor,inJournalofDiscourses,21:94.^23.Woodruff,inJournalofDiscourses,16:265.^24.Taylor,inJournalofDiscourses,17:374;21:94;ExtractsfromWilliamClayton’sPrivateBook,January

5,1841(Tuesday),inTheWordsofJosephSmith,comp.anded.AndrewF.EhatandLyndonW.Cook(Provo,Utah:BrighamYoungUniversityReligiousStudiesCenter,1980),59;ZebedeeColtrin,inSaltLakeSchooloftheProphetsMinuteBook,1883(SaltLakeCity:PioneerPress,1992),64;WilfordWoodruff,WilfordWoodruff’sJournal,1833–1898,ed.ScottG.Kenney,typescript,9vols.(Midvale,Utah:SignatureBooks,1983–85),1:10;Doctrine&Covenants13;107:53;110;128:19–21;137:5.OliverCowderyrecordedinthePatriarchalBlessingBookthatJoseph“pronouncedablessinguponhisfather.”Thatblessingwasgiven“byvisionandthespiritofprophecy”(JosephFieldingSmith,ChurchHistoryandModernRevelation,2vols.[SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1953],1:472,473).Intheblessingherelatedpartofhisvision,naming“Adam,Seth,Enos,Cainan,Mahalaleel,Jared,Enoch,andMethuselah”(seeD&C107:53).

^25.DeanC.Jessee,MarkAshurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,Journals,1832–1839,vol.1oftheJournalsseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2008),1:170.

^26.Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:170.^27.Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:172.

^28.HistoryoftheChurch,2:428.^29.AnancientapocryphaldescriptionofPaulexistedatJosephSmith’stimeandcouldhavebeenreadby

Joseph(“ActsofPaulandThecla,”TheApocryphalNewTestament,ed.WilliamHone[London:LudgateHill,1820],100).Becauseofthis,somescholarsarehesitanttoattributeJoseph’sdescriptionofPaultorevelationorvision.AdetailedcomparisonoftheancientdescriptionandJoseph’sstatementoverwhelminglyleadonetoconcludethatJoseph’sdescriptiondidnotcomefromtheapocryphalsource,however.TheapocryphaldocumentdescribesninecharacteristicsofPaul;Josephdescribestwelve.RichardLloydAnderson,anauthorityonPaul,wrote,“Theprofilesoverlapinonlytworespects:theancient‘crookednose’comparestoJosephSmith’s‘largeRomannose,’andtheancient‘lowstature’comparestoJosephSmith’s‘about5foothigh.’

“Thesetwopointsofresemblanceareimportant,forJosephSmithaddsaspecificdetailtoeach.Muchapocryphalliteratureisboringbecauseitnarratesingeneralities.Granted,acreativehistoricalforgermightgiveparticulars;butinreallife,vaguenessgenerallyreflectslackoffirsthandobservation,andpictorialsharpnesscomesfromhavingbeenpersonallyonthescene.JosephSmith’sdescriptionofPaulisstunningforthatreason—itincludesexactmeasurements,complexion,shapes,evensounds.ThemodernProphetcommentswiththeprecisionofonewhohasseenandheard....

“...ThesignificanceisthattheprophetofthelastdispensationknewsowellthegreatapostletotheGentiles”(UnderstandingPaul[SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1983],400–401).

^30.EhatandCook,WordsofJosephSmith,59.^31.HeberC.Kimball,inOrsonF.Whitney,LifeofHeberC.Kimball(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1945),91.

AlthoughHeberC.KimballdescribesPeterasheappearedintheKirtlandTemple,JosephSmithwaspresentandidentifiedPeterinthemeetingwherePeterwasseen(LyndonW.Cook,“TheApostlePeterandtheKirtlandTemple,”BYUStudies15,no.4(Summer1975):551.

^32.HistoryoftheChurch,5:247;AndrewH.Hedges,AlexD.Smith,andRichardLloydAnderson,eds.,Journals,December1841–April1843,vol.2oftheJournalsseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2011),2:242.

^33.MessengerandAdvocate1,no.5(February1835):79.^34.ZebedeeColtrin,addressatameetingofhighpriestsinSpanishFork,Utah,February5,1878,inThey

KnewtheProphet,comp.HyrumL.AndrusandHelenMaeAndrus(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1974),28;paragraphingaltered.ThisaccountcomesfromavisioninNewPortage,Ohio(nowBarberton),thatwasseenbyJosephSmith,OliverCowderyandZebedeeColtrin.

^35.OrsonPrattandJosephF.Smith,interviewwithDavidWhitmer,inMillennialStar40(December9,1878):772.

^36.HistoryoftheChurch,6:475.^37.Doctrine&Covenants136:37.^38.Doctrine&Covenants128:20–21.^39.MessengerandAdvocate1,no.1(October1834):15.^40.JosephSmith–History1:18,19,26.^41.Doctrine&Covenants76:14.^42.Doctrine&Covenants137:6–7.

^43.Doctrine&Covenants29:1.^44.Doctrine&Covenants130:12–13.^45.Doctrine&Covenants130:14–15.^46.AlexanderL.Baugh,“PartingtheVeil:JosephSmith’sSeventy-SixDocumentedVisionary

Experiences,”inOpeningtheHeavens:AccountsofDivineManifestations,1820–1844,ed.JohnW.WelchandErickB.Carlson(Provo,Utah:BrighamYoungUniversityPress,2005),265.

^47.WilliamTaylor,YoungWoman’sJournal17(1906):548.^48.HistoryoftheChurch,5:362.^49.JosephSmithDiary,byWillardRichards,April16,1843(Sundaymorning),inEhatandCook,Wordsof

JosephSmith,195.^50.HistoryoftheChurch,6:289.^51.WilfordWoodruff,inConferenceReport,April1898,58.^52.WilfordWoodruff,inConferenceReport,April1898,57.^53.Doctrine&Covenants124:125;emphasisadded.^54.EdmundC.Briggs,“AVisittoNauvooin1856,”JournalofHistory9(January1916):454,inStephen

D.Ricks,“DeathKnellorTinklingCymbals?”FARMSReview4,no.1(1992):240.^55.M.J.Hubbleinterview,November13,1886,UniversityofMissouriLibrary,Columbia,Missouri;

publishedbyStanleyKimballin“MissouriMormonManuscripts:SourcesinSelectedSocieties,”BYUStudies14,no.4(Summer1974):486.

^56.HistoryoftheChurch,6:476.^57.JedediahM.Grant,inJournalofDiscourses,2:147.^58.HistoryoftheChurch,2:286;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:67.^59.RelatedbyLorenzoBrownin1880,“SayingsofJoseph,byThoseWhoHeardHimatDifferentTimes,”

PapersofJosephSmithJr.,ChurchHistoryLibrary,TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,SaltLakeCity,inRobertJ.Matthews,“APlainerTranslation”:JosephSmith’sTranslationoftheBible,aHistoryandCommentary(Provo,Utah:BrighamYoungUniversityPress,1975):25.

^60.Moses7:30.^61.Moses1:35.^62.Moses1:38.^63.Moses1:37.^64.Moses7:30.^65.RobertM.Hazen,“TheNewAlchemy,”TechnologyReview,November/December1994,24.^66.Doctrine&Covenants93:45.^67.JosephSmithtoEmma,June6,1832,Greenville,Indiana,inPersonalWritingsofJosephSmith,comp.

DeanC.Jessee,rev.ed.(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,2002),264–65.

Chapter4

ChristProtectsHisSaintsfromtheAdversary

InKirtland,theveryforcesoftheAlmightycametobelockedinconflictwiththeforcesofevilinamannerreminiscentofwhatoccurredinthegreatwarin

heaven.

—PresidentGordonB.HinckleyDuringtheKirtlandyearstheadversarynotonlycontinuedhisoppositionto

JosephSmithandtheChurchashehaddoneinNewYorkbutintensifiedit.SatanhasalwaysfuriouslyopposedChrist’sChurchandHisprophets.JosephSmithandGod’slatter-daykingdomwerenoexception.PresidentGordonB.HinckleyacknowledgedSatan’sinfluenceinKirtlandandnotedthatitbeganinthepremortalexistence.AtthededicationofKirtlandhistoricsitesin2003,hesaid:

InKirtland,theveryforcesoftheAlmightycametobelockedinconflictwiththeforcesofevilinamannerreminiscentofwhatoccurredinthegreatwarinheavenwhentheSonoftheMorningwascastoutandbecameSatan,thedevil.

Kirtlandbecamethesiftinggroundwherethefaithfulwerewinnowedasgrainfromthechaff.1

SatantriedtothwartJosephSmitheveninhisearlyyears.Josephdescribedthisopposition,saying,“Itseemsasthoughtheadversarywasaware,ataveryearlyperiodofmylife,thatIwasdestinedtoproveadisturberandanannoyerofhiskingdom;elsewhyshouldthepowersofdarknesscombineagainstme?Whytheoppositionandpersecutionthataroseagainstme,almostinmyinfancy?”2

TheSaviorwarnedJosephSmithofSatan’spowerandofhisintentiontodestroyJosephandtheworkofGod.AttheMorleyfarminKirtland,theLordtoldJoseph,“Satanhathsoughtto...overthrowyou.”3Helatersaid,“Satanseekethtodestroy[you].”4InHiram,Ohio,JosephclearlysawinvisionthatSatan’sgoalwas“totakethekingdomofourGodandhisChrist.”5TheSaviormadeJosephawarethatSatanwaswagingawaragainstChrist.JosephandtheSaintswerecaughtinthemiddleofthatwar.JosephsawthatSatanintroduced“warfareinheav’n...rebell’dagainstJesus,andsoughtforhispow’r.”6Josephunderstoodthat“thedevil’sforwar,—andyetwillencompassthesaintsroundabout.”7

TheLordassuredandcomfortedJosephthatwithHisultimatepowerHewouldprotectHislatter-dayservants.ThroughJoseph,Hepromised:

•“Donotfear,forItheLordamwithyou,andwillstandbyyou.”8

•“Iwillgobeforeyouandbeyourrearward.”9

•“God...shallsubdueallenemies.”10

•“Thereisnoweaponthatisformedagainstyoushallprosper.”11

TheLordplainlyassuredJosephthatSatanwouldbeboundandultimatelydefeated:

•“Inmineownduetime...Satanshallbebound.”12

•“Satanshallbebound,thatheshallhavenoplaceintheheartsofthechildrenofmen.”13

•“InthatdaySatanshallnothavepowertotemptanyman.”14

•“Satanshallbebound,thatoldserpent,whoiscalledthedevil.”15

•“AndMichael...shallgathertogetherhisarmies,eventhehostsofheaven.Andthedevilshallgathertogetherhisarmies;eventhehostsofhell,andshallcomeuptobattleagainstMichaelandhisarmies.AndthencomeththebattleofthegreatGod;andthedevilandhisarmiesshallbecastawayintotheirownplace,thattheyshallnothavepoweroverthesaintsanymoreatall.ForMichaelshallfighttheirbattles,andshallovercomehimwhoseekeththethroneofhimwhosittethuponthethrone,eventheLamb.”16

Itisobvious,bylookingbackonJosephSmith’slife,thattheLordprotectedhimuntilhismissionwascompleted.ItisalsoobviousthatSatanwantedtooverthrowanddestroyJosephbyendinghislife.Josephknewhewouldbecomeamartyr.TheLordhintedasmuchtoJosephin1829,whenHepromisedJosephthathewouldhaveeternallife,“evenifyoushouldbeslain.”17Afterthetarringandfeatheringin1832,itwasobvioustoJosephthathewouldhave“beenslain”hadtheLordnotintervened.NodoubtJosephsensedhisultimatefate.HewroteofhiscommitmenttohiscallingandtotheSaviorandfinishedbywriting:“Ihavegiven...mylifeintohishands....ICountnotmylifedeartomeonlytodohiswill.”18

AttheendoftheKirtlandperiod,theLordintervenedandwarnedJosephtoimmediatelyleaveKirtland.AsdeaththreatenedJoseph,theLordassuredhimthatHewouldprotecthimforatleastfiveyears.19LucyMackSmith,theProphet’smother,said,“ThepersecutionfinallybecamesoviolentthatJosephregardeditasunsafetoremainanylongerinKirtland.”Shewroteofherson’sfinalinstructionstothebrethreninKirtland:

Oneevening,beforefinishinghispreparationsforthecontemplatedjourney(toMissouri),hesatincouncilwiththebrethrenatourhouse.Aftergivingthemdirectionsastowhathedesiredthemtodo,whilehewasabsentfromthem,and,ashewasaboutleavingtheroom,hesaid,“Well,brethren,Idonotrecollectanythingmore,butonething,brethren,iscertain,Ishallseeyouagain,letwhatwillhappen,forIhaveapromiseoflifefiveyears,and

theycannotkillmeuntilthattimeisexpired.”20

TheSaviorCountersSatan’sDeceptionsWithinweeksoftheirarrivalinKirtland,membersoftheChurchfaced

confusingmanifestationsfromtheadversary.ThesemanifestationswouldhaveledmanyastrayhadtheLordnotgiventheminstructionabouthowtodetectandovercometheevilone.ParleyP.Prattdescribedwhathappened:

AsIwentforthamongthedifferentbranches,someverystrangespiritualoperationsweremanifested,whichweredisgusting,ratherthanedifying.Somepersonswouldseemtoswoonaway,andmakeunseemlygestures,andbedrawnordisfiguredintheircountenances.Otherswouldfallintoecstacies,andbedrawnintocontortions,cramp,fits,etc.Otherswouldseemtohavevisionsandrevelations,whichwerenotedifying,andwhichwerenotcongenialtothedoctrineandspiritofthegospel.Inshort,afalseandlyingspiritseemedtobecreepingintotheChurch....

Feelingourweaknessandinexperience,andlestweshoulderrinjudgmentconcerningthesespiritualphenomena,myself,JohnMurdock,andseveralotherElders,wenttoJosephSmith,andaskedhimtoinquireoftheLordconcerningthesespiritsormanifestations.

Afterwehadjoinedinprayerinhistranslatingroom,hedictated[arevelation]inourpresence.21

IntherevelationtheLorddefinedthatlight,truth,andedificationareoftheLordandthatdarknessand“thatwhichdothnotedify”comesfromSatan.22TheLordthenadmonishedtheChurchto“chasedarkness[Satan]fromamongyou.”23Asaresult,elderscarriedthewarningbyvisitingbranchesoftheChurchand“rebukingthewrongspiritswhichhadcreptinamongthem.”24

Satan’sOppositionattheFirstOhioConferenceTheadversarythreatenedandtriedtointimidateChrist’sleadersatthefirst

conferenceoftheChurchinOhio,heldattheMorleyfarminearlyJune1831,byevokingastartlingmanifestationofhispower.ThiswasoneofthegreatconferencesoftheChurch.Thefirsthighpriestsofthedispensationwerechosenandordained.Transcendentspiritualexperiencesweregrantedtothebrethren,whichincludedavisionofGodtheFatherandHisSon,JesusChrist.TheLordcalledtwenty-eightmissionariesbyname(thelargestmissionarygrouptodate)

andinstructedthemtotraveltoMissouri,whereSidneyRigdonwasdirectedtodedicate“thisland,andthespotforthetemple”inIndependence.25

LymanWightdescribedthespiritualnatureoftheconference:“I...sawthevisiblemanifestationsofthepowerofGodasplainascouldhavebeenonthedayofpentecost....ThespiritofGodwasmademanifesttotheheelingofthesick,cast<ing>outdevils,speakinginunknowntongues,discerningofspiritsandprophesyingwithmightypower.”26

JosephSmithpromised,“SomeshouldseetheirSavior,facetoface.”27JohnWhitmer,Churchhistorian,recorded,“ThegloryoftheLordshonearound.”28

Theseactionsthreatenedtheadversary.Satandidnotwanthighpriestsordainedoratemplebegun.AshedidintheSacredGrove,theadversarytriedtoblocktheseevents.Heenteredthemeeting.Heboundtwoofthebrethren.Hepossessedothersandthrewthemaround.JohnWhitmersaid,“Thedeviltookanotiontomakeknownhispower.HeboundHarveyWhitlockandJohnMurdocksothattheycouldnotspeak,andotherswereaffected.”29

PhiloDibbledescribedanexhibitionoftheadversary’sfuryandpower,saying,

Isawamancameflyingthroughthewindowfromoutside.Hewasstraightasaman’sarmashesailedintotheroomovertworowsofseatsfilledwithmen,andfellonthefloorbetweentheseatsandwaspulledoutbythebrethren....Heweighedovertwohundredpounds.ThisIsawwithmyowneyesandknowitisalltrue,andbeartestimonytoit.30

LeviHancockexpressedhisterror:“IwassoscaredIwouldnotstirwithouthis[JosephSmith’s]libertyforalltheworld.”31LearningtocontrolSatan’spower,Joseph,inthenameofJesusChrist,castouttheadversaryfromthemeeting,andtheordinationsthenproceededsmoothly.JohnWhitmerrecalled,“TheLordshowedtoJoseph,theseer,thedesignofthething;hecommandedthedevilinthenameofChrist,andhedeparted,toourjoyandcomfort.”32

ZebedeeColtrin,aneyewitnesstoSatan’sdeparture,gavethisdescription:

Duringthemeetingthepowerofdarknessweremademanifestinaremarkabledegree....Joseph...rebukedthespirit...fromthehouseuponwhichthespiritleft...andwentoutside,amongthecrowdofmenstandingnearthedoor,andmadeaswathamongthemseveralfeetwide,throwingthemviolentlytotheground.Josephsaidthiswasafulfillmentofthescriptureswhereitsaysthemanofsinshouldberevealed.33

SatanRageswithTarandFeathersTheadversaryseeminglyfollowedJosephandEmmaastheymovedfrom

placetoplace.InSeptember1831,theyrelocatedfromKirtlandtoHiram,Ohio,aday’sjourneyaway.TheylivedforoneyearwithJohnandElsaJohnson,wholovedthemdearly.

Satanragedthereonenight,foreveralteringthelivesofJosephandEmma.OnthenightofMarch24,1832,Joseph’slifewasalmosttaken.AmobofaboutfortymengatheredoutsidetheJohnsonhome.TwelveofthegroupdraggedJosephSmith,kickingandstruggling,outofhisbedroomintothefreezingdarknessofthenight.Themobthreatenedseveraltimestokillhim.Emma,convincedthattheywouldkillhim,screamed,“Murder.”34Nodoubtitwastogettheattentionoftheirhosts,theJohnsonfamily,whoweresleeping.

Josephpleadedwiththemobnottokillhim.Themobrespondedbysaying,ineffect,thatonlyGodcouldsparehimbecause“we’llshowyenomercy.”35SomeoneinthemobseizedJosephbyhisthroatuntilhelostconsciousness.Thentheybeathim,scratchedhimwithsharpfingernails,andtoreoffallofhisclothesexcepthisshirtcollar.Sometriedtoforceatar-paddleintohismouthaswellasavialofnitricacid,whichhebrokewithhisteeth,cuttinghislipandburninghismouth.AccordingtoJoseph’sson,JosephIII,theyhauled“himoverthefrozenground,pounding,scratching,andotherwisemaltreatinghim....

“...Someheldhim,othersbeathim.”36Theyappliedtarandthentheaddedhumiliationoffeathersfromapillowtakenbyoneofthemob.Josephthenbegantopray.Atthispoint,accordingtoGeorgeA.Smith,themob“heardanalarmwhichmadethemthinktheywereabouttobesurprised,andleftsuddenly.”37JosephcametoandslowlyfoundhiswaybacktotheJohnsonhome.Emmaopenedthedoorandfainted,thinkingthetarwasblood.JosephIIIwrote,“Anumberofhisimmediateneighborshadgathered[atthehouse],rousedbythecriesofhiswife.Hepresentedaghastlyappearance.”38

JosephboretheeffectsofthissatanicdeedthroughouthislifeasaconstantreminderofthehatredofSatan.Themobhadpulledaclumpofhairoutofhisheadbytheroots,leavinghisscalpbare.39Afterward,Josephcombedhishairinadifferentwaytohidethebarespot.Hespokewithalispforseveralyears,untilinNauvoo,AlexanderNeibaurfixedthetooth.Themobapparentlybrokeseveralofhisribsaswell.Twoandahalfyearslater,JosephdescribedthisinjurytohissideinalettertoWilliam,hisyoungerbrother,afterWilliamphysicallyattackedhim:

Youweretooquickforme,andhavingoncefallenintothehandsofamob,

andbeenwoundedinmyside,...mysidegaveway....[W]ithalameside...Ireturnedhome,notabletositdownorriseupwithouthelp....

...Iamolderthanyouandhaveenduredmoresuffering,havingbeenmarredbymobs...persecutionsandinjuries...allservetodebilitatemybody;anditmaybethatIcannotboastofbeingstrongerthanyou.40

ThefullextentofJoseph’sinjuriesthatnightisshownbyalittle-knownaccountrecordedbyJosephIII,whomusthaveheardthedetailsfromoneorbothofhisparents.Josephwassoneardyingthathehadanear-deathexperience.Hewas“beatenintoinsensibility...andleftfordead.”JosephIIIrelatedthatJoseph’s“spiritseemedtoleavehisbody,andthatduringtheperiodofinsensibilityheconsciouslystoodoverhisownbody,feelingnopain,butseeingandhearingallthattranspired.”41Afterthetarringandfeathering,Joseph“foundhimselfscarcelyabletomove,butmanagedtoclearthetarfromhismouthandnostrilssothathecouldbreathemorefreely,andthendraggedhimselfbacktohishome.”42

Toaddtothetragedy,JosephandEmma’salmostten-month-oldadoptedson,Joseph,whowassickwithmeasles,became“chilledfromthecolddraft,rapidlygrewworseanddiedthenextweek.”43AsbadasthemobbingwasforJoseph,itwasterrifyingforEmma,whowaspregnantwithJosephIII.Thissamesonlatersaid,“ItwassometimebeforeMrs.Smithrecoveredfromtheshockandexposureofthatterriblenight.”44Emma’soldestgrandson,FrederickAlexanderSmith,saidthatEmma“madeverylittlereferencetoanypersecutions.[Buthe]HeardhertellaboutthemobinHiram,O[hio].She[wasin]terror,prayed,[and]neverexpectedtoseehim[Joseph]again.”45ShealsomadereferencetoJoseph’s“skinned[and]bruised[body].”46Thisfrighteningexperience,inwhichtheLordintercededandpreservedJoseph’slife,wasbothagreatsacrificeandvaluabletrainingforthem.Theprobableheavensentalarmstoppedthemobactionandsentthemscurryingaway.Hadthemobnotbeenfrightenedbythesoundofthealarm,theymighthavekilledJosephoutright.

SatanUnveilsHisWrathtoMissionariesAftermissionariestoMissouriparticipatedinceremoniesofdedicatingthe

landandlayingthecornerstoneofthetemple,theycommencedtheirreturntoKirtland.SatanmadehispowermanifesttothemwhiletheyweretravelingintheircanoesontheMissouriRiver.JosephSmithdescribestheirreturntrip:

Nothingveryimportantoccurredtillthethirdday,whenmanyofthe

dangerssocommonuponthewesternwaters,manifestedthemselves;andafterwehadencampeduponthebankoftheriver,atMcIlwaine’sBend,BrotherPhelps,inopenvisionbydaylight,sawthedestroyerinhismosthorriblepower,rideuponthefaceofthewaters;othersheardthenoise,butsawnotthevision.47

Thismusthavebeenaterrifyingexperienceforthissmallgroup.Providingprotection,theLordgaveJosephSmitharevelationinwhichHewarnedthebrethrentobecarefulwhentravelingonwaterbecause“thedestroyerridethuponthefacethereof.”48TheLordreassuredtheSaintsofHisprotection,saying,“Nevertheless,allfleshisinminehand,andhethatisfaithfulamongyoushallnotperishbythewaters.”49

“BellsofHellToll”PerhapsatnoothertimeinKirtlanddidtheadversaryrageinoppositionas

oftenandaslongashedidduringthetwoandahalfyearsittooktobuildtheKirtlandTemple.BrighamYoung,whohadprimaryresponsibilityforbuildingthetemple,rememberedSatan’sconstantopposition.Helaterreminisced:“Somesay,...‘weneverbegantobuildatemplewithoutthebellsofhellbeginningtoring.’Iwanttohearthemringagain....

“...WecompletedatempleinKirtlandandinNauvoo;anddidnotthebellsofhelltollallthetimewewerebuildingthem?Theydid,everyweekandeveryday.”50

TheharshrealityisthattheChurchexperiencedcontinualoppositionwhilebuildingthetemple.Theadversaryincitedrampantpersecutionandmobviolence.HeberC.Kimballspokefromfirsthandexperiencewhenhesaid,“WhilewewerebuildingtheTemple,inKirtland...wewerepersecuted...thereweremobsgatheringallaroundustodestroyus,andpreventusfrombuildingtheTemple.”51Headded,“Ourenemieswereragingandthreateningdestructionuponus,andwehadtoguardourselvesnightafternight,andforweekswerenotpermittedtotakeoffourclothes,andwereobligedtolaywithourfirelocksinourarms.”52

JoelHillsJohnsonsaidtherewere“thousandsofenemieswhowereholdingtheirsecretmeetingstodeviseaplantothwartandoverthrowallourarrangements.Wewereobligedtokeepnightwatcherstopreventbeingmobbed,andourworkersbeingoverthrown.”53

Asconstructionofthetemplebegan,JosephSmith,writingtoWilliam

PhelpsinAugust1833,foresaw“allHell”beingmarshaledtostopthetemplefrombeingbuilt.Josephsaid:

We<are>nosaferhereinKirtlandthenyouareinZion[;]thecloudisgetheringarounduswithgreatfuryand...allhellandthecomb[ined]powrsofEarthareMarshelingtheirforcestooverthrowusandwelikethechildrenofIs<s>arelwiththeredSeabefore...themandtheEgyptionsreadytofalluponthemtodistroythemandnoarmcoulddiliverbutthearmofGod.54

Fourmonthslaterconditionshadn’timproved.TheProphetwrote,“Theinhabitantsofthiscountythreatenourdestruction.”55ThefollowingmonthamobassemblednearKirtlandwithacannon.TheProphetrecalledthisnight,saying:

ThethreatsofthemobaboutKirtlandthroughthefallandwinterhadbeensuchastocausethebrethrentobeconstantlyonthelookout,andthosewholaboredonthetemplewereengagedatnightwatchingtoprotectthewallstheyhadlaidduringtheday,fromthreatenedviolence.Onthemorningofthe8thofJanuary,about1o’clock,theinhabitantsofKirtlandwerealarmedbythefiringofaboutthirteenroundsofcannon,bythemob,onthehillabouthalfamilenorthwestofthevillage.56

OneyearlaterSatanstillpersisted.Inhisjournal,BenjaminJohnsondescribesoppositionandpersecution:“UptothisperiodfromourcommencementtosettleatKirtland,therehadbeenbyourenemiesonecontinualpersecutionoftheProphetandcontemptfortheSaintsandtheirreligion.AndsuchwastheiroppositionandhatredtowardstheTempleduringitsconstruction,thatithadtobeguarded,notonlybynightbutalsobyday;andthelaborersuponitswalls,whilewithonehandtheyheldthehammerortrowelwerealwaysreadywiththeothertograspthesword.”57

BellsRingLoudestJuly23,1833ThebellsofhellperhapsrangloudestonJuly23,1833.AstheSaintsin

Kirtlandexperiencedanapexofrejoicingwhilelayingthecornerstonesoftheirtemple,theSaintsinMissouriexperiencedanapexofdisasterwhentheywereforcedatgunpointtovacatetheirhomesandpropertyandtoleaveJacksonCounty.Accordingtotheofficialreport,“Earlyinthemorningofthe23rdofJuly,themobagainassembled,armedwithweaponsofwar,andbearingared

flag;whereupontheElders,ledbytheSpiritofGod,andinordertosavetime,andstoptheeffusionofblood,enteredintoatreatywiththemob.”58

Priortothesigningofthetreaty,theolderMissourisettlersbandedtogetheranddemandedthattheMormonsleaveJacksonCounty.LocalauthoritiesbannedtheChurch’snewspaper,orderedthattheprintingofficediscontinueoperations,andmandatedthatbusinessesoperatedbyMormonscloseimmediately.WhentheSaintsrefusedtoaccedetosuchunthinkabledemands,mobsbeganharassingandplunderingtheirpropertyinanefforttodrivethemfromMissouri.Onemobmemberboastedthat203Mormonhomeshadbeenburned.59FromJulythroughNovember,mobsvandalizedordestroyedsuchbuildingsasthehomeofW.W.Phelps,whichhousedtheprintingpress;A.SidneyGilbert’shome;andadozenhomesneartheBigBlueRiver,whichwerepoundedwithstonesandclubs.

AtreatywasforcedupontheSaintswherebytheyessentiallyagreedtoleavethecountyinstages.AlltheSaintsweretobegonewithineightmonths.TheSaintsalsoagreed“tostopanymoreoftheirsectfrommovingtothiscounty.”Inaddition,ChurchmembersagreedthattheChurchnewspaper,TheEveningandtheMorningStar,wouldnotagain“bepublishednorapresssetupbyanyofthesocietyinthiscounty.”Themobagreedonly“tousealltheirinfluencetopreventanyviolencebeingused.”60

Forcedtosurrendertheirarms,thesedesolatepeopleweredefenseless.Itwasamatterofleaveandliveorstayanddie.AletterfromW.W.PhelpsshowsthedireconditionoftheSaintsastheywereforcedtoleaveJacksonCounty.Hewrote:“TheconditionofthescatteredSaintsislamentable,andaffordsagloomyprospect....But,brethren,iftheLordwill,Ishouldliketoknowwhatthehonestinheartshalldo?Ourclothesarewornout;wewantthenecessariesoflife,andshallwelease,buy,orotherwiseobtainlandwhereweare,totill,thatwemayraiseenoughtoeat?”61

InretributionfortheSaintslayingthetemplecornerstoneinKirtland,Ohio,SatandirectedhisfuryagainsttheChurchinMissouri.ThepriceoflayingthecornerstonefortheKirtlandTempleonJuly23,1833,begantobeexactedthatverydayfromtheSaintsinJacksonCounty,Missouri,whowouldsoonbedrivenfromtheirhomesandotherproperty.Certainly,thebellsofhelltolledloudlythatday.

TheTempleCompletedandSatanBoundSatanintensifiedhisattacksinKirtlandasthetemplenearedcompletion.

JosephSmithbluntlystatedinJanuary1836,“Thedevilhasmadeaviolent

attack....thepowersofearthandhellseemcombinedtooverthrowusandtheChurch.”62

TheLordtemporarilyhaltedSatan’sinterference,however.JournalaccountscertifythattheLordsentheavenlyhoststoprotecttheSaintsandHistemplesothatHispurposescouldbefulfilled.Lessthanthreemonthsbeforethetemplededication,theProphetconfirmedthatunseenforcesprotectedtheSaints.RogerOrton,amemberoftheFirstQuorumoftheSeventy,sawangelsprotectingthem.JosephSmithrecordedtheevent,writing,“RogerOrtonsawamightyangelridinguponahorseoffire,withaflamingswordinhishand,followedbyfiveothers,encirclethehouse,andprotecttheSaints,eventheLord’sanointed,fromthepowerofSatanandahostofevilspirits,whichwerestrivingtodisturbtheSaints.”63

WilliamSmith,theProphet’sbrotherandoneoftheTwelve,“sawtheheavensopened,andtheLord’shostprotectingtheLord’sanointed.”64

TrumanO.Angell,aconstructionworker,sawtwoangelsguardtheKirtlandTemple.Oneeveningatthetimethetemplewasdedicated,hewalkedwithBrighamYoungtowardthetemplefromthewest.Heexpressedhiscertaintestimony,saying:

WhenabouttenrodsdistantwelookedupandsawtwoPersonages;beforeeachwindow,leavingandapproachingeachotherlikeguardswoulddo.Thiscontinueduntilquitedark.Astheywerewalkingbackandforth,oneturnedhisfacetomeforaninstant;butwhiletheywalkedtoandfro,onlyasideviewwasvisible.Ihavenodoubtthatthehousewasguarded,asIhavehadnootherwaytoaccountforit.65

DanielTyler,amissionaryandworkmanonthetemple,said:“Allfeltthattheyhadaforetasteofheaven.Infact,therewereseveralweeksinwhichwewerenottemptedofthedevil;andwewonderedwhetherthemillenniumhadcommenced.”66

TheProphetannouncedtothebrethreninthetemple:“Brethren,forsometimeSatanhasnothadpowertotemptyou.Somehavethoughtthattherewouldbenomoretemptation.Buttheoppositewillcome;andunlessyoudrawneartotheLordyouwillbeovercomeandapostatize.”67

Angelsdidtheirjob.ThetemplewasprotectedagainstSatanandhishosts.Sacredordinancesweregiven.Long-awaitedkeyswererestored.Buttherespitefromtheadversarysoonended.

ChristProtectstheFirstMissionariestoEnglandPerhapsthereisnomoredramaticevidenceofSatan’scontinuingwar

againsttheSaviorandtheChurchthanoccurredwiththefirstmissionariessentfromKirtlandtoEngland.ItwasdaybreakonSunday,July30,1837,thedayonwhichthefirstbaptismsweretobeperformedinEngland.Satanwasdesperateandangry.LegionsofevilspiritsappearedinHeberC.Kimball’sbedroomwiththeintentionofkillinghimandtheothermissionaries.TheLord,however,deliveredHisservants.Heberdescribedtheawfulbattleasfollows:

Iwasstruckwithgreatforcebysomeinvisiblepower,andfellsenselessonthefloor....myagonywassogreatIcouldnotendureit,andIarose,bowedmykneesandprayed.I...coulddistinctlyseetheevilspirits....Wegazeduponthemaboutanhourandahalf....wesawthedevilscominginlegions,withtheirleaders,...likearmiesrushingtobattle....whowereangryanddesperate;andIshallneverforgetthevindictivemalignitydepictedontheircountenances...anyattempttopaintthescenewhichthenpresenteditself...wouldbevain.Iperspiredexceedingly,myclothesbecomingaswetasifIhadbeentakenoutoftheriver.Ifeltexcessivepain....Ilearnedthepoweroftheadversary,hisenmityagainsttheservantsofGod,andgotsomeunderstandingoftheinvisibleworld....However,theLorddeliveredusfromthem,andblessedusexceedinglythatday....

Notwithstandingtheweaknessofmybody...Ihadthepleasure,about9a.m.,ofbaptizingnineindividuals.68

OrsonHyde,whowaswithHeberC.Kimball,contendedwiththedevilsuntilonlyoneremained.Herecounted,“Irepliedtohimthus:‘...youarealiarfromthebeginning!InthenameofJesusChrist,depart!’Heimmediatelyleft,andtheroomwasclear.Thatclosedthesceneofdevilsforthattime.”69HeberlateraskedJosephSmiththemeaningofthisevilonslaught.Hewonderediftheymighthavedonesomethingwrongtocauseit,buttheProphetreassuredhim:

“No,BrotherHeber,...atthattimeyouwerenighuntotheLord;therewasonlyaveilbetweenyouandHim,butyoucouldnotseeHim.WhenIheardofit,itgavemegreatjoy,forIthenknewthattheworkofGodhadtakenrootinthatland.Itwasthisthatcausedthedeviltomakeastruggletokillyou.”

Josephthenrelatedsomeofhisownexperience,inmanycontestshehadhadwiththeevilone,andsaid:“ThenearerapersonapproachestheLord,a

greaterpowerwillbemanifestedbytheadversarytopreventtheaccomplishmentofHispurposes.”70

TheAdversary’sFinalEffortsinKirtlandAfterthetemplededication,theadversaryresumedhisattacksontheSaints.

JosephsawadarktimeaheadfortheSaints.Heknewthatthiscomingperiodwouldbearefiner’sfirefortheChurch.Itwasatest.Heknewsomewouldfailit.Hemadeaninspiredprophecy:“Satan’skingdom[will]belaidinruins,withallhisblackdesigns;andtheSaintswillcomeforthlikegoldseventimestriedinthefire,beingmadeperfectthroughsufferingsandtemptations,andthattheblessingsofheavenandearthwillbemultipliedupontheirheads.”71

IntheChurch’slasttwoyearsinKirtland,oneformofpersecutionfollowedanotheruntiltheforcesofevildrovetheSaintsoutofthecity.Thebankfailed.TownspeoplebrokeintohomesoftheSaints,manyofwhomfearedfortheirlives.AstheKirtlanderaclosed,theLord“warned”Joseph“bytheSpirit”toleaveandmaskedhisidentityashedidso.72AbouttwomonthslatertheLordsent“amessenger...verylarge...dressedinawhiterobedowntohisankles”toprovidedivineassurancetothemainbodyofSaintsbeforetheydeparted.73ThismessengercameinanswertoprayersofZerahPulsipherandotherChurchleadersastheyprayedinthetemplethattheLordwouldopenthewayfortheremainingSaintstoleaveKirtland.

SataninflicteddeepwoundsupontheChurch.Someofthemostfaithfulfaltered.TheLordallowedSatantosifttheSaintsandwinnowthewheatfromthechaff.TheChurchwaswoundedseverelyandmanypersonsapostatized,including,eventually,fiveApostles—ThomasB.Marsh,WilliamE.McLellin,LukeJohnson,LymanJohnsonandJohnBoynton.74ThosewhoovercametheforcesofSatannotonlysurvivedbutalsobecamemorestalwartandfaithful.Theadversaryhadinadvertentlymadethemstronger,withadefiniteresolvetobecomefaithfulmembersandleaders.TheywerenowpreparedbythoseexcruciatingtrialstofaceandconquerevenmorestringenttestsinMissouri,inNauvoo,andincrossingtheplains.TheLordmayhavehiddenHisfaceforatimeandshedtearsoverthosewhofellbythewayside,butHeneverthelessensuredthecontinuationandgrowthoftheChurch.ByallowingHisSaintstobe“seventimestriedinthefire,beingmadeperfectthroughsufferings,andtemptations,”Hiskingdomwaslaunched.75

SomeLeadersFell

TheLordfulfilledHispromisestoprotectHisSaints,butmanygaveintotheadversaryandsuccumbedtohissubversivetemptationsandtrials.TheydidnotunderstandwhatJosephtriedtoteachin1836:“Thepowersofdarkness...castagloomyshade...whichprevents...seeingthingsastheyrealyare.”76Theydidnotunderstandthatultimateexaltationrequiresconsistenttrust,obediencetoGod’scommandments,andfaithintheLordtofollowandsupporttheProphet.TheydidnotunderstandthattheywererightlyplacedinthecontinuingbattlebetweenChristandSatan.TheydidnotunderstandthatenduringsuchtrialsandpersecutionsinducedbySatanwerenecessaryforgrowthandglory.Josephtriedtoteachthem,butalldidnotendure.WilfordWoodruff,onewhodid,focusedonthesimplerevealedprinciplethatlightandtruthovercomedarknessandevil.AfterhearingJosephteach,Wilfordsaid:“Light,principle&virtue...cameforthoutoftheheart&mouthoftheProphetJOSEPH...suchevidences...oughttodriveintooblivioneveryparticleofunbelief&dubietyfromthemindofthehearers,forsuchlanguagesentimentprinciple&spiritcannotflowfromdarkness.JosephSmithjrisaprophetofGod.”77

ThosewhofellawaywerewarnedthatSatanwouldfightfortheirsouls.Fouryearsearlier,JosephhadseenSatanmakingwarwiththeSaints.In1832,Josephsawinvisionthat“Satan,thatoldserpent,eventhedevil...makethwarwiththesaintsofGod,andencompasseththemroundabout.”78

JosephalsosawthosewithwhomSatanmadewarandovercame.79Hesawthattheywouldhavemiseryandsuffering.80AtthedemiseoftheChurchinKirtland,heproclaimed,“IfIobtaintheglorywhichIhaveinviewIexpecttowadethroughmuchtribulation.”81

Noteworthylessonscanbelearnedfromthoseofprominencewhodidnotremaintruetotheirearlierconvictions.Theysufferedmiserybecausetheydidn’trecognizetheadversary’sinfluenceuntiltheyfell.SomeexamplesareLymanJohnson,HarveyWhitlock,andThomasB.Marsh.LymanJohnson,thefirstApostletobecalledinthisdispensation,relatedhisfeelingstoameetingoftheQuorumoftheTwelveinNauvoo:

IfIcouldbelieve“Mormonism”asIdidwhenItraveledwithyouandpreached,ifIpossessedtheworldIwouldgiveit.Iwouldgiveanything.Iwouldsuffermyrighthandtobecutoff,ifIcouldbelieveitagain.ThenIwasfullofjoyandgladness.Mydreamswerepleasant.WhenIawokeinthemorningmyspiritwascheerful.Iwashappybydayandbynight,fullofpeaceandjoyandthanksgiving.Butnowitisdarkness,pain,sorrow,misery

intheextreme.Ihaveneversinceseenahappymoment.82

HarveyWhitlock,apriesthoodleaderwhosawavisionoftheFatherandtheSonatthefirstconferenceoftheChurchinKirtland,wroteinalettertoJosephSmith,saying:

WhenIconsiderthehappytimes,andpeacefulmoments,andpleasantseasonsIhaveenjoyedwithyouandthispeople,contrastedwithmynowdegradedstate;togetherwiththehighandimportantstationIhaveheldbeforeGod,andtheabyssintowhichIhavefallen—itisasubjectthatswellsmyhearttoobigforutterance,andIamoverwhelmedwithfeelingsthatlanguagecannotexpress....

...IhavefallenfromthatprincelystationwhereuntoourGodhascalledme....

...Ihavesealedmyowndoom,andpronouncedmyownsentence....[F]ollownotmyexample,butsteer...onwardinspiteofallthecombinedpowersofearthandhell,for[I]knowthatonemisstephereisonlyretrievablebyathousandgroansandtearsbeforeGod.83

ThomasB.Marsh,presidentoftheQuorumoftheTwelveApostlesinKirtland,allowednegativefeelingstowardJosephSmith,whichlastedeighteenyears,tostarthisfall.Thisperiod,whichhedescribedas“groopingindarkness,”reachedalowpointwiththedeathofhiswife.84Finally,inMay1857heconcluded,“Isee,theLordcouldgetalongverywellwithoutmeandHehaslostnothingbymyfallingoutoftheranks;ButOwhathaveIlost?!RichesGreaterRichesthanallthisworldormanyplanetslikethiscouldafford.”85

AtameetingwithChurchmembersinSaltLakeCitylaterthatyear,ThomasexplainedthathehadbeenmadatJoseph.Hesaidhe“talkedwithBrotherBrighamandBrotherHeber,andIwantedthemtobemadlikemyself;andIsawtheywerenotmad,andIgotmadderstillbecausetheywerenot.”86Witharepentantspirit,hedescribedhowtheadversaryhadledhimaway,tellingthecongregation:

Manyhavesaidtome,“Howisitthatamanlikeyou...shouldfallaway?”Itoldthem...

...Letnoonefeeltoosecure:for,beforeyouthinkofit,yourstepswillslide.YouwillnotthenthinknorfeelforamomentasyoudidbeforeyoulosttheSpiritofChrist;forwhenmenapostatize,theyarelefttogrovelin

thedark.I...losttheSpiritoftheLordoutofmyheart....

...Andthen,whentheDevilbegantoleadme,itwaseasyforthecarnalmindtoriseup,whichisanger,jealousy,andwrath.Icouldfeelitwithinme;Ifeltangryandwrathful;andtheSpiritoftheLordbeinggone,astheScripturessay,Iwasblinded....

...Ifyoudonotwanttosufferinbodyandmind,asIhavedone...nipthatspiritinthebud;foritismiseryandafflictioninthisworld,anddestructionintheworldtocome.87

Surelythebattle,begunintheheavensbeforethisworld,didinfactincreasethroughouttheKirtlanderaandbeyond.Nevertheless,thosesteadfastSaintswhorecognizedthehandoftheLordthroughitallremainedtruetotheirfaith,becamestrongerthroughtheadversity,andforgedaheadinHisdivinework.

Notes^1.GordonB.Hinckley,Kirtlandhistoricsitesdedicatoryprayer,May18,2003,in“DedicatoryPrayer:

RememberingThoseWhoWalkedPioneerPaths,”ChurchNews(SaltLakeCity,Utah),May24,2003,5.

^2.JosephSmith–History1:20.^3.Doctrine&Covenants50:3.^4.Doctrine&Covenants132:57.^5.Doctrine&Covenants76:28.^6.TimesandSeasons4(February1,1843):83[v.21].^7.TimesandSeasons4(February1,1843):83[v.23].^8.Doctrine&Covenants68:6.^9.Doctrine&Covenants49:27.^10.Doctrine&Covenants76:61.^11.Doctrine&Covenants71:9.^12.Doctrine&Covenants43:29–31.^13.Doctrine&Covenants45:55.^14.Doctrine&Covenants101:28.^15.Doctrine&Covenants88:110.^16.Doctrine&Covenants88:112–15.^17.Doctrine&Covenants5:22.^18.JosephSmithtoEmmaSmith,June6,1832,inPersonalWritingsofJosephSmith,comp.anded.Dean

C.Jessee,rev.ed.(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,2002),264–65.^19.LucyMackSmith,HistoryofJosephSmithbyHisMother,ed.PrestonNibley(SaltLakeCity:

Bookcraft,1958),248.^20.Smith,HistoryofJosephSmith,247–48;emphasisadded.^21.ParleyP.Pratt,AutobiographyofParleyP.Pratt,ed.ParleyP.PrattJr.(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,

1985),48.^22.Doctrine&Covenants50:23–25.^23.Doctrine&Covenants50:25.^24.Pratt,Autobiography,51.^25.Doctrine&Covenants58:57;seealsovv.50–56.^26.LymanWighttoWilfordWoodruff,August24,1857,inChurchHistoryLibrary,TheChurchofJesus

ChristofLatter-daySaints,SaltLakeCity,Utah,5–6;hereaftercitedasChurchHistoryLibrary;alsoavailableonlineathttp://saintswithouthalos.com/m/310604-m.phtml.

^27.EzraBoothtoIraEddy,October31,1831,“Mormonism—No.IV,”[Ravenna]OhioStar2(November3,1831):3.

^28.FromHistoriantoDissident:TheBookofJohnWhitmer,ed.BruceN.Westergren(SaltLakeCity:SignatureBooks,1995),69.

^29.JohnWhitmer,inJosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2ded.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),1:175nt.

^30.PhiloDibble,in“RecollectionsoftheProphetJosephSmith,”JuvenileInstructor27(May15,1892):303.

^31.LeviHancock,“TheLifeofLeviHancock,”inLeviHancock,Autobiography,copiedbyClaraE.H.Lloyd,typescript,33,L.TomPerrySpecialCollections,HaroldB.LeeLibrary,BrighamYoungUniversity,Provo,Utah;hereaftercitedasBYUSpecialCollections.

^32.JohnWhitmer,inHistoryoftheChurch,1:175nt.^33.MinutesofahighpriestsmeetingheldatSpanishFork,Utah,February5,1878,ChurchHistoryLibrary,

inCalvinRobertStephens,“TheLifeandContributionsofZebedeeColtrin”(master’sthesis,BrighamYoungUniversity,1974),13–14.

^34.Josephdescribestheeventsofthisnightinhishistory(HistoryoftheChurch,1:261–65).^35.HistoryoftheChurch,1:262.^36.JosephSmithIII,“BiographyofEmmaSmith,Prepared1892–1893forRecollectionsofthePioneersof

LeeCounty,”typescript,4,CommunityofChristArchives,Independence,Mo.^37.GeorgeA.Smith,inJournalofDiscourses,26vols.(London:Latter-daySaints’BookDepot,1854–86),

11:5.^38.Smith,“BiographyofEmmaSmith,”4.^39.Hancock,Autobiography,typescript,50.^40.HistoryoftheChurch,2:341–42;KarenLynnDavidson,DavidJ.Whittaker,MarkAshurst-McGee,and

RichardL.Jensen,eds.,Histories,1832–1844,vol.1oftheHistoriesseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2012),1:156.

^41.JosephSmithIII,inRecollectionsofthePioneersofLeeCounty[Illinois](Dixon,Ill.:InezA.Kennedy,1893),98.

^42.Smith,“BiographyofEmmaSmith,”4.^43.Smith,“BiographyofEmmaSmith,”5.^44.Smith,“BiographyofEmmaSmith,”5.^45.BuddyYoungreen,ReflectionsofEmma:JosephSmith’sWife(Orem,Utah:GrandinBook,1982),93.^46.Youngreen,ReflectionsofEmma,103.^47.HistoryoftheChurch,1:202–3.^48.Doctrine&Covenants61:19.^49.Doctrine&Covenants61:6.^50.BrighamYoung,DiscoursesofBrighamYoung,sel.JohnA.Widtsoe(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,

1973),410.^51.TimesandSeasons6(July15,1845):972.^52.TimesandSeasons6(January15,1845):771.^53.“JoelHillsJohnson,1802–1882,”typescript,ChurchHistoryLibrary;andBYUSpecialCollections;

availableonlineatwww.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/JHJohnson.html.

^54.JosephSmithtoWilliamW.Phelpsandothers,August18,1833,inJessee,PersonalWritings,309.^55.HistoryoftheChurch,1:450.^56.HistoryoftheChurch,2:2.^57.BenjaminF.Johnson,MyLife’sReview(Independence,Mo.:Zion’sPrinting&PublishingCo.,1947),

24.^58.HistoryoftheChurch,1:394.^59.HistoryoftheChurch,3:427.^60.HistoryoftheChurch,1:394–95.^61.HistoryoftheChurch,1:457.^62.HistoryoftheChurch,2:352;DeanC.Jessee,MarkAshurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,

Journals,1832–1839,vol.1oftheJournalsseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2008),1:140.

^63.HistoryoftheChurch,2:386–87;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:174.^64.HistoryoftheChurch,2:387;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:174.^65.“TrumanAngellAutobiography,”inOurPioneerHeritage,comp.KateB.Carter,20vols.(SaltLake

City:DaughtersofUtahPioneers,1958–77),10:202–3.^66.DanielTyler,“IncidentsofExperience,”inScrapsofBiographyinClassicExperiencesandAdventures

(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1969),32.^67.Tyler,“IncidentsofExperience,”33.^68.HeberC.Kimball,inOrsonF.Whitney,LifeofHeberC.Kimball(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1945),

130–31,135.^69.OrsonHyde,inWhitney,LifeofHeberC.Kimball,131.^70.JosephSmith,inWhitney,LifeofHeberC.Kimball,132.^71.HistoryoftheChurch,2:353;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:141.^72.Smith,HistoryofJosephSmith,248.^73.ZerahPulsipher,“Autobiography1789–1872”(ca.1803–62),typescript,BYUSpecialCollections.^74.ExceptforThomasB.Marsh,alllefttheChurchbeforeJuly1838whentheKirtlandCamp,themain

bodyofSaints,leftKirtland.Marshwasexcommunicatedeightmonthslater.^75.HistoryoftheChurch,2:353;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:141.^76.HistoryoftheChurch,2:352;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:140.^77.DeanC.Jessee,“TheKirtlandDiaryofWilfordWoodruff,”BYUStudies12,no.4(1972):390–91.^78.Doctrine&Covenants76:28–29.^79.Doctrine&Covenants76:30.^80.JosephSmith,“AVision”(poem),TimesandSeasons4(February1,1843):83–85[v.24];Doctrine&

Covenants76:36.^81.InDavidOsborn,“Recollections,”JuvenileInstructor27,no.6(March15,1892):173.^82.BrighamYoung,inJournalofDiscourses,19:41.^83.HistoryoftheChurch,2:313–14;Davidson,Whittaker,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Histories,1:126–

27.^84.LyndonW.Cook,“‘IHaveSinnedagainstHeaven,andAmUnworthyofYourConfidence,butICannot

LivewithoutaReconciliation’:ThomasB.MarshReturnstotheChurch,”BYUStudies20,no.4(Summer1980):397.

^85.Cook,“IHaveSinned,”398.^86.ThomasB.Marsh,inJournalofDiscourses,5:207.^87.Marsh,inJournalofDiscourses,5:206–7.

Chapter5

ChristTeachesofHimself

Iamhewhowasliftedup.IamJesusthatwascrucified.IamtheSonofGod.—Doctrine&Covenants45:52

NothingismorecentraltoKirtlandthanChrist’spersonalinstructionconcerningHisowndivinenature,Atonement,andResurrection.HetaughtplainlyandcompletelythattheeternalplanofsalvationiscenteredinHim.HisrevelationsfocusonHimself,Hisrolesandmissions,andtheredemptionofmankind.ThisChrist-centeredteachingcouldbereferredtoastheChristologyofKirtland.Christdictatedmorerevelationsandcausedtheinitialprintingof

moreofHiswordsduringtheKirtlandperiodthanatanyothertimeinChurchhistory.1ThetotalityofwordsreferringtotheSaviorestablishawordprint,showingthatinmodernrevelationtheSaviorspeakswithauthorityanddescribesHispowers.Christ’slatter-dayinstructionwasrecordedasitcametoJosephSmith.TheSavioreitheridentifiedHimselfasthesource,orHespokeinfirst-personlanguageinalmosteveryrevelation.TheserevelationscometousastheyweregivenintheEnglishlanguage.2ChristmadeitclearthattherevelationscamefromHimself.Hetestified,“I,JesusChrist,yourLordandyourGod,havespokenit.Thesewordsarenotofmennorofman,butofme.”3ItcouldbesaidofJosephSmithinKirtlandasitwassaidofMoses:theLordspokewithhim“facetoface,asamanspeakethuntohisfriend.”4

ChristTeachesthroughTestimoniesofDeityOneremarkableandtimelessaspectoftheSavior’steachingwasHis

consistentidentificationandtestimonyofHimself.ChristoftentestifiedtotherealityofHisownexistenceanddivinity.FollowingarejustsomeofHismanyfirst-persontestimoniesthatwenttotheworldfromKirtland:•“IwasinthebeginningwiththeFather,andamtheFirstborn.”5

•“IamJesusChrist,theSavioroftheworld.”6

•“Iamhewhowasliftedup.IamJesusthatwascrucified.”7

•“IamJesusChrist,theSonofGod.”8

•“Iamfromabove....Iamoverall,andinall,andthroughall.”9

•“IamAlphaandOmega,evenJesusChrist.”10

•“IamtheLordofHosts.”11

•“ItheLord...evenJesusChrist...amtheSonofthelivingGod.”12

•“Iamthetruelight...IamintheFather,andtheFatherinme.”13

•“Iwasintheworld...anddweltamongthesonsofmen.”14

•“Iamhewholiveth,Iamhewhowasslain;IamyouradvocatewiththeFather.”15

•“IamtheLordofgloryIwascrucifyedfortheworld.”16

AlsoremarkableisthatGodtheFatherapparentlydesiredthatHisownfirst-persontestimonyofJesusChristberepeatedlyrecorded.HeavenlyFather’sownwordstestifiedtoChrist’sexistenceanddivinitytimeandtimeagain.17FollowingarejustsomeoftheFather’smanywordsoftestimonyregardingtheSon:•“TheSon...ismineOnlyBegotten.”18

•“I...God...havesentmineOnlyBegottenSonintotheworldfortheredemptionoftheworld.”19

•“MineOnlyBegotten...waswithmefromthebeginning.”20

•“MyBelovedSon...wasmyBelovedandChosenfromthebeginning.”21

•“JesusChrist[is]theonlynamewhichshallbegivenunderheaven,wherebysalvationshallcomeuntothechildrenofmen.”22

•“MineOnlyBegottenisandshallbetheSavior.”23

InreadingtheSavior’srevelations,wecouldeasilyconcludethatboththeSaviorandtheFatherwantedtheLatter-daySaintstoknowofChrist’sdivinityandtohaveconfidencethatHehadpowerandabilitytofulfillHispromisestothem.Forexample,whentheLordcommandedtheSaintsinNewYorktosell,rent,orevenleavetheirfarmsbehindandgototheunknownworldofKirtland,HefirstassuredthemofHisleadershipanddivinenature.HeprecededthecommandtomovetoOhiobymakingsureHisSaintsunderstoodwhoissuedtheedict.HeidentifiedHimselftothemas“theLordyourGod,evenJesusChrist...whichknowethallthings...Iamthesamewhichspake,andtheworldwasmade,andallthingscamebyme....Iaminyourmidstandyecannotseeme....Iwill...watchoveryou.”24KnowingthatJesusChrist,theirLordandGod,ledthemandwouldwatchoverthemwouldcertainlyhavegiventheearlySaintsfaithandconfidencetoobeyHiscommand.

TheSaviorTaughtofHimselfthroughHisNamesandTitlesTheSaviortaughtvolumesaboutHimselfthroughtheuseofdescriptive

namesandtitles.HeidentifiedHimselfbymorethanonehundreddifferentnamesortitlesinKirtland.MostoftheseidentifyanaspectofHisdivinemissionoratleastoneofHisattributesthattypifysomethingaboutHim.EachnamealsoteachessomethingaboutHim.EachgivesalittledifferentinsightintoHim.EachincreasesourconfidenceinHim.ManyrefertoHispowerandabilitytoleadandsavemankind.TheSaviorusedmanynamesoverandover.Asanexampleofthis,Heusedthetitle“ItheLord”123timesinthecanonizedrevelationspublishedinKirtland.Thefollowinglistidentifies101namestheSaviorusedtoidentifyHimselfinrevelationsprintedorreceivedinKirtland.25

•Advocatewiththefather26

•Almighty27

•AlphaandOmega28

•Alphus29

•Beginningandtheend30

•BelovedSon31

•Bridegroom32

•Christ33

•ChristtheLamb34

•Creatorofthefirstday35

•Creatoroftheheavensandtheearth36

•Creatorofworlds37

•Endless38

•Thefirstandthelast39

•Firstborn40

•GloriousMajestyonhigh41

•God42

•GodofEnoch43

•GodtheLord44

•Goodshepherd45

•GreatIAm46

•Greatestofall47

•Hewholiveth48

•Hewhospakeinrighteousness49

•Hewhowasliftedup50

•Hewhowasslain51

•Hewhohasallpower52

•Hewhoisfromalleternitytoalleternity53

•Hewhoisfromeverlastingtoeverlasting54

•Hewhosittethuponthethrone55

•HolyOne56

•HolyOneofZion57

•Iam58

•Jehovah59

•Jesus60

•JesusChristtheSonofthelivingGod61

•JesusChristyourLord62

•JesusChrist,theSonofGod63

•Jesusthatwascrucified64

•Judgeofall65

•King66

•Kingofkings67

•KingofZion68

•TheLamb69

•LambofGod70

•Lamb,whowasslain71

•Lawbywhichallthingsaregoverned72

•Lawgiver73

•Lifeofmen74

•Lifeoftheworld75

•Light76

•Lightofmen77

•Lightofthemoon78

•Lightofthestars79

•Lightofthesun80

•Thelightandthelifeoftheworld81

•Lightoftruth82

•Lightthatshinethindarkness83

•Lightwhichcannotbehidindarkness84

•Lightwhichisinallthings85

•Lightwhichshineth86

•ThelivingGod87

•Lord88

•LordGod89

•LordJesus90

•LordJesusChrist91

•LordofHosts92

•LordofSabaoth93

•Lordofthewholeearth94

•Master95

•Mediator96

•Messengerofsalvation97

•Messiah98

•MightyOneofIsrael99

•Mightytosave100

•Omegus101

•OnlyBegottenoftheFather102

•OnlyBegottenSon103

•Redeemer104

•Redeemeroftheworld105

•RighteousJudge106

•TheRockofHeaven107

•Savior108

•Savioroftheworld109

•TheSon110

•SonAhman111

•SonofGod112

•SonofMan113

•Sonofthybosom114

•Spiritoftruth115

•StoneofIsrael116

•TheLordyourRedeemer117

•Thesamewhichknowethallthings118

•Thesamewhichspake,andtheworldwasmade119

•Truelight120

•TheWord121

•YourLordandyourGod122

•YourMaker123

•Yourruler124

TheSaviorTaughtofHimselfthroughShortDeclarationsRevelationsreceivedorprintedintheKirtlandperiodaregenerallyChrist

centered.InthemChristteachesofHimself.HisteachinggoesbeyondjustthenamesHeusedforHimself.InthemHeaffirmsHisdivinityclearlyandwithoutequivocation.InthemHerevealsapersonaltouchoftenoverlookedbycasualreaders.InthemHegivescriticalassurancesneededbyHisfollowers.HecomfortsHisSaintsandreassuresthemofHisfriendshipandcompanionship.Heasksquestions.HerespondstoHisSaintsandevencounselswiththem.ThefollowingstatementsbyJesusChristrevealfurtherinsightsintoHisdivinenatureandHisroles:•“Iampure.”125

•“Iamnorespecterofpersons.”126

•“Iamendless.”127

•Idwell“onhigh.”128

•“I...ruleintheheavensabove.”129

•IfulfillwhatIhavepromised.130

•“Iamabletomakeyouholy.”131

•“[I]knoweth...howtosuccorthemwhoaretempted.”132

•“I...cannotlie.”133

•“Ido[theFather’s]will.”134

•“Mywordsaresureandshallnotfail.”135

•“BestillandknowthatIamGod.”136

•“[Your]prayersIhaveheard.”137

•“[Your]heartsIknow.”138

•“[Your]desireshavecomeupbeforeme.”139

•“I,theLord,ammerciful.”140

•“I,theLord,am...gracious.”141

•“I,theLord,...delighttohonorthosewhoserveme.”142

•“Iwillleadyoualong.”143

•“[TheLord]isfullofmercy,justice,graceandtruth,andpeace.”144

•“[TheLord]comprehendethallthings.”145

•“Mygraceissufficientforyou.”146

•“Youshallhavepeaceinme.”147

•“TheLordyourGod[is]thesametodayasyesterday,andforever.”148

•“Mysouldelightethinthesongoftheheart.”149

•“Iwillbemercifuluntoyou.”150

•“Fearnot...foryouaremine.”151

•“Iamthegoodshepherd.”152

•“Ihavenotforsakenyou.”153

•“Iwillhavecompassionuponyou.”154

•“Beofgoodcheer,anddonotfear.”155

•“ItheLordamwithyou,andwillstandbyyou.”156

•“Iwillgobeforeyourface.Iwillbeonyourrighthandandonyourleft.”157

•“MySpiritshallbeinyourhearts,andmineangelsroundaboutyou,tobearyouup.”158

•“DrawnearuntomeandIwilldrawnearuntoyou.”159

•“I,theLord,showmercyuntoallthemeek.”160

•“Iamwithyouevenuntotheend.”161

•“[Fearnot]whatmancando,forIamwithyou.”162

•“Iwillbeyourkingandwatchoveryou.”163

•“Irulein...allwisdomandprudence.”164

•“TheLord...knowethallthings.”165

•“Inmethereisallpower.”166

•“ItheLordcannotlookuponsinwiththeleastdegreeofallowance.”167

•“Iwillfightyourbattles.”168

ChristTaughtofHisLoving,Kind,CompassionateNatureThroughHismanyinteractionswithJosephSmith,ChristrevealedHislove,

kindness,andcompassion.HeclearlyexpressedHislovetoHisSaints.ToOliverCowdery,Hesaid,“Iwillencircletheeinthearmsofmylove.”169HetoldJoseph,“Ihavelovedyou.”170HeexplainedhowHisloveformankindmotivatedtheAtonement.Hesaid,“JesusChristyourRedeemer...solovedtheworldthathegavehisownlife.”171

ChristfrequentlyreferredtotheearlySaintsasfriends.IntenseparaterevelationsHecalledthem“myfriends.”172HeexplainedthereasonHecalledthemservantsthroughoutHisrevelations:“Icalledyouservantsfortheworld’s

sake,andyearetheirservantsformysake.”173Heassuredthem,however,thattheymeantmoretoHimthanservants.Hesaid,“Iwillcallyoufriends,foryouaremyfriends,andyeshallhaveaninheritancewithme.”174

ChristagonizedandevenweptasHisSaintsstruggled.AsMissouripersecutionsbecameintense,Hesoulfullyrevealed,“Mybowelsarefilledwithcompassiontowardsthem.”175ChristalsorevealedHiscompassionatenaturetoJosephSmithashetranslatedtheBible.Josephwasgivenaninsightnotfoundintheoriginaltext.AspeoplecrowdedtobeneartheSaviorafterHismiraculousfeedingofthefivethousandneartheSeaofGalilee,theSaviorstruggledtobealone.ButdespiteHispersonalneedforprivacy,Christyieldedtothepeople.JosephwrotethatChrist“enteredintoanhouse,andwouldthatnomanshouldcomeuntohim.Buthecouldnotdenythem;forhehadcompassionuponallmen.”176

Inan1836visionJosephSmithsawtheSaviorbroughttotearsbythesufferingofHislatter-dayApostles.JosephsaidhesawtheApostles“muchfatigued,withtheirclothestatteredandfeetswollen,withtheireyescastdownward,[andJesus]lookeduponthemandwept.”177ChristurgedHisSaintstoshowthissamekindofcompassion.Speakingofdeath,whichoftenlurkednearbyduringtheearlydaysoftheRestoration,ChristinstructedtheChurchto“weepforthelossofthemthatdie.”178JesusfollowedthepatternofHisFather,whoweptasHesawthewickednessofHischildren.ItwasrevealedtoJosephSmiththatEnochtalkedwithGodandsawhimweep.179EnochaskedGod,“Howisitthoucanstweep?”180LookingdownonHisdisobedientchildreninancienttimes,Godreplied,“UntothybrethrenhaveI...givencommandment,thattheyshouldloveoneanother,...butbehold,theyarewithoutaffection,andtheyhatetheirownblood.”181

ChristtaughtofHistendernessandkindnesstowardeachforwhomHesufferedincompletingtheAtonement.HesaidthatHisredeemed“shallmentionthelovingkindnessoftheirLord,andallthathehasbestoweduponthemaccordingtohisgoodness,andaccordingtohislovingkindness,foreverandever.”182Showinggreatempathy,Herevealed“inalltheirafflictionshewasafflicted.”183HeassuredthemthatHe“savedthem...and...redeemedthem”andthendescribedthatHe“borethem,andcarriedthem”becauseofHis“love,and...pity”forthem.184Christ’ssufferinginGethsemaneandonthecrossisbeyondcomprehension.HesaidthesufferingsHeenduredwere“sore—howsoreyouknownot,howexquisiteyouknownot,yea,howhardtobearyouknownot.”185HefurtherexplainedthatHis“sufferingcausedmyself,evenGod,

thegreatestofall,totremblebecauseofpain,andtobleedateverypore,andtosufferbothbodyandspirit.”186

Christshowedconcernforfamilieswhowereoftenleftdestituteasmissionariesandleaderstraveledonofficialassignment.Hedirectedmissionariesto“obtainplacesforyourfamilies.”187HedirectedChurchmembers“tosupportthefamiliesofthosewhoarecalled.”188Whenmissionariesweregivenmoney,Hetoldthemto“sendit”totheir“families.”189Healsocomfortedmissionarieswhoworriedabouttheirfamilies.HeonceassuredaconcernedJosephSmithandSidneyRigdonastheytraveledinwesternNewYorkStateandCanada,saying,“Yourfamiliesarewell;theyareinminehands.”190

ChristRevealedInsightsintoHisDivinityDuringtheKirtlandperiodChristclarifiedmanypointsofdoctrineand

providedinsightsintoHisdivinenatureandatonementthatarenottaughtascomprehensivelyinotherscripture.Fourofthosepointsofdoctrinefollow.

ChristTaughtofHisSubmissiontotheFatherInallofHisrevelationspublishedintheKirtlandperiod,Christexemplified

submissivenesstoHisFather’swill.ThroughoutHislatter-dayteaching,Christ’slifeshinesasanexampleofstrictobedienceincarryingoutthewilloftheFather.ChristtaughtthatinthepremortalexistenceHebeganHismission,fromwhichtherewasnoturningback,withthispledge:“Father,thywillbedone,andtheglorybethineforever.”191TheSaviortoldJosephSmith,“IcamebythewilloftheFather,andIdohiswill.”192OfHisagonyinGethsemanewhenHissufferingreachedbeyondwhatmortalscouldbear,HecriedoutHisintensereluctance:“[I]wouldthatImightnotdrinkthebittercup,andshrink.”193Despitethismomentaryhesitancy,however,Hedeclareddutifully,“Nevertheless...Ipartookandfinishedmypreparations.”194

ThroughoutHisrevelations,ChristtaughttheearlySaintsofHissubmissiveness,meekness,andobedience.InteachingaboutHimself,couldHehavebeenprovidingtherolemodelfortheSaintsintheirarduoustrialsthatlayahead?Inthisearly1830setting,couldHehavebeentutoringayounglatter-dayprophetinhowtoapproachhisultimatesacrificefourteenyearshence?CouldHehavebeenpreparingHislatter-daySaintsfortheirownsacrificesofgreatmagnitude,evenforsometogivetheirlives?TheSavior’slifestoodasan

exampleofHissubmissiontoHisFather’swill.Inatriumphantdeclarationofultimatesubmission,Christconceded,“I...accomplishedandfinishedthewillofhimwhoseIam,eventheFather.”195TheSaviortaughtHislatter-daySaintstoshowthissamesubmissivenesstotheFather.IntheKirtlandTemplededicatoryprayer,theSaviorinspiredJosephSmithtopray:“Helpthyservantstosay,withthygraceassistingthem:Thywillbedone,OLord,andnotours.”196

ChristDefinedWhatItMeanstoBetheAdvocatewiththeFatherInKirtland,ChristtaughtthatHeisouradvocatewiththeFather.Thattitle

hasbeenusedonlyoneothertimeinscripture.197Christexplainedthatasouradvocate,Herepresents“evenasmanyashavebelievedinmyname.”198HeexplainedthatHisblood,whichHeshed,enablesHimtosuccessfullyrepresentandpleadforusbeforetheFather.Hesaid,“BythevirtueofthebloodwhichIhavespilt,haveIpleadedbeforetheFatherforthem.”199AsHestandsbeforeGod,Hefullyknowsourweaknessesandsins.Hesaid,“JesusChrist,youradvocate...knoweththeweaknessofman.”200HewillsaytoHisFather,“Beholdthesufferingsanddeathofhimwhodidnosin,inwhomthouwastwellpleased;beholdthebloodofthySonwhichwasshed,thebloodofhimwhomthougavestthatthyselfmightbeglorified;wherefore,Father,sparethesemybrethrenthatbelieveonmyname,thattheymaycomeuntomeandhaveeverlastinglife.”201

ChristassuresusofthepositiveresultofHispleading.HetoldtheSaints,“Liftupyourheartsandbeglad,forIam...youradvocatewiththeFather;anditishisgoodwilltogiveyouthekingdom.”202Inadditiontobeingtheiradvocate,HeassuredtheSaintsthatHewasalsoordainedtobetheirMediatorwithGod.ChristtoldJosephSmithandSidneyRigdonintheir1832vision,“Justmen[are]madeperfectthroughJesusthemediator...whowroughtoutthisperfectatonementthroughthesheddingofhisownblood.”203ChristalsotaughtinKirtlandthatHeransomedmankind.IntranslatingthebookofMatthew,JosephSmithwasinspiredtowritethatthesacramentalbreadistaken“inremembranceofmybodywhichIgivearansomforyou.”204

ChristRememberedtheLonelinessofHisAtonementChristalsotaughtdeeperinsightsintohowaloneHefeltasHecompleted

theAtonement.HesaidthatatHisglorifiedcoming,anangelwilldeclareforalltohear,“TheLambofGodhathovercomeandtroddenthewine-pressalone.”205

JosephSmithwastoldnotonlythattheangelwouldspeakofHisalonenessbutalsothattheSaviorwouldrememberanddeclareforalltohear,“Ihavetroddenthewine-pressalone...andnonewerewithme.”206Hewillalsoproclaim,“WhenIcameuntomineown,nomanamongyoureceivedme....WhenIcalledagaintherewasnoneofyoutoanswer.”207

ChristTaughtofHisWillingnesstoForgiveSinChristunderscoredHistotalforgivenessbaseduponthesinner’srepentance.

Heclearlyexplained,“I,theLord,forgivesinsuntothosewhoconfesstheirsinsbeforemeandaskforgiveness,whohavenotsinneduntodeath.”208ChristalsodemonstratedtheextentofHisforgivenessasHesaid,“Hewhohasrepentedofhissins,thesameisforgiven,andI,theLord,rememberthemnomore.”209TheSaviorindicatedthatmercyalsoplaysarole.Hesaid,“I...ammercifuluntothosewhoconfesstheirsinswithhumblehearts.”210HealsoexplainedthatHisownsufferingenabledHimtoforgive.Hesaid,“I,God,havesufferedthesethingsforall,thattheymightnotsufferiftheywouldrepent.”211

TheSaviorTeachesHisMissionofRedemptionTheSavior’scentralmessageinKirtlandheraldedHisatonementfor

mankind.Hereinforced,expanded,andclarifiedearlierteachingsandintroducednewprinciplesandinsightsintoHisredemptivemission,declaringittobe“gladtidings”:“Thisisthegospel,thegladtidings...thathecameintotheworld,evenJesus,tobecrucifiedfortheworld,andtobearthesinsoftheworld,andtosanctifytheworld,andtocleanseitfromallunrighteousness;thatthroughhimallmightbesaved.”212

TheProphetJosephclearlyunderstoodtheSavior’scentralmessageof“gladtidings”bytheendoftheKirtlandperiod.JosephansweredafrequentlyaskedquestionconcerningtheChurch’sbasictenetsbyemphaticallystating,“ThefundamentalprinciplesofourreligionarethetestimonyoftheApostlesandProphets,concerningJesusChrist,thatHedied,wasburied,androseagainthethirdday,andascendedintoheaven;andallotherthingswhichpertaintoourreligionareonlyappendagestoit.”213

Joseph’sunderstandingofChrist’smissionofredemptioncamedirectlyfromtheSaviorHimself,whosimplystated,“Iam...theRedeemeroftheworld.”214InthewordsofGodtheFather,Christ’satonementandredemptionconstitute“theplanofsalvation.”215TheSaviorrepeatedlyandcomprehensively

taughtGod’splanofsalvationthroughrevelationsHegaveinKirtland.ThefollowingsummarycitesatleastonestatementofDeityforeachselectedelementoftheplan:•Christwasthefirstbornoftheheavenlyspirits.Christsaid,“IwasinthebeginningwiththeFather,andamtheFirstborn.”216

•ChristvolunteeredtobecometheRedeemerandwaschosenoverSatan,whoalsovolunteered.Satansaid,“Sendme,...andIwillredeemallmankind,thatonesoulshallnotbelost.”217Satanwantedtodestroyman’smoralagencyandtousurpthepowerandgloryofGod.218Christvolunteeredbysaying,“Sendme.”219HewaschosenbecauseHeresponded,“Father,thywillbedone,andtheglorybethineforever.”220

•Christ,underthedirectionoftheFather,castoutSatanandhisfollowersfromheaven.ChristremovedSatan,asstatedinthewordsoftheFather:“BythepowerofmineOnlyBegotten,Icausedthatheshouldbecastdown.”221ChristsaidSatan“wasthrustdownfromthepresenceofGodandtheSon.”222Satan’sfollowerswerecastoutwithhim.TheSavioralsosaid,“Athirdpartofthehostsofheaventurnedheawayfrommebecauseoftheiragency;andtheywerethrustdown,andthuscamethedevilandhisangels.”223

•ChristwasdesignatedtobetheonlySaviorandRedeemer.ThewordsoftheFathertestify,“JesusChrist[is]theonlyname...wherebysalvationshallcome.”224Josephwastold,“TheLordisGod,andbesidehimthereisnoSavior.”225

•ChristwastheCreator.Jesussaid,“BythepowerofmySpiritcreatedI...allthingsbothspiritualandtemporal.”226Healsosaid,“I...spake,andtheworldwasmade,andallthingscamebyme.”227JosephSmithlearnedthatChrist’screationsextendedtocreaturesintheanimalworld,suchas“beasts,...creepingthings,and...fowlsoftheair.”228Inaddition,Christcreatedotherworlds.Josephwastold,“Byhim,andthroughhim,andofhim,theworldsareandwerecreated.”229TheFatherconfirmedtheextentoftheSon’screations:“WorldswithoutnumberhaveIcreated...andbytheSonIcreatedthem.”230

•ChrististheSaviorofotherworlds.JosephSmithwastoldinan1832visionthattheinhabitantsofalltheworlds“thatcareerintheheavenssobroad...Aresav’dbytheverysameSaviourofours...bytheverysametruths,andtheverysamepow’rs.231

•ChristassistedtheFatheringivingAdamandEvemoralagencytochoosewhethertoeattheforbiddenfruit.Christ’sassistanceinman’screationisconfirmedinthewordsoftheFather:“I,God,saiduntomineOnlyBegotten...

Letusmakemaninourimage,afterourlikeness;anditwasso.”232AdamandEvebecame“thefirstfleshupontheearth.”233“TheLordsaid...Igaveuntothemtheirknowledge,inthedayIcreatedthem;andintheGardenofEden,gaveIuntomanhisagency.”234TheLordforbadethemtoeatoreventouchthefruitofthetreeplantedinthemidstoftheGardenofEden.235SatantemptedAdamandEve,andthey“partookoftheforbiddenfruitandtransgressedthecommandment.”236Ineatingofthefruit,AdamandEve“becamespirituallydead,whichisthefirstdeath.”237

•TheSonassistedtheFatherbysendingAdamandEvefromtheGardenofEdenaftertheirtransgression.TheLordcastAdamandEveoutofthegardenbecausetheypartookoftheforbiddenfruitandintroducedspiritualdeathintotheworld.238Josephwastold,“I,theLordGod,causedthathe[Adam]shouldbecastoutfromtheGardenofEden...becauseofhistransgression,whereinhebecamespirituallydead,whichisthefirstdeath,eventhatsamedeathwhichisthelastdeath...whichshallbepronounceduponthewickedwhenIshallsay:Depart,yecursed.”239

•ChristtaughtAdamthatHisatoningsacrificeprovidedthewaytoredeemhimandhisposterityfromtheirfallenstate.Christsaid,“IamtheOnlyBegottenoftheFather...asthouhastfallenthoumayestberedeemed,andallmankind,evenasmanyaswill.”240ChristtaughtJosephSmiththatHeredeemedallmenfromthefallofAdamandreturnedthemtoaninnocentstate.Hesaid,“Everyspiritofmanwasinnocentinthebeginning;andGodhavingredeemedmanfromthefall,menbecameagain,intheirinfantstate,innocentbeforeGod.”241

•GodcommandedAdamtoteachhischildrenofJesusChristandtheplanofsalvation.242TheFather’swordssummarizetheplanofsalvation:“Byreasonoftransgressioncomeththefall,whichfallbringethdeath,...soyemustbebornagainintothekingdomofheaven,ofwater,andoftheSpirit,andbecleansedbyblood,eventhebloodofmineOnlyBegotten;thatyemightbesanctifiedfromallsin,andenjoythewordsofeternallifeinthisworld,andeternallifeintheworldtocome,evenimmortalglory....

“Thisistheplanofsalvationuntoallmen,throughthebloodofmineOnlyBegotten,whoshallcomeinthemeridianoftime.”243

JosephSmithlearnedthatAdam,uponhearingtheplan,askedtheLord,“Whyisitthatmenmustrepentandbebaptizedinwater?”244TheLordreplied:“IhaveforgiventheethytransgressionintheGardenofEden.Hencecamethesayingabroadamongthepeople,thattheSonofGodhathatonedfororiginalguilt,whereinthesinsoftheparentscannotbeansweredupontheheadsofthe

children,fortheyarewholefromthefoundationoftheworld.”245ThosewordsandthefollowingversegiveanaddeddimensiontotheSavior’satonement:“LittlechildrenareredeemedfromthefoundationoftheworldthroughmineOnlyBegotten.”246

•Christbecamemortalbychoiceandwasborninthemeridianoftime.Hesaid,“I...madefleshmytabernacle,anddweltamongthesonsofmen.”247HegavetherelativetimeperiodofhismortallifetoJosephSmith:“I...cameinthemeridianoftime.”248

•ChristwassenttoearthbytheFathertobeHisOnlyBegotten.AlthoughChristoftenidentifiedhimselfasthe“OnlyBegottenSon,”moresignificantlyGodtheFatherdidthesameinthesewords:“I...God...sentmineOnlyBegottenSonintotheworld.”249TheFather’switnessthatChristis“mineOnlyBegotten”wasgiventoJosephSmithnineteentimesinscriptureinitiallyprintedorotherwisemadeavailableinKirtland.250

•Christprogressedandsetanexampleofobedience.Jesusdidnotreceive“ofthefulnessatfirst,butcontinuedfromgracetograce,untilhereceivedafulness.”251JosephSmithwastaughtthatChristsubmittedhimselfforbaptismtoJohntheBaptist,“andtheHolyGhostdescendeduponhimintheformofadove,andsatuponhim,andtherecameavoiceoutofheavensaying:ThisismybelovedSon.”252Jesus“sufferedtemptationsbutgavenoheeduntothem.”253Hedidnotcommitanysin.ChristsaidthathewillsaytoGod,“Father,beholdthesufferingsanddeathofhimwhodidnosin.”254

•JesuscarriedoutHisperfectatonement—Hewascrucified,died,androsefromthedead.ToredeemallmankindfromtheFall,itwasnecessaryforChristtocometoearthandcompletethe“perfectatonement.”255Hevolunteeredtosuffer,takeuponHimselfoursins,giveHislifebythesheddingofblood,andthusovercomephysicaldeathandbringtopasstheresurrectionofallmen.256JosephSmithandOliverCowderytestified:“TheLordGodhasspokenit....theAlmightyGodgavehisOnlyBegottenSon....Hewascrucified,died,androseagainthethirdday.”257

•ChristtookuponHimselfthesinsandafflictionsofallmortalbeings.TheSaviorassuredJosephSmiththatHeatonedforthesinsoftheworld.FollowingaresomeofHismanystatementsattestingtothatfact:“TheLordyourRedeemersuffereddeathintheflesh;whereforehesufferedthepainofallmen,thatallmenmightrepentandcomeuntohim.”258“Jesuswascrucified...forthesinsoftheworld,yea,fortheremissionofsinsuntothecontriteheart.”259“IamJesusChrist,theSonofGod,whowascrucifiedforthesinsoftheworld,

evenasmanyaswillbelieveonmyname.”260“Hecameintotheworld,evenJesus,tobecrucifiedfortheworld,andtobearthesinsoftheworld.”261“Inalltheirafflictionshewasafflicted.And...heredeemedthem.”262“Mybody...waslaiddownforyou,andmyblood...wasshedfortheremissionofyoursins.”263“I,God,havesufferedthesethingsforall,thattheymightnotsufferiftheywouldrepent.”264

•Christinitiatedresurrectionfromdeathforallmankind.ThewordsofGodtheFathercertifytotheuniversalresurrectionbegunbyChrist:“Righteousness...andtruth...beartestimonyofmineOnlyBegotten;hisresurrectionfromthedead;yea,andalsotheresurrectionofallmen.”265JosephSmithrevealedanunknownprophecyofJohntheBaptistthatChrist“shallcome...tobringtopasstheresurrectionfromthedead.”266ChristtoldtheProphet,“Isayuntoyou,thatthroughtheredemption...isbroughttopasstheresurrectionfromthedead.”267TheSaviorauthenticatedHisresurrectionbyappearingtoJosephSmithandOliverCowderyintheKirtlandTemple.AsHestoodbeforethem,Heannounced,“Iamhewholiveth,Iamhewhowasslain.”268TheSaviorassuredJosephandOliveroftherealityoftheresurrectioninarevelationtothem.Headmonishedthem,“Doubtnot,fearnot.Beholdthewoundswhichpiercedmyside,andalsotheprintsofthenailsinmyhandsandfeet.”269

•Christascendedintotheheavens,whereHereignsinpowerandglory.TheSaviortoldtenpriesthoodholdersintheWhitneystoreinKirtlandthatHe“ascendeduponhigh.”270JosephSmithandOliverCowderysaidthey“heardandbearwitnesstothewords”ofChrist,thatHe“ascendedintoheaven,tositdownontherighthandoftheFather,toreignwithalmightypower.”271ThewordsoftheFatheralsotestifytotheSavior’srole:“Hehastakenhispowerontherighthandofhisglory,andnowreignethintheheavens,andwillreigntillhedescendsontheearthtoputallenemiesunderhisfeet.”272

ChristTeachesofHisPostmortalLifeTheSaviorfinishedHisperfectatonementwithHisdeathandresurrection,

butHismissionwasnotyetcomplete.HeassuredHisLatter-daySaintsthatHewillreturntoearth.Hedeclared,“Iwillcome;andtheyshallseemeinthecloudsofheaven,clothedwithpowerandgreatglory;withalltheholyangels.”273AstowhenHewillreturn,Hesaid,“TheSonofMan...comethinanhouryouthinknot.”274Heindicated,however,“Thetimeissoonathand.”275BecauseoftheuncertaintimeofHiscoming,Hecautioned,“Bewatchfulandbe

sober...for...theSonofMan...comethinanhouryouthinknot.Prayalways...thatyoumayabidethedayofhiscoming.”276ThewordsoftheFathergiveemphasisandaddedcertaintytoChrist’spromise:“I,theLordGod,havespokenit;butthehourandthedaynomanknoweth,neithertheangelsinheaven,norshalltheyknowuntilhecomes.”277

TheSavioremphaticallyassuredJosephSmith,“Satanshallbebound.”278HelaterpromisedJoseph,“Iwillcomeandreign.”279ChristreinforcedtheprophecythatHewillreignonearthwhenHesaidHewill“comeupontheearth...and...reign....ForthegreatMillennium...shallcome.”280HedefinedtheMillenniumwiththisstatement:“Iwill...dwellinrighteousnesswithmenonearthathousandyears,andthewickedshallnotstand.”281

TheSavioraffirmedHissupremacyasHedeclaredthatHepossessed“allpower,eventothedestroyingofSatanandhisworksattheendoftheworld.”282Christtaught,however,thatSatanwillnotyieldtohimwithoutafight.Hesaidtherewillbea“battleoftheGreatGod;andthedevilandhisarmiesshallbecastawayintotheirownplace,thattheyshallnothavepoweroverthesaintsanymoreatall.”283

ChristassuredJosephSmiththatHewill“deliverupthekingdom,andpresentituntotheFather,spotless,saying:Ihaveovercome.”284Josephalsolearnedthatin“thefulnessoftime...thelawandthetestimonyshallbesealed,andthekeysofthekingdomshallbedeliveredupagainuntotheFather.”285

TheSaviortoldtheProphet,“Icomequickly;andmyrewardiswithmetorecompenseeverymanaccordingashisworkshallbe.”286HealsosaiddesireswillplayapartintheJudgment:“I,theLord,willjudgeallmenaccordingtotheirworks,accordingtothedesireoftheirhearts.”287Moseswastold,“JesusChrist[is]arighteousJudge.”288TheLordcautionedJoseph,“Leavejudgmentalonewithme,foritismine.”289

JosephSmithlearnedthatafterdeliveringupHiskingdom,Christwill“becrownedwiththecrownofhisglory,tositonthethroneofhispowertoreignforeverandever.”290

Thus,inandthroughallthegloriouslearningthatcametotheProphetJosephSmithandtheChurchduringtheKirtlandera,asureandpersonalknowledgeoftheSaviorwastheultimateexperience.HeschooledJosephandothers.TheyweretutoredandgiventimetogettoknowHim.Asaresult,theinfantChurchtookroot.

Notes^1.Christ’sinstructionduringtheKirtlandperiodasreferencedinthischapterincludesthefollowing

categoriesofrevelation:(1)Revelationsorinstruction.TheseincluderevelationsreceivedinKirtland,Hiram,Thompson,andAmherst,Ohio.TheyalsoincluderevelationsreceivedbyJosephSmithwhileonmissionsfromKirtlandinNewYork,Massachusetts,andMissouri.(2)Firstprintingofrevelations.Theseincluderevelationsreceivedbefore1831inNewYorkandPennsylvaniaandpublishedinTheEveningandtheMorningStar,theBookofCommandments,orthefirsteditionoftheDoctrine&Covenantsin1835.(3)RevealedchangesandadditionstotheBible.TheseweregiventoJosephSmithashetranslatedtheBibleinKirtland.(4)ThebookofMoses.Josephreceivedchapters1–7inthesevenmonthsbeforemovingtoKirtland,buttheywerenotgenerallymadeavailabletotheChurchuntiltheKirtlandperiod.WhenJohnWhitmermovedtoKirtlandinJanuary1831,itwaspubliclyacknowledgedthathebroughtamanuscriptofthebookofMoseswithhim,anditsgeneralcontentsweremadepublic.PortionsofsevenchaptersofthebookofMoseswereprintedorreferencedduringtheKirtlandperiodinTheEveningandtheMorningStar,MessengerandAdvocate,orLecturesonTheology.Chapter8wastranslatedinKirtland.(5)ThebookofAbraham.TheancientpapyruscontainingthisrecordwasacquiredandtranslatedmainlyinKirtland.

^2.AllotherscriptureinthestandardworkswasoriginallyrecordedinsomelanguageotherthanEnglish,andthus.whatwereadinancientscriptureisalltranslatedinformation.BecausethesewordswerespokeninEnglish,ourrecordofthemreducesmisunderstandingscausedbytranslationandcorroboratestheaccuracyofothertranslatedwordsofJesusChrist.

^3.Doctrine&Covenants18:33–34.^4.Exodus33:11;Doctrine&Covenants76:14;110:1–10;137.^5.Doctrine&Covenants93:21.^6.Doctrine&Covenants43:34.^7.Doctrine&Covenants45:52.^8.Doctrine&Covenants52:44.^9.Doctrine&Covenants63:59.^10.Doctrine&Covenants63:60.^11.Doctrine&Covenants64:24.^12.Doctrine&Covenants68:6.^13.Doctrine&Covenants93:2–3.^14.Doctrine&Covenants93:4.^15.Doctrine&Covenants110:4.^16.KarenLynnDavidson,DavidJ.Whittaker,MarkAshurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,

Histories,1832–1844,vol.1oftheHistoriesseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2012),1:13.

^17.GodtheFatherdidnotspeakdirectlytoJosephSmithinanyofthevisionsJosephsawofHiminKirtland,butJosephrecordedtheFather’sfirst-personwordsonoccasion,suchasinDoctrine&

Covenants29and49,aswellasrepeatedlyinthebookofMoses.PresidentJosephFieldingSmithexplained:“IngivingrevelationsourSaviorspeaksattimesforhimself;atothertimesfortheFather,andintheFather’sname,asthoughheweretheFather,andyetitisJesusChrist,ourRedeemerwhogivesthemessage.So,wesee,inDoctrine&Covenants29:1,thatheintroduceshimselfas‘JesusChrist,yourRedeemer,’butintheclosingpartoftherevelationhespeaksfortheFather,andintheFather’snameasthoughheweretheFather,andyetitisstillJesuswhoisspeaking,fortheFatherhasputhisnameonhimforthatpurpose”(DoctrinesofSalvation,comp.BruceR.McConkie,3vols.[SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1954–56],1:27–28).Therefore,onaccountofPresidentSmith’sdeclaration,thesewordsareincludedinthischapteraswordsthatChristtaught.

^18.Moses1:33.^19.Doctrine&Covenants49:5.^20.Moses2:26.^21.Moses4:2.^22.Moses6:52.^23.Moses1:6.^24.Doctrine&Covenants38:1–3,7,21.^25.NotallofthevariationsoftheSavior’snamesandtitlesappearinthelist.Inmostcasesmultiple

referencesexistforeachnameortitle;however,onlyonereferenceiscitedinthelist.^26.Doctrine&Covenants45:3.^27.Doctrine&Covenants84:96.^28.Doctrine&Covenants45:7.^29.Doctrine&Covenants95:17.^30.Doctrine&Covenants45:7.^31.Doctrine&Covenants93:15.^32.Doctrine&Covenants133:10.^33.Doctrine&Covenants68:25.^34.Doctrine&Covenants76:85.^35.Doctrine&Covenants95:7.^36.Doctrine&Covenants14:9.^37.Doctrine&Covenants76:24.^38.Doctrine&Covenants19:10.^39.Doctrine&Covenants110:4.^40.Doctrine&Covenants93:21.^41.Doctrine&Covenants20:16.^42.Doctrine&Covenants1:24.^43.Doctrine&Covenants45:11.^44.Doctrine&Covenants1:20.^45.Doctrine&Covenants50:44.^46.Doctrine&Covenants38:1.

^47.Doctrine&Covenants19:18.^48.Doctrine&Covenants110:4.^49.Doctrine&Covenants133:47.^50.Doctrine&Covenants45:52.^51.Doctrine&Covenants110:4.^52.Doctrine&Covenants61:1.^53.Doctrine&Covenants39:1.^54.Doctrine&Covenants61:1.^55.Doctrine&Covenants88:115.^56.Doctrine&Covenants78:16.^57.Doctrine&Covenants78:15.^58.Doctrine&Covenants50:45.^59.Doctrine&Covenants109:68.^60.Doctrine&Covenants45:52.^61.Doctrine&Covenants42:1.^62.Doctrine&Covenants95:17.^63.Doctrine&Covenants52:44.^64.Doctrine&Covenants45:52.^65.Doctrine&Covenants76:68.^66.Doctrine&Covenants45:59.^67.JST,Psalm24:9.^68.Moses7:53.^69.Doctrine&Covenants76:85.^70.Doctrine&Covenants88:106.^71.Doctrine&Covenants76:39.^72.Doctrine&Covenants88:13.^73.Doctrine&Covenants64:13.^74.Doctrine&Covenants93:9.^75.Doctrine&Covenants45:7.^76.Doctrine&Covenants93:9.^77.Doctrine&Covenants93:9.^78.Doctrine&Covenants88:8.^79.Doctrine&Covenants88:9.^80.Doctrine&Covenants88:7.^81.Doctrine&Covenants45:7.^82.Doctrine&Covenants88:6.^83.Doctrine&Covenants45:7.^84.Doctrine&Covenants14:9.

^85.Doctrine&Covenants88:13.^86.Doctrine&Covenants88:11.^87.Doctrine&Covenants50:1.^88.Doctrine&Covenants66:1.^89.Doctrine&Covenants49:7.^90.Doctrine&Covenants49:12.^91.Doctrine&Covenants21:1.^92.Doctrine&Covenants1:33.^93.Doctrine&Covenants88:2.^94.Doctrine&Covenants55:1.^95.Doctrine&Covenants104:86.^96.Doctrine&Covenants76:69.^97.Doctrine&Covenants93:8.^98.Doctrine&Covenants109:67.^99.Doctrine&Covenants36:1.^100.Doctrine&Covenants133:47.^101.Doctrine&Covenants95:17.^102.Doctrine&Covenants93:11.^103.Doctrine&Covenants76:25.^104.Doctrine&Covenants66:13.^105.Doctrine&Covenants93:9.^106.Moses6:57.^107.Moses7:53.^108.Doctrine&Covenants76:1.^109.Doctrine&Covenants1:20.^110.Doctrine&Covenants42:17.^111.Doctrine&Covenants78:20.^112.Doctrine&Covenants45:52.^113.Doctrine&Covenants49:6.^114.Doctrine&Covenants109:4.^115.Doctrine&Covenants93:9.^116.Doctrine&Covenants50:44.^117.Doctrine&Covenants66:1.^118.Doctrine&Covenants38:2.^119.Doctrine&Covenants38:3.^120.Doctrine&Covenants88:50.^121.Doctrine&Covenants93:8.^122.Doctrine&Covenants75:1.

^123.Doctrine&Covenants30:2.^124.Doctrine&Covenants41:4.^125.Doctrine&Covenants35:21.^126.Doctrine&Covenants1:35.^127.Doctrine&Covenants19:10.^128.Doctrine&Covenants1:1.^129.Doctrine&Covenants60:4.^130.Doctrine&Covenants58:31.^131.Doctrine&Covenants60:7.^132.Doctrine&Covenants62:1.^133.Doctrine&Covenants62:6.^134.Doctrine&Covenants19:24.^135.Doctrine&Covenants64:31.^136.Doctrine&Covenants101:16.^137.Doctrine&Covenants67:1.^138.Doctrine&Covenants67:1.^139.Doctrine&Covenants67:1.^140.Doctrine&Covenants70:18.^141.Doctrine&Covenants76:5.^142.Doctrine&Covenants76:5.^143.Doctrine&Covenants78:18.^144.Doctrine&Covenants84:102.^145.Doctrine&Covenants88:41.^146.Doctrine&Covenants17:8.^147.Doctrine&Covenants19:23.^148.Doctrine&Covenants35:1.^149.Doctrine&Covenants25:12.^150.Doctrine&Covenants50:16.^151.Doctrine&Covenants50:41.^152.Doctrine&Covenants50:44.^153.Doctrine&Covenants61:36.^154.Doctrine&Covenants64:2.^155.Doctrine&Covenants68:6.^156.Doctrine&Covenants68:6.^157.Doctrine&Covenants84:88.^158.Doctrine&Covenants84:88.^159.Doctrine&Covenants88:63.^160.Doctrine&Covenants97:2.

^161.Doctrine&Covenants100:12.^162.Doctrine&Covenants30:11.^163.Doctrine&Covenants38:21.^164.Abraham3:21.^165.Doctrine&Covenants38:1–2.^166.Doctrine&Covenants100:1.^167.Doctrine&Covenants1:31.^168.Doctrine&Covenants105:14.^169.Doctrine&Covenants6:20.^170.Doctrine&Covenants95:1.^171.Doctrine&Covenants34:1–3.^172.Doctrine&Covenants84:77;88:3;93:45,51;94:1;97:1;98:1;100:1;103:1;104:1;105:26.^173.Doctrine&Covenants93:46.^174.Doctrine&Covenants93:45.^175.Doctrine&Covenants101:9.^176.JST,Mark7:22–23.^177.JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2d

ed.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),2:381;DeanC.Jessee,MarkR.Ashurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,Journals,1832–1839,vol.1oftheJournalsseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jesse,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2008),1:168.

^178.Doctrine&Covenants42:45.^179.Moses7:29.^180.Moses7:31.^181.Moses7:33.^182.Doctrine&Covenants133:52.^183.Doctrine&Covenants133:53.^184.Doctrine&Covenants133:53.^185.Doctrine&Covenants19:15.^186.Doctrine&Covenants19:18.^187.Doctrine&Covenants75:25.^188.Doctrine&Covenants75:24.^189.Doctrine&Covenants84:103.^190.Doctrine&Covenants100:1.^191.Moses4:2.^192.Doctrine&Covenants19:24.^193.Doctrine&Covenants19:18.^194.Doctrine&Covenants19:19.^195.Doctrine&Covenants19:2.

^196.Doctrine&Covenants109:44.^197.1John2:1.^198.Doctrine&Covenants38:4.^199.Doctrine&Covenants38:4.^200.Doctrine&Covenants62:1.^201.Doctrine&Covenants45:4–5.^202.Doctrine&Covenants29:5.^203.Doctrine&Covenants76:69.^204.JST,Matthew26:22.^205.Doctrine&Covenants88:106.^206.Doctrine&Covenants133:50.^207.Doctrine&Covenants133:66–67.^208.Doctrine&Covenants64:7.^209.Doctrine&Covenants58:42.^210.Doctrine&Covenants61:2.^211.Doctrine&Covenants19:16.^212.Doctrine&Covenants76:40–42.^213.JosephSmith,TeachingsofPresidentsoftheChurchseries(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChrist

ofLatter-daySaints,2007),49;JosephSmith,Elders’Journal1,no.3(July1838):44.^214.Doctrine&Covenants19:1.^215.Moses6:62.^216.Doctrine&Covenants93:21.^217.Moses4:1.^218.Moses4:3.^219.Abraham3:27.^220.Moses4:2.^221.Moses4:3.^222.Doctrine&Covenants76:25.^223.Doctrine&Covenants29:36–37.^224.Moses6:52.^225.Doctrine&Covenants76:1.^226.Doctrine&Covenants29:31.^227.Doctrine&Covenants38:3.^228.Doctrine&Covenants77:2.^229.Doctrine&Covenants76:24.^230.Moses1:33.^231.TimesandSeasons4(February1,1843):83[vv.19–20].^232.Moses2:26;JST,Genesis1:27.

^233.Moses3:7.^234.Moses7:32.^235.Moses4:9.^236.Doctrine&Covenants29:40.^237.Doctrine&Covenants29:41.^238.Doctrine&Covenants29:40–41;Moses4:12,29,31.^239.Doctrine&Covenants29:41.^240.Moses5:9.^241.Doctrine&Covenants93:38.^242.Moses6:58.^243.Moses6:59,62.^244.Moses6:53.^245.Moses6:53–54.^246.Doctrine&Covenants29:46.^247.Doctrine&Covenants93:4.^248.Doctrine&Covenants39:1,3.^249.Doctrine&Covenants49:5.^250.Doctrine&Covenants29:42,46;49:5;Moses1:6;16,17,32,33;2:1,26,27;3:18;4:1,3,28;6:52,59,

62;7:62.^251.Doctrine&Covenants93:13.^252.Doctrine&Covenants93:15.^253.Doctrine&Covenants20:22.^254.Doctrine&Covenants45:4.^255.Doctrine&Covenants76:69.^256.Doctrine&Covenants76:69,39,41–42;93:38.^257.Doctrine&Covenants20:16,21,23.^258.Doctrine&Covenants18:11.^259.Doctrine&Covenants21:9.^260.Doctrine&Covenants35:2.^261.Doctrine&Covenants76:41.^262.Doctrine&Covenants133:53.^263.Doctrine&Covenants27:2.^264.Doctrine&Covenants19:16.^265.Moses7:62.^266.JST,Luke3:5,7.^267.Doctrine&Covenants88:14.^268.Doctrine&Covenants110:4.^269.Doctrine&Covenants6:36–37.

^270.Doctrine&Covenants88:6.^271.Doctrine&Covenants20:16,24.^272.Doctrine&Covenants49:6.^273.Doctrine&Covenants45:44.^274.Doctrine&Covenants61:38.^275.Doctrine&Covenants34:7.^276.Doctrine&Covenants61:38–39.^277.Doctrine&Covenants49:7.^278.Doctrine&Covenants43:31.^279.Doctrine&Covenants84:119.^280.Doctrine&Covenants43:29–30.^281.Doctrine&Covenants29:11.^282.Doctrine&Covenants19:3.^283.Doctrine&Covenants88:114.^284.Doctrine&Covenants76:107.^285.JST,Luke3:8.^286.Doctrine&Covenants112:34.^287.Doctrine&Covenants137:9.^288.Moses6:57.^289.Doctrine&Covenants82:23.^290.Doctrine&Covenants76:108.

Chapter6

WitnessesoftheSavior

IknowthereisaGod....[He]hasmanifestedhimselftomeninourday,menwhomweknow,andIhaveheardborethistestimony,thattheyhaveseenGod,

andthathelives.—WandleMace

The1830swereaseasonofunparalleledrevelationsandvisionstoJosephSmithandtheSaintsofKirtland,Ohio.ThemostsignificantvisionswerethoseofDeity.Thiswasatimeoflong-awaitedgospelrestorationthatrequireddirectrevelationandcommunicationwiththeheavens.ImaginelivinginKirtlandin

the1830s,whenthereveredProphetoftencommunedwiththeLord.Hereceivedrevelationafterrevelation,thusbolsteringtheSaints’faithastheLordpersonallystructuredthenewlyrestoredChurch.Inthisrevelatoryperiod,JosephwasrepeatedlyinthepresenceoftheLord—seeingHim,listeningtoHim,andattestingtoHisspecificguidanceandinstruction.Josephusedwordsandphrasessuchas“Pentecost”and“timeofrejoicing”todescribethisseasoninKirtland.

PicturetheSaints’exhilarationandjoyastheybecameawarethattheheavenswereactuallyopeningtothemandtheirprophet.TheyheardtheSaviorspeak.TheysawvisionsofHim.TheyreceivedadivinewitnessofHimthroughheavenlymanifestations.TheypowerfullyfeltHispresenceinmeetings.TheyexperiencedtheSavior’slove,care,andconcernforthemandHislatter-dayChurch.SuchmanifestationsgaveproofthatHewasresurrectedandlivesagain.TheSaints’faithwasaffirmed.TheSaviorliterallywasdirectingtheChurchinthelastandfinaldispensationofHisgospel.

KirtlandVisionsandPresenceofDeityReportedbyJosephSmithDate Where Present JournalNotation Event

May1831Approximately

SmithFamilyHome

15*SmithandLightnerfamilymembers

“TheSaviorhasbeeninyourmidstthisnight.”JosephSmith

FirstChurchmeetingwithSmithfamilyinKirtland

June3-6,1831 MorleyFarm

25*ChurchleadersincludingJosephSmith,HarveyWhitlock,LymanWight

“InowseeGodandJesusChristathisrighthand....IshouldnotfeeldeathasIamnow.”JosephSmith†

Ordinationoffirsthighpriests

February16,1832

JohnsonFarm

14*BrethrenincludingJosephSmith&SidneyRigdon

“Helivesforwesawhim,evenontherighthandofGod.”JosephSmith&SidneyRigdon

Visionoftheeternalworlds(D&C76)

March18,1833

WhitneyStore

20*PriesthoodleadersincludingJosephSmith,JohnMurdockandZebedeeColtrin

“Manyofthebrethrensawaheavenlyvisionofthesavior.”JosephSmith‡

OrdinationofFirstPresidencycouncilors

December18,1833

JohnsonInn

FirstPresidencyoftheChurch&unnamedothers

“IsawAdam…and[hischildren...].TheLordappearedintheirmidst,&...blessthemall.”

Bestowingoffirstpatriarchalblessings

JosephSmith

January21,1836

KirtlandTemple

16Churchleaders “Ibeheldthe...throneofGod,whereonwasseatedthefatherandtheson.”JosephSmith

Firsttempleordinancesbestowedonkeyleaders

January21,1836

KirtlandTemple

16Churchleaders “IsawtheTwelve…andJesusstandingintheirmidst....TheSaviorlookeduponthemandwept.”JosephSmith

Firsttempleordinancesbestowedonkeyleaders

January21,1836

KirtlandTemple

16Churchleaders “TheSaviorembraced...crownedandkissedeachone[oftheTwelve].”JosephSmith

Firsttempleordinancesbestowedonkeyleaders

January21,1836

KirtlandTemple

40Churchleaders “TheVisionsofHeavenwereopenedtothem....SomeofthemsawthefaceoftheSavior.”JosephSmith

Firsttempleordinancesbestowedonkeyleaders

January28,1836

KirtlandTemple

100*highpriests,seventies,andelders

“ZebedeeColtrin...sawthesavior.”JosephSmith

Firsttempleordinancesbestowedonkeyleaders

January28,1836

KirtlandTemple

100*highpriests,seventies,andelders

“IseetheSonofGodsittingattherighthandoftheFather.”JosephSmith

Firsttempleordinancesbestowedonkeyleaders

March30,1836

KirtlandTemple

300*LeadersandKirtlandStakemembers

“TheSaviormadehisappearancetosomewhileangelsministeredtoothers.”JosephSmith

Firsttempleordinancesbestowedonkeyleaders

April3,1836 KirtlandTemple

JosephSmith&OliverCowdery

“WesawtheLordstandinguponthebreastworkofthepulpit.”JosephSmithandOliverCowdery

ChristacceptingKirtlandTemplededication

*Indicatestheapproximatenumberinattendance†LymanWightandHarveyWhitlockalsosawtheFatherandtheSononthisoccasion.‡JohnMurdocksawtheSavior,andZebedeeColtrinandJosephSmithsawtheFatheralsoonthisoccasion.

JosephSmithsaidthatnothingismorefundamentalthanthe“testimonyoftheapostlesandprophetsconcerningJesusChrist,thathedied,wasburied,androseagainthethirdday,andascendedupintoheaven.”1NoevidenceofHis

leadershipmadeitmorecertaintotheseLatter-daySaintsthantoseeHim,hearHisvoice,andconversewithHimasdidtheapostlesandprophetsofearlierdispensations.VitaltotherestorationofthegospelwasthattheSaviorbeatthehelm—personallyteachinganddirectingHisprophetandHisChurch.ThisdirectcommunicationclearlydefinedfromHisownmouththatHelivesandsupervisesHisFather’sworkinthisdispensationasHedidanciently.

DuringtheKirtlandyears,survivingdocumentationatteststhatatleasttwenty-threeChurchleaderssawtheSaviororheardHimspeak—thusbecominglatter-daywitnessesofHim.Undoubtedly,evenmorewitnessesthanthissawChristorheardHisvoicespeakingtothem,thoughmanydidnotrecordtheirvisions.Othersdid,buttheirrecordsfromthe1830sdeterioratedorwerelost.Recordsoftheirtestimoniesmayyetsurface.Itisprovidentialthatsomanyrecordsstillsurvive.

ManywholearnofthesefrequentvisionsmayaskwhytheSaviorandevenGodtheFathermanifestedthemselvessoofteninKirtland.Asnotedintheaccompanyingchart(page128),suchvisionsseemtobeconnectedwithtempleorothersignificantevents.2WhenoneexaminesthesevisitationsofDeity,eachseemstocomeduringimportantfirstsintheemergingdispensation.Someofthesemostsacredfirststepswereasfollows:

•Theordinationofhighpriests(June1831).•Christshowingandteachingtheeternalplanofsalvation(February1832).•ThefullorganizationoftheFirstPresidency(March1833).•Administrationofsacredendowmentordinancesinalatter-daytemple

(January1836).•Restorationofpriesthoodkeysofgathering,sealing,andredemptionofthe

dead(April1836).ThepresenceofDeityratifiedandconfirmedthateachessentialphaseofthe

restorationin“theOhio”wasinitiatedandapprovedbytheheavens.Asinearliergospeldispensations,eachvisionprovidescredencetothesignificanceoftheevent.Forexample,atthebaptismofChrist,GodtheFatherandtheHolyGhostmanifestedThemselves.Theirpresenceconfirmedandratifiedthecriticalimportanceofthebaptismalordinance.AsNephiofoldstated,“IftheLambofGod...shouldhaveneedtobebaptized...howmuchmoreneedhavewe...tobebaptized.”3Likewise,ontheMountofTransfiguration,theFatherwasmanifestastheSaviorbestowedthekeysofChurchpresidencyonPeter,James,andJohn.

IntensedivineinstructionwasmandatoryinKirtland.Itwasatimeof

restoringChurchorganization—atimewhendivinepriesthoodkeysandordinanceswerebeingrestoredtotheearth,atimewhenordinancesandinitialendowmentswereagainintroducedandimplemented,atimewhenthepuregospelofJesusChristwasonceagainontheearth.Anticipatedforeons,eventsthatwerenowoccurringusheredinthenewandfinaldispensationofthegospel.

TheLawofWitnessesParticipantsinKirtland’svisionsofDeityfulfilltheLord’s“lawof

witnesses.”4TheApostlePaulreiteratedtheancientlawofwitnesseswhenhesaid,“Inthemouthoftwoorthreewitnessesshalleverywordbeestablished.”5ThisisalawbywhichtheLordverifiestruths.Thislaw,whichgovernstheChurchtoday,wasestablishedbytheLordintheOldTestamentandwasfurtherdefinedintheNewTestament,theBookofMormon,andtheDoctrineandCovenants.Underthislaw,evenJesus’declarationofHimselfastheSaviorandRedeemerwasnotsufficienttosubstantiatetherealityofHisdivinity.InaddressingJewswhowantedtoputHimtodeath,Hesaid,“IfIbearwitnessofmyself,mywitnessisnottrue.”6

HeremindedHispersecutorsthattherearethreewitnessestoHisdivinity.HisfirstwitnessisJohntheBaptist,who“barewitness”thathe“sawtheSpiritdescendingfromheavenlikeadove”uponChrist.7ThesecondwitnessistheFatherwho“hathbornewitnessofme.”8Thethirdwitnessisscripture.“Searchthescriptures...they...testifyofme.”9Certainly,thelawofwitnesseswasagainformallyengagedduringtheKirtlandperiod,whenindividualsandcongregationswitnessedtherestoringprocessoftheSavior’sChurch.

ThemanywitnessesofChristinKirtlandparalleledHisappearancestomanywitnessesandfollowersinpastages.WhentheSavioropenedpastgospeldispensations,Hepersonallyappeared,spoke,andassociatedwithHisfollowersone-on-oneandinlargegroups.ThuswefindinboththeOldandNewTestamentsaswellasinancientAmericathatnotedwitnessesemergedandnewscriptureswereborn.AfterHisresurrection,ChristappearedtowomenatHistombandtoHisApostlesatvariouslocations.Heevenappearedtomorethan“fivehundredbrethrenatonce.”10TheOldTestamentrecordsthatinadditiontoappearingtoprophets,theGodofIsraelappearedto“Aaron,Nadab,andAbihu,andseventyoftheeldersofIsrael.”11InancientAmerica,ChristappearedtoHisprophetsaswellastoHistwelveNephitedisciplesandgreatmultitudesinthelandofBountiful.TheLordisconsistent.Heagaininvokedthelawofwitnessesinthislastdispensation.ElderBruceR.McConkiestressedhowbroadlyChrist

invokedthelawofwitnesses.Hewrote:“WehavenowayofknowinghowmanymortalpersonshaveseentheLord.Individualsaintsandprophetshaveseenhiminalldispensations,andsometimeshehasappearedtolargecongregations.Weknowthat‘many,exceedinglygreatmany,’(Alma13:12),asAlmaexpressedit,haveenjoyedthisprivilege.”12

WitnessesBuildFaithinChristThroughwitnessesofdivinemanifestations,thefaithoftheKirtlandSaints

intensified.Throughcreditablewitnesseswhomtheyknewandtrusted,thefaithfulwerereassuredthatChristlives.TheyreceivedconfirmationthattheresurrectedJesusChriststillguidedHisChurch,asHealwayshadthroughouttheages.TheirinteractionandcommunicationwithDeityandangelsprovidedstrength,resolve,andpowertosacrificeandmaketheLord’sworktheirfirstpriority.Theirinteractionandcommunicationalsoempoweredthemwithfaithtowithstandthehorribleonslaughtofpoverty,abuse,maliciousplots,andpersecutionsthatfollowed.TheProphetandothermenandwomenwitnessedandrecordedtheirexperiencesofobservingandperceivingdivinepresencesintheirmidst.

WandleMace,convertedinNewYorkbymissionariesfromKirtland,acceptedthetestimonyoflatter-daywitnesses.ParleyP.Pratt,oneofthosemissionariespresentduringmanyvisions,sharedhismightytestimonyandknowledgeofspiritualexperienceswithWandle,whobelievedandwasbaptizedbyParley.ThreeyearsafterWandle’sbaptism,awell-knownatheistopenlychallengedhistestimonyoftheexistenceofGod.Wandleresponded:

IknowthereisaGod....OurGodisthegodoftheBible...holymentestifyofhim[,]havingseenandheard[,]ashavingtalkedwithhimfacetofacewhichfactsarerecordedintheBible.

ThissameGodhasmanifestedhimselftomeninourday,menwhomweknow,andIhaveheardborethistestimony,thattheyhaveseenGod,andthathelives.13

In1884,GeorgeQ.Cannon,firstcounselorintheFirstPresidency,firmlyestablishedthatlargenumbersofearlySaintssawtheSavior.Whilestillayouth,GeorgemetmanyoftheKirtlandwitnessesofChrist.SpeakingofJosephSmithandOliverCowderybeholdingtheSaviorintheKirtlandTemple,hesaid,“Thesewitnessesarealsosupplementedbyhundredsofotherswhohavebeheldinvisionandotherwise,gloriouspersonagesintheselastdays.”14Hethen

describedtheincreasedfaiththatcametotheChurchthroughtheirtestimonies:“TherearemenalivewhohavebeheldtheSonofGod,whohaveheardHisvoice,andwhohavebeenministereduntobyHiminthisourdayandgeneration.Inthefaceofthesetestimonies,whichcannotbeimpeachedsuccessfully,isitanywonderthatfaithgrowsintheheartsofthepeopleofGod,theLatter-daySaints?”15

Twenty-threeWitnessesWhoSawtheSaviororHeardHisVoiceOfthehundredsofwitnessesreferredtobyGeorgeQ.Cannon,onlyabout

twenty-threefromKirtlandcanbefirmlyidentified,butthatnumberisstillimpressive.Oftheseestimatedtwenty-threewitnesses,elevencanbeidentifiedbyname.Theotherfourteencannotbeidentifiedbynamebutbygroupings,largelyspecifiedbyJosephSmith.Butliketheirunidentifiedancientcounterparts,theyalsosawandbecamewitnessesof“gloriouspersonages.”FiveidentifiedwitnessesalsosawGodtheFatherandtheSaviortogether.

Thesetwenty-threewitnessesarelistedbelow,eitherbynameoringroups.Thefirstlistofelevennamesisdividedintotwocategories—thosewhosawtheSaviorandthosewhoheardHimspeaktothem.Thislistprovidesasummaryandatleastonestatementoftestimonyborneoftheirexperiences.Detailedaccountsforeachvisionarereferencedinsubsequentchapters.

EightWitnessesWhoSawtheSaviorJosephSmith:WhileinKirtland,Josephwitnessedatleasttenvisionsof

Christ,sevenofwhichalsoincludedGodtheFather.JosephtestifiedofoneofthesevisionsofChrist,saying,“Isaw...Jesus.”16

SidneyRigdon:Sidney,whostoodnexttoJosephSmithintheFirstPresidency,wasusuallypresentwhenvisionsofDeitydescendeduponJosephandtheotherbrethren.Itseemsprobablethathereceivedmorethanonevision.HealsosawGodtheFather.SidneyjoinedJosephintestifyinginHiram,“Wesaw[Christ]and...weconversed[withChrist].”17

LymanWight:LymanwasthefirsthighpriestordainedintheChurch.LymaneventuallybecameamemberoftheQuorumoftheTwelveApostles.HeprobablyattendedthreemeetingsinKirtlandwheretheSaviorappeared.HesawavisionoftheFatherandtheSon.Lyman“sawthefaceoftheSavior.”18

HarveyWhitlock:HarveywasborninMassachusettsin1809.HeattendedthefourthconferenceoftheChurchontheMorleyfarminJune1831andwas

ordainedahighpriestthere.Harveywastwenty-twoyearsoldwhenhebeheldavisionoftheFatherandtheSon.“[Harvey]testified...hesaw...Jesus.”19

JohnMurdock:JohnwasconvertedbyfourmissionariessenttotheLamanites.JosephandEmmaSmithadoptedJohn’stwins,whosurvivedtheirmother’sdeathinchildbirth.JohngaveadetailedaccountofoneoftheSavior’sappearancesintheSchooloftheProphets.Johnsaid,“I...beheldthefaceoftheLord.”20

ZebedeeColtrin:ZebedeewasoneofthefirstsevenpresidentsoftheSeventy.HewasblessedbytheFirstPresidencytohave“heavenlyvisionsandtheministryofAngels.”21Herecordedseveralvisions—atleastoneofwhichincludedboththeFatherandtheSon.InoneofZebedee’saccountshetestifiedofChrist,“IsawHim!”22

OliverCowdery:Oliver,thesecondelderandoneoftheThreeWitnessesoftheBookofMormon,stoodatJoseph’ssidewhentheyreceivedpriesthoodkeysfromJohntheBaptist,Peter,James,John,Moses,Elias,andElijah.HesawtheSaviorandheardHisvoiceinNewYork.HesawtheSaviorandheardHimspeakintheKirtlandTemple.HewaspresentinsixmeetingswhentheSaviorwasseen.HetestifiedwithJosephSmith,“WesawtheLord...[andheard]thevoiceofJehovah.”23

MartinHarris:MartinwasoneoftheThreeWitnessesoftheBookofMormon.HemovedfromNewYorkin1831andremainedprincipallyinKirtlanduntil1870—longerthananyoftheotherwitnesses.MartinattendednearlyeverymeetingwheretheSaviorappearedinKirtland.InJosephSmith’s1832Kirtlandaccountofhishistory,herecordedthat“theLordappeareduntohim[Martin]”24inNewYorkashehelpedJosephfinancially.

ThreeWitnessesWhoHeardtheSavior’sVoiceMartinHarris:InKirtland,MartinreaffirmedhiswitnessoftheBookof

Mormonashetestified,“IheardthevoiceofGod.”25

DavidWhitmer:DavidwasoneoftheThreeWitnessesoftheBookofMormon.HewitnessedsignificantmiraclesinNewYork.BecausehewaspresidinginMissouri,DavidwasoneoftheninemensittingattheprestigiousMelchizedekPriesthoodpulpitsatthededicationoftheKirtlandTemple.HeattendedfourmeetingswhereChristappearedandmayhavebeenoneofwhomJosephsaid“sawgloriousvisionsalso.”26InOhio,DavidborehiswitnessoftheBookofMormon,saying,“ThevoiceofGoddeclaredit.”27

NewelK.Whitney:NewelwasthesecondbishoptoserveinKirtland.Hisstorebecamethefirstbishops’storehousefortheChurch.NewelattendedmostofthemeetingswheretheSaviorappearedinvisioninKirtland.BishopWhitney“heard[theLord’s]voicefromheaven.”28

WarrenS.Snow:WarrenwascalledtomissionsinDelawareandVermont.HewasacaptainoftheNauvooLegion.TheLordgaveWarrenadivinemanifestationintheKirtlandTemple.Warrentestified,“IheardthevoiceofGod.”29

23EstimatedWitnessesWhoSaworHeardHisVoice

Date Location NameorGroup

RelevantStatement

Event

Variousdates Variouslocations

JosephSmithJr.*

“Isaw...Jesus”

Varioussignificantevents

February16,1832 JohnsonFarm

SidneyRigdon†

“Wesawand...conversed[withChrist]”

Visionoftheeternalworlds(D&C76)

June3-6,1831 MorleyFarm

LymanWight†

“SawthefaceoftheSavior”

Ordinationoffirsthighpriests

June3-6,1831 MorleyFarm

HarveyWhitlock†

“Testified...hesaw...Jesus”

Ordinationoffirsthighpriests

March18,1833 WhitneyStore

JohnMurdock

“I...beheldthefaceoftheLord”

OrdinationofFirstPresidencycounselors

March18,1833andJanuary28,1836 WhitneyStoreandKirtlandTemple

ZebedeeColtrin†

“IsawHim!”

Ordinationsandtempleordinances

April3,1836 KirtlandTemple

OliverCowdery

“WesawtheLord....[andheard]thevoiceofJehovah”

ChristacceptingKirtlandTemplededication

Variousdates Variouslocation

Variousdates Variouslocations

DavidWhitmer‡

“thevoiceofGoddeclaredit”

TestimonyinKirtlandasaBookofMormonWitness

Variousdates Variouslocations

MartinHarris‡

“TheLordappeareduntohim[Martin]”

“TheLordappeareduntohim[Martin]”

AboutDecember1831 WhitneyHome

NewelK.Whitney

“Heard[theLord’s]voicefromheaven”

RelatedtohiscallasBishop

1836 KirtlandTemple

WarrenSnow

“IheardthevoiceofGod”

KirtlandTempleendowmentmeeting

NovemberandDecember1830 Baptismalsite

3Witnesses(atleast)reportedbyJohnMurdockin1830

“OtherssaidtheysawtheLord”

FirstKirtlandbaptisms

March18,1833 WhitneyStore

3Witnesses(atleast)reportedbyJosephSmithin1833

“ManyofthebrethrensawaheavenlyvisionoftheSavior”

OrdinationofFirstPresidencycounselors

January21,1836 KirtlandTemple

3Witnesses(atleast)reportedbyJosephSmithinJanuary

“SomeofthemsawthefaceoftheSavior”

Firsttempleordinancebestowedonkeyleaders

1836

March30,1836 KirtlandTemple

3Witnesses(atleast)reportedbyJosephSmithinMarch1836

“TheSaviormadeHisappearancetosome”

SolemnassemblyandfinalKirtlandTempleordinance

OthermembersoftheFirstPresidency(suchasFrederickG.Williams,HyrumSmith,andJosephSmithSr.)aswellasallmembersoftheQuorumoftheTwelveandtenmembersoftheKirtlandhighcouncilandMissouripresidentsandhighcouncilarenotlistedabovebutmayhavebeenpartofthefourteenestimatedunidentifiedwitnesses.VirtuallyallofthesewerepresentduringvisionsofDeityinKirtland(seechapter6).*JosephSmithsawChristatleasttentimesinKirtland.AtleastsevenoftheseincludedtheFather.Inaddition,hesawChristorheardHisvoiceatleastfourtimesinNewYork,thetestimonyofwhichwasborneinKirtland.ThevisionintheSacredGrovealsoincludedtheFather.†ThesemenalsosawGod,theFatherintheirvision.‡AlthoughDavidWhitmerandMartinHarrissaworheardChristspeakinNewYork,theyfrequentlyboretestimonyofthoseexperiencesinKirtland(seechapter8).CompiledbyKarlRicksAnderson

TwelveUnidentifiedWitnessesWhoSawtheSaviorThefollowinggroupingsdescribeatleasttwelvewitnesseswhoJoseph

SmithorJohnMurdocksaidsawtheSavior.30

ThreeWitnessesReportedbyJohnMurdockAsSaintsgatheredinKirtlandatthefirstbaptismsinNovemberand

December1830,greatheavenlymanifestationsweregiventothefaithful.JohnMurdockwasbaptizedinNovemberandrecorded,“OtherssaidtheysawtheLord.”31Itseemslikelythattheterm“others”wouldimplyatleastthree.

AtLeastThreeWitnessesReportedbyJosephSmithin1833AbouttwentymembersoftheSchooloftheProphetsgatheredinthe

schoolroomoftheWhitneystoreonMarch18,1833.TheyparticipatedineventssurroundingtheordinationofJosephSmith’scounselorsintheFirstPresidency.InfulfillmentofapromisegivenbyJosephSmith,theSaviorappearedtothepureinheart.Josephconcluded,“ManyofthebrethrensawaheavenlyvisionoftheSavior.”32Itisprobablethat“many”wouldnumberatleastfive.TwoofthosebrethrenareknowntohavebeenJohnMurdockandZebedeeColtrin;therefore,perhapsthreeremainunidentified.

AtLeastThreeWitnessesReportedbyJosephSmithinJanuary1836

InthefinaltemplemeetingofthedayonJanuary21,1836,whentheordinanceofanointingwithoilwasintroduced,atleastthreebrethreninadditiontoJosephSmithsawtheSavior.Fortybrethrenwerepresent,includingtheFirstPresidencyoftheChurch,Joseph’sscribe,thestakepresidencyandthebishopricinZion(Missouri),andthehighcouncilorsofKirtlandandZion.JosephSmithrecords,“Thevisionsofheavenwereopened....SomeofthemsawthefaceoftheSavior,andotherswereministereduntobyholyangels.”33AlthoughtheexactnumberwhosawChristisnotknown,itisprobablethat“some”ofthosefortyinattendancewouldnumberatleastthree.

AtLeastThreeWitnessesReportedbyJosephSmithinMarch1836Aboutthreehundredbrethrenmetinthelong-awaitedsolemnassemblyin

theKirtlandTempleonMarch30,1836.ParticipantsincludedtheFirstPresidency,theTwelve,theseventies,thehighcouncils,thebishoprics,theelders,andalltheofficialmembersoftheKirtlandStake.AspartofthismeetingandinfulfillmentofanotherpromisemadebyJosephSmith,theSaviorwaspresent.Josephrecorded,“TheSaviormadeHisappearancetosome.”34Itisprobablethat“some”wouldnumberatleastthree.

Asaresultofthesevisions,witnessesofChristwalkedagainamongpeopleonearth.Atleasttwenty-threelatter-daywitnesses(seechart,p.138)testifiedofHimthroughoutthisnewlysettledregioninOhio.HundredsofotherwitnessestoChrist’sgloryjoinedwiththesetwenty-three(seechapter7).TheyboretestimonyofeventsnotseenorheardonearthsincethetimeofChrist’sresurrection,whenHeappearedtosomanyofHisdisciples.

PossibleAdditionalWitnessesTheconservativeestimateoftwenty-threewitnessesformsabasenumber,

buttheactualnumberofthosewhosawtheSaviororheardHisvoiceinKirtlandisnotknown.Itisprobablethatthereweremorewitnessesthanthese.GeorgeQ.Cannon’sstatementthatJosephSmithandOliverCowdery’sKirtlandTemplevisionis“supplementedbyhundredsofotherswhohavebeheld...gloriouspersonages”couldleadtoaconclusionthatmanyofthosehundredsofothersalsohadtheirexperiencesinKirtland.ThisseemstobeareasonableconclusionbecauseKirtlandwasthelatter-daylocationofmostvisionsofDeityduringtheChurch’searlydays.TheChurchwasinKirtlandlongerthananyotherlocation.JosephSmithalsodeclaredKirtlandtobe“aPentecost...longtoberemembered.”35

AfurtherexamplethatthesenumericalestimatesofwitnessesareconservativeisfoundintheinstructiontheProphetgavetotheTwelveApostlesinNovember1835.AshepreparedthemforsacredordinancesintheKirtlandTemple,hesaid,“Allwhoareprepared,andaresufficientlypuretoabidethepresenceoftheSavior,willseeHimintheSolemnAssembly.”36Theword“all”probablymeansmorethanjustafew.ThereisnowayofknowingtheexactnumberwhowerepreparedandsufficientlypureastheyenteredthesolemnassemblyonMarch30,1836.Ofthethreehundredattendees,115wereleaderswhohadbeeninstructedinvariousmeetingsandadmonishedbyscripturetopreparethemselves.Threeisaconservativeestimateforthesolemnassembly,andsomemightconcludethatthenumberwhosawtheSaviorwasmuchgreater.

HistoricalaccountscertifythatJosephconsistentlytriedtoprepareChurchleaderstoseetheSavior.In1833,JosephwrotealettertoMissouriofficialsencouragingthemtoprepareforthisgreatexperienceintheKirtlandTemple.HeencouragedtheirpreparationbysharingapromisemadebytheLordHimself:

ThebrethreninKirtlandprayforyouunceasingly....TheLordcommandedus,inKirtland,tobuildahouseofGod,...thisisthewordoftheLordtous,andwemust,yea,theLordhelpingus,wewillobey:asonconditionsofourobedienceHehaspromisedusgreatthings;yea,evenavisitfromtheheavenstohonoruswithHisownpresence.WegreatlyfearbeforetheLordlestweshouldfailofthisgreathonor,whichourMasterproposestoconferonus;weareseekingforhumilityandgreatfaithlestwebeashamedinHispresence.37

YetanotherexampleofpossiblymoreunidentifiedwitnessesoftheSaviorisfoundintheoriginalQuorumoftheTwelveApostles.Notoneinthelistof

individualwitnesseswasamemberofthatquorum.YetJosephSmithworkeddiligentlytopreparethemtoseetheSavior.WhileitisprobablethatsomeoftheestimatedthreewitnessesinthesolemnassemblywereApostles,itseemsuncharacteristicthatnotmoreofthemwouldhaveseentheSavior.AstatementbyElderDavidPattenmaybearoutthisassertion.WithinafewweeksaftertheKirtlandTemplededication,DavidtoldAbrahamSmoot,possiblyreferringtotheTwelveApostles,that“JesusChristwasseenofthem.”38AnotherindicatorthatmoreChurchleadersmighthaveseenorheardtheSaviorspeaktothemcomesfromOrsonPratt,alsooftheoriginalTwelve.Hetestified,“Godwasthere...thevisionsoftheAlmightywereopenedtothemindsoftheservantsofthelivingGod;...theysawtheheavensopened;theybeheldtheangelsofGod;theyheardthevoiceoftheLord;andtheywerefilledfromthecrownoftheirheadstothesolesoftheirfeetwiththepowerandinspirationoftheHolyGhost.”39

Still,notallearlyleadersrecordedtheirvisionsoftheSavior.Somefelttheyweretoosacredtorecord.OnesuchpersonwasOliverCowdery,whoparticipatedinmostmeetingswheretheSaviorwasseen.ConservativeOliverdidnotevenrecordhisvisiondocumentedinDoctrineandCovenants110.OfthevisionsinwhichheparticipatedonJanuary21,1836,Oliverwrote,“Ionlysay,thattheheavenswereopenedtomany,andgreatandmarvelousthingswereshown.”40OthersmayalsohavewrittenofsuchanexperienceinageneralwaywithoutrecordingthespecificsofseeingDeity.41Forexample,JosephSmith,whoapparentlysawtheFatherandtheSonintheJanuary28,1836,KirtlandTemplemeeting,merelyrecorded,“[Isaw]agloriousvision.”42TheFirstPresidencyandtheTwelveprobablydidn’trecordtheirvisionsbecauseJosephSmithaskedthemnotto.Inaninstructionmeetingofthesebrethren,Josephsaid,“IfGodgivesyouamanifestation,keepittoyourselves.”43

Manymorethanjustafew,then,standaswitnessesthattheLordagainappearedinvisionandspoketomenpersonallyinKirtlandasHedidanciently.Thenamedandtheunnamed,thefaithfulandthosewhofalteredhaveallagreedthatindeedDeitywasthere,andtherestoredworkwasdivinelyratified.

Notes^1.JosephSmith,Elders’Journal1,no.3(July1838):44.^2.SomepeopletrytodrawadistinctionbetweenavisionandanappearanceofDeity.Thisisdifficultand

perhapsunwise.ItseemsthatJosephSmithdidnotdistinguishbetweenthetwo.Generallyhetermedthemallvisions.RegardinghisvisionofDeityinthecelestialkingdom(D&C137),hesaidinverse1,“whetherinthebodyoroutIcannottell,”apparentlymeaningthathedidn’tknowifhewastakenthere

toviewthevisionorifthevisioncametohim.WhenChriststood“uponthebreastworkofthepulpit”intheKirtlandTemple(D&C110:2),manymightcallthatanappearance,butJosephtermedita“vision”(v.11.)Perhapsmostillustrative,whenGodandChristcametoJosephintheSacredGrove,wewouldcallthatanappearance,yetitisofficiallyreferredtoastheFirstVision.Generally,Ihaveusedthetermvision.

^3.2Nephi31:5.^4.RobertL.Marrott,“Witnesses,Lawof,”inEncyclopediaofMormonism,ed.DanielH.Ludlowetal.,4

vols.(NewYork:Macmillan,1992),4:1569–70.^5.2Corinthians13:1.^6.John5:31.PresidentJosephFieldingSmithclarifiedwhatChristmeant:“IfIstandaloneandnoone

testifiesforme,thenyoucanrejectmytestimonybecausethewitnesswouldnotbetrue”(DoctrinesofSalvation,comp.BruceR.McConkie,3vols.[SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1954–56],1:206).

^7.John5:33;1:32.^8.John5:37.ThiswitnesscameatChrist’sbaptism.^9.John5:39.^10.1Corinthians15:6.^11.Exodus24:9–10.^12.BruceR.McConkie,ThePromisedMessiah(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1978),605.^13.WandleMace,Autobiography,typescript,1809–1846,78–79,L.TomPerrySpecialCollections,Harold

B.LeeLibrary,BrighamYoungUniversity,Provo,Utah;hereaftercitedasBYUSpecialCollections.^14.GeorgeQ.Cannon,inJournalofDiscourses,26vols.(London:Latter-daySaints’BookDepot,1854–

86),25:158.^15.Cannon,inJournalofDiscourses,25:158.^16.JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2d

ed.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),2:381;DeanC.Jessee,MarkR.Ashurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds,Journals,1832–1839,vol.1oftheJournalsseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2008),1:168.

^17.Doctrine&Covenants76:14.^18.GeorgeA.Smith,inJournalofDiscourses,11:4.^19.AddressofZebedeeColtrinatameetingofhighpriestsinSpanishFork,Utah.February5,1878,in

TheyKnewtheProphet,ed.HyrumL.AndrusandHelenMaeAndrus,(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1999),30.

^20.JohnMurdock,“JohnMurdockJournal,1792–1871,”typescript,BYUSpecialCollections,164.^21.KirtlandCouncilMinuteBook,typescriptbyLyndonW.Cook,1978,ChurchHistoryLibrary,The

ChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,SaltLakeCity,Utah,178.^22.ZebedeeColtrin,inSaltLakeSchooloftheProphetsMinuteBook,1883(SaltLakeCity:PioneerPress,

1992),54.^23.Doctrine&Covenants110:2–3.^24.KarenLynnDavidson,DavidJ.Whittaker,MarkAshurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,

Histories,1832–1844,vol.1oftheHistoriesseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2012),1:15.

^25.WilliamHarrisonHomer,“ThePassingofMartinHarris,”ImprovementEra29(March1926):470.^26.HistoryoftheChurch,2:381;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:170.^27.InEzraBoothtoIraEddy,October24,1831,“Mormonism—No.III,”[Ravenna]OhioStar2(October

27,1831):3.BoothindicatedthatallThreeWitnessesborethistestimony.^28.OrsonF.Whitney,inConferenceReport,June1,1919,47.^29.WarrenSnow,inMillennialStar26(January23,1864):51.^30.Theestimatednumberofunidentifiedwitnessesmayappeartobelow,butthecounthaspurposelybeen

adjusteddowntobeconservativeandtoavoiddoublecountingofthedefinitewitnessesattendingthemeetingsdescribed.

^31.JohnMurdock,“ABriefSynopsisoftheLifeofJohnMurdock:TakenfromanAbridgedRecordofHisJournal,”11,BYUSpecialCollections.

^32.HistoryoftheChurch,1:335.KnownmembersoftheSchooloftheProphetsincludedJosephSmith,ZebedeeColtrin,JohnMurdock,SidneyRigdon,FrederickG.Williams,JosephSmithSr.,HyrumSmith,SamuelH.Smith,WilliamSmith,EzraThayre,NewelK.Whitney,MartinHarris,LymanJohnson,OrsonHyde,SolomonHumphrey,SylvesterSmith,OrsonPratt,andLeviHancock.

^33.HistoryoftheChurch,2:382;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:170.^34.HistoryoftheChurch,2:432;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:215–16.^35.HistoryoftheChurch,2:432–33;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:216.^36.HistoryoftheChurch,2:310;Davidson,Whittaker,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Histories,1:123.^37.HistoryoftheChurch,1:316–17.^38.DavidPatten,inWilfordWoodruff,WilfordWoodruff’sJournal,1833–1898,ed.ScottG.Kenney,

typescript,9vols.(Midvale,Utah:SignatureBooks,1983–85),1:67.Daviddoesnotspecifythedateofthevision;however,theaccountcorrelatescloserwiththeJanuary28meetingthanwithanyother.Therearethreecluestothedateofthemeeting:(1)WilfordWoodruffsaiditwas“anaccountoftheendowment.”InJosephSmith’saccountoftheJanuary28meeting,hesaidthe“HolyAnointing”wasgiveninthemeeting.ThisanointingwasoneoftheordinancesoftheKirtlandendowment.(2)TheFatherandtheSonappearedinvision.ExceptforJanuary21,noaccountexistsforanothermeetingduringthistimewhereboththeFatherandtheSonappearinvision.ThisaccountisthesecondaccountoftheFatherandtheSonappearinginthisJanuary28meeting.(3)DavidPattenwaspresent.DavidwasnotpresentonJanuary21,whenboththeFatherandtheSonwereseen,butheandothermembersoftheTwelvewerepresentonJanuary28.

^39.OrsonPratt,inJournalofDiscourses,18:132.^40.LeonardJ.Arrington,“OliverCowdery’sKirtland,Ohio,‘SketchBook,’”BYUStudies12,no.4

(Summer1972):419.^41.SomefeelthatLorenzoSnowwasalsoawitnessoftheSavioratthetimeofhisbaptisminKirtland.

Afterhisbaptism,LorenzokneltinsupplicationforpersonalknowledgeoftheSavior.TheLordansweredhisprayer.Lorenzodescribedamanifestationthatcamewhileheknelttopray:“Ihadno

sooneropenedmylipsinanefforttopray,thanIheardasound,justabovemyhead,liketherustlingofsilkenrobes,andimmediatelytheSpiritofGoddescendeduponme,completelyenvelopingmywholeperson,fillingme,fromthecrownofmyheadtothesolesofmyfeet....IthenreceivedaperfectknowledgethatGodlives,thatJesusChrististheSonofGod”(ElizaR.SnowSmith,BiographyandFamilyRecordofLorenzoSnow[SaltLakeCity:DeseretNews,1884],7–8).Later,asthefifthpresidentoftheChurch,PresidentSnow,said,“NomaneverdidorevercouldreceiveamoreperfectknowledgeinregardtotheexistenceofGodandofthetruthofthisworkthanGodgavetomebyrevelationandtheopeningoftheheavens”(inConferenceReport,April7,1894).

^42.HistoryoftheChurch,2:387;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:175.SeeChapter12,pp.225–47herein,formoreonsourcesofdetailsofthevision.

^43.HistoryoftheChurch,2:309;Davidson,Whittaker,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Histories,1:122.

Chapter7

SecondaryWitnessesoftheSavior

Isawthegloryandfeltthepower,butdidnotseethevision.—PhiloDibble

InadditiontothemanydirectwitnessesoftheSavior,visionsofDeitycreatedanabundanceofsecondarywitnesseswhowerepresentwhentheSaviorappearedbutdidnotseethevisionitself.Nevertheless,thesemenandwomenwitnessedoutwardmanifestationsofdivinepowerandglory.Recordsindicatethatmorethantwohundredmenandwomenbecamesecondarywitnesses.Thesesecondarywitnesseshadparallelexperiencestowitnessesinpastdispensations.Forexample,whentheLordappearedtoPaulashejourneyedtoDamascus,

otherswhoaccompaniedhimbecamesecondarywitnessestohisvision.Paul’scompanionsdidn’tseetheSaviordirectly,buttheysawtheaccompanyinggreatlight.Becausetheyobservedthisoutwardmanifestationofthevision,theyknewthatPaulsawtheSavior.

Paulstates:

Suddenlythereshonefromheavenagreatlightroundaboutme.AndIfelluntotheground,andheardavoicesayinguntome,Saul,Saul,whypersecutestthoume?AndIanswered,Whoartthou,Lord?Andhesaiduntome,IamJesusofNazareth,whomthoupersecutest.Andtheythatwerewithmesawindeedthelight...buttheyheardnotthevoiceofhimthatspaketome.1

MosesisanexampleofanOldTestamentparallel.DuringthetimehewasinthepresenceoftheLordonthemount,thechildrenofIsraelbecamesecondarywitnessesastheysawanintensivebrightlight.Theycomparedthatlightor“gloryofthelord”thatsurroundedMosesandthemounttoa“devouringfire.”2WhenMosesdescendedthemountfromthepresenceoftheLord,thedistinguishingoutwardmanifestationofhisexperienceshoneinhisface.WhatthechildrenofIsraelparticularlynoticedwas“thattheskinofMoses’faceshone.”3Becausehisfaceborethisdivineradiance,theyknewthatMoseswasinGod’spower.

ThesamephenomenonistrueofthosepresentduringvisionsofDeityinKirtland.Outwardmanifestationstheymentionedthemostwerefeelingasenseofdivinepowerandseeinglightorgloryaroundoruponrecipientsofthevisions.TheyoftennotedthelightorglowthatwasreflectedfromtheProphet’sface.

Fewaccountsofthesesecondarywitnesseshavesurvived.Specificremembrancesinsurvivingaccountsarealsofew.ManywhowerepresentmayevenhavebeenwitnessesoftheSavior,butaccountsarenotspecificenoughtofullyestablishthefact.Forexample,HyrumSmithandRogerOrtonattendedtheJanuary28,1836,meetingwhenJosephSmithandZebedeeColtrinwitnessedtheirdivinevisions.4HarrisonBurgesssaidthatthepowerofGodwasmanifesttoallofthem.HarrisonalsorecordedthatJoseph,Hyrum,andRogerwereall“envelopedinthelight.”5BecauseHyrumandRogerwereenvelopedinthesamelightasJoseph,itseemsprobablethattheyalsosawDeityandbecamewitnesses.BecausetheaccountdoesnotspecifythatHyrumandRogersawavisionofDeity,however,theyarethuscategorizedassecondarywitnesses.

MoreThanTwoHundredSecondaryWitnessesHistoricalaccountscertifythatmorethantwohundredindividuals,like

Paul’scompanionsontheroadtoDamascus,witnessedoutwardmanifestationsofvisionsofDeityinKirtland.Theactualnumberisinallprobabilitygreater,butexistingrecordscannotdocumentahighernumberwithcertainty.6

FollowingaredescriptionsofmeetingswheretheSaviorwaspresentandthatproducedsecondarywitnesses,thosewhowereinthemeetingandwitnessedmanifestationsofdivineglorybutdidnotseethevisionitself.Somesecondarywitnessesareidentifiedbynamewiththeirspecificexplanations.Foreachmeeting,estimatesaregivenofthenumberofsecondarywitnesseswhosaworfelttheoutwardmanifestationsofvisionsofDeity.

ThirtySecondaryWitnessesatBaptismsandConfirmations,November1830

JohnMurdockwasbaptizedonNovember5,1830,andconfirmedtwodayslater.Herecorded,“OnSundayeveningtheyconfirmedaboutthirty;Iwasoneofthenumber....theSpiritrestedonmeasitneverdidbeforeandotherssaidtheysawtheLord,andhadvisions.”7PhiloDibblerememberedtheoutwardmanifestationsthatwereseenatbaptismsduringthisperiod:

Thereweremanysignsandwondersseenintheheavens...bothbySaintsandstrangers.Apillaroflightwasseeneveryeveningformorethanamonthhoveringovertheplacewherewedidourbaptizing.Oneevening...themoonwasnottobeseenthatnight.Althoughitwascloudy,itwasaslightasnoonday,andwecouldseeminglysee...fartherthatnightthanwecouldinthedaytime.8

FifteenSecondaryWitnessesatMay1831MeetingMaryElizabethLightnerrecordsthatitwasmadeknowntoJosephSmith

andMartinHarristhattheSaviorwaspresentinan1831meetinginKirtland.Attendingwere“theSmithfamily...fromtheoldgentlemanandhiswifetoallthesonsanddaughters.”9Marysaidofthatvisitation:

Thosewholookedathim[Joseph]thatdaysaidtherewasasearchlightwithinhim,overeverypartofhisbody.Ineversawanythinglikeitontheearth....

...[The]powerresteddownuponthecongregation.Everysoulfeltit.Thespiritresteduponusineveryfiberofourbodies.”

MaryspokeofthedramaticchangeinJosephSmith’sbody.Shesaid,

“Allatoncehiscountenancechangedandhestoodmute...;hegotsowhitethatanyonewhosawhimwouldhavethoughthewastransparent....Ishallrememberitandseeinmymind’seyeaslongasIremainupontheearth.10

Throughthisexperience,MarybecameaneffectivesecondarywitnessoftheSavior.ThroughoutherlifesheboreastrongwitnessofHispresence.

Twenty-twoSecondaryWitnessesatOrdinationofFirstHighPriestsLymanWight,HarveyWhitlock,andJosephSmithsawboththeFatherand

theSonasthefirsthighpriestswereordainedatthefourthconferenceoftheChurch.Duringthemeetingatleasttwenty-twohighpriestsandotherordainedmemberswitnessedoutwardmanifestationsofgloryandpoweremanatingfromthevision.11JohnWhitmerbecameasecondarywitness,ofwhichhewrotematter-of-factlyinhishistory:“ThegloryoftheLordshonearound.”12ItwassaidofLymanWightthat“hiscountenancewasabrilliant,transparentwhite.”13LeviHancockstatedthat“Lyman[Wight]waswhite.”14LymanWightwrote,“I...sawthevisiblemanifestationsofthepowerofGod.”15

TwelveSecondaryWitnessesatHiram,Ohio,February16,1832JosephSmithandSidneyRigdonbeheldtheFatherandtheSonastheysat

enwrappedinthevisionoftheeternitiesasdescribedinDoctrineandCovenants76.PhiloDibblewrote,“Therewereothermenintheroom,perhapstwelve.”Heattestedtotheoutwardmanifestationsofthevision,whichmadehimasecondarywitness:“Isawthegloryandfeltthepower,butdidnotseethevision.”Healsosaid,“Josephsat...allthetimeinthemidstofamagnificentglory.”16PhiloespeciallynotedJoseph’scountenance:“Hisfaceshoneasifitweretransparent.”17

FourteenSecondaryWitnessesintheSchooloftheProphets,March18,1833

AbouttwentyhighpriestsmetintheSchooloftheProphetsonMarch18,

1833.18Itwastobecomeadayofvisions.JosephSmithsaid,“ManyofthebrethrensawaheavenlyvisionoftheSavior,andconcoursesofangels,andmanyotherthings.”19

Approximatelysixhighpriests,includingJosephSmith,ZebedeeColtrin,andJohnMurdock,sawvisionsofDeity.Thosewhodidn’tseeDeityapparentlyfeltanunmistakablepresenceandbecamesecondarywitnessesthroughobservingoutwardmanifestations.Zebedeedescribedthefeelingthataccompaniedthevisionsas“asensation...ofconsumingfire.”20Hedescribedtheaccompanyinglightasbrilliant.21Zebedeesummeduptheoverwhelmingintensityofthesemanifestationsthisway:“[The]gloryandbrightness...and...powerwassogreatthathaditcontinuedmuchlongerIbelieveitwouldhaveconsumedus.”22

Thirty-sixSecondaryWitnessesintheKirtlandTemple,January21,1836

ApproximatelythreebrethreninadditiontoJosephSmithsawtheSaviorintheKirtlandTemplewhentheordinanceofanointingwithoilwasintroduced.Theotherthirty-sixwhowerepresentbecamesecondarywitnessesastheyparticipatedinoutwardmanifestationsofthevisions.23Indescribingoutwardmanifestationsofpowerandgloryinmeetingsthatday,Josephsaid“thepoweroftheHighestresteduponus,[and]thehousewasfilledwiththegloryofGod.”24Headded,“Weallcommunedwiththeheavenlyhost.”25WarrenParrishwasonewhocertainlybecameasecondarywitnessandmayhaveseentheSaviordirectly.JosephwrotethatWarren“saw,inavision,thearmiesofheaven...andmanythingswhichIsaw.”26

OneHundredSecondaryWitnessesintheKirtlandTemple,January28,1836

“Aboutahundredofthehighpriests,seventiesandelders”metintheupperpartoftheKirtlandTempleonJanuary28,1836.27TheysawvisionsofDeityandothergreatspiritualmanifestations.IndescribingtheoutwardmanifestationsaccompanyingthevisionsofDeitythatday,HarrisonBurgesssaid“allatoncetherewasaHeavenlyandDivineAtmospheresurroundedthem.”28Healsosaid,“AllwhowereintheroomfeltthepowerofGod...andthepowerofGodwasmademanifest[toalltheseintheassembly],theremembranceofwhichIshall

neverforgetwhileIliveupontheearth.”29Harrisonconfirmedthathewasasecondarywitnessashealsotestified,“IbeheldtheroomlightedupwithapeculiarlightsuchasIhadneverseenbefore.”30JosephSmithcitedanothermanifestation:“PresidentSylvesterSmithsawapillaroffirerestdownandabideupontheheadsofthequorum,aswestoodinthemidstoftheTwelve.”31HarrisonalsoidentifiedRogerOrton,anotherpersoninattendance,asasecondarywitnesswhenhewrote,“RogerOrton[was]envelopedinthelight.”32

WilliamSmith,Hyrum’syoungerbrother,wasprobablyalsointhissamecategorygiventhatJosephwrote,“WilliamSmith...sawtheheavensopened.”33HyrumwasatleastasecondarywitnessandprobablysawtheSaviorintheKirtlandTemple.Harrisonwrote,“HyrumSmith[was]envelopedinthelight....Hyrumexclaimed,‘Ibeholdtheangelsofheaven.’”34

WitnessestoChrist’sRevelationsSeldomdidJosephSmitheverreceiverevelationsfromtheLordinprivate

withnootherspresent.Hisscribeatleastwasusuallypresent.Joseph’snormalmodewastoinviteotherstojoinhim.Forexample,inHiram,Ohio,whenthevisionrecordedinDoctrineandCovenants76wasgiven,“perhapstwelve”otherswerepresentinadditiontoJosephandSidneyRigdon.35IntheWhitneystore,wheresection84wasreceived,sixelderswhogatheredatfirstwerejoinedlaterbyatleastfiveothers.TenbrethrenweregatheredwhentheLorddictatedDoctrineandCovenants88.AttimesthosewhojoinedwithJosephhadrequestedtherevelationandkneltwiththeProphettopetitiontheLordinprayer.

AsthebrethrenandsistersobservedtheprocessofChristrevealingHiswordtoJosephSmith,theybecamewitnessestoChrist’srevelations.TheycouldperceivethattheSaviorwasnearandbestowedinspiration,knowledge,andrevelationuponJoseph.Theynoticedachangeinhim.ItseemsthatwhetherJosephwasreceivingrevelationfromChristorseeingavisionofHim,theoutwardmanifestationsothersnoticedwerethesame.ManymentionthattheydetectedalightoraheavenlyglowsurroundingJoseph,especiallyinhisface.

Thisphenomenonhasparallelsinpastdispensations.AsAbinadiwasreceivingandspeakingthewordoftheLordunderinspirationtoKingNoahandhispriests,therecordindicates,“hisfaceshonewithexceedingluster,evenasMoses’didwhileinthemountofSinai.”36

Inourowndispensation,OrsonPratt,presentwhenDoctrineandCovenants51wasrevealed,observedthat“Joseph’sfacewasexceedinglywhite,andseemedtoshine.”37HeberC.Kimballsaid,“WhentheSpiritofGodwasinhim

...hiscountenancewasaswhiteasthewhitestthingyoueversaw.”38BrighamYoung,anotherwitness,explainedthesourceofthischangeincountenance:

ThosewhowereacquaintedwithhimknewwhentheSpiritofrevelationwasuponhim,forhiscountenanceworeanexpressionpeculiartohimselfwhileunderthatinfluence.HepreachedbytheSpiritofrevelation,andtaughtinhiscouncilbyit,andthosewhowereacquaintedwithhimcoulddiscoveritatonce,foratsuchtimestherewasapeculiarclearnessandtransparencyinhisface.39

ZebedeeColtrinalsotestifiedtotheeffectofreceivingrevelationmanifestontheProphet’sface.ZebedeesaidtoJohnTaylorthat“hehadseenJosephgivingrevelationwhenhecouldnotlookonhisface,sofullwashe[Joseph]ofthegloryofGod,andthehousewasfullofthesameglory.”40Zebedeetestifiedthat“whenJosephcameoutofthetranslatingroomafterhavingreceivedtherevelationonthewordofwisdom...hisfaceshonewithbrilliance.”41

PhiloDibbleaddedhisaccounttothoseofotherswhonoticedchangesintheProphet’sface.RecallinghisobservationofJosephinthetranslatingroomattheJohnsonhome,PhilousedthesameterminologyasOrsonPrattandZebedeeColtrinthathisface,likethatofMosesandAbinadi,shone.Hesaiditshone“asifitweretransparent.”Apparently,thebrilliancenotedbysomanyalsocharacterizedJoseph’sclothing.PhilonotedthatintheJohnsontranslatingroom,“Josephworeblackclothes,butatthistimeseemedtobedressedinanelementofgloriouswhite.”42

Somewitnessessimplyboretheirtestimonywithoutmentioningwhatspiritualmanifestationtheyreceived.JoelJohnsonwasone.Hesaid,“IwasoftenpresentwhenthewordoftheLordcamefromHismouth,andwaswrittendownbyhisscribe.Iknew,andnowknow,thatitwasthewordoftheLordtoallmen.”43

JosephalsomanifestedachangeinfacialexpressionwhenhewasspeakingundertheLord’sinfluence.EdwardStevenson,fourteen,heardtheProphetspeakandwrote,“Hebeganrelateinghisvision...hiscountananceseemedtometoassumeaheavenlywhiteness.”44

LorenzoSnownotedthesameoutwardmanifestationwhenJosephpreached.Herelated:“IheardtheProphetdiscourseuponthegrandestofsubjects.AttimeshewasfilledwiththeHolyGhost,speakingaswiththevoiceofanarchangelandfilledwiththepowerofGod,hiswholepersonshoneandhisfacewaslighteneduntilitappearedasthewhitenessofthedrivensnow.”45

God’srevelationstotheProphetJosephSmithcreatedalargepooloflatter-daywitnesses.ThesewitnessesreceivedanunquestionabletestimonythattheLordlivedanddirectedHisSaints.ThesewitnessesbuiltfaithandstrengthinothersastheysharedtheirtestimonyofChrist’sleadership.KnowledgeofthisleadershipthroughHispresenceandthroughrevelationsgiventoJosephSmithvalidatedtheSaints’sacrifice.

Notes^1.Acts22:6–9.ThereisconfusioninthebookofActsaboutwhetherthemenheardChrist’svoice.Robert

Matthews,ascholaroftheJosephSmithTranslation,resolvestheconfusionbetweentwoaccountsinActs(chapters9and22).BrotherMatthewsexplained,“ItisrecordedinActs9:7:‘Andthemenwhichjourneyedwithhimstoodspeechless,hearingavoice,butseeingnoman.’However,inActs22:9,asPaulwasmakingadefenseatJerusalem,herecountstheeventthus:‘Andtheythatwerewithmesawindeedthelight,andwereafraid;buttheyheardnotthevoiceofhimthatspaketome.’Evidentlyhereisamisstatementoffact.AscorrectedbytheProphet,thepassageinActs9:7isalteredtoagreewiththatinchapter22.Thiswouldseemtobethereasonableconclusion,forsurelythevoiceandmessageoftheLordwasforPaulalone,althoughhiscompanionsintravelmightbepermittedtoseethelightandtherebybeassuredoftheunusualeventthatwastakingplace”(“AWalkthroughtheBiblewiththeProphetJosephSmith,”Thirty-firstAnnualJosephSmithMemorialSermon,UtahStateUniversitySouthStakeCenter,Logan,Utah,December9,1973,10).

^2.Exodus24:17.^3.Exodus34:35.^4.JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2d

ed.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),2:387.^5.HarrisonBurgess,Autobiography,inWindows:AMormonFamily,comp.anded.KennethGlynHales

(Tucson,Ariz.:SkylinePrinting,1985),102–3.^6.Asanexample,nodoubtmanymoresecondarywitnessesarosefromthededicationdayintheKirtland

Temple.AccountsindicatethatonMarch27,1836,theSaviormayhavebeenpresentalthoughunseen(seechapter12,pp.225–47herein).MeetingsonMarch27mayhavebeenliketheoneMaryElizabethLightnerreportedontheMorleyfarmin1831(seechapter9,pp.171–85herein).JosephSmithannouncedthattheSaviorwaspresent,buttheeyesofthosetherewereveiledsothattheycouldnotseeHim.YetthosepresentdetectedHiscertainpresencebecauseallfeltanunmistakablepowerandsawagloriouslightreflectedthroughJoseph.StatementsmadebySaintsinmeetingsofMarch27signifythatthereweresecondarywitnesses.Outwardmanifestationsareidentifiedbyattendeesonthatday:“IsawthegloryofGod”(LeonardJ.Arrington,“OliverCowdery’sKirtland,Ohio,‘SketchBook,’”BYUStudies12,no.4[1972]:426).“Asenseofdivinepresencewasrealizedbyallpresent,andeachheartwasfilledwith‘joyinexpressibleandfullofglory’”(ElizaR.Snow,inEdwardW.Tullidge,TheWomenofMormondom[NewYork:Tullidge&Crandall,1877;repr.,SaltLakeCity:n.p.,1975],95).“ThegloryofGodcamedownontheElders”(BenjaminBrown,inStevenC.Harper,“KirtlandTempleExperience,”inOpeningtheHeavens:AccountsofDivineManifestations,1820–1844,ed.JohnW.WelchandErickB.Carlson[Provo,Utah:BrighamYoungUniversityPress,2005],

337).“Allthecongregation[was]moveduponbyaninvisiblepower....Thepeopleoftheneighborhoodcamerunningtogether[hearinganunusualsoundwithin,andseeingabrightlight...restingupontheTemple]”(JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2ded.rev.[SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51],2:428).

^7.JohnMurdock,“ABriefSynopsisoftheLifeofJohnMurdock:TakenfromanAbridgedRecordofHisJournal,”11,L.TomPerrySpecialCollections,HaroldB.LeeLibrary,BrighamYoungUniversity,Provo,Utah;hereaftercitedasBYUSpecialCollections,

^8.“PhiloDibble’sNarrative,”inFourFaithPromotingClassics(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1968),78.^9.MaryElizabethLightner,typescript,April14,1905,1,BYUSpecialCollections.Theestimateoffifteen

secondarywitnessesincludesJosephSmithSr.,LucyMackSmith,theireightchildren(minusJoseph)andspousesofthosewhoweremarried,andMaryLightnerandhermother.

^10.Lightner,typescript,1.^11.ThoseordainedwereLymanWight,JohnMurdock,ReynoldsCahoon,HarveyWhitlock,HyrumSmith,

ParleyP.Pratt,ThomasB.Marsh,IsaacMorley,EdwardPartridge,JosephWakefield,MartinHarris,EzraThayre,EzraBooth,JohnCorrill,SamuelH.Smith,SolomonHancock,SimeonCarter,WheelerBaldwin,JacobScott,JosephSmithSr.,JohnWhitmer,JosephSmithJr.,andSidneyRigdon.OthersknowntobepresentwereZebedeeColtrinandLeviHancock.SeeFarWestRecord:MinutesofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1830–1844,ed.DonaldQ.CannonandLyndonW.Cook(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1983),6.

^12.FromHistoriantoDissident:TheBookofJohnWhitmer,ed.BruceN.Westergren(SaltLakeCity:SignatureBooks,1995),70.

^13.ZebedeeColtrin,inHyrumAndrus,“LittleKnownFriendsoftheProphetJosephSmith,”1963seminarontheProphetJosephSmith,BrighamYoungUniversity,47–48,inCalvinR.Stephens,“TheLifeandContributionsofZebedeeColtrin”(master’sthesis,BrighamYoungUniversity,1974),14.

^14.LeviHancock,Autobiography,copiedbyClaraE.H.Lloyd,typescript,33,BYUSpecialCollections.^15.“LymanWight,”SaintswithoutHalos,accessedMarch1,2012,

http://www.saintswithouthalos.com/m/310603–06_x4.phtml#endzc.^16.PhiloDibble,“RecollectionsoftheProphetJosephSmith,”JuvenileInstructor27(May15,1892):303–

4.Itisnotknownwhotheotherelevenwere.^17.“PhiloDibble’sNarrative,”81.^18.KnownmembersoftheSchooloftheProphetswereJosephSmith,SidneyRigdon,FrederickG.

Williams,JosephSmithSr.,HyrumSmith,SamuelH.Smith,WilliamSmith,EzraThayre,NewelK.Whitney,MartinHarris,LymanJohnson,OrsonHyde,SolomonHumphrey,SylvesterSmith,OrsonPratt,LeviHancock,ZebedeeColtrin,andJohnMurdock.

^19.HistoryoftheChurch,1:335.^20.ZebedeeColtrin,inSaltLakeSchooloftheProphetsMinuteBook,1883(SaltLakeCity:PioneerPress,

1992),54.^21.Coltrin,inMinuteBook,54.^22.ZebedeeColtrin,addressatameetingofhighpriestsinSpanishFork,Utah,February5,1878,Church

HistoryLibrary,TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,SaltLakeCity,Utah,hereaftercited

asChurchHistoryLibrary,inTheProphetJoseph:EssaysontheLifeandMissionofJosephSmith,ed.LarryC.PorterandSusanEastonBlack(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1988),111.

^23.OtherspresentincludedtheFirstPresidency,Joseph’sscribe,thestakepresidencyandbishopricinZion(Missouri),andthehighcouncilorsofKirtlandandZion.

^24.HistoryoftheChurch,2:381;DeanC.Jessee,MarkAshurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,Journals,1832–1839,vol.1oftheJournalsseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2008),1:170.

^25.HistoryoftheChurch,2:382;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:170.^26.HistoryoftheChurch,2:381;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:170.^27.Burgess,Autobiography,102–3.^28.DiaryofCharlesLowellWalker,ed.KarlLarsonandKatherineMilesLarson,2vols.(Logan:UtahState

UniversityPress,1980),2:483.^29.Burgess,Autobiography,102–3.^30.Burgess,Autobiography,102–3.^31.HistoryoftheChurch,2:386;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:174.^32.Burgess,Autobiography,102–3.^33.HistoryoftheChurch,2:387;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:174.^34.Burgess,Autobiography,102–3.^35.Dibble,“Recollections,”303.^36.Mosiah13:5.^37.OrsonPratt,inMillennialStar36(August11,1874):498.^38.HeberC.Kimball,inJournalofDiscourses,26vols.(London:Latter-daySaints’BookDepot,1854–

86),6:35.^39.BrighamYoung,inJournalofDiscourses,9:89.^40.Coltrin,inMinuteBook,63.^41.MinutesofameetingofhighpriestsinSpanishFork,Utah,February5,1878,inChurchHistory

Library,inStephens,“ContributionsofZebedeeColtrin,”44.^42.“PhiloDibble’sNarrative,”81.^43.JoelHillsJohnson,“Autobiography,”inVoicefromtheMountains:BeingaTestimonyoftheTruthofthe

GospelofJesusChrist,asrevealedbytheLordtoJosephSmith,Jr.(SaltLakeCity:JuvenileInstructorOffice,1881),13.

^44.AutobiographyofEdwardStevenson1820–1897,ed.JosephGrantStevenson(Provo,Utah:Stevenson’sGenealogicalCenter,1986),7.

^45.LeRoiC.Snow,“HowLorenzoSnowFoundGod,”ImprovementEra40(February1937):84.

Chapter8

JosephandtheThreeWitnessesTestifyinKirtland

TheLordopenedtheheavensuponmeandIsawtheLordandhespakeuntomesaying...beholdIamtheLordofgloryIwascrucifyedfortheworld.

—JosephSmith

TheSavioreitherappearedtoorspokewithfourmenwhiletheylivedinNewYork:JosephSmith,OliverCowdery,MartinHarris,andDavidWhitmer.HeappearedtoJosephSmith,OliverCowdery,andMartinHarris1;HespoketothemandtoDavidWhitmer.Twomen,JosephSmithandOliverCowdery,heardHisvoiceatthetimeJohntheBaptistappeared.TheThreeWitnesses—OliverCowdery,MartinHarris,andDavidWhitmer—heardtheSavior’svoiceatthetimetheangelMoronishowedthemtheancientrecordsfromwhichtheBookofMormonwastranslated.TheThreeWitnessescertifiedthatwhenviewingtheplates,“thevoiceoftheLord”instructedthemintheirduties,whichclearlyindicatesthatChristwasthespeaker.2AftertheyhadallmovedtoKirtlandin1831,thesefourwitnessesboreforcefultestimonyoftheseevents.

AlthoughtheseexperienceswithDeityoccurredinNewYork,thesemenbecamewitnessesofChristinKirtlandbecauseofwhattheyhadseenandheard.DuringtheKirtlandyearsthesemenoftenaffirmedtherealityoftheirdivineexperiences.InKirtlandtheytestifiedofseeingorhearingGodtheFatherandHisSon,JesusChrist.Becauseofthesewitnesses,listenersandreadersinOhioreceivedassurancethatChristlivedanddirectedtheChurch.Skepticsandbelieversalike,inthisnewlysettledarea,listenedwithinterestwhenthesemenrelatedlatter-dayencounterswithDeity.Evenskepticsvisuallyrespondedwithrespecttothesincerityofthesewitnesses.LorenzoSnow,whowaitedfiveyearstoembracetherestoredgospelafterhearingit,rememberedhisfirstimpressionsofJosephSmithinHiram:“Hewasonlytwenty-fiveyearsofageandwasnot,atthattime,whatwouldbecalledafluentspeaker.Hisremarkswereconfinedprincipallytohisownexperiences....HesimplyborehistestimonytowhattheLordhadmanifestedtohim....He...seemedtoaffectthewholeaudiencewiththefeelingthathewashonestandsincere.”3

AlthoughthevisionsinNewYorkoccurredindividuallyandatdifferenttimes,theywereallrecordedinKirtland.ItwasinKirtlandthatJosephSmithfirstrecordedthathesawChristin1820,writingplainly,“IsawtheLord.”4ItwasinKirtlandthatJosephdisclosedthatMartinHarrishadseenChristeightyearsbefore.JosephexplainedthatbecauseofMartinHarris’sfaithandsupportoftheProphet,“theLordappeareduntohiminavisionandsheweduntohimhismarvilousworkwhichhewasabouttodo.”5ItwasalsoinKirtlandthatJosephdisclosedthatin1829OliverCowderyhadseentheSavioraswell.Josephrecordedthatthe“LordappeareduntoayoungmanbythenameofOliverCowd[e]ryandsheweduntohimtheplatesinavisionandalsothetruthoftheworkandwhattheLordwasabouttodothroughme.”6

JosephSmith’sAccountsoftheFirstVisionJosephSmithtalkedmanytimesabouthisFirstVision,whichtookplacein

Palmyra,NewYork.ProbablymoreinformationaboutthisvisionsurfacedinKirtlandthaninNewYork.TheseaccountscertifythatJosephtheProphetdidbearhiswitnesstomembersandnonmembersalike.HetestifiedthatChristtheSonandGodtheFatheraddressedhim,calledhimbyname,andinstructedhiminthegroveinthespringof1820.DetailsaboutyoungJoseph’slife-changingexperiencecomefromhispersonalrecountingofhisFirstVision.VariousdocumentsandhistoriespreservedfromtheKirtlanderaattestthatinKirtland,Josephwrotehisfirstformalaccountofthevisionandalsofrequentlytoldothersaboutit.

LorenzoSnowlearnedofJoseph’spowerfulconvictionwhenheheardtheProphetspeakabouthisvisionshortlyafterJosepharrivedinKirtlandin1831:

AsIlookeduponhimandlistened,Ithoughttomyselfthatamanbearingsuchawonderfultestimonyashedid,andhavingsuchacountenanceashepossessed,couldhardlybeafalseprophet.Hecertainlycouldnothavebeendeceived,itseemedtome,...hetestifiedthathehadhadaconversationwithJesus,theSonofGod,andhadtalkedwithHimpersonally,asMosestalkedwithGoduponMountSinai,andthathehadalsoheardthevoiceoftheFather.7

Joseph,whoin1832wroteashorthistoryofhislife,focusedonhisFirstVision.Interestingly,hebeganhishistorybygivingcredittotheSavior.Hetestifiedthathehaddone“themightyacts”ofhisdivinecalling“inthenameofJesusCh[r]istthesonofthelivingGod.”8HethenformallytestifiedthatChristbroughtforthHisChurchandrestoreditbyHisownhand.TheProphetdescribedhisvision:

IcrieduntotheLordformercyfortherewasnoneelsetowhomIcouldgoandtoobtainmercyandtheLordheardmycryinthewildernessandwhilein<the>attitudeofcallingupontheLord...apillerof...lightabovethebrightnessofthesunatnoondaycomedownfromaboveandresteduponmeandIwasfilledwiththespiritofgodandthe<Lord>openedtheheavensuponmeandIsawtheLordandhespakeuntomesayingJoseph<myson>thysinsareforgiventhee.gothy<way>walkinmystatutesandkeepmycommandmentsbeholdIamtheLordofgloryIwascrucifyedfortheworld.9

Inan1832meetingnearCleveland,Ohio,Josephboldlyborepublicwitness

ofChrist’sappearancetohim.TheReverendRichmondTaggartheardandrecordedJoseph’stestimonyinaletterwrittenonMarch2,1833.Hewrote:“ThefollowingCuriousoccurrenceoccurredlastweekinNewburg[Ohio]about6milesfromthisPlace[Cleaveland].JoeSmiththegreatMormonositywasthereandheldforth,andamongotherthingshetoldthemhehadseenJesusChristandtheApostlesandconversedwiththem.”10

In1834,JosephtraveledtoMichiganonaproselytizingmission.There,EdwardStevenson,fourteenyearsold,sawandheardtheProphetspeak.HevividlyrememberedthatinmultiplemeetingsJosephdescribedtheSavior’sappearancetohimwhenhewasEdward’sage:

Inthemidstofmanylargecongregations,theProphettestifiedwithgreatpowerconcerningthevisitoftheFatherandtheSon,andtheconversationhehadwiththem.NeverbeforedidIfeelsuchpoweraswasmanifestedontheseoccasions....

Althoughamerehumblewidow’sson,IfeltproudandblessedofGod,whenhehonoredusbycomingunderourroofandpartakingofourhospitality....Wewereproud,indeed,toentertainonewhohadconversedwiththeFatherandtheSon.11

OnanotheroccasionEdwardwroteoftheProphetspeaking:

Letmeasalivingwitnessspeak....Withupliftedhandhe[JosephSmith]said:“IamawitnessthatthereisaGod,forIsawHiminopenday,whileprayinginasilentgrove,inthespringof1820.”HefurthertestifiedthatGod,theEternalFather,pointingtoaseparatepersonage,inthelikenessofHimself,said:“ThisismyBelovedSonhearyeHim.”Ohowthesewordsthrilledmyentiresystem,andfilledmewithjoyunspeakabletobeholdonewho,likePaultheapostleofoldentime,couldwithboldnesstestifythathehadbeeninthepresenceofJesusChrist!12

Instillanotherrecollection,EdwardrelatedmoreofthedetailsofJoseph’svision:“TheProphetrelated[that]abrightlightbegantoshinearoundhim(likeuntoPaul’svision)thebrightnessofwhichatfirstalarmedhim,buthisfearwassoondispelledbythevoiceoftheFatherintroducingHisOnlyBegottenSontohim,whospoketotheyoungman,andinstructedhim.”13

JosephCurtis,alsofromMichigan,attendedsomeofthesamemeetingsthatEdwardStevensonattended.Curtis,wholaterjoinedtheChurch,recalledofJoseph’stestimony,“He[JosephSmith]went[intotheGrove]witha

determinatio[n]...toenquireofthelordhimselfaftersomestrugletheLordmanifestedtohimthatthedifferentsectswere[w]rongalsothattheLordhadagreatworkforhimtodo.”14

AhighlycelebratedeventoccurredwhenJosephrelatedtheFirstVisiontoMatthias(orJoshua),aJewishministerwhovisitedJosephinKirtlandin1835.Joseph’sscribewrotetheaccountandstatedthattheProphet’swordswere“nearlyasfollows”:

IretiredtothesilentgroveandthereboweddownbeforetheLord....IcalledontheLordinmightyprayer.Apillaroffireappearedabovemyhead;whichpresentlyresteddownuponme,andfilledmewithunspeakablejoy.Apersonageappearedinthemidstofthispillarofflame,whichwasspreadallaroundandyetnothingconsumed.Anotherpersonagesoonappearedlikeuntothefirst:hesaiduntomethysinsareforgiventhee.HetestifiedalsountomethatJesusChrististheSonofGod.Isawmanyangelsinthisvision.15

JosephrelatedhisvisiontoothervisitorstoKirtland.Onevisitor,ErastusHolmes,hadbeenamemberoftheMethodistChurchandwasexcommunicatedforreceivingMormoneldersintohishouse.JosephrecordedHolmes’svisit:“Thisafternoon,ErastusHolmes,ofNewbury,Ohio,calledonme....

“I...gavehimabriefrelationofmyexperience...uptothetimeIreceivedmyfirstvision,whichwaswhenIwasaboutfourteenyearsold.”16

ParleyP.PrattwrotetomembersoftheChurchinCanadainNovember1836.HenotedthatJosephSmith,atthepulpitintheKirtlandTemple,toldthecongregationdetailsofhisvision.Herecorded,“Br.S[mith]gavethehistoryofthesethingsrelatingmanyparticularsofthemannerofhisfirstvissions&c.”17

JohnAlger,ayoungboy,providesanotherKirtlandrecollectionofJosephspeakingofhisvision.JohnlivedinKirtlandandrelatedthefollowinginatalkhegavein1893.AlistenerwasimpressedandrecordedJohn’smessage:“Br.JohnAlgersaid...heheardtheProphetJosephrelatehisvisionofseeingTheFatherandtheSon,ThatGod...said‘JosephthisismybelovedSonhearhim.’...HeimmediatelysawtheSavior.”18

DuringtheKirtlandyearsmanyofJoseph’sassociatesheardhimrelatedetailsofhisFirstVision.OrsonPratt,whoboardedwithJosephinKirtland,saidoftheFirstVision,“Ihaveoftenheardhimrelateit.”19

JohnTaylor,whobecamethethirdpresidentoftheChurch,metJosephinKirtlandin1837.Helatersaid,“Icantellyouwhathetoldmeaboutit....He

wenttotheLord....andaskedhim,andtheLordrevealedhimselftohimtogetherwithhisSonJesus,and,pointingtothelatter,said:‘ThisismybelovedSon,hearhim.’”20

TheseaccountsattesttothefactthatwhileinKirtland,JosephwantedtheworldtoknowthattheFatherandtheSonpersonallyopenedanewgospeldispensation.Theyoungboy’svisioninthisdayandagewouldchangetheChristianworld’sconceptofDeity.

OliverCowdery’sVisionsoftheAlmightyOliverCowderyarrivedinOhioinNovember1830.WhileinNewYork,

OliversawtheSaviorinvisionashewasbeingpreparedtoassistJosephSmithintheprocessoftranslatingtheBookofMormon.JosephdescribedOliver’svision,saying,

[The]LordappeareduntoayoungmanbythenameofOliverCowd[e]ryandsheweduntohimtheplatesinavisionandalsothetruthoftheworkandwhattheLordwasabouttodothroughmehisunworthyServantthereforehewasdesioroustocomeandwriteforme....IcrieduntotheLordthathewouldprovideformetoaccomplishtheworkwhereuntohehadcommandedme.21

InDecember1830anOhionewspaperreportedthatOliverpubliclytestifiedthatheexperiencedavisionofChrist.“Mr.OliverCowdry[Cowdery]hashiscommissiondirectlyfromtheGodofHeaven....Hehaspersonallyconversed[withJesusChrist].”22

OliveralsoheardChrist’svoiceinthespringof1829whenJohntheBaptistordainedhimandJosephtotheAaronicPriesthood.In1834,OliverwroteanarticlefortheChurchnewspaperinKirtland,inwhichhepubliclyborecolorfultestimonyofwhathetermed“thevisionoftheAlmighty.”Hesharedinterestingdetailsfortheworldtosee:“TheLord...condescendedtomanifesttoushiswill.Onasudden,asfromthemidstofeternity,thevoiceoftheRedeemerspakepeacetous....Oureyesbeheld—ourearsheard....WewereraptinthevisionoftheAlmighty!Wherewasroomfordoubt?Nowhere:uncertaintyhadfled,doubthadsunk,nomoretorise.”23

OnanotheroccasionwhileinKirtland,Oliverreflected:

OnewordfromthemouthoftheSavior,fromthebosomofeternity,strikes[everything]intoinsignificance,andblotsitforeverfromthemind!...ThecertaintythatweheardthevoiceofJesus,andthetruthunsulliedasit

flowedfromapurepersonage,dictatedbythewillofGod,istome,pastdescription,andIshalleverlookuponthisexpressionoftheSavior’sgoodnesswithwonderandthanksgivingwhileIampermittedtotarry,andinthosemansionswhereperfectiondwellsandsinnevercomes,IhopetoadoreinthatDAYwhichshallnevercease!24

In1835,Olivertestifiedsimplyofthissameevent,“We...calleduponthenameoftheLord,andheansweredusoutoftheheavens.”25EdwardStevenson,whometOliverin1834,said,“Ihaveoftenheardhimbearafaithfultestimony.”26

TheThreeWitnessesTestifyoftheLord’sVoiceDuringtheOhioperiodtheThreeWitnessesoftheBookofMormon—

OliverCowdery,DavidWhitmer,andMartinHarris—frequentlyreaffirmedtheirprintedtestimoniesasrecordedineveryBookofMormon.27IntheirformalstatementthewitnessesattestwiththeirsignaturesthattheyheardthevoiceofGoddeclaretothemthattheplates“havebeentranslatedbythegiftandpowerofGod.”Theyalsotestifiedthat“thevoiceoftheLordcommandedusthatweshouldbearrecordofit.”28

CertainlythemostimpressiveandformalconfirmationoftheirtestimonyoccurredduringaconferenceinOrange,Ohio,inOctober1831,nearKirtland.TheThreeWitnessesstoodinfrontofpossiblyonehundredpeopleandreaffirmedtheirwrittentestimony.LukeJohnson,whoattendedthisconference,recalledtheimpressivesightwhentheThreeWitnessesalongwiththeEightWitnesses,“withupliftedhands,boretheirsolemntestimonytothetruthofthatbook,asdidalsotheProphetJoseph.”29

InOhio,Oliver,David,andMartinfrequentlytestifiedtolargegroupsofhearingtheLord’svoicewhentheywerepermittedtoseethegoldplatesinNewYork.EzraBooth,aformerMethodistminister,wroteoftheirtestimony:“Youhaveprobablyreadthetestimonyofthethreewitnesses....Thesewitnessestestify,that...thevoiceofGoddeclaredittobeaDivineRecord.Tothistheyfrequentlytestify,inthepresenceoflargecongregations.”30

RebeccaSwainWilliams,wifeofFrederickG.Williams,frequentlyassociatedwithOliverCowdery,DavidWhitmer,andMartinHarrisinKirtlandandknewthemwell.Shewrotetohernon-Mormonfather,IsaacSwain,inJune1834,imploringhimtoacceptthetestimonyoftheThreeWitnessesrelativetotheBookofMormon.Inherletter,shestated,“Ihaveheardthesamestory...

fromthethreewitnessesthemselves.Iheardthemdeclare[theirtestimonies]inpublic....Theyweremenofgoodcharacterandtheirwordisbelieved.”31

OtheraccountsaffirmthefactthattheThreeWitnessesboretestimoniesseparately.Forexample,LumanShurtliff,anOhioconvert,writesinhisjournalthathewalkedsomedistancetospendanafternoonwithDavidWhitmer:

Mr.Daton[Dayton]kindlyofferedtogowithmetoBrotherDavidWhitmerandgivemeanintroductiontohim.Asallofthehigherofficerswereabsent,IthoughtthiswouldbemybestwayoflearningwhatIwantedtoknow,andasMr.WhitmerwasoneofthewitnessesoftheBookofMormon,IthoughtIcouldlearnsomething.

WewalkedtoMr.Whitmer’s.IgotthenecessaryintroductionandtookdinnerandspenttheafternooninhearinghimrelatethingsabouttheangelshowinghimtheplatesfromwhichtheBookofMormonwastranslated.IalsoaskedhimallthequestionsIhadawishtoask.32

MartinHarriswasthelastwitnesstocertifyhistestimonyinKirtland.In1869,WilliamHomer,amissionaryrelatedtoMartinthroughmarriage,visitedKirtlandandrecordedMartin’sstill-impressivetestimony.AsMartinandHomerstoodtogetherintheKirtlandTemple,thefollowingexchangeoccurred:

“Doyoustillbelieve...thatJosephSmithwasaprophet?”...Achangedoldmanstoodbeforeme....Itwasamanwithamessage,amanwithanobleconvictioninhisheart,amaninspiredofGodandendowedwithdivineknowledge.ThroughthebrokenwindowoftheTempleshonethewintersun,clearandradiant.

“Youngman,”answeredMartinHarriswithimpressiveness,“DoIbelieveit!Doyouseethesunshining!Justassurelyasthesunisshiningonusandgivesuslight,andthe[moon]andstarsgiveuslightbynight,justassurelyasthebreathoflifesustainsus,sosurelydoIknowthatJosephSmithwasatrueprophetofGod,chosenofGodtoopenthelastdispensationofthefulnessoftimes;sosurelydoIknowthattheBookofMormonwasdivinelytranslated.Isawtheplates;IsawtheAngel;IheardthevoiceofGod....Imightaswelldoubtmyownexistenceastodoubt...thedivinecallingofJosephSmith.”...Ahaloseemedtoencirclehim.Adivinefireglowedinhiseyes.Hisvoicethrobbedwiththesincerityandtheconvictionofhismessage.33

ThewitnesseswerenotalwaysvaliantinChurchactivity,buttheir

testimoniesoftheSaviorandtheBookofMormon—whattheyhadheardandseen—neverwavered.Theywerewitnessesofthesacred,andtheyremainedtruetothattestimony.

Notes^1.JosephSmith–History1:17;PersonalWritingsofJosephSmith,comp.anded.DeanC.Jessee,rev.ed.

(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,2002),13–14.^2.See“TheTestimonyoftheThreeWitnesses”intheintroductiontotheBookofMormon.Baseduponthe

writtentestimonyandlaterstatementsoftheThreeWitnesses,itisnotclearwhetherthevoicewasthatofGodtheFatherorJesusChrist.Eachofthewitnessesidentifiedthedivinevoiceasbeingthatofeither“God”or“theLord.”ThetwonamesareusedinterchangeablybyallThreeWitnesseswithoutbeingmorespecific.“God”isatitle;“theLord”isalsoatitle.ThetwotitlesingeneralusagecanmeaneitherGodtheFatherorJesusChrist.AnalyzingtheusageofthesetwotitlesatthetimeoftheThreeWitnessesrevealsthatinmostcasestheypertaintoJesusChrist.TodeterminehowtheThreeWitnessesmighthaveinterpretedthetitles,wecanlookatrevelationsgiventothembytheSavioraroundthetimetheysawtheBookofMormonplatesinJune1829.InanApril1829revelationtoOliverCowdery,theSaviorsaid,“Behold,IamGod....Beholdthewoundswhichpiercedmyside,andalsotheprintsofthenailsinmyhandsandfeet”(D&C6:2,37).InaMay1829revelationtoDavidWhitmer,theSaviorsaid,“Behold,IamGod....IamJesusChrist,theSonofthelivingGod,whocreatedtheheavensandtheearth,alightwhichcannotbehidindarkness”(D&C14:2,9).AlsoinMay1829,immediatelyfollowingtheThreeWitnesses’viewoftheplates,theSaviorsaidtoOliverCowderyandDavidWhitmer,“For,behold,theLordyourRedeemersuffereddeathintheflesh....Behold,I,JesusChrist,yourLordandyourGod,andyourRedeemer...havespokenit.Amen”(D&C18:11–47).Intheserevelations,theSaviorusedthetitles“God”and“theLord”tomeanHimself.Itseems,therefore,reasonabletoassumethattheThreeWitnessesprobablymeanttoconveythatitwastheSavior’svoicetheyheard.

^3.LeRoiC.Snow,“HowLorenzoSnowFoundGod,”ImprovementEra40(February1937):83.^4.KarenLynnDavidson,DavidJ.Whittaker,MarkAshurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,Histories,

1832–1844,vol.1oftheHistoriesseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2012),1:12–13.

^5.Davidson,Whittaker,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Histories,1:15.^6.Davidson,Whittaker,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Histories,1:16.^7.Snow,“LorenzoSnow,”83.^8.Davidson,Whittaker,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Histories,1:10.^9.Davidson,Whittaker,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Histories,1:12–13.^10.ReverendRichmondTaggarttotheReverendJonathonGoings,March2,1833,2,AmericanBaptist

HistoricalSociety,Rochester,NewYork,inGregoryA.Prince,PowerfromonHigh:TheDevelopmentofMormonPriesthood(SaltLakeCity:SignatureBooks,1995),8,inEarlyMormonDocuments,comp.anded.DanVogel,5vols.(SaltLakeCity:SignatureBooks,1995–2003),1:205.

^11.EdwardStevenson,ReminiscencesofJoseph,theProphet,andtheComingForthoftheBookofMormon(SaltLakeCity:EdwardStevenson,1893),4–5.

^12.EdwardStevenson,“InEarlyDays:TheHomeofMyBoyhood,”JuvenileInstructor29,no.14(July15,1894):443–44.

^13.EdwardStevenson,“TheThreeWitnessestotheBookofMormon,”inMillennialStar48,no.22(May31,1886):341.

^14.JosephCurtis,“HistoryofJosephCurtissonofNahum&MillicentCurtisWhichwasbornDec.24,1818inthetownof[-]ErieCo.Penn.,”circa1881,5–6,ChurchHistoryLibrary,TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,SaltLakeCity,Utah,hereaftercitedasChurchHistoryLibrary,inVogel,EarlyMormonDocuments,1:36.

^15.DeanC.Jessee,“TheEarlyAccountsofJosephSmith’sFirstVision,”BYUStudies9,no.3(Spring1969):284.

^16.JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2ded.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),2:312;DeanC.Jessee,MarkAshurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,Journals,1832–1839,vol.1oftheJournalsseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2008),1:100.

^17.ParleyP.PratttotheEldersandBrethrenofTheChurchofLatterDaySaintsinCanada,November27,1836,JohnTaylorPapers,Manuscript,ChurchHistoryLibrary,inVogel,EarlyMormonDocuments,1:207.

^18.DiaryofCharlesLowellWalker,ed.A.KarlLarsonandKatherineMilesLarson,2vols.(Logan:UtahStateUniversityPress,1980),2:755–56,inVogel,EarlyMormonDocuments,1:208.

^19.OrsonPratt,inJournalofDiscourses,26vols.(London:Latter-daySaints’BookDepot,1854–86),7:220.

^20.JohnTaylor,inJournalofDiscourses,21:161.^21.Davidson,Whittaker,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Histories,1:16.^22.“TheBookofMormon,”Painesville[Ohio]Telegraph,December7,1830,3.Thenewspaperreporter

couldhaveconfusedOliver’saccountsofthevisionofChristwithaccountsofwhenOliverjustheardHisvoice.Thereferenceto“conversed”couldpertaintoOliver’shearingtheLord’svoiceontwoprioroccasions.

^23.OliverCowdery,letterinMessengerandAdvocate1,no.2(November1834):15.^24.Cowdery,letterinMessengerandAdvocate1,no.2(November1834):16.^25.ThisstatementbyOliverCowderywasrecordedOctober2,1835,inthePatriarchalBlessingbookof

JosephSmithSen.,inJosephF.SmithJr.[JosephFieldingSmith],“RestorationoftheMelchizedekPriesthood,”ImprovementEra7(October1904):942.

^26.Lifesketchin[SaltLakeCity,Utah]DeseretNews,January28,1897,repr.,“ElderEdwardStevenson,”inMillennialStar59(February18,1897):108.

^27.See“TestimonyoftheThreeWitnesses”intheintroductionoftheBookofMormon.^28.See157n2.^29.“HistoryofLukeJohnson:ByHimself,”MillennialStar26(December31,1864):835.

^30.EzraBoothtoIraEddy,October24,1831,“Mormonism—No.III,”[Ravenna]OhioStar2(October27,1831):3.

^31.RebeccaSwainWilliamstoIsaacSwain,June4,1834,inNancyClementWilliams,AfterOneHundredYears!(Independence,Mo.:Zion’sPrinting&PublishingCompany,1951),200.

^32.LumanAndrosShurtliff,Autobiography,typescript,24,L.TomPerrySpecialCollections,HaroldB.LeeLibrary,BrighamYoungUniversity,Provo,Utah.

^33.WilliamHarrisonHomer,“ThePassingofMartinHarris,”ImprovementEra29(March1926):469–70.

Chapter9

VisionsofDeityAssociatedwithChurchStructure

BrothersandSisters,theSaviourhasbeeninyourmidst.Iwantyoutorememberit.

—JosephSmithFrom1830to1833atleastfivevisionsorvisitationsoftheSaviorwere

receivedduringcriticaleventsormeetingsheldasChurchorganizationwasbeingputinplace.ThreeofthesevisitationsincludedGodtheFather.TheLordbestowedthesevisionsnotonlytoJosephSmithbutalsotomanyothers.Sevenwitnessesareidentifiedbyname;inaddition,othersarecitedinvariousaccounts.Aswillbenoted,thosewhobecamewitnessestotheresurrectedChristduringthisperiodcouldnumberasmanyasfifteen.Inaddition,thesevisionsresultedinaboutsixtysecondarywitnesseswhowouldhaveobservedtheoutwardmanifestationsassociatedwiththem.

VisionsBeginwithBaptismsandMeetingsTheChagrinRiverwasthesiteoftheearliestbaptismsinKirtland.Philo

Dibble,oneofOhio’sfirstconverts,reportedheavenlymanifestations.Hewrote:“ThereweremanysignsandwondersseenintheheavensaboveandintheearthbeneathintheregionofKirtland,bothbySaintsandstrangers.Apillaroflightwasseeneveryeveningformorethanamonthhoveringovertheplacewherewedidourbaptizing.”1

JohnMurdockrememberedthatpeoplesawvisionsandeventheSavior.HerecordedsimilareventswhilehewasbeingconfirmedamemberoftheChurch:“TheSpiritrestedonmeasitneverdidbeforeandotherssaidtheysawtheLord,andhadvisions.”2ThisheavenlypresencereassuredthesenewlybaptizedSaintsthatChristlivesandleadstheminHisChurch.

ChristwaspresentinameetingheldaftertheProphet’sfamilyarrivedinKirtlandin1831.HispresencewasmadeknowntoJosephSmithandMartinHarris.3MaryElizabethLightner,thirteenyearsoldatthetime,attendedandmadearecordofthemeeting.4SheimpliedthatJosephmighthaveseentheSavior,dramaticallyrecalling,“Josephbegantalking.Suddenlyhestoppedandseemedalmosttransfixed.Hewaslookingaheadintospaceandhisfaceoutshonethecandlethatwasontheshelfbackofhim....Helookedasthoughasearchlightwasinsidehisfaceshiningthrougheverypore.”5Marylatersaidthatthisexperiencewassovividshecouldneverforgetit.Seventy-fouryearslater,in1905,sheelectrifiedanaudienceofprospectivemissionariesinProvo,Utah,whenshetoldthem:

IamtheonlylivingwitnesswhowasatthefirstmeetingthattheProphet[JosephSmith]heldinKirtland....

...JosephandMartinHarriscamein.Josephlookedaroundverysolemnly.Itwasthefirsttimesomeofthemhadeverseenhim.

Saidhe,“Thereareenoughheretoholdalittlemeeting.”Theygotaboardandputitacrosstwochairstomakeseats.MartinHarrissatonalittleboxatJoseph’sfeet.Theysangandprayed.Josephgotupandbegantospeaktous.Ashebegantospeakverysolemnlyandveryearnestly,allatoncehiscountenancechangedandhestoodmute.6

Helookedoverthecongregationasiftopierceeveryheart.Hesaid,“Doyouknowwhohasbeeninyourmidstthisnight?”OneoftheSmithfamilysaid,“AnangeloftheLord.”...MartinHarris...said,“Iknow,itwasourLordandSaviour,JesusChrist.”JosephputhishandonMartin’sheadandanswered,“Martin,Godrevealedthattoyou.Yes,BrothersandSisters,theSaviourhasbeeninyourmidst.Iwantyoutorememberit.HecastaveiloveryoureyesforyoucouldnotenduretolookuponHim.”7

Christ’svisitmusthavecomfortedJosephandtheotherSaintsfromNewYork.TheywerereassuredthattheirnewchurchwastrulytherestoredChurchofJesusChrist.AftertheyobeyedtheLordbyleavingtheirhomes,possessions,andsomefamilymembers,andmakingseveresacrificestocometoOhio,theLordvisiblymanifestedthattheywereaboutHiswork.Hehadnotforgottenthem.

VisionsAsFirstHighPriestsAreOrdainedDuringthefirstKirtlandChurchconferenceinJune1831,theFatherandthe

SonfirstmanifestedthemselvestogetherinKirtlandtoJosephSmith,LymanWight,andHarveyWhitlock.ThisvisioncameasthepriesthoodgatheredinthelogschoolhouseontheIsaacMorleyfarmtoordainthehighpriests.AccordingtoLeviHancock,asthemeetingbegan,Joseph“lookedatLyman[Wight]andsaidtohim,‘YoushallseetheLord’...andlaidhishandsuponhimandblessedhimwiththevisionsofheaven.”8

PhiloDibble,whowaspresent,recorded,“JosephSmith...saidthatbeforetheconferenceclosedtherewerethosepresentwhoshouldseetheheavensopenandbearrecordofthecomingoftheSonofMan,andthatthemanofsinshouldberevealed.”9

Themanofsin(theadversary)attemptedtostoptheproceedingsastheordinationsbegan.Heseizedseveralmen,includingHarveyWhitlock.Exercisingthepowerofhispriesthood,JosephcastSatanoutofthemeeting.

Afterhedeparted,agloriousvisionoftheFatherandtheSon—reminiscentoftheProphet’sSacredGroveexperience—burstuponthem.LeviHancockrecalled,“JosephSmiththensteppedoutonthefloorandsaid,‘InowseeGod,andJesusChristathisrighthand,letthem[enemies]killme,IshouldnotfeeldeathasIamnow.’”10

LymanWight,wholaterbecameamemberoftheQuorumoftheTwelve,sawthesamevision.HewasthefirsthighpriestordainedintherestoredChurch.JohnWhitmer,therecentlycalledChurchhistorian,recorded,“TheSpirit...felluponLyman,andhe...sawthehe[a]vensopened,andtheSonofmansittingontherighthandoftheFather.Makingintercessionforhisbrethren.theSaints.”11

Philowrote,“LymanWightsteppedintothemiddleoftheroomandborerecordofthecomingoftheSonofMan.”12Relyingonaccountsofothers,GeorgeA.Smith,longtimeChurchhistorianandApostle,stated,“LymanWightboretestimonythathesawthefaceoftheSavior.”13

HarveyWhitlockwasthethirdpersontowitnessthisremarkablevision.ZebedeeColtrinrememberedthat“Josephrebukedthepowerthathadseizedhim[HarveyWhitlock],anditlefthim,andhetestified,asLymanhaddone,thathesawtheheavensopen,andJesus...ontherighthandoftheFather.”14

Philorecordedevenmoredetails:

HarveyWhitlocksteppedintothemiddleoftheroomwithhisarmscrossed,boundbythepowerofSatan....

JosephthenapproachedHarveyandaskedhimifhebelievedinGod.ThenwesawachangeinHarvey.HealsoborerecordoftheopeningoftheheavensandofthecomingoftheSonofMan,preciselyasLymanWighthaddone.15

Inadditiontothesethreemen,othersmayhaveseenthisvision.Withoutspecifyingnames,GeorgeA.Smithsimplystatedthat“othershadvisions.”16ThevisionsoftheFatherandtheSoncertifiedheaven’sapprobationatthebestowalofpriesthoodauthorityonthisoccasion.

ChristCallsNewelK.WhitneyasBishopOnDecember4,1831,theLordsaid,“Andnow,verilyIsayuntoyou,my

servantNewelK.Whitneyisthemanwhoshallbeappointedandordaineduntothispower[asbishop].ThisisthewilloftheLordyourGod,yourRedeemer.Evenso.Amen.”17WhenJosephSmithextendedthecall,Newelwashesitant.

OrsonF.Whitney,Newel’sson,relatesthattheLordconfirmedthecallwithHisownvoicetoNewel:

Thoughinnaturalgiftsfewmenwerebetterqualifiedforsuchaposition,he...distrustedhisability....Inhisperplexityheappealedtotheprophet:“IcannotseeaBishopinmyself,BrotherJoseph;butifyousayit’stheLord’swill,I’lltry.”“Youneednottakemywordalone,”answeredtheProphet,kindly,“GoandaskFatherforyourself.”Newelfelttheforceofthismildrebuke,butdeterminedtodoashewasadvised.Hishumble,heartfeltprayerwasanswered.Inthesilenceofnightandthesolitudeofhischamberheheardavoicefromheaven:“Thystrengthisinme.”Thewordswerefewandsimple,buttheyhadaworldofmeaning.Hisdoubtsweredispelledlikethedewbeforethedawn.HestraightwaysoughttheProphet,toldhimhewassatisfied,andwaswillingtoaccepttheofficetowhichhehadbeencalled.18

Newelandhiswife,ElizabethAnn,hadapriorexperiencewithaheavenlyvisionandacelestialvoice.BeforeJosephcametoKirtland,theywerepraying.Elizabethdescribedthevisionandvoicethatcametothem:

Itwasmidnight—myhusbandandIwereinourhouseatKirtland,prayingtotheFathertobeshownthewaywhentheSpiritresteduponusandacloudovershadowedthehouse.Itwasasthoughwewereoutofdoors.Thehousepassedawayfromourvision.Wewerenotconsciousofanythingbutthepresenceofthespiritandthecloudthatwasoverus.Wewerewrappedinthecloud.Asolemnawepervadedus.WesawthecloudandfelttheSpiritoftheLord.Thenweheardavoiceoutofthecloudsaying,“PreparetoreceivethewordoftheLord,foritiscoming.”Atthiswemarveledgreatly,butfromthatmomentweknewthatthewordoftheLordwascomingtoKirtland.19

OnanotheroccasionduringameetingattheWhitneyhome,PhiloDibbletellsofanothergreatvision.Hesaid,“TheheavenswereopenedandtheSpiritofGodfilledthehouseandresteduponallthecongregationtooverflowing,littlechildrennotexcepted.ProphesyingandsingingthesongsofZionwereindulgedinuntilmorning.”20

VisionsattheOrganizationoftheFirstPresidencyUnprecedentedvisionscameonMarch18,1833—thedayJosephordained

SidneyRigdonandFredrickG.WilliamsashiscounselorsintheFirst

PresidencyoftheChurch.ThevisionsoccurredduringameetingoftheSchooloftheProphetsintheWhitneystore.SpecificaccountsidentifythatinadditiontoJosephSmith,JohnMurdockandZebedeeColtrinalsosawtheSaviorthatday.21BeyondthevisionoftheSavior,ZebedeesawGodtheFather.Writtenaccountsverifythathespokeofthisvisiononatleastsevenoccasions.22JosephSmithsaidthatmanyoftheprobabletwentyorsopersonswhoattendedtheschoolalsosawtheSaviorandmanyotherthings.Therefore,itispossibletoconjecturethatatleastthreeothersalsosawthesevisions.Josephformallyrecordedtheeventsofthismeetinginwhichthevisionstookplace:

GreatjoyandsatisfactioncontinuallybeamedinthecountenancesoftheSchooloftheProphets,andtheSaints,onaccountofthethingsrevealed,andourprogressintheknowledgeofGod.TheHighPriestsassembledintheschoolroomoftheProphets,andwereorganizedaccordingtorevelation;prayerbySidneyRigdon....

...IlaidmyhandsonBrothersSidneyandFrederick,andordainedthemtotakepartwithmeinholdingthekeysofthislastkingdom,andtoassistinthePresidencyoftheHighPriesthood,asmyCounselors;afterwhichI...gavemuchinstruction...withapromisethatthepureinheartshouldseeaheavenlyvision;andafterremainingashorttimeinsecretprayer,thepromisewasverified;formanypresenthadtheeyesoftheirunderstandingopenedbytheSpiritofGod,soastobeholdmanythings....ManyofthebrethrensawaheavenlyvisionoftheSavior,andconcoursesofangels,andmanyotherthings,ofwhicheachonehasarecordofwhathesaw.23

ThatJosephSmithsawtheSavioronthisstunningdayofvisionsisdemonstratedbyhisdescriptiveconversations.First,JosephpromisedavisionoftheLordtothosewhocould“humble”themselvesand“exercisestrongfaith.”24Second,afterChristappeared,JosephaskediftheysawHim.25Third,JosephthenidentifiedHim,saying,“ThatisJesus.”26

JohnMurdockasaWitnessJohnMurdockwasoneofthewitnesseswhoserecordispreserved.John

recordedoneofthemostcompletedescriptionsofChrist:

Wehadanumberofprayermeetings,intheProphet’sChamber,inwhichweobtainedgreatblessings.InoneofthoseMeetings[SchooloftheProphets]theProphettoldus,ifwecouldhumbleourselvesbeforeGod,and

exercisestrongfaith,weshouldseethefaceoftheLord.Andaboutmidday,thevisionsofmymindwereopened,andtheeyesofmyunderstandingwereenlightened,andIsawtheformofaman,mostlovely!Thevisageofhisfacewassoundandfairasthesun.Hishair,abrightsilvergrey,curledinmostmajesticform,Hiseyes,akeenpenetratingblue,andtheskinofhisneckamostbeautifulwhite,andHewascoveredfromthenecktothefeetwithaloosegarment,purewhite,whiterthananygarmentIhaveeverbeforeseen.Hiscountenancewasmostpenetrating,andyetmostlovely!AndwhileIwasendeavoringtocomprehendthewholepersonage,fromheadtofeet,itslippedfromme,andtheVisionwasclosedup.Butitleftonmymindtheimpressionoflove,formonths,thatIneverbeforefelt,tothatdegree!27

Laterinlife,JohnabridgedhisjournalandfurtheridentifiedthatthepersonagehesawinhisvisionwasChrist.Heelaborated,“I...waswithBro.Josephapartofthewinterreceivinginstruction...andbeheldthefaceoftheLordaccordingtothepromiseandprayeroftheProphet.”28

SimilaritiestotheMountofTransfigurationThevisionoftheFatherandtheSon,astheFirstPresidencywasbeingfully

organized,isconsistentwiththepresenceoftheFatherandtheSonduringthepastdispensationofChristandtheApostles.JustasPeter,James,andJohnascendedtheMountofTransfigurationtoreceiveChrist’sinstructionsandthekeysoftheirministry,sodidSidneyRigdonandFredrickG.WilliamsascendtotheupperschoolroomoftheWhitneystore,whereJosephinstructedandordainedthem“totakepartwithhiminholdingthekeysofthislastkingdom.”29JustasontheMountofTransfiguration,whereGodtheFatherandJesusChristmanifestedthemselvesincelestialglory,sodidTheymanifestthemselvesintheupperschoolroomoftheWhitneystore.TheApostlesonthemountsaidofChrist,“Hisfacedidshineasthesun,andhisraimentwaswhiteasthelight.”30

IntheNewTestament,MarkdescribesChrist’sappearanceonthemount:“Andhisraimentbecameshining,exceedingwhite,assnow;sowhiteasnofulleronearthcouldwhitenthem.”31IntheWhitneystoreschoolroomvision,JohnMurdocknotedtheSavior’sfaceandclothingjustasMarkdescribed:“Hisfacewas...fairasthesun,”andHisgarmentwas“purewhite,whiterthananygarmentIhaveeverbeforeseen.”32JohnMurdockindicatedthathenoticedthattheSavior’seyeswereblue.InoneofJosephSmith’saccountsoftheFirstVision,hetoldAlexanderNeibaurthattheSaviorhadblueeyes.33

ByaddingthisvisiontothevisionofMoses,Elias,andElijahintheKirtlandTemple,Kirtlandbecomesalatter-daycounterpartoftheancientMountofTransfiguration.

ZebedeeColtrinasaWitnessAnotherpreservedrecordisthatofZebedeeColtrin.Zebedeewasoneofthe

initialsevenpresidentsoftheSeventy.HewasblessedbytheFirstPresidencytohave“heavenlyvisionsandtheministryofAngels.”34LeadersoftheChurchhavealwaysheldZebedeeinhighregard.Forexample,PresidentGeorgeAlbertSmithpaidtributetoZebedeeintheOctober1934generalconference.Henamedhimfromthepulpitasoneofforty-eightleadersinthefirstonehundredyearswhowere“someofthegreatestmenthathaveeverlivedupontheearth...whofromthispulpithaveinstructedtheLatter-daySaintsintheyearsgoneby...menthatweloveandvenerate....Theyweresuper-menthatGodcalledtolead...whohavedevotedthemselvestotheChurchuntiltheLordsummonedthemhome.”35

OnMarch18,1833,ZebedeesawtheSaviorintheSchooloftheProphetsintheWhitneystoreandtestified:

Atoneofthesemeetingsaftertheorganizationoftheschool...whenwewerealltogether,Josephhavinggiveninstructions,andwhileengagedinsilentprayer,kneeling,...eachoneprayinginsilence,noonewhisperedabovehisbreath,[Isaw]apersonage...Josephaskedifwesawhim.Isawhimandsupposedtheothersdid,andJosephansweredthatisJesus,theSonofGod,ourelderbrother.36

Then,speakingofseeingavisionofGodtheFather,Zebedeecontinued:

AfterwardJosephtoldustoresumeourformerpositioninprayer,whichwedid.Anotherpersoncame...Hewassurroundedaswithaflameoffire.Iexperiencedasensationthatitmightdestroythetabernacleasitwasofconsumingfireofgreatbrightness.TheProphetJosephsaidthiswastheFatherofourLordJesusChrist.37

PresidentJohnTaylor,whoknewZebedeeinKirtland,invitedhimin1883tosharehisexperienceswiththeSchooloftheProphetsinSaltLakeCity.ConcludinghistestimonytotheGeneralAuthoritiesgatheredintheschool,Zebedeetestified,“IsawHim.”ThebrethrenaskedZebedeeabouttheclothingtheFatherwore.BrotherColtrinsaid:

IdidnotdiscoverHisclothingforHewassurroundedaswithaflameoffire,whichwassobrilliantthatIcouldnotdiscoveranythingelsebutHisperson.IsawHishands,Hislegs,Hisfeet,Hiseyes,nose,mouth,headandbodyintheshapeandformofaperfectman....ThisappearancewassograndandoverwhelmingthatitseemedIshouldmeltdowninHispresence,andthesensationwassopowerfulthatitthrilledthroughmywholesystemandIfeltitinthemarrowofmybones.38

Then,inOctober1883inSaltLakeCity,ZebedeeconcludedhistestimonybyrepeatingtheinitialchargethatJosephSmithgavein1833tothoseattheKirtlandSchooloftheProphets,mostofwhomwerelaterordainedasGeneralAuthorities.Josephtoldthem,“Brethren,nowyouarepreparedtobetheapostles39ofJesusChrist,foryouhaveseenboththeFatherandtheSonandknowthatTheyexistandthatTheyaretwoseparatepersonages.”40

ThatJosephSmithalsosawGodtheFatheratthistimeisverifiedbyZebedee’saccountofJoseph’sconversations.First,aftertheSaviorappeared,Josephtoldthemto“resumeourformerpositioninprayer.”Next,aftertheFatherappeared,Josephidentifiedwhomtheyhadseen.“JosephsaidthiswastheFatherofourLordJesusChrist,”Zebedeesaid.41Finally,JosephconfirmedthevisionofbothmembersoftheGodhead,“Brethren,...youhaveseenboththeFatherandtheSon.”42

ChristSeeninVisionWhenFirstPatriarchalBlessingsAreGivenJosephSmithsawChristinvisiononDecember18,1833,attheJohn

JohnsonInninKirtland.Josephreceivedthevisionashegaveapatriarchalblessingtohisfather,JosephSmithSr.43OliverCowdery,whorecordedtheblessing,emphasizedthatJosephsawthevisionashewasblessinghisfather.Infact,Oliverrepeatedittwice.Hewrote,“ThusspaketheSeer,andthesearethewordswhichfellfromhislips,whilethevisionsoftheAlmightywereopentohisview,”44and“Theseblessingsweregivenbyvisionandthespiritofprophecy.”45

Inthevision,JosephsawAdamandhisposterityatAdam-ondi-Ahman.Whileviewingthevision,hedescribedthesceneaspartoftheblessingtohisfather:

ThreeyearsprevioustothedeathofAdam,hecalledSeth,Enos,Cainan,Mahalaleel,Jared,EnochandMethuselahwhowerehighpriestswiththeresidueofhisposteritywhowererighteous,intothevalleyofAdam-ondi-

Ahman,andtherebestoweduponthemhislastblessing....andtheyroseupandblessedAdam,andcalledhimMichael,thePrince,theArchangel.46

Continuinghisdescriptionofthevision,JosephsaidhealsosawChristintheirmidst:“AndtheLordappeareduntothem,...andtheLordadministeredcomfortuntoAdam,andsaiduntohim:Ihavesettheetobeatthehead,amultitudeofnationsshallcomeofthee,andthouartaprinceoverthemforever.”47

SoimportantwasthisvisiontoJosephthatherepeatedittwicemore.OneyearlaterheincludeditintheDoctrineandCovenantsassection107,verses53–55.SixyearslaterherelatedittoChurchleadersasfollows:“IsawAdaminthevalleyofAh-dam-ondi-Ahman—hecalledtogetherhischildren&blessedthemwithaPatriarchalblessing.TheLordappearedintheirmidst,&he(Adam)blessedthemall,&foretoldwhatshouldbefallthemtothelatestgeneration.”48

ItisapparentthatduringthiscriticalorganizationalperiodoftheinfantChurch,manyreceivedawitnessthatDeitydirectedtheimportantworkinwhichtheywereinvolved.TheyalsobecameacquaintedwiththenatureofDeity—theGodwhomtheyworshipped.TheSaviorwastrulynostrangerinKirtland.

Notes^1.“PhiloDibble’sNarrative,”inFourFaithPromotingClassics(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1968),78.^2.JohnMurdock,“ABriefSynopsisoftheLifeofJohnMurdock:TakenfromanAbridgedRecordofHis

Journal,”11,L.TomPerrySpecialCollections,HaroldB.LeeLibrary,BrighamYoungUniversity,Provo,Utah;hereaftercitedasBYUSpecialCollections.

^3.MartinHarrislivedlongerinKirtlandthandidtheotherBookofMormonwitnesses.HemovedfromNewYorkin1831,andexceptforbriefvisitstoMissouriandhisformerhomeinPalmyra,NewYork,heremainedinKirtlanduntil1870,whenhemovedtoUtah.

^4.MaryElizabethRollinsLightneridentifiedthismeetingasthefirstmeetingtheProphetheldinKirtland.JosepharrivedaboutFebruary1,1831,butthemeetingcouldnothaveoccurredbeforeMaybecause,shesaid,thewholeSmithfamilyattended.LucyMackSmith,WilliamSmith,andothersarrivedinMayfromNewYork.

^5.“LifeStoryofMaryElizabethRollinsLightner,”inOurPioneerHeritage,comp.KateB.Carter,20vols.(SaltLakeCity:DaughtersofUtahPioneers,1958–77),5:306.

^6.MaryElizabethLightner,typescript,April14,1905,1,BYUSpecialCollections.^7.Carter,“MaryElizabethRollinsLightner,”5:306.^8.LeviHancock,Autobiography,copiedbyClaraE.H.Lloyd,typescript,33,BYUSpecialCollections.^9.PhiloDibble,“RecollectionsoftheProphetJosephSmith,”JuvenileInstructor27(May15,1892):303.^10.Hancock,Autobiography,33.^11.FromHistoriantoDissident:TheBookofJohnWhitmer,ed.BruceN.Westergren(SaltLakeCity:

SignatureBooks,1995),69.^12.Dibble,“Recollections,”303.^13.GeorgeA.Smith,inJournalofDiscourses,26vols.(London:Latter-daySaints’BookDepot,1854–86),

11:4.^14.ZebedeeColtrin,addressatameetingofhighpriestsinSpanishFork,Utah,February5,1878,inThey

KnewtheProphet,ed.HyrumL.AndrusandHelenMaeAndrus(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1999),30.

^15.Dibble,“Recollections,”303.^16.Smith,inJournalofDiscourses,11:4.^17.Doctrine&Covenants72:8.^18.AndrewJenson,Latter-daySaintBiographicalEncyclopedia,4vols.(SaltLakeCity:AndrewJenson

HistoryCompany,1901–36;repr.,SaltLakeCity:WesternEpics,1971),1:224.^19.Jenson,Latter-daySaintBiographicalEncyclopedia,1:223.^20.Dibble,“Narrative,”77–78.^21.ThedetailedaccountoftheFirstPresidencyorganizationalmeetingisfoundinJosephSmith,History

ofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2ded.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),1:334–35.JohnMurdock’sandZebedeeColtrin’saccountsevidentlybothcamefromthismeeting.Severalfactsthatplacetheseaccountsatthismeetingareasfollows:(1)ThemeetingwasapparentlyameetingoftheSchooloftheProphets.JosephSmithindicateditwasforhighpriests(terminologyusedforthe1833SchooloftheProphets).JohnMurdockandZebedeeColtrinwerebothhighpriestsandmembersoftheschool,whichwas“organizedaccordingtorevelation,”apparentlyareferencetoDoctrine&Covenants88,whichorganizedtheschool(HistoryoftheChurch,1:334).(2)ThismeetingessentiallyfitsthetimeframegivenbyJohnandZebedee.(3)TheiraccountsfitJosephSmith’sdescriptionofthemeeting.(4)NoothermeetingduringthistimeindicatesvisionsofDeity.(5)Joseph’saccountaswellasJohn’sandZebedee’sallconfirmJoseph’spromisethattheywouldseeavision.(6)Ashorttimewasspentinprayerpriortothevision;Johncalledita“prayermeeting.”

^22.ZebedeeColtringavehistestimonyfivetimesinmeetingsofhighpriestsfromSeptember1880toJune1887andtwiceattheSchoolofProphetsinSaltLakeCityinOctober1883atJohnTaylor’sinvitation.Oneweekfollowingthistestimony,onOctober12,1883,Zebedeewasadmittedtotheschoolbyvote.FourbrethrenwhoknewhimandhadconfidenceinhiminKirtlandwerepresent—JohnTaylor,WilfordWoodruff,LorenzoSnow,andErastusSnow.OnOctober11,1883,WilfordWoodruffrecordedinhisjournaltheColtrinaccountofseeingboththeFatherandtheSon.

^23.HistoryoftheChurch,1:334–35.^24.JohnMurdock,“JohnMurdockJournal,1792–1871,”typescript,BYUSpecialCollections,14.^25.ZebedeeColtrin,inSaltLakeSchooloftheProphetsMinuteBook,1883(SaltLakeCity:PioneerPress,

1992),54.^26.Coltrin,inMinuteBook,54.^27.Murdock,“BriefSynopsis,”13–14.^28.Murdock,“JohnMurdockJournal,”163–64.

^29.HistoryoftheChurch,3:387;1:334.^30.Matthew17:2.^31.JST,Mark9:2.^32.Murdock,“BriefSynopsis,”14.^33.AlexanderNeibaur,Autobiography,May24,1844,ChurchHistoryLibrary,TheChurchofJesusChrist

ofLatter-daySaints,SaltLakeCity,Utah,15;hereaftercitedasChurchHistoryLibrary.^34.KirtlandCouncilMinuteBook,typescriptbyLyndonW.Cook,1978,ChurchHistoryLibrary,178.^35.GeorgeAlbertSmith,inConferenceReport,October1934,52.^36.Coltrin,inMinuteBook,54.^37.Coltrin,inMinuteBook,54.^38.Coltrin,inMinuteBook,54.^39.ThewordapostleshereisusedinageneralpriesthoodsenseofrepresentingtheLordinsteadofinthe

administrativesenseofbeingamemberoftheQuorumoftheTwelveApostles.TheLordusedthewordinthisgeneralsenseinDoctrine&Covenants84:63whenHetoldhighpriests,“Youaremineapostles,evenGod’shighpriests.”ThisvisiontookplacealmosttwoyearsbeforetheQuorumoftheTwelveApostleswasformed.

^40.Coltrin,inMinuteBook,54–55.^41.Coltrin,inMinuteBook,54.^42.Coltrin,inMinuteBook,54–55.^43.OliverCowderyrecordedintheChurch’sfirstpatriarchalblessingbookthatthefirstpatriarchal

blessings“werepronouncedbyJosephSmith,Jr.,thefirstelderandfirstpatriarchoftheChurch...byvisionandthespiritofprophecy”(JosephFieldingSmith,ChurchHistoryandModernRevelation,2vols.[SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1953],1:473).

^44.Smith,ChurchHistoryandModernRevelation,1:473.^45.Smith,ChurchHistoryandModernRevelation,1:473.^46.Smith,ChurchHistoryandModernRevelation,1:473.^47.Smith,ChurchHistoryandModernRevelation,1:473–74.^48.TheWordsofJosephSmith,comp.anded.AndrewF.EhatandLyndonW.Cook(Provo,Utah:Brigham

YoungUniversityReligiousStudiesCenter,1980),9.

Chapter10

ChristConverseswithJosephandSidneyinaVisionoftheEternities

I,Joseph,theprophet,inspiritbeheld,Eternitysketch’dinavisionfromGod,Ofwhatwas,andnowis,andyetistobe.

—JosephSmith

Christ’spersonalguidanceofJosephandtheChurchreachedanapexinanupperroomofaruralOhiofarmhouseonFebruary16,1832.AvisionrecordedasDoctrineandCovenants76issosignificantandsuperlativethattheLord,JosephSmith,andothersreferredtoitas“thevision.”1GiventoJosephSmithandSidneyRigdoninHiram,Ohio,thevisionispossiblythemostcomprehensiveofallJoseph’svisions.TheSavior’sbroadandlengthyfirsthandtutelageassuredJosephandSidneythattheFatherandHisSon,JesusChrist,createdandcontrolledtheuniverse.Thisinstructionspelledouttheoriginanddestinyofallmankind.Duringthisvision,ChristrevealedtothemthemostfundamentaldoctrineoftheChurch—theplanofsalvation.ThepresenceoftheFatherandtheSonatthebeginningofthevisionsignifiedtoJosephandtheSaintsthatthiswastruedoctrine.Itwasamajordeparturefromreligiousdoctrinesoftheday,andforthosewhoacceptedit,itchangedtheirconceptofheaven.

TwopresidentsoftheChurchtowhomJosephdirectlytaughtthevisionrankeditsimportanceandeffectonthem.BrighamYoungexplained,“ThevisiongiventoJosephSmithandSidneyRigdonisthegreatestvisionIeverknewgiventothechildrenofmen,incorporatingmoreinafewpagesthananyotherrevelationIhaveanyknowledgeof.”2WilfordWoodruffrespondedtothisvisionbysaying:

WhenIfirstreadthatvisionitsweptawayavailthathadbeenaroundmeallmylife;itopenedmyunderstandingandshookoffmyshackles.Therewassomethinginitsodifferentfromtheoldsectariannotion—somethingthatsweptawaytheideaofoneheaven,onehell,andthatthosewhodonotgotooneplacemustgototheother,andthatallinheavenhaveanequalglory,andallinhellanequalmisery.Therealwaysappearedsomethingveryinconsistentconnectedwiththedoctrineoffuturerewardsandpunishmentsastaughtbymoderndivines;butwhenIgotholdofthevision,Isawmorelight,moreconsistency,andGodlikemercyandjusticethanIhadeverseeninmylife....

...Thevailwastakenfrommyeyes,and...Iwasmadetocomprehendthateverymanisrewardedaccordingtothedeedsdoneinthebody.3

JosephSmithhighlightedtheimportanceofman’seternaldestinyandhisneedtostudyit.Heexplained:

Allmenknowthattheymustdie.Anditisimportantthatweshouldunderstandthereasonsandcausesofourexposuretothevicissitudesoflife

andofdeath,andthedesignsandpurposesofGodinourcomingintotheworld,oursufferingshere,andourdeparturehence.Whatistheobjectofourcomingintoexistence,thendyingandfallingaway,tobeherenomore?ItisbutreasonabletosupposethatGodwouldrevealsomethinginreferencetothematter,anditisasubjectweoughttostudymorethananyother.Weoughttostudyitdayandnight,fortheworldisignorantinreferencetotheirtrueconditionandrelation.IfwehaveanyclaimonourHeavenlyFatherforanything,itisforknowledgeonthisimportantsubject.4

TheVisionasaTouroftheEternitiesThevisioncouldwellbeviewedasacomprehensivetouroftheeternities.

JosephSmithsaidthisvisionincludedthreethings:“whatwas,andnowis,andyetistobe.”5Thevisionisoftenreferredtoasavisionofthethreedegreesofglory,butitencompassesmuchmorethanthat.JosephsaidGod“sketch’d”eternityforhimandSidney.6Thevisionbeganwithkeyeventsinthepremortalexistencesuchasthepremortalcouncil,theCreation,andSatan’srebellionandexpulsion.ItconcludedwiththeSaviorunveilingthethreedegreesofglorytothem.

WhoGuidedJosephandSidneyonTheirCelestialTour?NoneotherthantheSaviorguidedJosephandSidneyontheircelestialtour.

Theytestifiedof“JesusChrist...whomwesawandwithwhomweconversedintheheavenlyvision.”7Toconversemeanstohaveatwo-wayconversation.FifteenversesmakereferencetoJosephandSidneyhearingtheSaviorspeaktothemduringthevision:

•“Weconversed[withJesusChrist]intheheavenlyvision.”•“WeheardthevoicebearingrecordthatheistheOnlyBegottenofthe

Father.”•“TheLordcommandedusthatweshouldwritethevision.”•“ThuscamethevoiceoftheLorduntous.”•“ThussaiththeLordconcerningallthosewho...sufferedthemselves

throughthepowerofthedeviltobeovercome.”•“Isaythatithadbeenbetterforthemnevertohavebeenborn.”•“Concerning[thesonsofperdition]Ihavesaidthereisnoforgivenessin

thisworldnorintheworldtocome.”•“Thevoiceoutoftheheavensborerecorduntous.”

•“I,theLord,showitbyvisionuntomany.”•“Weheardthevoice,saying:Writethevision.”•“Webearrecord—forwe...heard.”•“TheLordcommandedustowrite[thevision...oftheterrestrial].”•“[We]heardthevoiceoftheLordsaying:Theseallshallbowtheknee.”•“Wewerecommandedtowrite[theendofthevision].”•“Hecommandedusweshouldnotwrite[themysteriesofhiskingdom].”8

HowDidtheSaviorTeachJosephandSidney?DuringthevisiontheSaviorusedashow-and-tellteachingtechnique.He

instructedJosephandSidneybyfirstshowingthemscenesfromtheeternalworldsandthenconversingaboutthoseworlds.Thetwomenconfirmedthisinterpretationastheywrote,“GreatandmarvelousaretheworksoftheLord,andthemysteriesofhiskingdomwhichheshoweduntous,whichsurpassallunderstandinginglory,andinmight,andindominion.”9

PhiloDibble,oneofthefirstOhioconverts,waspresentintheroom.Heprovidesanobserver’sviewpointofthevision:

Josephwould,atintervals,say:“WhatdoIsee?”asonemightsaywhilelookingoutthewindowandbeholdingwhatallintheroomcouldnotsee.Thenhewouldrelatewhathehadseenorwhathewaslookingat.ThenSidneyreplied,“Iseethesame.”PresentlySidneywouldsay“whatdoIsee?”andwouldrepeatwhathehadseenorwasseeing,andJosephwouldreply,“Iseethesame.”

Thismannerofconversationwasrepeatedatshortintervalstotheendofthevision.10

Whileshowingeternitytothem,theSaviorcontinuedtointerpretwhattheywereseeing.Forexample,thefollowingversesdemonstratehowChristdidindeedbothtellandshow:

•“Webeheld...theSon,ontherighthandoftheFather....AndweheardthevoicebearingrecordthatheistheOnlyBegottenoftheFather.”

•“Wesaw...anangelofGod...whorebelledagainsttheOnlyBegottenSon....And[he]wascalledPerdition...hewasLucifer,asonofthemorning.”

•“Wesawavisionofthesufferingsofthosewithwhom[Lucifer]madewarandovercame...thuscamethevoiceoftheLorduntous:...allthosewho

knowmypower,andhavebeenmadepartakersthereof,and...denythetruthanddefymypower—Theyare...sonsofperdition...doomedtosufferthewrathofGod,withthedevilandhisangelsineternity;...Yea,verily,theonlyoneswhoshallnotberedeemedintheduetimeoftheLord.”

•“Wesawandheard...concerningthemwhoshallcomeforthintheresurrectionofthejust....TheseshalldwellinthepresenceofGodandhisChristforeverandever.”

•“Wesawtheterrestrialworld....Thesearetheywhodiedwithoutlaw...thespiritsofmenkeptinprison...WhoreceivednotthetestimonyofJesusintheflesh,butafterwardsreceivedit....Honorablemenoftheearth,whowereblindedbythecraftinessofmen.”

•“Wesawthegloryofthetelestial....ThesearetheywhoreceivednotthegospelofChrist,neitherthetestimonyofJesus....whodenynottheHolySpirit....whoshallnotberedeemedfromthedeviluntilthelastresurrection.”

•“Wesawthegloryandtheinhabitantsofthetelestialworld...andheardthevoiceoftheLordsaying:Theseallshallbowtheknee,andeverytongueshallconfesstohimwhositsuponthethroneforeverandever....TheyshallbeservantsoftheMostHigh;butwhereGodandChristdwelltheycannotcome,worldswithoutend.”

•“Heshoweduntous[themysteriesofhiskingdom]...[and]commandedusweshouldnotwrite[them].”11

ApparentlytellingandshowingJosephandSidneywasnotsufficientforthemtofullyunderstandwhattheLordwantedtoconveytothem.He,therefore,introducedagiftthatonlyGodcouldgive.Heopenedtheeyesoftheirunderstanding.JosephandSidneymadespecialnoteofthisgift:“Ourunderstandingswereenlightened,soastoseeandunderstandthethingsofGod.”12ThisadditionalsenseofunderstandingwasfamiliartoJoseph.Healreadyknewandreliedonit.HeidentifiedthissenseanotherwayintheKirtlandTemplewhenChristappearedtohimin1836.Hesaid,“Theveilwastakenfromourminds,andtheeyesofourunderstandingwereopened.”13

WhatDidJosephandSidneySeeintheVision?Itappearsthatinadditiontobeingtaught,JosephandSidneymayhave

witnessedacomprehensiveviewofearthsandplanets,perhapsinsomesmalldegreethatwhichweexperienceasweviewstunningimagesfromtheHubbletelescope.Josephsaid,“Thegloriesofthekingdoms[were]manifestedtomeinthevision.”14SevenmonthslatertheLordrevealed,“Theearthandallthe

planets...arekingdoms.”15Insummarizingtheirvision,JosephandSidneywrote,“GreatandmarvelousaretheworksoftheLord,andthemysteriesofhiskingdomwhichheshoweduntous,whichsurpassallunderstandinginglory,andinmight,andindominion.”16ItseemsthatthenormallyeloquentSidneystruggledforwordstodescribethemagnificenceoftheheavenlyrealmsashedeclaredtoalargecongregation,“Itisbeauty,itisheaven,itisfelicitytolookon.”17

TheLordundoubtedlypreparedJosephandSidneyforthese“visionsoftheuniverse”twoyearsearlierbyexpandingtheirmindsandhelpingthemunderstandthevastnessofspace.18WhiletranslatingthebookofMoses,JosephdictatedthistoSidney,hisscribe,saying,“Wereitpossiblethatmancouldnumbertheparticlesoftheearth,yea,millionsofearthslikethis,itwouldnotbeabeginningtothenumberof[God’s]creations.”19JosephhadalsobeensomewhatpreparedbythesewordsoftheLord:

Manyworlds...havepassedaway....andinnumerablearetheyuntoman....Theheavens,theyaremany,andtheycannotbenumbereduntoman;buttheyarenumbereduntome,fortheyaremine.Andasoneearthshallpassaway,andtheheavensthereofevensoshallanothercome;andthereisnoendtomyworks,neithertomywords.20

JosephSmithexpressedsomewordsthatgivefurthercluesastowhattheysaw:

•“[God’s]throneistheheavens.”•“I...beheld...Eternitysketch’d.”•“Ibeheldthe...starryworld.”•“Asthestarsarealldiff’rent...sodiffersthegloryofthese.”•“Ibeheldtheterrestrial...whichexcels...inglory...light...[and]

splendor.”•“Ibeheldthecelestial,inglorysublime;whichisthemostexcellent

kingdomthatis.”•“Thestarsarealldifferentinlustreandsize.”21

ThevastnessofspaceandinnumerableworldsmusthavebeenastonishingtoJosephandSidneybecauseastrophysicistsofthatdayhadsuchalimitedunderstandingofspace.Perhapstheleadingearly1800sastronomerwasFrederickWilliamHerschel(1738–1822).Heexaminedeverystarinthestandardstarchartsofhisday,andby1802hehadcountedonlysomethingmorethan90,000starsintheMilkyWaygalaxythroughhis40-foottelescope,which

lookedlikeagiantcannon.22Joseph’sunderstandingcertainlyputhimatoddswithexpertsofhisday.

HowLongWastheVision?ThismayhavebeenJoseph’slongestvision.SidneyRigdonsaidheand

Josephsatthere“forhours”enwrappedinvision.23OnecanhardlyimaginehowgloriousthismusthavebeentohavetheSaviorshowgloriousscenes,answerquestions,andinstructinthemysteriesoftheeternitiesforwhatcouldhavebeenmanyhours.24

WhatWastheScopeofTheirCelestialTour?Thevisioncontainedmanyvisions,notjustone.Thesevisionsbeganwith

seeingGodtheFatherandHisSonJesusChristandpossiblytheCreationandthepremortalcouncilinKolob.25TheunderstandingofJosephandSidneywidenedfarbeyondtherealmsofthisworldasthey“beheldroundthethrone,holyangelsandhosts,andsanctifiedbeingsfromworldsthathavebeen.”26ChristexplainedthatHecreatedandistheSaviorofthisandallotherworlds.27ThevisioncontinuedwithavisionofthewarinheavenandLuciferbeingcastoutofheaven,avisionofthesonsofperdition,avisionofthecelestialkingdom,avisionoftheterrestrialkingdom,andfinally,avisionofthetelestialkingdom.28Verses91–112ofDoctrineandCovenants76representasummaryandcomparisonofthethreekingdomsofglory.

HowMuchoftheVisionCouldJosephTeachtheChurch?AsJosephandSidneyconcludedrecordingthevision,theywrote,“He

commandedusweshouldnotwrite[theworksoftheLord,andthemysteriesofhiskingdom]whilewewereyetintheSpirit.”29Fromthis,itappearsthatthevision,similartotheBookofMormon,containedasealedportionnottoberevealedatthattime.Josephrecorded:

Paulascendedintothethirdheavens,andhecouldunderstand...thetelestial,theterrestrial,andthecelestialgloriesorkingdoms....IcouldexplainahundredfoldmorethanIeverhaveofthegloriesofthekingdomsmanifestedtomeinthevision,wereIpermitted,andwerethepeoplepreparedtoreceivethem.

TheLord...[communicates]lightandintelligenceandtheknowledgeof

hiswaysastheycanbearit.30

AswestudysubsequentrevelationsandteachingsofJosephSmith,weseehisstatementborneout.TheLordcommunicateslight,intelligence,andknowledgeofHiswaysgraduallyastheSaintsarepreparedtoreceivethem.31Hedescribedthisprogressiveacquisitionofknowledgeas“lineuponline,preceptuponprecept;andIwilltryyouandproveyouherewith.”32Apparently,theLordrestrictedJosephSmithfromteachingallthedoctrineshereceived.33Thevisioncouldbecomparedtoadeepwellofpurewater(even“livingwater”34)containingknowledgeandtruthsfromwhichJosephwouldhavegladlygiventheSaintstodrinkhadhebeenallowed.35AstheSaintspreparedthemselvestoreceiveadditionalknowledgeandtruths,Josephwasabletodrawlivingwaterfromthedeepwellandteachthem.

TheLordcontinuedbuildingonthebaseofthevisioninsubsequentrevelations.Forexample,thefollowingDecembertheLordrevealedmoredetailsabouttheresurrectionofthedeadandthecelestial,terrestrial,andtelestialkingdomsofglory.36Headdedfurtherinsightandunderstandingbyunfoldingknowledgethat“theearthandalltheplanets....arekingdoms,andanymanwhohasseenanyortheleastofthesehathseenGodmovinginhismajestyandpower.”37

InJuly1835,JosephpurchasedtheEgyptianpapyrusscrolls.Throughthesescrolls,ChristtaughtJosephevenmoredetailsaboutthepremortallife—principlesofastronomy,theCreation,andtheCouncilinHeaven.SpeakingtotheSaintsinNauvooin1843,Josephrelatedevenmoredetailsabouttheresurrection,whichhesaidhehadpreviously“seeninvision.”38“Iactuallysawmen,beforetheyhadascendedfromthetomb,asthoughtheyweregettingupslowly.Theytookeachotherbythehand.”39Followingthiscomment,hesaid,“Allyourlosseswillbemadeuptoyouintheresurrection,providedyoucontinuefaithful.BythevisionoftheAlmightyIhaveseenit.”40Itisnotknownwhatvisionshewasreferringto,butitispossiblethattheywerepartofthevisionsrecordedasDoctrineandCovenants76.

IntheKingFollettDiscoursegivenin1844,sometwomonthsbeforehismartyrdom,Josephrevealedevenmorespecificinformationconcerningtheresurrection,heavenlykingdoms,andtheseconddeath.Probablyrealizinghisownimpendingdeath,Josephlikelyfeltasenseofurgencytoteachsomuchinsolittletime.

HowPreparedWeretheSaintstoReceivetheVision?ThevisionwasasignificanttrialformembersoftheChurch.Itrequireda

completerestructuringoftheirpriorChristianbeliefsinlifeafterdeath,includingthedoctrineofoneheavenandonehell.TheLord,knowingthatthisnewdoctrinewouldbeatrialfortheChurch,commandedJosephalmostthreemonthsbeforethathewasto“callupontheinhabitantsoftheearth,andbearrecord,andpreparethewayforthecommandmentsandrevelationswhicharetocome.”41TheLordalsowarnedChurchmembers,“Forhewillgiveuntothefaithfullineuponline,preceptuponprecept;andIwilltryyouandproveyouherewith.”42

Manymemberswerenotpreparedforthetrialsthisnewdoctrineandrevelationwouldimpose.JosephHolbrook,afaithfulKirtlandSaint,wascalledonamissiontotheeasternUnitedStates.HerecordedanincidentinwhichSaintsinGenesee,NewYork,refusedtoacceptthevision.Hesaid,

OnApril29[1833],ItookleaveofmyfamilyforamissiontotheworldwithbrotherTrumanO.Angeltotheeast.[We]traveled14milestoWarsaw.Onthe30th[we]traveled26miles.WemetwiththebrethrenofthechurchofGenesee,heldaprayermeetingandfoundtherewasawrongspiritwithsomeofthebrethren,thepresidingelderevenforbiddingustobelieveinthevisionofJosephSmithandSidneyRigdon.43

EvenstrongChurchleadersstruggledtofullyacceptthenewdoctrine.BrighamYoungwasonesuchleader.BrighamwasperhapsJoseph’smostsupportivefollowerandfriendthroughouttheProphet’slife.DespiteBrigham’sloyaltytoJoseph,hisreactionwasunderwhelmingatbest.Hepubliclystated,“WhentheVisioncamefirsttome...Ididnotrejectit!”Hethenexplained,“Afterall,mytraditionsweresuch,that...itwasdirectlycontraryandopposedtomyformereducation.Isaid,Waitalittle....Icouldnotunderstandit.”44

OnanotheroccasionBrighamYoungstated:

WhenGodrevealedtoJosephSmithandSidneyRigdonthattherewasaplacepreparedforall,accordingtothelighttheyhadreceivedandtheirrejectionofevilandpracticeofgood,itwasagreattrialtomany,andsomeapostatizedbecauseGodwasnotgoingtosendtoeverlastingpunishmentheathensandinfants,buthadaplaceofsalvation,induetime,forall,andwouldblessthehonestandvirtuousandtruthful,whethertheyeverbelongedtoanychurchornot.Itwasanewdoctrinetothisgeneration,andmanystumbledatit.45

JosephSmithadvisedmissionariesgoingtoEnglandto“remainsilentconcerningthe...vision...untilsuchtimeasthework[is]fullyestablished.”46ZealousmissionarieseagertospreadthenewlyrevealedtruthsofthegospelsometimesdisregardedJoseph’sadvice,however.OnecaseinvolvedJohnGoodson,arecentCanadianconvert,whosailedtoEnglandwiththefirstgroupofmissionariesin1837.HeberC.KimballrelatesElderGoodson’sviolationofinstructions:

AministerbythenameofTimothyR.Matthews,abrother-in-lawtoJosephFielding,receivedthemverykindly,andinvitedthemtopreachinhischurch,whichwasaccepted,andinittheypreachedseveraltimes,whenanumber,amongstwhomwereMr.Matthewsandhislady,believedtheirtestimony,andthetruthswhichtheyproclaimed.Mr.Matthewshadlikewisebornetestimonytohiscongregationofthetruthofthesethings,andthattheywerethesameprinciplesthatweretaughtbytheApostlesanciently;andbesoughthiscongregationtoreceivethesame.Fortyofhismemberswentforwardandwerebaptized,andthetimewasappointedwhenhewastobebaptized.Intheinterval,however,BrotherGoodson,contrarytomycounselandpositiveinstructions,andwithoutadvisingwithanyone,readtoMr.MatthewsthevisionseenbyPresidentJosephSmithandSidneyRigdon,whichcausedhimtostumble,anddarknesspervadedhismind;somuchso,thatatthetimespecifiedhedidnotmakehisappearance,butwentandbaptizedhimselfintheriverOuse;andfromthattimehebegantopreachbaptismfortheremissionofsins.HewrotetoRev.JamesFieldingsayingthathisbestmembershadlefthim.47

ThedramaticwaythevisionunfoldedandthefirmtestimonynotonlyofJosephandSidneybutalsoofobservingsecondarywitnessesintheroombecameimportanttomembersandnonmembersalike.ThevisionopenedwithChristsittingontherighthandoftheFatheronHisthrone.ThepresenceoftheFatherandtheSonandtheknowledgethatChristHimselfrevealedthisnewdoctrinewasacomfortandstrengthandbuiltfaithinmemberswhofeltchallenged.Nootherdoctrineorrevelationwastaughtwithsuchclarity,power,andlength.Possibly,nootherdoctrineismorefundamentaltothefoundationoftheChurchandis,toalargeextent,whatdifferentiatestheChurchdoctrinallyfromotherchurchesoftheworld.ThismaybewhytheSaviorusedthreehumansensestoteachtheseleaders.Theysawwiththeirphysicaleyes—Heshowedthemtheoverallelementsoftheplanofsalvation;theyheardwiththeirears—HetaughtthemwithHisvoice;theyfeltHisSpiritwithinthem—Heenlightened

theirunderstandingsinaclearandcomprehensiveway.

ReportsoftheVisionProduceRidiculeandContemptAccordingtoSidneyRigdon,whenwordofthevisionspreadtothe

community,hostilityraiseditsuglyhead.Aspartoftheadversary’scontinuingefforttodefeatJosephandpreventtheestablishmentoftheLord’skingdom,heexactedapricefromJosephandSidney.Withinfiveweeks,whileundercoverofdarknessthatmatchedthedeed,aviciousmobbrokeintothehomeswhereJosephandSidneywereliving.Themobdraggedthemfromtheirbedsandinflictedintensepersonalinjuryonboth.Theirinjuriesremainedwiththemthroughouttheirlives.Tragically,otherssufferedaswell.WhenJosephwasdraggedoutofhishouseintothecoldnight,JosephandEmma’sadoptedson,Joseph,wasexposedtothefrigidair.Josephexplainedtheconsequences:“Duringthemobbingoneofthetwinscontractedaseverecold,continuedtogrowworseuntilFriday,andthendied.”48ItappearsthattherewasarelationshipbetweenthegreatspiritualexperiencesgrantedtoJosephandSidneyandthesubsequentonslaughtinflictedbytheadversary.Inan1844ChurchconferencetalkinNauvoo,Sidneyrememberedtheridiculeandrepercussionthatresultedfromthevision:

TheworldbeingentirelyignorantofthetestimonyoftheprophetsandwithoutknowledgeofwhatGodwasabouttodo;treatedallwesaidwithpretendedcontempt,andmuchridicule...Theynotonlyridiculedusforwhatwedidsayinpublic,butthreatenedandinflictedmuchpersonalabuse....Wewereobligedtoretiretooursecretchambers,andcommuneourselveswithGod....Ifwehadtoldthepeoplewhatoureyesbeholdthisday,weshouldnotbebelieved;buttherascalswouldhaveshedourblood....Ifamobcameuponus,wehadtorunandhideourselvestosaveourlives....Thesewerethebeginningofgooddays;shutupinaroom,eatingnothingbutdryjohnnycakeandbuttermilk;everymanwhohadalittlefarm,orclothes,soldthemanddistributedwhathehadamongtherest,anddidthebesttheycould.Ihadnothingtoeat,nothingtowear,andyetitwasthebeginningofgooddays.SomesayIwantplentytoeat,plentytodrink,plentytowearandagoodhousetolivein,andsaythey,thenIwillbelieve;butGodwillnotgiveit,untilyouhaveprovedyourselvestohim....Getthevisionsofheaven,andseeknotwhatyoushalleatorwhatyoushalldrink,butseekthewillofGod;getintothepresenceofGod,andthenyouwillhavejohnnycakeandmilkandwaternomore.49

TestimonyofJosephandSidneyThetestimonythatJosephandSidneyboreofChristispowerfullysimple

yetmagnificent.ItcertainlyranksamongthestrongestofanytestimonieseverbeenborneofHiminanyage.Theytestified:

Andnow,afterthemanytestimonieswhichhavebeengivenofhim,thisisthetestimony,lastofall,whichwegiveofhim:Thathelives!Forwesawhim,evenontherighthandofGod;andweheardthevoicebearingrecordthatheistheOnlyBegottenoftheFather—Thatbyhim,andthroughhim,andofhim,theworldsareandwerecreated,andtheinhabitantsthereofarebegottensonsanddaughtersuntoGod.50

JosephSmithcertifiedthesourceofthisvision:

NothingcouldbemorepleasingtotheSaints...thanthelightwhichburstupontheworldthroughthe...vision.Everylaw,everycommandment,everypromise,everytruth,andeverypointtouchingthedestinyofman,fromGenesistoRevelation...witnessesthefactthatthatdocument[D&C76]isatranscriptfromtherecordsoftheeternalworld....Everyhonestmanisconstrainedtoexclaim:“ItcamefromGod.”51

Lateinhislife,Josephadded,“I...trulydidseeEternity...inavisionfromGod....Itcameuntomebythespiritdirect.”52NotestimonyofChristcouldbeanymoreclearandconciseastheoneJosephandSidneybore:“Helives!”53Howdidtheyknowthisofasurety?Becausethey“sawhim...and...heardthevoicebearingrecordthatheistheOnlyBegottenoftheFather.”54In1843,oneyearbeforehisdeath,JosephreflectedonthisvisionandconfirmedhissimpleyetimpressivetestimonyofChrist,declaring,“Helives;yeahelives!”55

SidneyRigdon’sTestimoniesoftheVisionSidneyRigdonwasaneloquentwitnessofChristthroughthevision,andhe

frequentlyboretestimonyofit.OnepublicexampleofhiswitnessofthisvisionoccurredfouryearslaterinMedina,Ohio,atownaboutforty-fivemilessouthwestofKirtland.CharlesOlcott,areporterfortheOhioFreePress,wrotethatSidneypresentedsixdaysoflectures.HewasimpressedthatSidneyhadpersonallyconversedwiththeSaviorinvision.Hewroteofhislastingimpression:

ElderSidneyRigdon,apreacher,ofthenewsectstylingthemselves“LatterDaySaints,”...deliveredaninterestingseriesofLectures....Theaudienceswereveryfull,andprofoundlyattentive....

[Hesaid]that...directcommunicationswiththeAlmighty,whichhavebeenlonglost...havebeenagainresumedbyaNewDispensation....TheLatterDaySaintshavenow,frequentintercourse...withtheCreator,bymeansofvisions,revelations,&c.,which[SidneyRigdon]confirmedbysomestrikingnarrativesfromhisownpersonalexperience....

Thesetremendousdoctrines,promulgatedbytheElderwithaclosenessofreasoningandeloquenceofdeclamationseldomsurpassed,werecalculatedtomakeastheyhavemade,apowerfulandnodoubtalastingimpressiononmostofhishearers.56

SidneyRigdonboreapowerfultestimonyofthisvisioninApril1844atthelastChurchconferencebeforeJoseph’smartyrdom.TheProphetheardonceagain,perhapsforthelasttime,Sidney’spowerfultestimonyofthevisiontheyhadexperiencedtogetherastheycommunedwithDeity:

Godhadgreatthingstosayforthesalvationoftheworld....Wewereobligedtoretiretooursecretchambers,andcommuneourselveswithGod....Therewesatinsecretandbeheldthegloriousvisions,andpowersofthekingdomofheaven,passandrepass....ThiswastheperiodwhenGodlaidthefoundationofthechurch,andhelaiditfirm’y,truly,anduponeternaltruth.IfanymansaysitisnottheworkofGod,Iknowtheylie....IhavethetestimonyofJesuswhichisthespiritofprophecy;Ihavesleptwithit,Ihavewalkedwithit;theideahasneverbeenoutofmyheartforamoment,andIwillreapthegloryofitwhenIleavethisworld....IknowGod,IhavegazeduponthegloryofGod,thethrone,visionsandgloriesofGod,andthevisionsofeternityindaysgoneby...whenJehovahlookedon.57

WilfordWoodruffrecordedSidney’swordsthatdayasfollows:

Therewetalkedwept,&prayed&theAngelsAdministereduntous&thespiritofGodwaswithus&theheavensopeneduntous....

...HaveInotseenGodsglorybythevisionsofHeaven?YeaIhave....

...WerejoicedinthethingsGodwasrevealinguntous....

...ItwasatthistimewesatforhoursintheVisionsofheavenaroundthethroneofGod&gazeduponthe[scenes]ofEternity.58

ObservationsofOthersWhoWerePresentAswithmanyvisionsreceivedinKirtland,otherattendeesattestedtothe

obviousoutwardmanifestationsofthevision.Inadditiontoseeingthegloryandfeelingthepower,thosepresentmusthavesatinaweastheyobservedJosephandSidneyexploreeternitywiththeSavior.PhiloDibbledescribedthesceneofthevisionfromtheperspectiveofthosewatching.Hesaid,“Duringthewholetimenotawordwasspokenbyanyotherperson.NotasoundnormotionmadebyanyonebutJosephandSidney,anditseemedtomethattheynevermovedajointorlimbduringthetimeIwasthere,whichIthinkwasoveranhour,andtotheendofthevision.”59

RegardingtheimpactthevisionhaduponSidneyRigdon,Philosaid,“Sidneysatlimpandpale,apparentlyaslimberasarag,observingwhich,Josephremarked,smilingly,‘SidneyisnotusedtoitasIam.’”60Inrelatingthisonanotheroccasion,Philodescribeditthisway:“IdidnotseethesamegloryattendingSidney[Rigdon].Josephappearedasstrongasalion,butSidneyseemedasweakaswater,andJoseph,noticinghisconditionsmiledandsaid,‘BrotherSidneyisnotasusedtoitasIam.’”61

ThevisionindeedprovedtobeawellspringofeternaltruthfromwhichJosephSmithtaughtfortherestofhislife.ItissignificantthatanotherwitnesswasrequiredtotestifywithJosephofthismagnificentexperience.NeitherJosephnorSidneyeverdeniedtheeventsofthatdayandwhattheyhadlearned.

Notes^1.Doctrine&Covenants76:28,49,113;JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-day

Saints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2ded.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),2:492,505;5:402;6:477.

^2.BrighamYoung,inJournalofDiscourses,26vols.(London:Latter-daySaints’BookDepot,1854–86),8:36.

^3.WilfordWoodruff,inJournalofDiscourses,8:265–66.^4.HistoryoftheChurch,6:50.^5.TimesandSeasons4(February1,1843):82[v.11].JosephSmithrenderedthevisioninpoeticformin

1843.Thesewordscomefromversesinthatpoem.Inhisjournal,hewrote,“InreplytoW.W.Phelps’sVadeMecum,or‘Gowithme’...Idictatedananswer:[Itconsistedofthe‘RevelationknownastheVisionoftheThreeGlories,’Doctrine&Covenants,sectionlxxvi,madeintoverse.]”(HistoryoftheChurch,5:288).Nomattertheoriginoftheverses,JosephtookresponsibilityforthembysigninghisresponsetoPhelps.Forfurtherreference,seethepoeminTimesandSeasons4(February1,1843):82–85.

^6.TimesandSeasons4(February1,1843):82[v.11].

^7.Doctrine&Covenants76:14.^8.Doctrine&Covenants76:14–115.^9.Doctrine&Covenants76:114.^10.PhiloDibble,“RecollectionsoftheProphetJosephSmith,”JuvenileInstructor27(May15,1892):303–

4.^11.Doctrine&Covenants76:20,23,25–26,30–33,38,50,62,71–75,81–85,109–12,114–15.^12.Doctrine&Covenants76:12.^13.Doctrine&Covenants110:1.^14.HistoryoftheChurch,5:402.^15.Doctrine&Covenants88:43,47.^16.Doctrine&Covenants76:114.^17.TimesandSeasons5(May1,1844):524.ElderNealA.MaxwellcharacterizedthesplendorJosephand

Sidneymayhaveobservedinthesewords:“Aswelookattheuniverse,wedonotseeunexplainedchaosorcosmicchurn....Itislikeviewingadivinelychoreographed,cosmicballet—spectacular,subduing,andreassuring!”(“OurCreator’sCosmos,”inByStudyandbyFaith:SelectionsfromtheReligiousEducator,ed.RichardNeitzelHolzapfelandKentP.Jackson[Provo,Utah:BrighamYoungUniversityReligiousStudiesCenter,2009],48).

^18.AphrasecoinedbyElderNealA.Maxwellinhischargetotheauthor,July9,1994.^19.Moses7:30.^20.Moses1:35,37–38.^21.TimesandSeasons4(February1,1843):82–85[vv.4,11,58,59,65,66,69].Allstatementscomefrom

JosephSmith’spoem(189n5).^22.J.C.Evans,“FrederickWilliamHerschel(1738–1822),”PhysicsandAstronomyDepartment,George

MasonUniversity,1995,accessedMarch2012,http://physics.gmu.edu/~jevans/astr103CourseNotesECText/Bios/herschel.htm.

^23.WilfordWoodruff,WilfordWoodruff’sJournal,1833–1898,ed.ScottG.Kenney,typescript,9vols.(Midvale,Utah:SignatureBooks,1983–85),2:376.

^24.AnotherestimateofthelengthofthevisioncomesfromPhiloDibble,whoestimateditwasaboutninetyminutes.Philoisnotthebestwitness,however,becausehewasnotintheroomforthewholevision.Hesaidhewas“intheroom...duringapartofthetime—probablytwo-thirdsofthetime...whichIthinkwasoveranhour”(Dibble,“Recollections,”303–4).Sidneywouldbeabetterwitnessofthelengthbecausehewastherethewholetime.

^25.Doctrine&Covenants76:20–27.Inhispoem,JosephSmithsaidtherighteouswillbeshownGod’splans“fromthecouncilinKolob,totimeontheearth”(TimesandSeasons4[February1,1843]:82[vv.5–7]).BecausethevisionelaboratesontheexaltedstatusofSatanbeforetheworldwas(D&C76:25–27),itshowsthattheLordrevealedmuchconcerningthepremortalplanofGodtoSidneyandJoseph.

^26.TimesandSeasons4(February1,1843):82[v.17].^27.Josephwroteofthispartofthevision:“Byhim[Christ],ofhim[Christ],andthroughhim[Christ],the

worldswereallmade,Evenallthatcareerintheheavenssobroad,Whoseinhabitants,too,fromthe

firsttothelast,Aresav’dbytheverysameSaviourofours”(TimesandSeasons4[February1,1843]:83[vv.19–20]).

^28.Doctrine&Covenants76:25–29,30–49,50–70,71–80,81–90.^29.Doctrine&Covenants76:114–15.^30.HistoryoftheChurch,5:402.^31.WhentheLordrevealedhigherordinancesandprinciplesimplementedinNauvoo,Josephobserved,

“TherewasnothingmadeknowntothesemenbutwhatwillbemadeknowntoalltheSaintsofthelastdays,sosoonastheyarepreparedtoreceive,andaproperplaceispreparedtocommunicatethem,eventotheweakestoftheSaints;thereforelettheSaintsbediligent...andwaittheirtimewithpatienceinallmeekness,faith,perseveranceuntotheend”(HistoryoftheChurch,5:2).

^32.Doctrine&Covenants98:12.^33.Doctrine&Covenants76:114–15.^34.Doctrine&Covenants63:23.^35.Doctrine&Covenants76:7,14.^36.Doctrine&Covenants88:14–32.^37.Doctrine&Covenants88:43,47.^38.HistoryoftheChurch,5:361.^39.HistoryoftheChurch,5:362.^40.HistoryoftheChurch,5:362.^41.Doctrine&Covenants71:4.^42.Doctrine&Covenants98:12.^43.JosephHolbrook,Autobiography,typescript,27,L.TomPerrySpecialCollections,HaroldB.Lee

Library,BrighamYoungUniversity,Provo,Utah.^44.Young,inJournalofDiscourses,6:280–81.^45.DiscoursesofBrighamYoung,ed.JohnA.Widtsoe(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1998),390–91.^46.HistoryoftheChurch,2:492.^47.HeberC.Kimball,inOrsonF.Whitney,LifeofHeberC.Kimball(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1945),

148.^48.HistoryoftheChurch,1:265.^49.TimesandSeasons5(May1,1844):523.^50.Doctrine&Covenants76:22–24.^51.HistoryoftheChurch,1:252–53.^52.TimesandSeasons4(February1,1843):82[vv.11–15].^53.Doctrine&Covenants76:22.^54.Doctrine&Covenants76:23.^55.TimesandSeasons4(February1,1843):82[v.18].^56.OliverCowdery,“OhioFreePress,”MessengerandAdvocate2,no.8(May1836):315–16.^57.TimesandSeasons5(May1,1844):523–24.See193n17.^58.Woodruff,Journal,2:374–77.

^59.Dibble,“Recollections,”304.^60.Dibble,“Recollections,”304.^61.“PhiloDibble’sNarrative,”inFourFaithPromotingClassics(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1968),81.

Chapter11

AHouseoftheLordonEarthAgain

Joseph[Smith]...receivedapatternalso,asdidMosesforthetabernacle,andSolomonforhistemple.—BrighamYoung

“Organizeyourselves...andestablishahouse,evenahouse...ofglory,ahouseoforder,ahouseofGod.”1Withthesewordspronouncedin1832,Christ

commandedHispoverty-strickenSaintstobuildtheKirtlandTemple,alatter-dayhouseoftheLord.Thetemplewasaprioritybecauseinitancientpriesthoodordinanceswouldonceagainbeperformed.

ThousandsofyearshadelapsedsincetheLordfirstcommandedHisancientpeopletobuildsanctuariesandtemples.In1841theSaviormadeitclearthatbuildingtemplesandinstitutingsacredordinanceshadalwaysbeenimportanttoHim.Hesaid,“IcommandedMosesthatheshouldbuildatabernacle...andtobuildahouseinthelandofpromise,thatthoseordinancesmightberevealedwhichhadbeenhidfrombeforetheworldwas.”2

AncientlyastheLordcommandedthechildrenofIsraeltobuildtheirholytabernaclesandsanctuaries,HedirectedMosesinspecificarchitecturaldetailsfortheseedifices.Forexample,onMt.SinaitheLordshowedMosesthepattern,content,anddimensionsforthetabernacle.3HethencautionedMoses,“Lookthatthoumakethemaftertheirpattern,whichwasshewedtheeinthemount.”4InHiscommandtoerectasanctuary,theLorddirectedthatitshouldbemade“accordingtoallthatIshewthee,afterthepatternofthetabernacle.”5

ByrevelationtheLordgaveDavid,Solomon’sfather,thepatternforbuildingSolomon’stemple.ThemodelwassoclearlypresentedthatDavidsaid,“TheLordmademeunderstandinwritingbyhishanduponme,evenalltheworksofthispattern.”6Becausemostofhisearlylifeandreignwasatimeofwar,Davidhad“shedmuchblood,”andtheLordgavehissonSolomontheresponsibilitytobuildthemajesticstructure.7TheLordpromisedSolomonthathewouldbegiventhecapabilitytobuildthetemple“ifthouwiltwalkinmystatutes,andexecutemyjudgments,andkeepallmycommandmentstowalkinthem;thenwillIperformmywordwiththee,whichIspakeuntoDavidthyfather.”8

TheLordcausedtheKirtlandTemple,thoughdifferentindesign,tobeerectedinthesamemannerasHecausedthetabernacleandSolomon’stempletobebuilt.HecommandedtheSaints,throughHislatter-dayprophet,tobuildit.9ByvisionHeshowedthecompletedtempletoJosephSmithandhiscounselorsalmostthreeyearsbeforeitwasbuilt.Inarevelation,theLorddirectedthatthreebrethrenbeselectedtobuilditaccordingtothemannerHewouldshowthem.10TrumanO.AngellrecordedFrederickG.Williams’snarrativeabouthowtheentireFirstPresidencysawthetemple:

JosephreceivedthewordoftheLordforhimtotakehistwocounselors,WilliamsandRigdon,andcomebeforetheLordandHewouldshowthemtheplanormodeloftheHousetobebuilt.Wewentuponourknees,called

ontheLord,andtheBuildingappearedwithinviewingdistance.Ibeingthefirsttodiscoverit.Thenallofusviewedittogether.Afterwehadtakenagoodlookattheexterior,theBuildingseemedtocomerightoverus,andtheMakeupofthisHallseemedtocoincidewithwhatItheresawtoaminutia.11

TheLorddidmorethanjustgiveJosephthepatternanddimensionsofthetemple.12AsHedidwithMosesonMountSinai,HecautionedtheProphet,“ItmustbedoneaccordingtothepatternwhichIhavegivenuntoyou.”13UsingmuchthesamelanguageHeusedwithSolomon,theLordpromisedJosephthatHewouldenablehimtobuildtheKirtlandTemple.Hesaid,“Ifyoukeepmycommandmentsyoushallhavepowertobuildit.”14

IneachofthesethreehousesoftheLord—thetabernacle,Solomon’stemple,andtheKirtlandTemple—theLorddemonstratedintensepersonalinterestandinvolvement.Witheachone,He

•Gavetheinitialcommandment.•Revealedthepattern.•Specifiedthedimensions.•Outlinedcautions.•Gavepowerforitscompletion.BrighamYoungillustratesthatJosephSmith’sneedforinstructionwas

similartothatofMoses,David,andSolomon.Brighamsaid:

TheChurch,throughourbelovedProphetJoseph,wascommandedtobuildatempletotheMostHigh,inKirtland,Ohio.Josephreceivednotonlyrevelationandcommandmenttobuildatemplebutapatternalso,asdidMosesforthetabernacleandSolomonforhistemple;withoutapattern,Josephcouldnotknowwhatwaswanted,havingneverseenatempleandhavingnotexperienceditsuse.15

TheLordEnabledtheSaintstoBuildtheTempleWepaytributetotheKirtlandSaintsforconstructingthetemple,butthe

LordHimselfmadeitpossibleforHishousetobebuilt.FortheearlymembersoftheChurch,itwasanunthinkabletask.Considertheexistingobstacles:

•Mostmemberswerepovertystricken.•TheChurchhadnofinancialreserves.(Costofthetemplewouldbeabout

fortythousanddollars.)

•Fewmembershadconstructionexperience.•Fewmemberswereavailabletocontributetimeandresources.(Only175

ChurchmemberslivedintheKirtlandareain1833.)16

•TheChurchdidnotownthelanduponwhichthetemplewastobebuilt.•Fewmemberspossessedconstructiontools.•Churchenemiessworetostoptempleconstruction.ThefollowingKirtlandSaintspaintedadismalpictureoftheir

circumstances:ElizaR.Snow:“TheSaintswerefewinnumber,andmostofthemvery

poor;and,haditnotbeenfortheassurancethatGodhadspoken,andhadcommandedthatahouseshouldbebuilttohisname,...anattempttowardsbuildingthatTemple,underthethenexistingcircumstances,wouldhavebeen,byallconcerned,pronouncedpreposterous.”17

BenjaminF.Johnson:“TherewerebutfewsaintsinKirtland,andthoseallofthepoorerclass....

“...therewasnotascraperandhardlyaplowthatcouldbeobtainedamongtheSaints.”18

BrighamYoung:“Theydidnothavemolassestoeatwiththeirjohnnycake.Sometimestheyhadshoes,andsometimesnot;sometimestheywouldhavetolerablepants,and,sometimes,veryraggedones.”19

HeberC.Kimball:“Thechurchwasinastateofpovertyanddistress...itappearedalmostimpossiblethatthecommandmentcouldbefulfilled,atthesametimeourenemieswereragingandthreateningdestructionuponus.”20

JosephSmith:“Ourmeansarealreadyexhausted,andwearedeeplyindebt,andknowofnomeanswherebyweshallbeabletoextricateourselves.”21

JoelHillsJohnson:“Wehadbutveryfewfriends...whilewehadthousandsofenemieswhowereholdingtheirsecretmeetingstodeviseaplantothwartandoverthrowallourarrangements.Wewereobligedtokeepnightwatcherstopreventbeingmobbedandourworkersbeingoverthrown.”22

HeberC.Kimball:“Wewerepersecuted...thereweremobsgatheringallaroundustodestroyus,andpreventusfrombuildingtheTemple....wetookourfirelocks,toreinstateourbrethren,andinthenightwelayeduponthefloor...soastobereadytokeepourenemiesatbay.”23

BrighamYoung:“The[Saints]weretoofewinnumbers,tooweakinfaith,andtoopoorinpurse....amerehandfulofmen,livingonair,andalittlehominyandmilk...holdingtheswordinonehandtoprotectthemselvesfrom

themob,whiletheyplacedthestoneandmovedthetrowelwiththeother.”24

Inlightofthesestaggeringrealities,theonlysolutionwastopetitiontheLord.HeberC.KimballtoldofSidneyRigdon’sintensepetitions:“Hefrequentlyusedtogouponthewallsofthebuildingbothbynightanddayandfrequentlywettingthewallswithhistears,cryingaloudtotheAlmightytosendmeanswherebywemightaccomplishthebuilding.”25

TheLordreassuredtheSaintsbypromisingthem,“Itismywillthatyoushouldbuildahouse....youshallhavepowertobuildit.”26TheLord,truetoHispromise,providedhelptotheSaintssothattheTemplecouldbebuilt.Forexample,Heansweredprayersforfinancialassistancebyprovidingmemberswhocontributedmuch-neededfundsatcriticaltimes.

ThemostdramaticexampleoftheLord’sinterventionoccurredwhenHeinspiredJohnTannertocometoKirtland.JohncameasadirectresultofJosephSmithprayingfortwothousanddollarstopayoffamortgageonthetempleproperty.John’stimelyfinancialassistancepreventedaforeclosureasdescribedinthefollowingaccount:

AboutthemiddleofDecemberhereceivedanimpressionbydreamorvisionofthenight,thathewasneededandmustgoimmediatelyto[Kirtland]....Hisneighbors...triedtheirutmosttodissuadehim;butheknewthewillofGodinthepresentcrisisandnothingcoulddeterhimfromdoingit.

OnChristmasdayhecommencedhisjourneywithallhisearthlyeffects,andinthedeadofWintertraveledthedistanceoffivehundredmiles,toKirtland....

OnhisarrivalinKirtland,helearnedthatatthetimehereceivedtheimpression...theProphetJosephandsomeofthebrethrenhadmetinprayer-meetingandaskedtheLordtosendthemabrotherorsomebrethrenwithmeanstoassistthem....

...Heloanedtheprophettwothousanddollars.27

TheLordalsocausedmemberswhohadlessermeans,suchasViennaJaques,tocontribute.SheassistedwhentheChurchwasbuyinglandforthetemple.Vienna’sconversiontotheChurchbeganthroughavisiontheLordgaveheroftheBookofMormon.SheleftMassachusettswithherlifesavings,fourteenthousanddollarsofwhichtheLordpromptedhertodonate.TheLordconfirmedHissupporttoJosephSmithina“whispering”thattoldhim,“Joseph,

thouartindebtedtothyGodfortheofferingofthySisterVienna,whichprovedasavoroflifeaspertainingtothypecuniaryconcerns....TheLordhathdonethis.”28

TheLordalsoprovidedmanpower.HemoveduponexperiencedcraftsmentoacceptthegospelandmovetoKirtland.MenofgreatfaithlikeBrighamYoung,JosephYoung,LorenzoYoung,ArtemusMillett,andTrumanO.Angelassumedmajorrolesinconstructingthetemple.FewworkersinitiallyresidednearKirtland,buttheLordeventuallysentsufficientmanpowertocompletethework.Whilethetemplewasbeingbuilt,JosephSmithbestowedformalblessingson119menwhohadhelpedbuildit.29

Finally,theLordansweredprayersforprotectionfrommenacingmobs.JoelJohnsonsaid,“TheLordhadpromised...tokeepastrongholdinKirtlandforthespaceoffiveyears;thereforewewerewarnedofallthedevicesofourenemiesintimetoeludethemuntilthetemplewascompleted,thesaintsendowed[withpower,]andthefiveyearsexpired.”30

OliverHuntington,theProphet’sbodyguard,tellshowoneofthemanyprayersforprotectionwasanswered:

JosephSmithwasguardeddayandnightbyhisbrethrenfrommobviolence....

[Onenight]Josephwaslisteningtotheprayerofalittleboyintheroomadjoining.TheboyprayedfortheProphet,thathemightbesecureandsafefromhisenemies,themob,thatnight....

...Josephturnedtohisbrethrenandtoldthemalltogotobedandallsleepandrestthemselvesthatnight,forGodhadheardandwouldanswerthatboy’sprayer.Theyallwenttobedandsleptsafelyuntilmorningundisturbed.31

UnseenforcesalsoprotectedtheSaints.InJanuary1836,justbeforethecompletionofthetemple,JosephSmithreported,“Eld.RogerOrtonsawa...<mighty>Angelridinguponahorseoffirewithaflamingswordinhishandfollowedbyfiveothers—encirclethehouse&protectthesaints.”32

Mostobserversof1830shistorywouldconcludethatwithoutdivineintervention,thetaskoftempleconstructionwouldhavebeenimpossibleforthissmallbandofpeople.Onenon-Mormonhistorianandspecialistinearlyarchitectureandbuildingconstructionobserved:“TheKirtlandTemplestandsasamonumenttoJosephSmithandtothosefaithfulsouls....Itappearsamiraclethetemplewasconstructed.”Sheconcluded,“Theywereinspiredbyalmost

superhumanexertionofbodyandbrillianceofmind,bytheirdevotion...tothevisionsandrevelations.”33

BecauseoftheirimplicitfaiththattheLordhadspokenandpromisedthempowertobuildthetemple,earlymemberswereresolute.TheirdeterminationismemorializedbyJosephSmith’sstatementtooneofthefaithful,WilliamW.Phelps.Hedeclared:“TheLordcommandedusinKirtlandtobuildanhouseofGod...thisisthewordoftheLordtous,&wemust—yeatheLordhelpinguswewillobey.”JosephwasalsogivenanotherpromisefromtheLord.Hesaid,“Onconditionsofourobedience,hehaspromised<us>greatthings,yea<even>avisitfromtheheavenstohonoruswithhisownpresence.”34

DaysofRejoicingFollowTempleDedicationAfteranearlythree-yearseeminglyimpossiblefeattobuildtheKirtland

Temple,itwasreadytodedicatetotheLord.Thelong-awaiteddayofdedication—Sunday,March27,1836—burstuponacitybulgingwithvisitors.Notevenaseven-hourdedicationservicewoulddeterSaintswhohadlaboredandsacrificedalltheypossessedforthisChrist-inspiredtemple.

Personalcomfortswerediscardedasbrotherlylovedictatedoccupyingeverypossiblespace.OnethousandSaintssqueezedtogetherintoaspacethataccommodatesbarelyfourhundredtoday.

JosephSmithestimatedthatby7:00a.m.thatday,morethanonethousandpersonswaitednearthetempledoors.Between7:00and8:00a.m.anumberofChurchleadersandushersenteredthebuilding.At8:00a.m.thetempledoorsopened,andaboutonethousandpeopleenteredthemainhall.Thedoorswerefinallyclosedwhenallavailableseatswereoccupied.Hundredscouldnotenterthebuilding;therefore,aseconddedicatoryservicewasscheduledtobeheldthefollowingThursday,March31.

Josephreadtheinspireddedicatoryprayer.Thisprayer,recordedintheDoctrineandCovenants,containsapetitionthattheKirtlandTemplemaybe“ahouseofprayer,ahouseoffasting,ahouseoffaith,ahouseoflearning,ahouseofglory,ahouseoforder,ahouseofGod.”35

ThejoyandgratitudeoftheKirtlandSaintswereunrestrained.TheLordhadkeptHispromisesandgiventhemabilityandpowersufficienttocompletethetemple.HehadalsokeptHispromisetovisitandhonorthemwithHispresence.Herewardedtheirsacrificesandeffortsbyendowingthemwithlong-promisedsacredordinances.Heshoweredthemwithunparalleledspiritualmanifestations.TheSaintssangglorioushymnsofpraiseandthankstotheLord.

Theirvoicesascendedtoheaveninrefrainsfromjoyfulsongssuchas“NowLetUsRejoice.”Theirvoiceswerejoinedbyheavenlychoirsthatalsocelebratedthislong-awaitedday.Infact,choirsofangelswerefrequentlyheardsingingintheKirtlandTempleduringthisperiod.Attheconclusionofthededicatoryprayer,thechoirsang:

We’llsingandwe’llshoutwiththearmiesofheaven—

Hosanna,hosannatoGodandtheLamb!

Letglorytotheminthehighestbegiven,

Henceforthandforever:amenandamen!36

W.W.Phelpswrotethisstirringanthem,“TheSpiritofGod,”forthededicationofthetemple.Thewordsofthishymnweresosignificantthattheywereprintedonwhitesatinforthededicationceremonies.37Followingthishymn,theSavior’sultimatesacrificewascommemoratedastheSaintspartookofthesacramentoftheLord’sSupper.Then,afterconcludingremarks,they“sealedtheproceedingsofthedayby...shoutinghosanna,hosanna,hosannatoGodandtheLamb,threetimes,sealingiteachtimewithamen,amen,andamen.”38

HosannaShoutThesesacredwordsofunrestrainedpraisehavebecomeknownasthe

HosannaShout,currentlyusedatalltemplededications.PresidentGordonB.HinckleytermedtheHosannaShout“beautifulwordsofworship”39anda“sacredsalutetotheFatherandtheSon.”40TheHosannaShoutisfarmoresignificantthanmightbegenerallyunderstood.ItisaformalheavensentshoutofacclaimtoDeitythatGodgavetoJosephSmith.Josephsaid,“Godhadshowntome[theorder]whichisasfollows:...allthequorumsweretoshoutwithoneaccordasolemnHosannatoGodandtheLamb,withanAmen,AmenandAmen.”41

TheshoutexpressedtheSaints’gratitudetowardandpraiseofDeity.WhentheHosannaShoutwasintroducedintheKirtlandTemple,meetingminutesindicatedthattheshoutallowedparticipantswhofeltagreatintensityoftheSpirittogiveventtotheSpiritbyshoutingaloud.JosephSmithwrote,“Many

aroseandspoke,testifyingthattheywerefilledwiththeHolyGhost,whichwaslikefireintheirbones,sothattheycouldnotholdtheirpeace,butwereconstrainedtocryhosannatoGodandtheLamb,andgloryinthehighest.”42ItisasifGoddesiredtogivetheSaintsawaytoformallyexpresstheirinnermostworshipandgratitude.

Attheconclusionofthededicatoryprayer,JosephSmithpetitionedinprayer,“HelpusbythepowerofthySpirit,thatwemaymingleourvoiceswiththosebright,shiningseraphsaroundthythrone,withacclamationsofpraise,singingHosannatoGodandtheLamb!”43

TheHosannaShoutispossiblyongoingatthethroneofGod,asmaybeinferredfromthededicatoryprayer.ChurchpresidentsJohnTaylorandLorenzoSnow,whowerebothinKirtlandwiththeProphetJosephSmith,suggestedthattheprecedencefortheHosannaShoutwasestablishedinthepremortalexistence.Johnsaid,“Indeedtheshoutwas...olderthantheeverlastinghills...aye,olderthantheearth....Forwasnotthistheshoutwhichshooktheheavensbeforethefoundationsoftheearthwerelaid,when‘themorningstarssangtogetherandallthesonsofGodshoutedforjoy?’”44

LorenzoSnowsuggestedatthededicationoftheSaltLakeTemplethatthefirstHosannaShouthadoccurred“when...allthesonsofGodshoutedforjoy”45inpremortality.RememberingKirtland,healsosaid:

Thewordsoftheshout...wereintroducedbyPresidentJosephSmithattheKirtlandTemple....Thisisnoordinaryorder...[itis]asacredshout,andemployedonlyonextraordinaryoccasions....wewantthebrethrenandsistersnotonlytoexpressthewords,butthattheirheartsshallbefullofthanksgivingtotheGodofheaven,whohasaccomplished,throughouragency,thismightyandextraordinarylabor.46

LorenzoalsotaughtthattheHosannaShoutwould“heraldtheMessiahwhenhecomesinthegloryoftheFather.”47

ErastusSnowrecalledthecelestialspiritandangelicmessengersthataccompaniedtheHosannaShout.Hesaid,“Angelscameandworshippedwithusandsomesawthem,yeaeventwelvelegionsofthem,thechariotsofIsraelandthehorsementhereof.”48

BenjaminBrownchronicledthemiracleofababyparticipatingintheHosannaShout.Hewrote:

Onewoman...broughtherchildabout2monthsold...thewoman&childenteredandthechilddidnotcryawordfrom8till4intheafternoon.

ButwhenthesaintsallshoutedHosanathechildwasnursingButletgo&shoutedalsowhenthesaintspauseditpausedwhentheyshouteditshoutedforthreetimeswhentheyshoutedamenitshoutedalsoforthreetimesthenitresumeditsnursingwithoutanyalarm.49

WilfordWoodruffindicatedthatevenoneyearafterthededication,angelsshoutedalongwithSaintsintheKirtlandTemplewhowererenderingthanksandadorationtoDeity.Afterdescribingtheorderofgivingtheshout,heconcluded,“IfeverashoutenteredtheCabinetofheaven[,]thatdid&wasrepeatedbyangelsonhigh&causedthepowerofGodtorestuponus.”50

TheLordhasdirectedthebuildingofHistemplesfromthebeginning.ThepatternshavealwaysbeenHis,ashavetheproceedingsandordinancesperformedwithinthesesacredstructures.Howcomfortingtonotethatwhateverconfusionragesintheworld,theLordisalwaysthesame,andHisHouseswillalwaysbesanctuariestoblessHischildren.

Notes^1.Doctrine&Covenants88:119.^2.Doctrine&Covenants124:38.^3.Exodus25–27.^4.Exodus25:40.^5.Exodus25:9.^6.1Chronicles28:19.^7.1Chronicles22:7–9.^8.1Kings6:12.^9.Doctrine&Covenants88:119.^10.Doctrine&Covenants95:14.^11.“TrumanAngellAutobiography,”inOurPioneerHeritage,comp.KateB.Carter,20vols.(SaltLake

City:DaughtersofUtahPioneers,1958–77),10:198;TrumanO.Angell,Journal,4,L.TomPerrySpecialCollections,HaroldB.LeeLibrary,BrighamYoungUniversity,Provo,Utah;hereaftercitedasBYUSpecialCollections.TheFirstPresidencysawtheplanormodeloftheKirtlandTemplebeforeitwasbuilt,butitisnotcertainwhatlevelofdetailtheLordrevealed.Manyfeaturesinthetemplewerecommontocarpenters’manualsandpatternbooksofthatday,butthetemplealsohasmanyuniquefeaturesnotusuallyfoundinbuildingsatthetime.Featuresthatstandoutincludethefollowing:(1)Fourtiersofpulpitsoneachendoftheupperandlowerhalls.(2)Twolargeassemblyrooms,oneabovetheother,whicharebasicallymirrorimages.(3)Canvascurtains,orveils,attachedtotheceilingthatallowedforprivacyinthepriesthoodpulpitsbehindeachsetofveils.(4)Fourlargecanvascurtains,orveils,attachedtotheceilingthatcouldbedroppedbetweenpewboxestodividethemainassemblyhallsintofourequalsectionstoaccommodateseparatesimultaneousmeetings.(5)Windows

ineveryinteriorandexteriorwall,allowingroomstobelitbynaturallight.Inthethirdflooratticstory,especially,interiorwindowsinthefivesmallerroomstransmittedlight.(6)Alightwellinthefronthallwayfoyerplacedbetweenthetwomainfloorsofthetemple.Thelightwellwasplacedjustbehindthelargeexteriorwindowinthefrontwallofthetemple.Thiswellallowedlighttoreflectupordownandpassthroughthelargeinteriorwindowsattheeastendofthetwolargeassemblyhallsonthefirstandsecondfloors.

^12.Doctrine&Covenants95:15.^13.Doctrine&Covenants94:2.^14.Doctrine&Covenants95:11.^15.DiscoursesofBrighamYoung,ed.JohnA.Widtsoe(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1998),415.^16.AProfileofLatter-daySaintsofKirtland,Ohio,andMembersofZion’sCamp,1830–1839,comp.Milton

V.BackmanJr.(Provo,Utah:BYUDepartmentofChurchHistoryandDoctrine,1982),83.^17.ElizaR.Snow,anImmortal:SelectedWritingsofElizaR.Snow,ed.NicholasG.MorganSr.(SaltLake

City:NicholasG.MorganSr.Foundation,1957),54.^18.BenjaminF.Johnson,MyLife’sReview(Independence,Mo.:Zion’sPrintingandPublishingCo.,1947),

15–16.^19.InAndrewKarlLarson,ErastusSnow:TheLifeofaMissionaryandPioneerfortheEarlyMormon

Church(SaltLakeCity:UniversityofUtahPress,1971),466.^20.TimesandSeasons6(January15,1845):771.^21.JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2d

ed.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),1:450.^22.JoelHillsJohnson,ExcerptsfromAutobiography(1802–1868),typescript,5,BYUSpecialCollections;

ChurchHistoryLibrary,TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,SaltLakeCity,Utah.^23.TimesandSeasons6(July15,1845):972.^24.BrighamYoung,inJournalofDiscourses,26vols.(London:Latter-daySaints’BookDepot,1854–86),

2:31.^25.TimesandSeasons6(April15,1845):867.^26.Doctrine&Covenants95:11.^27.“SketchofanElder’sLife,”inScrapsofBiographyinClassicExperiencesandAdventures(SaltLake

City:Bookcraft,1969),12.^28.HistoryoftheChurch,1:408.^29.HistoryoftheChurch,2:205–6.^30.Johnson,ExcerptsfromAutobiography,5;Doctrine&Covenants64:21.^31.MaxH.Parkin,ConflictatKirtland(SaltLakeCity:DepartmentofSeminariesandInstitutesof

Religion,1967),206.^32.HistoryoftheChurch,2:386–87;DeanC.Jessee,MarkR.Ashurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,

Journals,1832–1839,vol.1oftheJournalsseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2008),1:174.

^33.Mrs.PeterS.Hitchcock,“JosephSmithandtheKirtlandTemple,”inLakeCountyHistoricalSociety

Quarterly7,no.4(November1965):5,2.^34.PersonalWritingsofJosephSmith,comp.anded.DeanC.Jessee,rev.ed.(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,

2002),293.^35.Doctrine&Covenants109:8.^36.HistoryoftheChurch,2:427;“TheSpiritofGod,”HymnsofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-day

Saints(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1985),no.2.^37.SusaYoungGates,“OurHymnBook,”ReliefSocietyMagazine9,no.7(July1922):352.^38.HistoryoftheChurch,2:427–28;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:210.^39.GordonB.Hinckley,“‘AnHumbleandaContriteHeart,’”Ensign,November2000,89.^40.GordonB.Hinckley,“ThisGreatMillennialYear,”Ensign,November2000,69.^41.HistoryoftheChurch,2:391;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:181.^42.HistoryoftheChurch,2:392;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:181–82.^43.Doctrine&Covenants109:79.^44.B.H.Roberts,TheLifeofJohnTaylor(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1963),366,365.^45.LaelJ.Woodbury,“HosannaShout,”inEncyclopediaofMormonism,ed.DanielH.Ludlowetal.,4

vols.(NewYork:Macmillan,1992),2:659;Job38:7.^46.LorenzoSnow,MillennialStar29(July4,1892):418.^47.“HosannaShout,”inEncyclopediaofMormonism,2:659.^48.ErastusSnow,“AJournalorSketchoftheLifeofErastusSnow,”typescript,6,BYUSpecial

Collections.^49.BenjaminBrown,StevenC.Harper,“APentecostandEndowmentIndeed”:SixEyewitnessAccountsof

theKirtlandTempleExperience,”inOpeningtheHeavens:AccountsofDivineManifestations,1820–1844,ed.JohnW.WelchandErickB.Carlson(Provo,Utah:BrighamYoungUniversityPress,2005,andSaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,2005),336.

^50.WilfordWoodruff,WilfordWoodruff’sJournal,1833–1898,ed.ScottG.Kenney,typescript,9vols.(Midvale,Utah:SignatureBooks,1983–85),1:132–33.

Chapter12

VisionsofDeityintheKirtlandTemple

Iamhewholiveth,Iamhewhowasslain.

—Doctrine&Covenants110:4IntheKirtlandTemple,visionsofDeityandunparalleledspiritual

manifestationsfloweddownupontheSaints.MostvisionscameduringmeetingsasJosephSmithconductedrecentlyrevealedsacredtempleordinances.WhentheSaintserectedthefirsthouseoftheLordinthislastdispensation,withhumblefaithandunderdirectionoftheirprophet,theyfullyexpectedtoseeorfeelthepresenceoftheSaviorandexperienceheavenlymanifestations.JosephtaughtthenewTwelveApostles,“AllwhoarepreparedandaresufficientlypuretoabidethepresenceoftheSaviourwillseehiminthesolemassembly.”1

LettersfromChurchleadersindicatedthatordinaryChurchmembershadbeenpreparedtoexpectvisionsandheavenlymanifestations.Inonelettertheywrote:“WithinthathouseGodwillpourouthisspiritingreatmajestyandgloryandencirclehispeoplewithfiremoregloriouslyandmarvelouslythanatPentecostbecausetheworktobeperformedinthelastdaysisgreaterthanwasinthatday.”2

Modern-DayPentecostBecausepeopleofthatperiodknewtheBible,theywerefamiliarwiththe

pentecostalperiodintheNewTestamentthatsurroundedtheascensionofChristandthedescentoftheHolyGhostinJerusalem.LargenumbersofJewswitnessedspeakingintonguesandseeing“cloventongueslikeasoffire.”3AftertheoutpouringsoftheHolyGhost,theSaintsoftheprimitiveChurchhadvisions,participatedinhealings,andbeheldwondersandsigns.SoitwasinKirtland.Thesemoderndiscipleslikewiseexperiencedsuchspiritualmanifestations.

Themagnitude,depth,andvarietyofthesemanifestationsintheKirtlandTemplecompelledtheProphetJosephSmithtorecordthefollowing:

ItwasaPentecostandanendowmentindeed,longtoberemembered,forthesoundshallgoforthfromthisplaceintoalltheworld,andtheoccurrencesofthisdayshallbehandeddownuponthepagesofsacredhistory,toallgenerations;asthedayofPentecost,soshallthisdaybenumberedandcelebratedasayearofjubilee,andtimeofrejoicingtotheSaintsoftheMostHighGod.4

TheLord’sinspiredprophetsofoldforesawandtaughtoffuturepentecostalperiodssuchasKirtland’s.Joelprophesiedanciently:“Iwillpouroutmyspirituponallflesh;andyoursonsandyourdaughtersshallprophesy,youroldmen

shalldreamdreams,youryoungmenshallseevisions:AndalsoupontheservantsanduponthehandmaidsinthosedayswillIpouroutmyspirit.”5

DuringPentecost,PeterrecognizedthatJoel’sprophecyhaddescendedupontheSaintsinJerusalem.HeinformedtheJews:“Thesearenotdrunken,asyesuppose....ButthisisthatwhichwasspokenbytheprophetJoel.”6ThemanifestationsspokenofbyPeterwerenotthecompletefulfillmentofJoel’sprophecy,however.AsMoroniinstructedyoungJosephin1823,he“quotedthesecondchapterofJoel,fromthetwenty-eighthversetothelast.Healsosaidthatthiswasnotyetfulfilled,butwassoontobe.”7

LorenzoSnowdeclaredthatthefulfillmentofJoel’sprophecybeganfortheLatter-daydispensationintheKirtlandTemple.Hesaid:

[The]magnificent[Kirtland]TemplewascompletedanddedicatedtotheLordinthepresenceofthousands.Thedayofblessings,andofrejoicingsinthehistoryoftheSaints,hadnowarrived....Theyouth,themiddleaged,bothmenandwomen,clothedwiththespiritofinspiration,wouldspeak,aswiththetongueofangels....Onewouldexercisethegiftoftongues,anotherthatofinterpretation,andsomewouldhavethegiftofprophecy.Onewouldspeakoftheblessingsoffaith,anotherwouldtestifyofknowledge,andsomewouldhavethespiritofexhortation.Thusweretheirgiftsexercised,andalledifiedtogether,provingtheylivedinthetimeofthefulfilmentofJoel’sprophecy.8

Thislatter-daypentecostalmanifestationindeedfulfilledJoel’sprophecy.Visionsandspiritualmanifestationsfloweddownfromtheheavensashehadprophesied.9TheSaviorappearedinthetempleinatleasteightdifferentvisions(seechart,p.229).TheFatherandtheSonwereseentogetherinfourvisions.Inmorethantenmeetings,suchasthetwotemplededications,sacramentservices,andpriesthoodleadershipmeetings,congregationsexperiencedthepresenceofheavenlybeings.ManySaintssawandheardmanifestationssuchasthegiftoftongues,soundsofamightywind,apillaroffirerestinguponthetempleroof,prophesying,andvoicesofangels.

BenjaminBrownrecordedthatthispentecostalperiodwas“evengreaterthanatthedayofPenti[cost].”Hefurtherelaborated,declaring:

Somehaveseentheheavensopend&seenthesavior[;]othershaveseenangelsonthefourcornersofthehouseoftheLordwithdrawnswords&alsostoodthickontheridgeElishawithhischariotofFire,PeterJohn&James....OldfatherAdamwasseenB[ea]utifulmanhishairstoodback&

curledmostb[ea]utifulevendownonhisshoulders.10

FollowingareaccountsofvisionsofDeityintheKirtlandTempleonfourdifferentgloriousdaysfromJanuarytoApril1836.

VisionsofDeity,January21,1836ThefirstrecordedvisionsofDeityintheKirtlandTempleoccurredJanuary

21,1836,inJosephSmith’sofficeonthetemple’shighestlevel.Josephgavedetaileddescriptionsofatleasttwoextendedvisionsexperiencedonthatremarkableday.Eachvisionconsistedofdistinctparts.TheoccasionforeachvisionwastheordinanceofanointingtheheadwithoiloftheFirstPresidency,bishoprics,andhighcouncilors.

VisionoftheFatherandtheSonintheCelestialKingdomThepromisedvisionsbeganasJosephSmithwasmeetingwithfifteenother

Churchleaders.11Asthevisionsoccurred,theProphetintroduced,forthefirsttimeinthisdispensation,theordinanceofanointingwithoilinatempleoftheLord.Hedescribedthestartofthefirstvisionoftheday:“Theheavenswereopeneduponus,andIbeheldthecelestialkingdomofGod,andtheglorythereof,whetherinthebodyoroutIcannottell.

Isawthetranscendentbeautyofthegatethroughwhichtheheirsofthatkingdomwillenter,whichwaslikeuntocirclingflamesoffire;

AlsotheblazingthroneofGod,whereonwasseatedtheFatherandtheSon.

Isawthebeautifulstreetsofthatkingdom,whichhadtheappearanceofbeingpavedwithgold.

IsawFatherAdamandAbraham;andmyfatherandmymother;mybrotherAlvin,thathaslongsinceslept.12

VisionofChristandtheLatter-dayTwelveApostlesInthenextpartofhisvisionsofthisday,JosephsawtheSaviorweepover

HisdiscouragedbandofApostles.Herecorded:

Isawthe12,apostlesoftheLamb,whoarenowupontheearthwhoholdthekeysofthislastministry,inforeignlands,standingtogetherinacirclemuchfatiegued,withtheirclothestatteredandfeetswolen,withtheireyes

castdownward,andJesus<standing>intheirmidst,andtheydidnotbeholdhim,...theSaviourlookeduponthemandwept.13

TwelveApostlesintheCelestialKingdomIntheconcludingsceneofthesevisions,Josephapparentlywatcheduntil

theTwelvearrivedatthegatetothecelestialkingdomandfoundFatherAdamactingasgatekeeperandescortofthefaithfultothethrone.Inrecordingthispartofthevision,Josephstatedsimply,“Ifinallysawthe12,inthecelestialKingdomofGod.”14Nonetheless,HeberC.KimballrememberedfurtherdetailsofJoseph’svision,undoubtedlytoldhimbytheProphet:

He(Joseph)sawuntilthey[theTwelve]hadaccomplishedtheirwork,andarrivedatthegateofthecelestialcity;thereFatherAdamstoodandopenedthegatetothem,andastheyenteredheembracedthemonebyoneandkissedthem.HethenledthemtothethroneofGod,andthentheSaviorembracedeachoneofthemandkissedthem,andcrownedeachoneoftheminthepresenceofGod.Hesawthattheyallhadbeautifulheadsofhairandalllookedalike.TheimpressionthisvisionleftonBrotherJoseph’smindwasofsoacuteanature,thathenevercouldrefrainfromweepingwhilerehearsingit.15

VisionofChristwiththeHighCouncilsofKirtlandandZionLateronJanuary21,thehighcouncilorsofKirtlandandZionjoinedthe

onesalreadyinthemeeting,whichincreasedattendancetofortybrethren.ThesebrethrenalsoparticipatedinvisionsofDeitythatday.Josephrecorded:

Thevisionofheaven...<was>openedtothesealso,someofthemsawthefaceoftheSaviour,andotherswereministereduntobyholyangels,andthespiritofpropeseyandrevelationwaspouredoutinmightypower,andloudhosanahsandglorytoGodinthehighest,salutedtheheavensforweallcommunedwiththeh[e]avenlyhosts.16

AccordingtoJoseph,“SomeofthemsawthefaceoftheSavior.”Thisprobablyindicatesthatatleastthree17otherChurchleadersbesidesJosephbecameeyewitnessestoChrist’sexistenceandleadershipoftheChurch.18

VisionofthePresidencyintheCelestialKingdom

DuringthisfinalmeetingofleadersthatnowincludedthehighcouncilorsofKirtlandandZion,JosephSmithbeheldhisthirdvisionofthecelestialkingdomthatday.Thistimehesawmanyofthosefortybrethren,includingthepresidency,inthatcelestialsetting.Hestated:“IsawinmyvisionallofthepresidencyintheCelistialKingdomofGod,and,manyotherswhowerepresent.”19Ineachofhistwoothervisionsofthecelestialkingdomthatday,theProphethadseentheFatherandtheSonandalsomenwhowereassistingJosephinleadingtheChurch,manyofwhomwerepresentinthemeetings.Inthefirstofthosevisions,JosephsawGod’sthrone,theFatherandtheSon,andothers,includinghisfather,whohadjustanointedhim.Inthenextvision,hesawtheTwelvebeingembracedbytheSaviorinthepresenceoftheFather.Inthethirdvision,heseesthepresidencytherewithotherleaderswhoarewithhiminthemeeting.Althoughhedidn’tstateitdirectly,itisprobablethatthisfinalvisionalsoincludedtheFatherandSon,becausethatwasthepatternsetinthetwoothervisions.

Apparentlybecauseofthesacrednatureofthevisions,OliverCowdery,whowaspresentatthemeeting,didnotrecordmanydetails.Heleavesuswishingformoredetails,however,withwhathedidwrite:“Theglorioussceneistoogreattobedescribedinthisbook,therefore,Ionlysay,thattheheavenswereopenedtomany,andgreatandmarvelousthingswereshown.”20

GodtheFatherandChristSeeninMeetingofQuorums,January28,1836

SevendaysfollowingtheincrediblevisionsofJanuary21,JosephSmithandhiscounselorsinstructedhighpriests,seventies,andeldersassembledintheKirtlandTemple.Theleadersintroducedtothisgrouptheancientordinanceofanointingwithoil.Inaddition,JosephSmithconductedtheprocedureofsealingblessingsgiventhemintheanointing.Duringtheproceedings,marvelousvisionsweredistilleduponthepriesthoodquorums.Inthismeeting,ZebedeeColtrinsawtheSavior.TheProphetrecordedthisandothervisions:“ElderRogerOrtonsawamightyangelridinguponahorseoffire,withaflamingswordinhishand,followedbyfiveothers,encirclethehouse,andprotecttheSaints,eventheLord’sanointed,fromthepowerofSatanandahostofevilspirits,whichwerestrivingtodisturbtheSaints.

“PresidentWilliamSmith,oneoftheTwelve,sawtheheavensopened,andtheLord’shostprotectingtheLord’sanointed.

“PresidentZebedeeColtrin,oneofthesevenpresidentsoftheSeventy,saw

theSaviorextendedbeforehim,asuponthecross,andalittleafter,crownedwithgloryuponhisheadabovetheb[r]ightnessofthesun.”21

HarrisonBurgessaddedthatJosephSmithalsosawtheSavior.Inhisautobiography,Harrisonvividlyrecalledthatinthemiddleofthemeeting,“Josephexclaimedaloud,‘IbeholdtheSaviour,theSonofGod.’”22Herecordedthefollowing:

TheLordblessedHispeopleabundantlyinthatTemplewiththeSpiritofprophecy,theministeringofangels,visions,etc.Iwillhererelateavisionwhichwasshowntome.Itwasnearthecloseoftheendowments.IwasinameetingforinstructionintheupperpartoftheTemple,withaboutahundredoftheHighPriests,SeventiesandElders.TheSaintsfelttoshout“Hosannah!”andtheSpiritofGodresteduponmeinmightypowerandIbeheldtheroomlightedupwithapeculiarlightsuchasIhadneverseenbefore.ItwassoftandclearandtheroomlookedtomeasthoughithadneitherroofnorfloortothebuildingandIbeheldtheProphetJosephandHyrumSmithandRogerOrtonenvelopedinthelight:Josephexclaimedaloud,“IbeholdtheSavior,theSonofGod.”Hyrumsaid,“Ibeholdtheangelsofheaven.”BrotherOrtonexclaimed,“IbeholdthechariotsofIsrael.”23

TwojournalaccountsleadtoaconclusionthatboththeFatherandtheSonappearedinvisioninthismeeting.Inan1879Sundaymeeting,HarrisonsupplementedhisjournalaccountbyaddingthatJosephSmithalsosawGodtheFatheratthattime.CharlesLowellWalker,oneoftheChurch’sforemostdiarykeepers,heardHarrisonsaythatJosephsawboththeFatherandtheSon.CharlesthencarefullyrecordedHarrison’swordsinhisjournalentry:

BrHarrisonBurgessspokeofthefirstEndowmentsgivenintheKirtlandTempleandthatallthequorumsmetatonetimeintheAttic;JosephandHyrummetwiththem.HesaidthatallatoncetherewasaHeavenlyandDivineAtmospheresurroundedthem,anditseemedasiftheraftersandBeamswereallgoneandJosephgazingupsaid,ISeetheSonofGodsittingattherighthandoftheFather.Hyrumatthesameinstantsaid,IbeholdtheAngelsofHeaven,andRogerOrtonsaid,IseetheHorsesandChariotsofHeaven.24

AlthoughJosephomittedinhisjournalaccountthathesawavisionofDeity,hedidrecordthathesaw“agloriousvision.”25InhisjournalHarrisonconcludedthatallpresentexperiencedthepowerofGod.Hewrote,“Allwho

wereintheroomfeltthepowerofGodtothatdegreethatmanyprophesied,andthepowerofGodwasmademanifest,...theremembranceofwhichIshallneverforgetwhileIliveupontheearth.”26

AnotheraccountatteststoboththeFatherandtheSonappearing,probablyonthisday.DavidPatten,amemberoftheQuorumoftheTwelveApostles,alsoattended.DavidvisitedAbrahamSmoot,arecentconvert,inKentuckywithinweeksofthetemplededicationandtoldhimaboutseeingGodtheFatherandJesusChristinvision.WilfordWoodruffrecordedhisaccount:

He[AbrahamSmoot]hadBeenwithElderPatten&hiswifeforseveraldays.BrSmootrelatedthenewstomefromBrPattenwhichwasgloriousinthefirstdegree.HegavemeanaccountoftheendowmentatKirtlandOhio.TheheavensWasopeneduntothem.Angels&JesusChristwasseenofthemsittingattherighthandofthefather.27

JosephSmithdescribedhowtheimpactofthevisionstayedwithhimduringthenight:“Afterthesequorumsweredismissed,Iretiredtomyhome,filledwiththeSpirit,andmysoulcriedhosannatoGodandtheLamb,throughthesilentwatchesofthenight;andwhilemyeyeswereclosedinsleep,thevisionsoftheLordweresweetuntome,andHisglorywasroundaboutme.PraisetheLord.”28

DivinePresenceFeltinDedicatoryServices,March27,1836Manyjournalstestifyingofheavenlymanifestationsonthedaythetemple

wasdedicatedmadereferencetoadivinepresence.InwhatmayhavebeenareferencetoDeity,NancyTracyrecordedthat“theheavenlyinfluenceresteddownuponthathouse....HeavenlyBeingsappearedtomany....Itwasheavenonearth.”29

ElizaR.Snowstatedthat“anabidingholyheavenlyinfluencewasrealized.”30Inanotheraccountshewrotethatthewholecongregationfeltthepresenceofdivinity:“Theceremoniesofthatdedicationmayberehearsed,butnomortallanguagecandescribetheheavenlymanifestationsofthatmemorableday.Angelsappearedtosome,whileasenseofdivinepresencewasrealizedbyallpresent,andeachheartwasfilledwith‘joyinexpressibleandfullofglory.’”31

ItisgenerallyassumedthattheSaviorappearedduringthededicationoftheKirtlandTemple,butnoeyewitnessaccountscanbeverified.OnepossiblereferencetoanappearanceoftheSaviorcomesfromafamilytraditionthatcannotbedocumentedwithcertainty.32TwootherreferencestotheSavior’sappearanceexist,buttheyarealsoproblematic.33

Otherspiritualmanifestationswereevident.ParticipantssuchasBenjaminBrowntestified:“TheretheSpiritoftheLord,asonthedayofPentecost,wasprofuselypouredout....

“Wehadamostgloriousandnever-to-be-forgottentime.Angelswereseenbynumberspresent.”34AheavenlymessengerwhoJosephSmithsaidwasPeterandwhohad“cometoacceptthededication”wasseenenteringthetempleandsatbetweenFrederickG.WilliamsandJosephSmithSr.35Itseemsthatonthedayofdedication,theSaviorsentPeter,thepresidingApostleofthepriordispensation,tovisiblyacceptthededication.Then,aweeklater,ChristHimselfappeared.

ThePentecostContinuesinPriesthoodMeeting,March27,1836Atapriesthoodmeetingheldinthetempletheeveningofthetemple

dedication,additionalpentecostalmanifestationsweregiventotheSaints.BenjaminBrownrecorded:

SundayEvening...Josephspoke...&toldthemthedayofPenticostwascontinuedthe...Brethrenbeganto...prophesymanyprophesiedinthenameoftheLordthenbeganspeakingintonguesanditfilledasitwerethewholehouse,perhapstherewerefortyspeakingatonceCloventonguesoffirewasseentositonmanyofthemanhandwasseenlaidupononewhenhespakeintongues...manyVisionsseen,onesawa[pillar]orcloudrestdownuponthehousebrightaswhenthesunshinesonacloudlikeasgold,twootherssawthreepersonageshoveringintheroomwithbrightkeysintheirhands,andalsoabrightchainintheirhands....

...ThewestendoftheHousewasilluminatedbyalightfromheavenseenontheoutsidebymany....

FatherStephenssaw...tworowsofAngelsthroughtheHouse,atanothertimethegloryofGodcamedownontheEldersfromtheheaddownhalfway.36

JosephSmithrecordedtheeventsofthiseveningmeeting.Hemadeanoteaboutpersonallybeholdingapillaroffire,writing:

Allthecongregationsimultaneouslyarose,beingmoveduponbyaninvisiblepower;manybegantospeakintonguesandprophesy;otherssawgloriousvisions;andIbeheldtheTemplewasfilledwithangels,whichfactIdeclaredtothecongregation.Thepeopleoftheneighborhoodcame

runningtogether(hearinganunusualsoundwithin,andseeingabrightlightlikeapillaroffirerestingupontheTemple),andwereastonishedatwhatwastakingplace.37

OliverCowdery,presentontheeveningofthededication,sawthegloryofGoddescenduponthetemple.Herecorded:

IntheeveningImetwiththeofficersofthechurchintheLord’shouse.TheSpiritwaspouredout—IsawthegloryofGod,likeagreatcloud,comedownandrestuponthehouse,andfillthesamelikeamightyrushingwind.Ialsosawcloventongues,likeasoffirerestuponmany,(fortherewere316present,)whiletheyspakewithothertonguesandprophesied.38

Onthedayofdedication,theLordindeedrewardedHisvaliantpeoplebyopeningtheheavens.39TheseSaints,inadditiontobuildingtheKirtlandTemple,hadsanctifiedtheirlivessothat“theSonofManmighthaveaplacetomanifesthimselftohispeople.”40

TheSaviorAppearsattheSolemnAssemblyintheKirtlandTemple,March30,1836

JosephSmith,uponconveningthelong-awaitedsolemnassembly,said,“Thepresidency,the12,theseventies,thehigh...councils,theBishopsandtheirentirequorums,theElders,andalltheofficialmembersinthisstakeofZionamountingtoabout300metinthetempleoftheLord.”41HeberC.Kimballrememberedtheprocedurefollowedinthesolemnassembly:

WhentheProphetJosephhadfinishedtheendowmentsoftheFirstPresidency,theTwelveandthePresidingBishops,theFirstPresidencyproceededtolayhandsuponeachoneofthemtosealandconfirmtheanointing;andatthecloseofeachblessingthewholeofthequorumsrespondedtoitwithaloudshoutofHosanna!Hosanna!etc.

WhilethesethingswerebeingattendedtothebeloveddiscipleJohnwasseeninourmidstbytheProphetJoseph,OliverCowderyandothers.Afterthisallthequorumsaroseinorder,togetherwiththethreePresidencies;andtheTwelvethenpresentedthemselvesseparatelyandindividuallybeforetheFirstPresidency,withhandsupliftedtowardsheaven,andaskedofGodwhatevertheyfelttodesire;andaftereachindividualpetitionthewholeofthequorumsansweredaloudAmen!Hosanna!Hosanna!Hosanna!ToGod

andtheLamb,foreverandever,amenandamen.

...Asarewardfortheirpreparation,theProphetpromised,“Allwhoareprepared,andaresufficientlypuretoabidethepresenceoftheSavior,willseeHiminthesolemnassembly.”42

Therewardcametothosewhowereprepared.TheSaviorappearedtosomeofthepriesthoodasdescribedbyJoseph:

Thebrethrencontinuedexhorting,prophesying,andspeakingintonguesuntilfiveo’clockinthemorning.TheSaviormadeHisappearancetosome,whileangelsministeredtoothers,anditwasaPentecostandanendowmentindeed,longtoberemembered,forthesoundshallgoforthfromthisplaceintoalltheworld,andtheoccurrencesofthisdayshallbehandeddownuponthepagesofsacredhistory,toallgenerations;asthedayofPentecost,soshallthisdaybenumberedandcelebratedasayearofjubilee,andtimeofrejoicingtotheSaintsoftheMostHighGod.43

BenjaminBrownrecordedadditionaldetailsoftheseandotherspiritualmanifestationsinalettertohiswife.HementionedtwobrethrenwhosawChrist.Althoughhewrotewithoutpunctuationandinseeminglydisjointedthoughts,heprovidesamorecompleteaccount.Hewrote:“ManyProp[h]esys[were]given&speakingintongues...twocorumscontinuedallnightintheHousethetwelveguardedittheHeavenswasopenedtwosawthesaviorsomesawchariotsandotherthing[s]onelayabouthalfanhour&sawfromEternitytoEternitymanyMiracilousExperiencestoldManyVisionstold.”44

VisionofChrist,Moses,Elias,andElijah,April3,1836ThepinnacleofalltheholyeventstranspiringinKirtlandandpossiblyeven

inthehistoryoftheyounglatter-dayChurchwasreachedwiththesupernalvisionsofthisday.TheSaviorJesusChrist—followedbyMoses,Elias,andElijah—stoodbeforeJosephSmithandOliverCowderytoinstructthemandtobestowonthemlong-awaitedpriesthoodkeysandauthoritytocarryoutthemissionsoftheChurch.Joseph’sjournalrelatesthatasheandOliverrosefromprayer,ChriststoodbeforetheminHisfullglory.AftertestifyingofHimselfandHisresurrection,HeacknowledgedHisacceptanceofHishouse,thetemple.HethenpromisedtoappearagaintoHisfaithfulservants.Josephtestified:

WesawtheLordstandinguponthebreastworkofthepulpit,beforeus....Hiseyeswereasaflameoffire;thehairofhisheadwaswhitelikethepure

snow;hiscountenanceshoneabovethebrightnessofthesun;andhisvoicewasasthesoundoftherushingofgreatwaters,eventhevoiceofJehovah,saying:Iamthefirstandthelast;Iamhewholiveth,Iamhewhowasslain;IamyouradvocatewiththeFather....Ihaveacceptedthishouse....Iwillappearuntomyservants,andspeakuntothemwithmineownvoice,ifmypeoplewillkeepmycommandments,anddonotpollutethisholyhouse.45

JosephandOliverrelatedthisvisiontootherearlyleaders.Inturn,WilliamW.Phelpstoldhiswifeofthevision,saying,“OnSunday,April3,thetwelveheldmeetingandadministeredthesacrament.Itwasaglorioustime.Thecurtainsweredroptintheafternoon.AndtherewasamanifestationoftheLordtoBrJosephandOliver,[by]whichthey[learned]thusthegreat&terribledayoftheLordasmentionedbyMal[a]chi,wasnear,evenatthedoors.”46

LorenzoSnowrememberedthetestimoniesofJosephandOliveralmostfiftyyearslater.Hesaid,“ThosewhosawHimtestifytothisfact.”47HemadeparticularreferencetohisassociationwithJosephandOliverandtotheirvision.Hesaid,“Thereweretwopersons[JosephSmithandOliverCowdery]withwhomIwasverywellacquaintedwhosaw[Christ]...intheTempleinKirtland,Ohio.”48Lorenzowassowellacquaintedwiththevisionthathegavethesedetails:“Theyweresittingsidebyside,asmybrethrenaresittinghereonthisstand,andtheSonofGodappearedtothem.”Lorenzohadobviouslyheardthemrelatethevisionin1836.HeknewwhichpulpitChriststoodupon.Helatersaid,“Ihavepreachedfromthatpulpitmanytimes.”49Inrelatinghisfeelingsinhisjournal,hetellsofthefirsttimehepreachedfromthepulpit:

Nolanguagecandescribemyfeelingswhen,forthefirsttime,Istoodupinoneofthosepulpitstoaddressanaudience—apulpitonthebreastworkofwhich,onlyashorttimebefore,thisholyPersonagestood—‘hishairaswhiteaspuresnow,hiseyesasaflameoffire’—wherealsoMoses,EliasandElijahcameandcommittedthekeysoftheirdispensationstoJosephSmith.50

Theappearanceofthesedivineheavenlyvisitorswasevenstampedonthememoryofchildren.MaryAnnStearnesWinters,astalwartUtahpioneer,alwaysrememberedhow,whenshewasachild,hermothershowedhertheexactspotwheretheSaviorstood.Shesaid,“MothertookmetothestandandshowedmetheplaceonthepulpitwheretheSaviorhadstoodwhenHeappearedtotheProphet,andwhereafterwardsMosesandEliascameanddeliveredthekeysfor

thegatheringoftheSaints(Israel),andtheredemptionofthedead.”51

Seemingly,thenon-LDScommunitywasawareoftheSavior’svisit.OneweekafterthisvisionofChrist,LuciusParsons,alocalresident,wroteofittohissister:“TheyreportthattheSaviorappearedpersonallywithangelsandendowedtheElderswithpowerstoworkMiracles.”52

OrsonPratt,whonodoubtwaspresentonApril3,1836,concludedthatthisvisionofChrist,Moses,Elias,andElijahinitselfrewardedtheSaintsforalltheyhadenduredinbuildingthetemple.Hesaid:

Thenyouseethateventhisonerevelation,whichGodgaveinthatTemple,paidthepeopleforthetoiltheyhadenduredinerectingit.WhatasatisfactionitwastothemtoknowthatangelsadministeredinthatTemple!WhatasatisfactionitwasforthemtogointothatTempleandhavetheheavensopenedtothemsothattheycouldgazeonthegloryofGod!WhatasatisfactionitwasforthemtoknowthattheLordaccepted,asHisown,thehousewhichtheyhadbuiltaccordingtothepatternwhichHehadgiven!AndwhatasatisfactionitwasforthemtoknowthattheylovedGodbykeepingHiscommandments!53

TheVoiceofGodOthermanifestationsexperiencedbytheearlySaintsintheKirtlandTemple

werepreserved.Forexample,WarrenSnowtestified:“IhaveseenthepowerofGodmanifested....IrememberwhenreceivingmyendowmentsintheTempleatKirtland,IheardthevoiceofGodasplainasIhearmyown,andthistestimonyIhaveborneforthirty-oneyears.”54

ThatWeMightKnowJesusChristThroughvisions,appearances,manifestations,andaninfusionofglory,the

LordbestowedHisdivineloveuponHisnewSaints.WithHisvoicefromtheheavens,HedefinedthepathtobetakenforHischildrentoreturnanddwellwithHimforever.Whentheaccountsofthevisionsarereadthroughspiritualeyes,asenseofoverwhelmingloveseemstodrawusclosertotheSavior.FromtheKirtlandTemple,therecomesanassurancethatthecrucifiedSaviortrulydidrisefromthetomb.AsHedeclaredtoJosephandOliver,Hewasslain,wasresurrected,bearsoursins,andtrulyisouradvocatewiththeFather.55

Notes^1.DeanC.Jessee,MarkAshurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,Journals,1832–1839,vol.1ofthe

JournalsseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2008),99.

^2.SidneyRigdon,NewelK.Whitney,andOliverCowdery,May6,1834,inStanleyR.Gunn,OliverCowdery:SecondElderandScribe(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1962),101.

^3.Acts2:3.^4.JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2d

ed.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),2:432–33;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:216.

^5.Joel2:28–29.^6.Acts2:15–16.^7.JosephSmith–History1:41.^8.ElizaR.SnowSmith,BiographyandFamilyRecordofLorenzoSnow(SaltLakeCity:DeseretNews,

1884),144–45;Joel2:28–29.^9.Joel’sprophecywasfulfilledinPeter’sdayaswellasintheKirtlandTemple,butitsfurtherfulfillment

continuestoday.PresidentHenryB.Eyring,inspeakingtoreligiouseducatorsstatedthatJoelgave“apromiseofanoutpouringoftheSpirit.ItwasquotedbyPeterandbyMoroni....Thisisnotpoetry,norisitallegory;itisdescriptionofrealityasitwillbe.Someofitwillhappensograduallythatyoumaynotnoticeit.SomehasalreadybegunacrosstheChurchandwemaynothaveseentheblessingdeveloping....

“ThatscripturedoesnotsaythatyoursonsandyourdaughtersmayclaimthegiftofprophecybytheSpirit.Itsaysthattheywill.Itdoesn’tsaythatyouryoungmenmayseevisions.Itsaysthattheywill.AnditwillcomebecausetheLordwillpouroutHisSpirituponallflesh.NotonlywilltheyouthyouloveandservehavetheSpiritpouredoutonthem,butsowillthepeoplearoundthemandthosewholeadthem”(“RaisingExpectations,”CESSatelliteTrainingBroadcast,August2004;inauthor’spossession).^10.BenjaminBrown,inStevenC.Harper,“‘APentecostandEndowmentIndeed’:SixEyewitnessAccounts

oftheKirtlandTempleExperience,”inOpeningtheHeavens:AccountsofDivineManifestations,1820–1844,ed.JohnW.WelchandErickB.Carlson(Provo,Utah:BrighamYoungUniversityPress;SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,2005),335;paragraphingaltered.TheeventsdescribedhereseemtodescribehappeningsinthesolemnassemblyheldMarch30,1836.However,thispartofBrown’srecordisdisjointed;therefore,itisnotpossibletolinkittooneparticularmeetingwithcertainty.

^11.ThesemenwerehisfivecounselorsandthepresidentsoftheChurchinMissouri,hisscribe,andthebishopricsoftheChurchinOhioandMissouri.

^12.Doctrine&Covenants137:1–5.^13.Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:168.

^14.Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:168.^15.HeberC.Kimball,inOrsonF.Whitney,LifeofHeberC.Kimball(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1945),93–

94.ItisassumedthatthisaccountrelatestotheJanuary21visionsforthefollowingreasons:(1)AccountsofbothJosephandHeberrefertothegatethroughwhichthefaithfulenterthecelestialkingdom.(2)ThisvisionisthefinalsceneofJoseph’sextendedvision.InHeber’saccounthesaidthisscenewasprecededbyJosephseeingtheTwelve“inafardistantland...theirclothesallragged,andtheirkneesandfeetsore.Theyformedintoacircle,andallstoodwiththeireyesfixedupontheground.TheSaviorappearedandstoodintheirmidstandweptoverthem”(HeberC.Kimball,inWhitney,LifeofHeberC.Kimball,93).(3)JosephseesthethroneofGod.(4)Christispresentatthethrone.(5)Adamispartofthevision.Inrecordingthisvisioninhisjournal,JosephSmithalsorecordedseeingMichael(PersonalWritingsofJosephSmith,comp.DeanC.Jessee,rev.ed.[SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,2002],175).Doctrine&Covenants137followsthecurrenteditionoftheHistoryoftheChurch(2:380),whichsimplifiesJosephSmith’sjournalbyeliminating“andMichael”afterAbraham.PerhapsthiswasdonebecausetheeditorsknewthatMichaelwasanothernameforAdam.HeberC.Kimball’saccountgivesAdam,orMichael,thedoublerolesofgatekeeperandtheonewhoescortsthefaithfultothethrone.ThisdoublerolemayaccountforhisdoublementionintheProphet’sreportofthevision.

^16.Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:170;Doctrine&Covenants137.^17.AlthoughitisnotknownhowmanyleaderssawtheSavior,Joseph’suseofthewordsomewould

probablyindicatemorethantwo.^18.NewelKnight,amemberofthehighcouncilinZion,mayhavebeenonewhosawtheSaviorinthis

meeting.HeisawitnessofChristbecausehesawboththeFatherandtheSoninavisioninJune1830inFayette,NewYork(HistoryoftheChurch,1:85).Heisnotlistedasawitnessinthisbook,however,becausenorecordexistsofhisbearingwitnessofthisvisioninKirtland.

^19.Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:170.Inrecordingthesevisions,Josephwascharacteristicallysuccinct,leavingotherstofillindetailssuchasHeberC.Kimballprovidedforthesecondvisionoftheday.Forthisthirdvisionnoadditionaldetailshavesurfaced.

^20.LeonardJ.Arrington,“OliverCowdery’sKirtland,Ohio,‘SketchBook,’”BYUStudies12,no.4(1972):419.

^21.HistoryoftheChurch,2:386–87;Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:174–75.^22.HarrisonBurgess,Autobiography,inWindows:AMormonFamily,comp.anded.KennethGlynHales

(Tucson,Ariz.:SkylinePrinting,1985),102–3.TheaccountHarrisonrecordeddoesnotspecifyadateforthemeetinghedescribed;however,acarefulcomparisonoftheeventscorrelateswiththeJanuary28meeting.Noothermeetingduringthisperiodcomesclose.BothJosephSmith(HistoryoftheChurch,2:386)andHarrisonidentifythemeetinglocationastheatticofthetemple.BothindicatethatRogerOrtonsawavisionofheavenlyhorsesinthemeeting.BothsayHyrumSmithwaspresent.BothindicatethattheMelchizedekPriesthoodquorumswerepresent.Bothrefertoendowmentsoranointingsgiveninthemeeting.Bothdescribeaheavenlyatmospherethatsurroundedthem.Bothspecificallymentionthatinstructionwasreceivedinthemeeting.

^23.HarrisonBurgess,“SketchofaWell-SpentLife,”inLaborsintheVineyardinClassicExperiencesandAdventures(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1969),67;HistoryoftheChurch,2:387.

^24.DiaryofCharlesLowellWalker,ed.A.KarlLarsonandKatharineMilesLarson,2vols.(Logan:Utah

StateUniversityPress,1980),2:483.HarrisonBurgessdoesnotgivethedateofthismeeting,butbecauseitsdetailscorrelatewithJosephSmith’saccountoftheJanuary28meeting,wecanconcludethatHarrison’srecollectionwasfromthesamemeeting(see234n22).

^25.HistoryoftheChurch,2:387;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:175.^26.Burgess,Windows,102–3.^27.WilfordWoodruff,WilfordWoodruff’sJournal,1833–1898,ed.ScottG.Kenney,typescript,9vols.

(Midvale,Utah:SignatureBooks,1983–85),1:67.DavidPattendoesnotspecifythedateofthevision;however,theaccountseemstocorrelatemorecloselywithJanuary28thanwithanyothermeetingbecauseDavidandtheothersoftheTwelvewerenotpresentonJanuary21,whenJosephsawboththeFatherandtheSon,butDavidandothermembersoftheTwelvewerepresentonJanuary28.Therefore,ifweassumethattheword“them”includesDavidPatten,thisvisionprobablyoccurredJanuary28.ThewordalsoimpliesthatmorewitnessessawtheFatherandtheSoninthevision.

^28.HistoryoftheChurch,2:387;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:175.^29.NancyNaomiAlexanderTracy,Autobiography,typescript,9–10,L.TomPerrySpecialCollections,

HaroldB.LeeLibrary,BrighamYoungUniversity,Provo,Utah;hereaftercitedasBYUSpecialCollections.

^30.ElizaR.Snow,anImmortal:SelectedWritingsofElizaR.Snow,ed.NicholasG.MorganSr.(SaltLakeCity:NicholasG.MorganSr.Foundation,1957),63.

^31.EdwardW.Tullidge,TheWomenofMormondom(NewYork:Tullidge&Crandall,1877;repr.,SaltLakeCity:n.p.,1975),95.

^32.AnAlpheusCutlerfamilytraditionclaimsthatAlpheus“sawtheLorddescendingonalongstrip,whichresembledacarpet.”Whilethisaccountmaybeaccurate,thedocumentationisfarfromfirsthandandthereforenotincluded(DannyL.Jorgenson,DifferingVisions:DissentersinMormonHistory,ed.RogerD.LauniusandLindaThatcher[UrbanaandChicago,Ill.:UniversityofIllinoisPress,1994],160).

^33.Twosecondarysources,EdwardPartridgeandGeorgeA.Smith,recordedthatFrederickG.WilliamssawtheSavioratthededication.EdwardPartridgewrote,“Doct.F.G.Williamssawanangelorratherthesavior”(JournalandOtherWritingsofEdwardPartridge,typescript,ChurchHistoryLibrary,TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,SaltLakeCity,Utah,11;hereaftercitedasChurchHistoryLibrary.)StatementsbyJosephSmith,OliverCowdery,TrumanO.Angell,andStephenPostindicatethatFrederickG.Williamssawanangel(HistoryoftheChurch,2:427;MessengerandAdvocate2,no.6[March1836]:281;“TrumanAngellAutobiography,”OurPioneerHeritage,comp.KateB.Carter,20vols.[SaltLakeCity:DaughtersofUtahPioneers,1958–77],10:198;StephenPost,Papers[March27–31,1836],inOpeningtheHeavens,351).HadtheangelbeenChrist,JosephandOliverwouldhaverecognizedHimandprobablymentionedit.Moreover,JosephSmithidentifiedtheangelas“theAngelPeter”(Carter,“TrumanAngellAutobiography,”10:198).GeorgeA.Smithsaid,“PresidentFrederickG.Williams...boretestimonythattheSavior,dressedinhisvesturewithoutseam,cameintothestandandacceptedofthededicationofthehouse”(inJournalofDiscourses,26vols.[London:Latter-daySaints’BookDepot,1854–86],11:10).Butinacontradictorystatement,JosephSmithsaid,“ThePersonagewhohadappearedinthemorningwastheAngelPetercometoacceptthededication”(Carter,“TrumanAngellAutobiography,”10:198).InreferencetotheGeorgeA.Smithaccount,it

shouldbenotedthattheSaviordidcome“intothestand”(orpulpitarea)andacceptthededicationofthetempleoneweeklater,onApril3,1836(D&C110:7).ItseemsunlikelythattheSaviorwouldappeartwicetoacceptthededication.ItshouldalsobenotedthatFrederickdidnotrecordthathesawtheSavioratthededication.ScholarsbelievethattheseaccountsareprobablyconfusedwitheithertheappearanceoftheApostlePeteratthededicationorwithanotherappearanceofChrist(LyndonW.Cook,“TheApostlePeterandtheKirtlandTemple,”BYUStudies15,no.4[1975]:550–52).

^34.BenjaminBrown,TestimoniesfortheTruth:ARecordofManifestationsofthePowerofGod,MiraculousandProvidential,WitnessedintheTravelsandExperienceofBenjaminBrown,HighPriestintheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,PastoroftheLondon,Reading,Kent,andEssexConferences(Liverpool:S.W.Richards,1853),6.

^35.Carter,“TrumanAngellAutobiography,”10:198;TrumanO.Angell,Journal5,typescript,BYUSpecialCollections;HeberC.Kimball1801–1868,JournalExcerpts(1833–1837),ChurchHistoryLibrary;HeberC.Kimball,inWhitney,LifeofHeberC.Kimball,91.

^36.BenjaminBrown,Harper,inWelchandCarlson,OpeningtheHeavens,336–37.^37.HistoryoftheChurch,2:428.^38.Arrington,“OliverCowdery’s‘SketchBook,’”426.^39.AccountsforthetwomeetingsondedicationdayindicatethattheSaviormighthavebeenpresent,

althoughunseen,asindicatedinchapter9regardingameetingwiththeSmithfamilyattendedbyMaryElizabethLightnerin1831(seepp.172–73herein).Inthatmeeting,JosephSmithannounced,“TheSaviorhasbeeninyourmidst....[But]thereisaveiloveryoureyesforyoucouldnotenduretolookuponHim”(MaryElizabethRollinsLightner,typescript,April14,1905,1,BYUSpecialCollections).Thatcouldaccountfortheoutwardmanifestationsandsenseofthedivinereportedondedicationday.

^40.Doctrine&Covenants109:5.^41.Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:213.^42.HistoryoftheChurch,2:310;KarenLynnDavidson,DavidJ.Whittaker,MarkAshurst-McGee,and

RichardL.Jensen,eds.,Histories,1832–1844,vol.1oftheHistoriesseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2012),1:123.

^43.HistoryoftheChurch,2:432–33;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:215–16.^44.BenjaminBrown,Harper,inOpeningtheHeavens,337.BenjaminBrownattributestheseeventstoa

meetingonMarch29,1836,buttheeventshedescribesseemmorecompatiblewithaMarch30,1836,meeting.Someproblemsexistinhisaccount,however.BenjaminsaystheTwelveguardedthetemple,buttheTwelvewerenotpresentonMarch29toguardthetemple.HefirstdatesthemeetingonApril29andthenchangesittoMarch29.Ifheconfusedthemonth,hecouldhaveconfusedtheday,especiallyinlightofthefactthathisletterissomewhatdisjointedattheend.BenjaminwouldnothavebeeninattendanceonMarch29.TheMarch30meetingismoreinlinewithJoseph’saccountbecausehemakesreferencetogreaterspiritualmanifestationsandpentecostaleventsonMarch30thanhedoesonMarch29(HistoryoftheChurch,2:428–33).BecausetheMarch29meetingcontinuedallnight,BenjamincouldhavebegunhisentrywiththeMarch29meetingandthencontinueditintotheMarch30meeting.Therefore,itislikelytheseeventstookplaceMarch30,notMarch29.

^45.Doctrine&Covenants110:2–4,7–8.

^46.WilliamW.Phelps,Journal,April1836(letter27),3,WilliamWinesPhelps(1792–1872)Papers,VaultMSS810,BYUSpecialCollections.

^47.LorenzoSnow,inJournalofDiscourses,23:342.^48.Snow,inJournalofDiscourses,23:291.^49.LorenzoSnow,discourseattheBrighamCityTabernacle,March6,1887,reportedbyJohnBurroughs,

inCollectedDiscourses:DeliveredbyWilfordWoodruff,HisTwoCounselors,theTwelveApostles,andOthers,comp.anded.BrianH.Stuy,5vols.(Burbank,Calif.:B.H.S.Publishing,1987–92),1:28.

^50.SnowSmith,BiographyandFamilyRecord,11–12.^51.ReliefSocietyMagazine3,no.8(August1916),432.^52.LuciusPomeroyParsonstoPameliaParsons,April10,1836,ChurchHistoryLibrary,inHarper,in

OpeningtheHeavens,329.Parson’sletterdoesnotidentifyinwhichmeetingtheSaviorappeared.Hewroteintheletterthatthemanifestationoccurred“behindthecurtains.”Hedatedthetimeforthemeetingasbeing“oflate”andaroundthetimeofthesolemnassembly(March30,1836).ItisconcludedthatitwastheApril3meetingbecausethiswastheonlyvisionofChristintheKirtlandTemplethatoccurredbehindthedroppedcurtainswithangels(likelyareferencetoMoses,Elias,andElijah).

^53.OrsonPratt,inJournalofDiscourses,13:359.^54.MillennialStar26(January23,1864):51.^55.Doctrine&Covenants110:4–5.

Chapter13

ChristFulfillsthePromisedEndowment

Thefirsteldersofmychurchshouldreceivetheirendowmentfromonhighinmyhouse...inthelandofKirtland....letthosebechosenthatareworthy.

—Doctrine&Covenants105:33,35TheKirtlandTempleendowmentwascentraltotheLord’spurposefor

bringingHisSaintstoKirtland.Understandingvaries,however,regardingwhattheLordmeantwhenHepromisedsuchablessing.TheonethinghistoriansseemtoagreeonisthattheKirtlandendowmentincludedagreatspiritualoutpouring—apentecost.BytracingthethreadofthispromisedendowmentthroughtheKirtlandperiod,itbecomesevidentthatthisgreatspiritual

outpouringwasnottheendowmentbutonlyanoutwardmanifestationthataccompaniedit.

TheendowmentasknowntodaywasnotcompletedintheKirtlandTemple.ButinitialordinanceswereintroducedthatconstitutedwhattheKirtlandSaintsreferredtoasthe“endowment.”1TheKirtlandTempleendowmentconsistedofsacredordinancesthatrequiredsignificantpersonalandphysicalpreparation.Afterthefinalordinanceoftheendowmentwasadministered,Moses,Elias,andElijahappearedtoJosephSmithandOliverCowdery.TheseancientreveredprophetsbestowedpriesthoodkeysuponthemthatgavetheLord’sauthorizationfortheelderstodisseminatethegospelto“foreignlands,”whereLatter-daySaintseverywherewouldeventuallybuildtemplesand“greatlyrejoice”astheyconductedsacredtempleordinancesthatwerebegunintheKirtlandTemple.2

MissionariesrepeatedlyhadbeensenttootherstatesandnearbyareasofCanadabefore1836,buttheycouldnotanddidnotgothroughouttheworlduntilaftertheyhadreceivedtheendowmentofpowerpromisedthembytheLord.TheendowmentatKirtlandwasaccompaniedbythesamegreatmanifestationsoftheSpiritthatwerepresentontheNewTestamentdayofPentecost.

SemanticsbecomesanobstacleinunderstandingtheKirtlandendowment.Inageneralsense,anyoutpouringofthespirit,grantingofablessing,orevenbestowingofpriesthoodofficescouldbeviewedasanendowment.Themeaningofthewordendowis“toenrichorfurnishwithanygift,qualityorfaculty.”3Asanexampleofitsgeneralusage,prayersareoftenpetitionstotheLordtoendowuswithpowerorspirittocarryoutassignments.

However,aswillbeexplained,theLorddidnotconsiderthisbroadmeaningtobethepromisedKirtlandendowment.Thisendowmentconsistedofmorethangreatspiritualoutpouringsorevenpriesthoodordinations.TobetterunderstandtheKirtlandendowmentfromahistoricalandrevelatoryperspective,wewilltraceitsthreadthroughscriptureandthejournalsofthosewhoreceivedit.Thisthreadranfrom1831to1836.

OnJanuary2,1831,theLordpromisedthefaithfulthatHewouldbestowanendowmentinKirtland.HecommandedtheSaintslivinginNewYorkandPennsylvaniatosell,rent,orsimplyleavetheirfarmstogotoKirtland.Hemadepromisestothemasfollows:“GototheOhio;andthereIwillgiveuntoyoumylaw;andthereyoushallbeendowedwithpowerfromonhigh;andfromthence,whosoeverIwillshallgoforthamongallnations...forIsraelshallbesaved....andwhenmenareendowedwithpowerfromonhighandsentforth,allthesethingsshallbegathereduntothebosomofthechurch.”4

Threedaysafterthisrevelation,theLordreinforcedHisdeterminationtosendmissionariestotheworldfromKirtland,saying,“Fromthence[Kirtland]menshallgoforthintoallnations.”5

TheLordidentifiesthreepurposesforgoingtoOhioandimpliesthatasequenceofeventswillfollow,whichislaterborneout:1)HewillgiveHislaw,2)HewillthereendowHiselderswithpowerfromonhigh,and3)HewillsendthemfromKirtlanduntoallnationsassoonastheyreceivetheirendowment.6

InFebruary1831theLordbegantolayoutrequirementsforpersonalworthinessthattheeldershadtomeetbeforetheycouldreceivethepromisedendowment.Hesaid,“Purgeyeouttheiniquitywhichisamongyou....Sanctifyyourselvesandyeshallbeendowedwithpower.”7Later,instructionsgraduallybecamemorespecific,andrequirementsweretightenedforreceivingthepromisedendowment.

Twoyearslater,inJune1833,theLordlaidoutanimposingphysicalrequirement.Hesaid:“Youshouldbuildahouse,inthewhichhouseIdesigntoendowthosewhomIhavechosenwithpowerfromonhigh;...thereforeIcommandyoutotarry,evenasmineapostlesatJerusalem.”8Fourconclusionscanbedrawnfromthisscripture:

1.TheSaintsmustbuildtheKirtlandTemple,whereChristwouldendowthem.

2.TheSaviorwouldchoosethosewhowouldreceivetheendowment.3.TheSaintshadnotyetreceivedtheendowment.4.Christ’slatter-dayApostlesweretowait(tarry)tobeendowedwith

powerfromonhighasHisApostlesinJerusalemwaitedforthedayofPentecostbeforetheywenttopreachthegospeltotheworld.

Nearlyoneyearlater,onMay6,1834,ChurchleadersSidneyRigdon,OliverCowdery,andBishopNewelK.WhitneyfurtheremphasizedthattheendowmentmustbeadministeredintheKirtlandTemplebeforethegospelcouldgototheworld.Theywroteinaletter,“IfthehouseisnotbuilttheElderswillnotbeendowedwithpower,andiftheyarenottheycannevergotothenationswiththeeverlastinggospel.”9

Almostsevenweekslater,onJune22,1834,asZion’sCampwasbeingdisbandedinMissouri,theLordagainemphasizedthattheendowmentwouldcomeintheKirtlandTemple.Hesaid,“Thefirsteldersofmychurchshouldreceivetheirendowmentfromonhighinmyhouse...inthelandofKirtland....Thetimehascomeforadayofchoosing;andletthosebechosenthatareworthy.Anditshallbemanifestuntomyservant,bythevoiceoftheSpirit.”10

InthisscripturetheLordcallsthispromiseofbeingendowedwithpowerfromonhighan“endowment.”Hereemphasizedpersonalpreparation.Healsorestrictedtheendowmenttothosewhoareworthy.Finally,HecommissionedJosephSmithtodesignatethosewhoweretoreceivethepromisedendowment.

Thefirstrecordedchoosingcamethefollowingday,onJune23,1834.Fifteenbrethrenwereselectedspecificallybyname.Recordedinthemeetingminutes,eachwas“calledandchosen”togotoKirtlandfromMissouriandreceivetheir“endowmentwithpowerfromonhigh.”11

Anotheressentialstepinthecommandto“tarry,evenasmineapostlesatJerusalem”wasthechoosingofthelatter-dayTwelveApostles,whowerecalledandordainedinFebruary1835.12Effortstopreparefortheendowmentnowintensified.Atthispointmorefrequentmentionoftheendowmentismadeinminutesandjournals,andinstructionexpanded.ThroughOliverCowdery,theFirstPresidencygavethenewlyordainedTwelvetheirapostoliccharge,whichincludedtheendowment.Oliverfirmlystated,“Rememberyouarenottogotoothernations,tillyoureceiveyourendowment.TarryatKirtland,untilyouareendowedwithpowerfromonhigh.”13

OnNovember3,1835,theLordspecifiedrequirementsforpersonalworthiness.HerevealedtotheTwelvethat“all[must]humblethemselvesbeforeme,beforetheywillbeaccountedworthytoreceiveanendowmenttogoforthinmynameuntoallnations.”14Ninedayslater,JosephcalledTheTwelvetogethertogivemoredetailedinstructions.Hesaid:

Theendowmentyouaresoanxiousaboutyoucannotcomprehendnow...wemustbecleanevrywhit...donotwatchforiniquityineachotherifyoudoyouwillnotgetanendowmentforGodwillnotbestowitonsuch;butifwearefaithful...Iwillventuretoprophesythatweshallgeta...blessingthatwillbeworthrememberingifweshouldliveaslongasJohntheRevelator,ourblessingswillbesuchaswehavenotrealizedbefore,norinthisgeneration....Youneedanendowmentbrethreninorderthatyoumaybepreparedandabletoovercomeallthings.15

SomeoftheTwelve,however,struggledtopreparetomeettherequirements.OrsonHyde,aboutDecember15,1835,wroteJosephabitterletteraboutbeingrefusedcreditattheChurchstorewhenitwasgiventoothers.Afterreadingit,Josephrecordedthefollowingprayer:

IprayThee,myheavenlyFather,inthenameofJesusofNazareth,thathemaybedeliveredfromthepowerofthedestroyer,thathisfaithfailnotin

thishouroftemptation,andpreparehim,andalltheElders,toreceiveanendowmentinThyhouse,evenaccordingtoThineownorderfromtimetotime,asThouseestthemworthytobecalledintoThysolemnassembly.16

Aboutthistime,WilliamSmith,theProphet’sbrother,wantedtoresignhisofficeasanApostle,partlybecauseofthestaggeringpreparationheneededtomaketobecomeworthy.Hewrote:

Iwascalledtoanaccount,bytheTwelve,yesterday,formyconduct....ItoldthemthatonreflectionuponthemanydifficultiesthatIhadhadwiththeChurch,andthemuchdisgraceIhadbroughtuponmyselfinconsequenceofthesethings,andalsothatmyhealthwouldnotpermitmetogotoschooltomakeanypreparationsfortheendowment.17

OnJanuary13,1836,SidneyRigdontaughtelementsoftheendowmenttoChurchleaders.18OnJanuary16theFirstPresidencymetinaspecialcouncilmeetingwiththeTwelvetoreconciledissension.TheTwelveexpressedtheirintention“thattheymightactinperfectunisonandharmony...andbepreparedfortheendowment.”19

TheSolemnAssemblyOnNovember3,1835,theLordcommandedtheTwelveto“preparetheir

heartsforthesolemnassembly.”20NinedayslaterJosephtoldthemthattheyhadtobeworthyaswellasprepared.Hesaid,“Strivetobepreparedinyourhearts,befaithfulinallthings,thatwhenwemeetinthesolemnassembly...wemustbecleaneverywhit.”21InDecember,JosephprayedfortheTwelve,askingthattheLordwouldsee“themworthytobecalledintoThysolemnassembly.”22ItseemsthatthetaskofinstructingandpreparingChurchleadersandmembersweighedheavilyonJoseph’smind.InJanuarythebeleagueredProphetrecorded,“Ireturnedtomyhouse,beingwearywithcontinualanxietyandlabor,inputtingalltheauthoritiesinorder,andinstrivingtopurifythemforthesolemnassembly,accordingtothecommandmentoftheLord.”23TheLordthengraduallyrevealedtoJosephthosewhomHewouldinvitetoattendthesolemnassembly.Josephsaid,“Godshallnameout”thosewhowouldbeinvitedtoattend.24

OnJanuary21anordinanceofendowment,anointingwithoil,wasintroducedinJoseph’supperofficeinthetemple.OnJanuary24,Josephrecordsthathe“metthePresidency...andcounseledonthesubjectofendowment,and

thepreparationforthesolemnassembly,whichistobecalledwhenthehouseoftheLordisfinished.”25Itseemsthatatthispoint,attentionturnedbeyondtheupcomingdedicationofthetempletothesolemnassembly,whichwastobeheldthreedaysafterthededication.ThesolemnassemblywasauniquemeetingthatoriginatedinOldTestamenttimes.IntheKirtlandsolemnassembly,thesacramentwasdistributed,theordinanceofwashingoffeetwasadministered,andJosephinstructedthepriesthoodastotheirduties.ItalsomarkedthegreatestoutpouringoftheSpirit,greaterthaninanypreviousmeeting.

Thesolemnassembly,whichtheLordcommandedJosephtohold,wasmoreimportantthaniscommonlyrecognized.Thesolemnassemblyhadbeenthefocalpointofblessingspromisedsince1832,whentheLordcommandedJosephtobuildtheKirtlandTemple.Inthatrevelationhewastold,“Tarryye,tarryyeinthisplace,andcallasolemnassembly.”26IntheKirtlandTemple’sdedicatoryprayer,JosephwasinspiredtoprayforafulfillmentoftheLord’spromiseinthesolemnassembly.27

OnMarch30,theProphetconvenedthelong-awaitedsolemnassembly.InthismeetingtheordinanceofwashingoffeetwasthelastordinanceofendowmentforthechosenandworthyelderstheninKirtland.Leaderswerespecificallychosentoattend.Theattendeeswere“thePresidency,theTwelve,theSeventies,theHighCouncil,theBishopsandtheirentirequorums,theEldersandalltheofficialmembersinthisstakeofZion,amountingtoaboutthreehundred.”28

StephenPost,onewhowaschosen,recorded:

Wednesday30th[March1836]...theordainedmembersmetinthehouseoftheLordtoattendtothelastordinanceoftheendowment....Thisordinanceisadministeredtononebutthosewhoareclean....IdidnotexpectmuchtoreceivetheordinanceasIhadnotlaboredmuchinthevineyard....However,whenwecametogether,thewordoftheLordwasthatweallshouldreceivetheordinance.OhthegoodnessandcondescensionofGod.29

ProbablymorespiritualoutpouringsoccurredinthismeetingthaninanyotherrecordedmeetinginKirtland.JosephSmithlikenedittotheoriginalDayofPentecostafterChrist’sascensioninJerusalem.Heelaborated,saying:

Thebrethrencontinuedexhorting,prophesying,andspeakingintonguesuntilfiveo’clockinthemorning.TheSaviormadeHisappearancetosome,whileangelsministeredtoothers,anditwasaPentecostandanendowment

indeed,longtoberemembered,forthesoundshallgoforthfromthisplaceintoalltheworld,andtheoccurrencesofthisdayshallbehandeddownuponthepagesofsacredhistory,toallgenerations;asthedayofPentecost,soshallthisdaybenumberedandcelebratedasayearofjubilee,andtimeofrejoicingtotheSaintsoftheMostHighGod.30

Thepromisedbestowalofthefinalordinanceofthewashingoffeetwascompletedinthismeeting,asstatedbyJosephSmith:“Ithenobservedtothequorums,thatIhadnowcompletedtheorganizationoftheChurch,andwehadpassedthroughallthenecessaryceremonies,thatIhadgiventhemalltheinstructiontheyneeded,andthattheynowwereatliberty,afterobtainingtheirlicenses,togoforthandbuilduptheKingdomofGod.”31

AfteradministeringtheordinanceinthesolemnassemblyonMarch30,1836,Josephthendeclared,“Imadethefollowingremarks:thatthetimethatwewererequiredtotarryinKirtlandtobeendowed,wouldbefulfilledinafewdays,andthentheElderswouldgoforth.”32

Fourdayslater,theLordconfirmedthattheendowmenthadindeedbeengiven.Hedeclared,“Theheartsofthousandsandtensofthousandsshallgreatlyrejoiceinconsequenceof...theendowmentwithwhichmyservantshavealreadybeenendowed...inthisHouse.”33

Theoriginalpromiseoftheendowmentin1831wasthataftertheywereendowedwithpowerfromonhigh,theywouldgo“amongallnations.”34However,onelastcriticalrequirementremainedbeforetheelderscouldbesenttoallnations.ThisconsistedofMosesconferringpriesthoodkeysuponChurchleaderssotheycouldgatherIsrael“fromthefourpartsoftheearth.”35ThesignificanceofMoses’visittotheKirtlandTempleonApril3,1836,probablyhadnotyetbeenfullyunderstood.Fromamissionarycontext,theLordwouldnotauthorizetheProphettosendmissionariesthroughouttheearthuntilafterMoseshadappearedandgiventhekeystogatherIsrael.

Those“fewdays”mentionedbyJosephSmithweremarkedforeveronApril3,1836.Christ,Moses,Elias,andElijahappearedinthetempleandbestowedpriesthoodkeysuponJosephandOliver.ThusbeganthedivinelyappointedresponsibilitiesofChrist’srestoredChurchofgatheringIsraelthroughmissionaryworkandenablingthesalvationofthedeadbybuildingtemplesandperformingvicariousordinances.FinallythepromisemadeinNewYork,thatIsraelshouldbesaved,wasformallyinitiated.TheKirtlandendowmentwasgiven.Moses,particularly,gavethekeystogatherIsraelfromthefourpartsoftheearth.Thisinitialmissionaryeffortwasthebeginningofthevastdispersion

ofthelatter-daygospeltoallnations,kindred,tongues,andpeople.First,thepromisedendowmentconsistedofordinances.36Second,the

endowmentconsistedofpowerderivedfromordinances.InSeptember1832theLordinstructedtheChurch,“Intheordinances[ofthepriesthood],thepowerofgodlinessismanifest.”37

HistoricallyitisclearthatthosewhoreceivedtheKirtlandendowmentunderstoodthat,infact,itconsistedofsacredordinances.Thefollowingquotationsillustratethatunderstanding:

GeorgeA.Smith:“Ipassedthroughtheordinancesofendowmentandreceivedmuchinstructionandmanymanifestationsofthespirit.”38

HeberC.Kimball:“IattendedthededicationoftheHouseoftheLord...andparticipatedinalltheblessingsandordinancesofendowmentwhichwerethenadministered.”39

WilfordWoodruff:“ThedayhadnowarivedforpreperationsforthesolumnassemblytheAnnointing&theendowment....Iwasabsentatthattime[in1836]mydayisnowcome&mytimeathandforthoseblessings&Ishallrecordtheeventsofeachdayoftheendowmentforthebenefitofthegenerationtocome.”40

JoelJohnson:“IalsoreceivedmyendowmentsintheHouseoftheLord...byordinations,washings,anointings,sealings,etc.”41

StephenPost:“Thelastordinanceoftheendowment...[was]theordinanceofthewashingoffeet.”42

TrumanO.AngellJr.:“IimmediatelycommencedworkingupontheHouseoftheLord,knownastheKirtlandTemple,andcontinueduntilitsdedication,previoustowhichIhadreceivedmyfirstEndowments,whichwereconductedintheupperchambersorattic,thispartofthehousehavingbeenfinishedandpreparedforuse.”43

NewelKnight:“IarrivedinsafetyinKirtland,intheSpringof1835,andcommencedlaboronthetemple,whereIcontinuedtoworkuntilitwasfinished,andreadyfortheendowments....

“IremainedinKirtlanduntilthetemplewasfinishedanddedicated.Ithenreceivedmyanointings.”44

WilliamDraper:“Thefollowingwinter[1835–36]...Ireceivedmuchgood...instructionspreparatorytotheendowment,whenthetemplewasfinished....Duringthemeetingsandendowment...Ireceivedtheordinancesandblessingswhichweremanyandgreat.”45

OliverHuntington:“Inthe[winter]of1837father...underwentapartialendowmentandpassedthroughthe...ordinancesofwashingandanointing.”46

ItisalsoclearfromaccountsthattheSaintsinKirtlandunderstoodtheordinancesoftheKirtlandendowmenttobearestorationofOldandNewTestamentordinances.Followingarerepresentativequotations:

OliverCowdery:“Thosenamedinthefirstroomwereanointedwiththesamekindofoilandintheman[ner]thatwereMosesandAaron,andthosewhostoodbeforetheLordinancientdays.”47

ErastusSnow:“AlltheseveralauthoritiesandquorumsoftheChurch...receivedtheholyanointinglike...Aaron,Davidandtheholymenofold.”48

StephenPost:“Nowhavingattendedthroughtheendowment,IcouldformanideaoftheendowmentancientlyforGod’sordinanceschangenot.”49

EbenezerRobinson:“Werejoicedgreatly,andfeltto‘praisethenameoftheLordofhosts,becausehewasrestoringtothechildrenofmeninthesedaystheancientorderofthings,andopeningthewayforthegatheringofIsrael.’”50

HeberC.Kimball:“Thisorderofthings[anointingandwashingoffeet]issimilartothatwhichwasattendedtobytheSavior,amongstHisdisciples,previoustoHisascension.”51

PerhapsthemostbelovedhymnfromtheKirtlandyearsreflectedtheSaintsdesiretoreceivetheordinances.Theoriginalfourthverseofthehymn“TheSpiritofGod”containedthefollowingwords:

We’llwash,andbewash’d,andwithoilbeanointed

Withalnotomittingthewashingoffeet:

Forhethatreceivethhispennyappointed,

Mustsurelybecleanattheharvestofwheat.52

Journalsof1836and1837indicatedcharacteristicsoftheinitialendowmentthatareseenintemplepracticetoday:

Eachrecipientreceivedtheendowmentindividually.Forexample,GeorgeA.Smith,DanielTyler,ArtemusMillet,HarrisonBurgess,ZerahPulsipher,JoelJohnson,andTrumanO.AngelrefertotheKirtlandTempleordinancesas“myendowment”or“myendowments.”

Theendowmentwasapparentlynotbestowedonthesameindividualtwice.WilfordWoodruffwasabsentin1836.Herecordsthatordinanceswererepeatedin1837“forthosethatwerenotendowed...inthespringof1836.”53

Missionariesreceivedtheirendowmentandthenleftontheirmissions.GeorgeASmith,TrumanO.Angel,andArtemusMilletwereamongthosemissionaries.

Receivingtheendowmentrequiredpersonalpreparationandworthiness.W.W.Phelpswrotetohiswife,Sally,ofthispreparation,saying,“Wearepreparing[toreceiveanendowment]tomakeourselvesclean,byfirstcleansingourhearts,forsakingoursins,forgivingeverybody,allweeverhadagainstthem...andbyKeepingallthecommandments.AswecomenearertoGodweseeourimperfectionsandnothingnessplainerandplainer.”54

ApproachingtheLordinHistemplemeantbeingdressedinawayappropriatetoenteringintoHispresence.W.W.PhelpsmadespecialmentionofthistoSally.Herelated,“Wearepreparing...by...puttingoncleandecentclothes.”55

Manyotherjournalsmadegeneralreferencetotheendowment.Some,suchasjournalsbyBenjaminBrown,ZerahPulsipher,WilliamHyde,andTrumanO.Angel,referredtotheKirtlandendowmentasa“first”endowment.

TheKirtlandendowmentwasindeedapowerfulfulfillmentoftheLord’spromiseingatheringHisSaintsthere;however,itshouldnotbeconfusedwiththeexpandedendowmentgiveninNauvoo.OrsonPrattexplained:

TheLordbeginslittlebylittle;hedoesnotrevealeverythingallatonce.HegavethepatternofthesethingsinKirtland,Ohio,asthebeginning;buttherewerenotroomsforthewashings,noroomssuchaswehavenow,andsuchaswerepreparedintheNauvooTemple;andinotherrespects,therewassomethingaddedtotheNauvooTemple.Why;Becausewehadgreaterexperience,andwerepreparedforgreaterthings.TherewasnofontinthebasementstoryoftheKirtlandTemple,forbaptismalpurposesinbehalfofthedead?Whynot!Becausethatprinciplewasnotrevealed.56

BrighamYoungconfirmedthattheKirtlandendowmentwaspreparatorytotheNauvooendowment.Hesaid,“ThosefirstElders...receivedaportionoftheirfirstendowments,orwemightsaymoreclearly,someofthefirst,orintroductory,orinitiatoryordinances,preparatorytoanendowment.”57

Nevertheless,wemustbecarefulnottominimizetheKirtlandendowment.ItwascentraltothepurposeoftheChurch’sgatheringinKirtlandandits

expansiontotheworld.ItwascentraltothepurposeforbuildingtheKirtlandTemple.KirtlandSaintscomparedtheordinancesofthatendowmenttosacredordinancesconductedinancienttimes.FromtheKirtlandendowmentsprangtempleordinancesandinstructioncentraltosubsequenttemplepractices.Today,buildinguponkeysandordinancesgivenintheKirtlandTemple,millionsofpeoplereceivethefulnessofthetempleendowmentanditsaccompanyingsacredordinances.Today,becauseofthe“beginningoftheblessing...pouredout”intheKirtlandTemple,templesareproliferatingthroughouttheworld.58

Notes^1.ThetermendowmentasusedinthischapterreferstoordinancesperformedintheKirtlandTemple.They

werereferredtoscripturallyandby1830sSaintsessentiallyas“anendowment”or“theendowment.”TheyarenotwhatSaintstodayrefertoas“theendowment,”whichhasgrowntoincludeexpandedinstruction,amongotherthings.TheKirtlandordinancesofendowmentmightbemoregenerallyincludedtodayunderthecategoryofinitiatoryordinances.

^2.Doctrine&Covenants110:9–10.^3.NoahWebster,AmericanDictionaryoftheEnglishLanguage(1828;repr.,SanFrancisco:Foundationfor

AmericanChristianEducation,1980),s.v.“endow.”^4.Doctrine&Covenants38:32–33,38.^5.Doctrine&Covenants39:15.^6.Doctrine&Covenants38:32–33.^7.Doctrine&Covenants43:11,16.^8.Doctrine&Covenants95:8–9.ChristtoldtheearlierTwelve,“TarryyeinthecityofJerusalem,untilye

beenduedwithpowerfromonhigh”(Luke24:49).ThefulfillmentofthisearlierpromisecameonthedayofPentecostwithagreatoutpouringofspiritualgiftsandmanifestations.

^9.SidneyRigdon,NewelK.Whitney,andOliverCowdery,May6,1834,inStanleyR.Gunn,OliverCowdery:SecondElderandScribe(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1962),101.

^10.Doctrine&Covenants105:33,35–36.^11.TheFarWestRecord,ed.DonaldQ.CannonandLyndonW.Cook(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1983),

68–69.ThosecalledwereEdwardPartridge,WilliamW.Phelps,IsaacMorley,JohnCorrill,JohnWhitmer,DavidWhitmer,AlgernonSidneyGilbert,PeterWhitmerJr.,SimeonCarter,NewelKnight,ParleyP.Pratt,ChristianWhitmer,SolomonHancock,ThomasB.Marsh,andLymanWight.

^12.ThosecalledwereThomasB.Marsh,DavidW.Patten,BrighamYoung,HeberC.Kimball,OrsonHyde,WilliamE.McLellin,ParleyP.Pratt,LukeS.Johnson,WilliamSmith,OrsonPratt,JohnF.Boynton,andLymanE.Johnson.

^13.KirtlandCouncilMinuteBook,typescriptbyLyndonW.Cook,1978,ChurchHistoryLibrary,TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,SaltLakeCity,Utah,162;hereaftercitedasChurchHistoryLibrary.

^14.ThePapersofJosephSmith,ed.DeanC.Jessee,2vols.(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1992),2:64.

^15.Jessee,PapersofJosephSmith,2:77.^16.JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2d

ed.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),2:334;DeanC.Jessee,MarkAshurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,Journals,1832–1839,vol.1oftheJournalsseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2008),1:123.

^17.HistoryoftheChurch,2:339;KarenLynnDavidson,DavidJ.Whittaker,MarkAshurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,Histories,1832–1844,vol.1oftheHistoriesseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2012),1:152.

^18.HistoryoftheChurch,2:368;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:151.^19.HistoryoftheChurch,2:373;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:157.^20.HistoryoftheChurch,2:301;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:83.^21.HistoryoftheChurch,2:309;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:98.^22.HistoryoftheChurch,2:334;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:123.^23.HistoryoftheChurch,2:388;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:178.^24.HistoryoftheChurch,2:309;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:98.^25.HistoryoftheChurch,2:385;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:172.^26.Doctrine&Covenants88:70;otherscripturalreferencesalsospeakofthesolemnassembly,including

Doctrine&Covenants88:117;95:7;109:6,10.^27.Doctrine&Covenants109:6,10.^28.HistoryoftheChurch,2:430;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:213.^29.DiaryofStephenPost,Holograph,ChurchHistoryLibrary,5.^30.HistoryoftheChurch,2:432–33;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:215–16.^31.HistoryoftheChurch,2:432;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:215.^32.HistoryoftheChurch,2:431;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:214.^33.Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:222.Thiswordingisasitappearsintheoriginalrecord

aspublishedinJessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:222(photographon220).ThelanguagemakesclearthattheendowmenthadbeengivenbeforeApril3,1836,addingtheword“already”tothetextfoundinDoctrine&Covenants110:9.

^34.Doctrine&Covenants38:33.^35.Doctrine&Covenants110:11.^36.OrdinancesperformedintheKirtlandTempleor“atticstoryoftheprintingoffice”adjacenttothe

templeincludedawashingordinance,ananointingoftheheadwithoil,asealingoftheanointing,andawashingofthefeet(HistoryoftheChurch,2:379,386,430;WilfordWoodruff,WilfordWoodruff’sJournal,1833–1898,ed.ScottG.Kenney,typescript,9vols.[Midvale,Utah:SignatureBooks,1983–85],1:130).

^37.Doctrine&Covenants84:20.^38.GeorgeA.Smith,“MyJournal,”Instructor81,no.11(1946):514.^39.“SynopsisoftheHistoryofHeberChaseKimball,”MillennialStar26(September3,1864):569.

^40.Woodruff,Journal,1:128.^41.JoelHillsJohnson,Autobiography(1802–1868),typescript,ChurchHistoryLibrary,5.^42.DiaryofStephenPost,5.^43.“TrumanAngellAutobiography,”inOurPioneerHeritage,comp.KateB.Carter,20vols.(SaltLake

City:DaughtersofUtahPioneers,1958–77),10:197.^44.“NewelKnight’sJournal,”inScrapsofBiographyinClassicExperiencesandAdventures(SaltLake

City:Bookcraft,1969),94.^45.Carter,“WilliamDraper—DefenderoftheFaith,”15:67.^46.OliverHuntington,Autobiography,29–30,L.TomPerrySpecialCollections,HaroldB.LeeLibrary,

Provo,Utah;hereaftercitedasBYUSpecialCollections.^47.LeonardJ.Arrington,“OliverCowdery’sKirtland,Ohio,‘SketchBook,’”BYUStudies12,no.4(1972):

419.^48.ErastusSnow,“AJournalorSketchoftheLifeofErastusSnow,”typescript,5,BYUSpecial

Collections.^49.DiaryofStephenPost,5.^50.EbenezerRobinson,TheReturn1,no.6(June1889),90–91.^51.HeberC.Kimball,inOrsonF.Whitney,LifeofHeberC.Kimball(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1945),92–

93.^52.ACollectionofSacredHymns,fortheChurchoftheLatterDaySaints,sel.EmmaSmith(Kirtland,

Ohio:F.G.Williams&Co.,1835),120–21.Theseversesweresungatthe1836templededication.ThetitlerecordedinHistoryoftheChurchwas“HosannaHymn.”

^53.Woodruff,Journal,1:128.^54.WilliamW.Phelps,Journal,January[17],1836,110,WilliamWinesPhelps(1792–1872)Papers,Vault

MSS810,BYUSpecialCollections.^55.Phelps,Journal,110.^56.OrsonPratt,inJournalofDiscourses,26vols.(London:Latter-daySaints’BookDepot,1854–86),

19:19.^57.BrighamYoung,inJournalofDiscourses,2:31.^58.Doctrine&Covenants110:10.

Chapter14

ChristRaisesanEnsignandBeginsaLong-AwaitedGathering

From[Kirtland],whosoeverIwillshallgoforthamongallnations...forIsraelshallbesaved,andIwillleadthem.—Doctrine&Covenants38:33

OnApril3,1836,theLordJesusChriststoodonthepulpitoftheKirtlandTempleandliftedHislong-prophesiedensignofgatheringHischildrenforallpeopletosee.Hefulfilledmanypropheciesthatday,includingIsaiah’sassurancethatChrist“shallsetupanensignforthenations,andshallassembletheoutcastsofIsrael...fromthefourcornersoftheearth.”1Inonesense,theLordraisedtheKirtlandTempleitselfasanensign.FromitselevatedpulpitsthatAprilday,theSaviordeclared,“Thefameofthishouseshallspreadtoforeignlands.”2FourdaysbeforeChrist’svisit,Josephprophesiedthatthismessageofrestorationwould“goforthfrom[theKirtlandTemple]intoalltheworld.”3

InHisunprecedentedvisit,ChristbroughtwithHimthreecelestialcompanions—Moses,Elias,andElijah,twoofwhomChristians,Muslims,andJewshailasprophets.Onthisday,thesereveredprophetssetinmotionthefulfillmentoftheAbrahamiccovenant.Thatcovenantisparticularlyrecognizabletothoseofallthreemajorfaiths,whoarethe“seed”ofAbraham.AbrahamalsoappearedintheKirtlandTemple,4andhewrotethebookofAbraham,whichJosephSmithtranslatedin1835.Abraham’sappearanceandhiswritingsareoftenoverlookedasanensigntotheMuslimandJewishpeoples,whocounthimastheirfatherandagreatprophet.Infact,thenewsofthesefourdivinevisitorstothefirstlatter-daytempleshouldhavebeenhailedwithrejoicingandheadlinesthroughouttheworldtothoseofallfaiths.

CompletingtheLord’sFour-PhasePlanOnApril3,1836,theLordsetinmotionthefinalphaseofHisplantosave

eachofHischildren.5ItappearsthataftertheFlood,theLordenactedthisfour-phaseplan.ThefirstphaseprobablybeganatthetimeoftheTowerofBabelwhenHebegantoestablishtheGentilenations.6AncientscripturedocumentshowtheLordconfoundedthelanguageofHisdisobedientchildren.Thisresultedintheinabilityofthepeopletounderstandoneanother’sspeechandinthescatteringofthepeoplethroughouttheworld.TheLorddocumentedHisplanbydeclaring,“ItheLord,willscatterthemabroad...uponallthefaceoftheland,anduntoeveryquarteroftheearth.”7

ThesecondphaseoftheplanwastoestablishthehouseofIsraelhundredsofyearslaterthroughAbraham,Isaac,andJacob,whosenamewaschangedtoIsrael.ThechildrenofIsraelarealsoknownasthecovenantpeoplebecausetheLordmadecovenantswiththeirpatriarchsAbraham,Isaac,andJacob,aswellaspatriarchsasfarbackasAdam.8TheLordcovenantedwithAbrahamtogivehimalandinheritanceandmakehima“fatherofmanynations.”9Christalso

madean“everlastingcovenant”thatHewouldalwaysbeGodtoAbrahamandhisposterity.10HepromisedthechildrenofIsrael,“Iwillredeemyou...AndIwilltakeyoutomeforapeople,andIwillbetoyouaGod.”11HecovenantedthatAbraham’sposteritywouldbeasinnumerableasthe“starsofheaven”12or“sandupontheseashore.”13Abrahamandhisposteritywerealsotobeblessedtoholdthepriesthood.14AndAbraham’snamewastoberememberedthroughouttheearth,whichwouldresultinthegospelandthepriesthoodbeingtakentoallpeoplesothattheycouldreceivesalvationandeternallife:

Iwillmake...thynamegreatamongallnations,and...thyseed...shallbear[the]Priesthooduntoallnations;...andinthyseed...(thatistosay,theliteralseed,ortheseedofthebody)shallallthefamiliesoftheearthbeblessed,evenwiththeblessingsoftheGospel,whicharetheblessingsofsalvation,evenoflifeeternal.15

ThethirdphaseofHisplanbeganin722b.c.whentheLordbegantodispersethemillionsofHischosenIsraelthroughouttheGentilenations.Thetentribes,wholivedintheNorthernKingdom,weretakencaptiveatthattimeintoAssyria.Fromthere,themainbodywastakentonon-disclosedlocationsinthe“landofthenorth.”16However,greatnumberswereapparentlyleftbehind.17Othersafterabout600b.c.,suchasLehiandIshmael,populatedotherlands.AfterthistimetheremainingIsraelitesintheSouthernKingdom,primarilyofJudah,werescatteredthroughoutmanynations.TheLordinformedholyprophetsofHisplantoscatterIsraellongbeforeithappened.HealsocausedthemtorecordHiswordsinholywrit.ThefollowingscripturesarerepresentativeofwhatnumerousprophetsrecordedintheBibleandBookofMormon:

•“Ishallscatterthemamongthenations,anddispersetheminthecountries.”18

•“Iwillscatteryouamongtheheathen.”19

•“IwillsiftthehouseofIsraelamongallnations.”20

•“TheLordshallcausetheetobe...removedintoallthekingdomsoftheearth.”21

•“TheLordshallscattertheeamongallpeople,fromtheoneendoftheearthevenuntotheother.”22

•“ThehouseofIsrael,soonerorlater,willbescattereduponallthefaceoftheearth.”23

TheLordapparentlyeffectedthisdispersionandscatteringtoultimatelybeaspiritualblessingandsalvationtoallGentilenations.PresidentJosephFieldingSmith,alatter-dayprophetandstudentofthescriptures,pointedoutthatthisscatteringenabledthebloodlineofAbrahamtobeassimilatedintoGentilenations:

ThehouseofIsrael[was]scatteredamongtheGentilestobeablessingtotheGentilenationsandmakethemofthebloodofIsraelthroughthegospel.ThescatteringofIsraelamongthenationswasnotintendedmerelyasapunishment,butastheleavenwhichwouldleaventheGentilenationsandmakethemofthebloodofAbraham,accordingtothepromisesgiventoAbraham.24

PresidentSmithalsousedtheBookofMormonallegoryoftheolivetreestoexplainthescatteringofIsrael:

Theinterpretationofthisparable...isastoryofthescatteringofIsraelandthemixingofthebloodofIsraelwiththewildolivetrees,orGentilepeoples,inallpartsoftheworld.ThereforewefindinChina,Japan,India,andinallothercountriesthatareinhabitedbytheGentilesthatthebloodofIsraelwasscattered,or‘grafted,’amongthem.ThereforeinthisdayofgatheringtheLordisfulfillinghispurposesandiscallingbackintothefoldoftheTrueShepherd,thechildrenofAbraham.25

HughNibley,arespectedLatter-daySaintscholarofancienthistory,explainedtheeffectofthescatteringinmorecolorfullanguage:

Abraham’sseed[is]sownamongallthenationsoftheearth.Whatwehavehereisthislong,fitfulmotionandmixingandseparationandcollisionandebbandflowandbreakingandjoiningandscattering—springingthere,expandinghere,witheringthere.Absorbed,rejected,leaveningthewholelump,likeyeast—thisconstantchurningaroundthatmakesallofthebloodofIsrael.26

Inastoundingfulfillmentofancientcovenantsandpromises,itappearsthatAbraham’sbloodlineisnowfoundinalmostallpeopleonearth.Hisposterityisindeedinnumerable.ElderBruceR.McConkieexplainedthereligioussignificanceofintegratingthebloodlineofIsraelwiththatofallothernationsandpeople.Hesaidthatthisbloodlinecouldbecalled“believingblood”becauseitbroughtwithitatendencytorecognizetruthandacceptthegospel.Hewrote:

Ingeneral,theLordsendstoearthinthelineageofJacobthosespiritswho

inpre-existencedevelopedanespecialtalentforspiritualityandforrecognizingtruth.Thoseborninthislineage,havingthebloodofIsraelintheirveinsandfindingiteasytoacceptthegospel,aresaidtohavebelievingblood.

SincemuchofIsraelhasbeenscatteredamongtheGentilenations,itfollowsthatmillionsofpeoplehavemixedblood,bloodthatispartIsraelandpartGentile.27

ChristFulfillsAncientCovenantsIntheKirtlandTemple,onApril3,1836,Christpersonallylaunchedthe

fulfillmentofthefourthandfinalphaseofHisplan.Onthatlong-awaitedday,HefulfilledsomeofHismostdeeplyrootedcovenantsthatHeenteredintowithAbrahamandancientIsrael.ItseemsthattheSaviorwouldhavehadgreatjoyanddesiretofulfillHisage-oldcovenants.InHisownwords,ChristdiscussedsomespecificcovenantsthatHehadmadeandwasabouttofulfill:

•“IremembermycovenantwithJacob...Isaac,and...Abraham.”28

•“AndthenwillIremembermycovenantwhichIhavemadeuntomypeople,OhouseofIsrael,andIwillbringmygospeluntothem.”29

•“Iswareuntoyourfathers...Iwillneverbreakmycovenantwithyou.”30

•“Iwillremembermycovenantuntoyou,OhouseofIsrael.”31

Now,afterabouttwenty-fivehundredyearsofintegratingIsrael’sbloodlinethroughouttheworld,ChristwasfinallyreadytosendHismessengersouttogatherinHiscovenantpeople.ChristdocumentedthisfinalphaseofHisplanlonginadvance.FollowingareonlyafewofHispromises:

“IwillgathertheremnantofmyflockoutofallcountrieswhitherIhavedriventhem,andwillbringthemagaintotheirfolds;andtheyshallbefruitfulandincrease.AndIwillsetupshepherdsoverthemwhichshallfeedthem:andtheyshallfearnomore,norbedismayed,neithershalltheybelacking,saiththeLord.”32

“Iwillbringthyseedfromtheeast,andgathertheefromthewest;Iwillsaytothenorth,Giveup;andtothesouth,Keepnotback:bringmysonsfromfar,andmydaughtersfromtheendsoftheearth;eveneveryonethatiscalledbymyname.”33

“Iwillgatherthemoutofallcountries,whitherIhavedriventhem....Andtheyshallbemypeople,andIwillbetheirGod.”34

April3,1836,wascertainlyahighandholyday!ParleyP.Pratt,inanotherareaofthetemplethatday,describedthe

significanceofthelong-awaitedgatheringempoweredbysacredeventsthattranspiredonApril3,1836.Inthehymn“TheMorningBreaks,”ParleyhighlightsvisitsbyChristandangelicmessengers.Hetellsofthelatter-daygatheringofbothIsraelandtheGentilenations.Since1840,theChurchhasfrequentlyplacedthishymnfirstinChurchhymnals:

Themorningbreaks,theshadowsflee;

Lo,Zion’sstandardisunfurled!Thegloryburstingfromafar...

Wideo’erthenationssoonwillshine.TheGentilefulnessnowcomesin;

AndIsrael’sblessingsareathand....Jehovahspeaks!Letearthgiveear,

AndGentilenationsturnandlive...

Angelsfromheavenandtruthfromearth

Havemet,andbothhaverecordborne;ThusZion’slightisburstingforth

Tobringherransomedchildrenhome.35

ChristInstructsJosephSmithinHisMissionChristannouncedHisplantogatherIsraelasearlyas1823whenMoroni

toldJosephSmiththatMoronihimselfwas“senttobringthejoyfultidingsthatthecovenantwhichGodmadewithancientIsraelwasathand.”36In1829,JosephlearnedfromthetitlepageoftheBookofMormonthatitspurposewas“toshowuntotheremnantofthehouseofIsrael...thattheymayknowthecovenantsoftheLord,thattheyarenotcastoffforever.”37In1831,theLordtoldJosephthatthegatheringofIsraelwouldcommenceinKirtland,“Andfromthence[Kirtland],whosoeverIwillshallgoforthamongallnations...forIsraelshallbesaved,andIwillleadthem.”38

JosephSmithobviouslyfelttheheavyweightoftheenormityofhistasktogatherIsrael.Thisisevidencedin1833,whenheanxiouslyrequestedaNewYorknewspapertopublishthenewsthatthelonganticipatedtimewasfinallyathand.Heboldlystated:

ThetimehasatlastarrivedwhentheGodofAbraham,ofIsaac,andofJacob,hassethishandagainthesecondtimetorecovertheremnantsofhispeople,whichhavebeenleftfromAssyria,andfromEgypt,andfromPathros,andfromCush,andfromElam,andfromShinar,andfromHamath,andfromtheislandsofthesea,andwiththemtobringinthefulnessoftheGentiles,andestablishthatcovenantwiththem,whichwaspromised.39

WhenJosephdiscoveredthattheeditorhadpublishedonlypartofhisletter,hepleadedforthefulltexttobeprinted.Joseph’sneedtoinformtheworldisevidencedbyanuncharacteristicthreateningtoneofasecondletter:

DearSir:—Iwassomewhatdisappointedonreceivingmypaperwithonlyapartofmyletterinsertedinit.TheletterwhichIwroteyouforpublication,IwrotebythecommandmentofGod,andIamquiteanxioustohaveitalllaidbeforethepublic....

...Inowsayuntoyou,thatifyouwishtoclearyourgarmentsfromthebloodofyourreaders,Iexhortyoutopublishthatletterentire;butifnot,thesinbeuponyourhead.Accept,sirthegoodwishesandtenderregardofyourunworthyservant,

JosephSmith,Jun.40

AlthoughtheProphetclearlyunderstoodhisresponsibilitytogatherIsrael,healsoknewthatIsrael’sgatheringcouldnotcommenceuntiltheKirtlandTemplewascompleted.In1832,missionarieswhowouldbesentoutintotheworldweretoldtowaituntilthetemplewasbuilt.TheLorddeclared,“Tarryye,tarryyeinthisplace[Kirtland]....andestablishahouse,even...ahouseofGod.”41In1834,Churchleaderswarned,“IfthehouseisnotbuilttheElders...cannevergotothenationswiththeeverlastinggospel.”42In1835,theKirtlandTemple,theplacewheretheTwelveApostleswouldreceivetheirendowment,wasstillunderconstruction.Theyweretold,“Rememberyouarenottogotoothernations,tillyoureceiveyourendowment.TarryatKirtland.”43Thus,theKirtlandTemplebecamethekeylinkinthechainofthegathering.Aprimarypurposeforthetemplewastoreceivefinalkeysandauthority.Mosescouldn’t

returnthekeysofgatheringIsraeluntilthetemplewascompleted.PresidentJosephFieldingSmithexplainedthatmissionariesneededtobeendowedandpreparedinthetemple:“TheLordcommandedtheSaintstobuildatemple[theKirtlandTemple]inwhichhecouldrevealthekeysofauthorityandwheretheapostlescouldbeendowedandpreparedtoprunehisvineyardforthelasttime.”44

TheVisitationofMosesMoses,theprophetwhopartedtheRedSea,spokewithGodonSinaiand

revealedcommandmentswherebyChristiansandJewsgaugetheirconduct—stoodinglorybeforeJosephSmithandOliverCowderyintheKirtlandTemple.HowmustJosephandOliverhavefelttofacesuchapowerfulandreveredprophet?FewexperiencescouldhavebeenasglorioustothemastheystoodatMoses’feet.Moses,God’sanointedprophetwhogatheredIsraelthefirsttimefromEgypt,nowtransferredtheauthoritytogatherandleadIsraelagaininthelatterdays.

AsMosesreceivedtheauthorityandcommissionancientlyto“bringforthmypeoplethechildrenofIsraeloutofEgypt,”Josephreceivedtheauthorityandasimilarcommissiontobealatter-dayMoses—togathertheLord’speople,thechildrenofIsrael,outofallpartsoftheearthinthelatterdays.45Ofthisexperience,JosephandOliverwrote:“Theheavenswereagainopeneduntous;andMosesappearedbeforeus,andcommitteduntousthekeysofthegatheringofIsraelfromthefourpartsoftheearth,andtheleadingofthetentribesfromthelandofthenorth.”46

JosephSmithunderstoodhisroleinthegatheringofIsrael.Earlier,onJanuary21,1836,hewasgivenanassignmentparallelingtheLord’smandatetoMoses.Josephwasanointedandblessedbyhisfather“toleadIsraelinthelatterdays,evenasMosesledhimindaysofold.”47Josephacknowledgedhisdesignatedrole,saying,“Ihavethehonor...tobeyourleader&lawyierasMosestotheChildrenofIsrael.”48

AsadirectconsequenceofMosesappearinginthetemple,OrsonHydewascommissionedin1840togotoJerusalem.OnOctober24,1841,ElderHydededicatedthatlandwhereabouttwenty-fivethousandJewsthenlived,forthereturnofscatteredIsrael.IntheGod-givendedicatoryprayerfortheKirtlandTemple,Josephprayedthat“Jerusalem,fromthishour,maybegintoberedeemed;andtheyokeofbondagemaybegintobebrokenofffromthehouseofDavid;andthechildrenofJudahmaybegintoreturntothelandswhichthou

didstgivetoAbraham,theirfather.”49WhenMosesappearedinKirtlandin1836,itwasunthinkablethattheJewishpeoplecouldreturntotheirhomeland.Bytheyear2012,morethanthreemillionJewshadreturnedtoIsrael.50

PartofMoses’keysofgatheringextendstothereturnofthelosttentribes.Littleisknownaboutthem.Christ,concernedaboutalloflatter-dayIsrael,didn’tforgetthem.TheLordtoldJosephSmiththatthelosttribesare“inthenorthcountries.”51TheLordsaysthattheywillcomeinremembrancebeforehimandcometoZion“filledwithsongsofeverlastingjoy.”52Theywill“falldownandbecrownedwithglory”underthehandsofthechildrenofEphraim.53

TheLordmadeclearthatthegatheringwouldbeginfromtheKirtlandTemple.Inthededicatoryprayer,theLordinspiredJosephSmithtopray:

Andfromthisplacetheymaybearexceedinglygreatandglorioustidings,intruth,untotheendsoftheearth,thattheymayknowthatthisisthywork,andthatthouhastputforththyhand,tofulfilthatwhichthouhastspokenbythemouthsoftheprophets,concerningthelastdays....

...thouhastagreatloveforthechildrenofJacob[Israel],whohavebeenscattered....

WethereforeasktheetohavemercyuponthechildrenofJacob....

AndcausethattheremnantsofJacob...beconverted...tothefulnessoftheeverlastinggospel....

AndmayallthescatteredremnantsofIsrael,whohavebeendriventotheendsoftheearth,cometoaknowledgeofthetruth.54

OnSunday,March27,the“HouseofGod,”theKirtlandTemple,wasdedicated.ThesolemnassemblywasheldthreedayslateronMarch30.Atthattime,thefinalKirtlandendowmentordinancewasbestowedonleadersandmissionarieswhowouldtakethemessagetotheworld.Duringthatsacredmeeting,justfourdayspriortoMoses’visit,Josephannounced,“ThetimethatwewererequiredtotarryinKirtland...wouldbefulfilledinafewdays,andthentheelderswouldgoforth.”55Josephthentoldtheassembledmissionariesthattheycouldobtaintheirlicenses.56OnApril3,ChristformallyacceptedtheTemple.57Immediatelyafterward,MosescametobringkeystoinitiatethegatheringofIsrael.ChurchmemberstodayassociatethekeysofMoseswithamissionoftheChurchto“PreachMyGospel.”

Nolongerweretheselatter-daygathererstoberestrained.Duringtheweek

thatMosesreturnedwiththekeys,Josephsentmissionariesoutwiththisinstruction:“LettheredemptionofZionbeourobject.”Josephcontinuedbysayingoftheelders,“Theynowwereatliberty,afterobtainingtheirlicenses,togoforthandbuilduptheKingdomofGod.”58IsitcoincidencethatMosesreturnedduringPassover,aJewishholydaythatbeganthousandsofyearsearlierwhenMosesledandguidedthechildrenofIsraeloutofEgypt?

TheLordInitiatesEventsfortheGospeltoGotoEuropeImmediatelyafterMosesreturnedthekeysofgatheringIsrael,theLordset

eventsinmotionforthegospeltogotoEngland.ThischainofeventsstartedwiththevisitofHeberC.KimballandotherstoParleyPratt’shomeinKirtland.Heber,whowouldsailacrosstheAtlanticayearlaterasleaderofthefirstmissionarycontingenttogotoEurope,gaveapriesthoodblessingtoParleyandhiswife,Thankful.HeberprophesiedthatParleywouldfulfillamissiontoCanadaandplantseedstherethatwouldresultinabounteousharvestofEnglishconverts.

Inaninspiredprophecy,Hebersaid:

Arise...andgoforthintheministry,nothingdoubting.Takenothoughtsforyourdebts,northenecessariesoflife,fortheLordwillsupplyyouwithabundantmeansforallthings.

ThoushaltgotoUpperCanada,eventothecityofToronto,...andtherethoushaltfindapeoplepreparedforthefulnessofthegospel,andtheyshallreceivethee,and...theChurch...shallspreadthenceintotheregionsroundabout,andmanyshallbebroughttotheknowledgeofthetruth...andfromthethingsgrowingoutofthismission,shallthefulnessofthegospelspreadintoEngland,andcauseagreatworktobedoneinthatland.59

JusttwodaysfollowingMoses’visit,ParleyleftKirtlandandsethiscourseforthecityofToronto,wheretheLordwouldleadhimtoconnectionsHehadalreadyputinplacetobegintheworkinEngland.AsParleyreachedHamilton,Canada,onLakeOntario,theLord,truetotheinspiredprophecy,extendedHishelpinghand.ToreachTorontofaster,Parleydesiredtotakeaship,whichwouldtakeonlytwohours.TravelingonthelakewasfarmorefavorablethandaysoflaborioustrudgingthroughthemudofCanada’sspringthaw.AloneandwithoutthetwodollarsrequiredforpassagetoToronto,Parleydescribedhissituation:

IwasanentirestrangerinHamilton,andalsointheprovince;andmoneyIhadnone.UnderthesecircumstancesIponderedwhatIshoulddo.Ihadmanytimesreceivedanswerstoprayerinsuchmatters;butnowitseemedhardtoexercisefaith,becauseIwasamongstrangersandentirelyunknown.TheSpiritseemedtowhispertometotrytheLord,andseeifanythingwastoohardforhim,thatImightknowandtrustHimunderallcircumstances.IretiredtoasecretplaceinaforestandprayedtotheLordformoneytoenablemetocrossthelake.IthenenteredHamiltonandcommencedtochatwithsomeofthepeople.IhadnottarriedmanyminutesbeforeIwasaccostedbyastranger,whoinquiredmynameandwhereIwasgoing.HealsoaskedmeifIdidnotwantsomemoney.Isaidyes.HethengavemetendollarsandaletterofintroductiontoJohnTaylor,ofToronto.60

AfterarrivinginTorontoonApril19,ParleyproceededimmediatelytoJohnTaylor’shomewithhisletterofintroduction.Parleymetwithimmediatesuccessinthearea.Heheldaseriesofmeetings,performedamiracle,andreceivedreferralstoafamilynamedFieldingandotherswhohadrelativesandfriendsinEngland.ParleybaptizedtheTaylors;JosephFielding;Joseph’ssisters,Mary(whowouldlatermarryHyrumSmith)andMercy;andmanyothers.HealsoorganizedabranchoftheChurchnearToronto.InadditiontoJosephFielding,threeotherbrethrenwithconnectionsinEnglandwerebaptized—JohnGoodson,IsaacRussell,andJohnSnyder.ThesefourwouldlaterjointhefirstmissionarycomplementofsevenelderssenttoEnglandunderthedirectionofHeberC.Kimball.

ThefirstmissionarycontactsinEnglandcamethroughletterswrittenbyParley’sconverts.JohnTaylorsaid,“IwasthefirstpersonthatwrotealettertoEnglandonthesubjectoftheGospel;IdiditattherequestofBrotherFielding,whogotmetowriteforhimtoabrotherandbrother-in-lawofhiswhowereministersinEngland.”61

Joseph,Mary,andMercyFieldingalsowrotelettersproclaimingthetruthoftherestoredgospeltotheirbrother,JamesFielding,andtotheirbrother-in-law,TimothyMatthews,bothleadersofcongregationsinEngland.Jamesreadtheirlettersoverthepulpittohiscongregation.OtherconvertswrotesimilarlettersoftestimonytofriendsandfamilyinEngland.AccordingtoParley,“SeveraloftheSaintsinCanadawereEnglish,whohadfriendsinEngland.LettershadalreadybeensenttothemwithinformationoftheriseoftheChurch,andofitsprinciples.SeveraloftheCanadianEldersfeltadesiretogoonamissiontotheirfriendsinthatcountry.”62

TheseletterslaterprovedtobeinfluentialinpavingthewayforthefirstmissionariesinEnglandtoreceiveawarmwelcome.Thetwoclerics,JamesFieldingandTimothyMatthews,turnedtheirpulpitsovertothemissionaries.HeberC.Kimballwrote,“Thegreaterportionoftheirmembersreceivedourtestimony,obeyedtheordinanceswetaught,andarenowrejoicingintheblessingsofthenewandeverlastingcovenant.”63Neithermanacceptedbaptism,buttheyenabledthegospeltobefirmlyestablishedinEngland.

JohnTaylorconcludedin1836thatParley’smission“wasthemeans...ofsendingtheGospeltoEngland.”64Parley’smissiontoCanadaalsoprovedtobethefirststepinsendingthegospeltotheworld.

TheLord’spreparationinCanadaresultedinthefirstbaptismsabroadinEnglandin1837.Missionarieswhowereendowedwithordinances,spiritualmanifestations,andpowerwerefinallycommissionedunderthefullkeysofgatheringbestowedbyMoses.Theythenleftunderthedirectionofthelatter-dayMoses,JosephSmith.Totheseven-year-oldChurch,thismeantthatmissionaries,whohadlimitedtheiractivitytotheUnitedStatesandCanada,couldnowproselytethroughouttheearth.

TheKeysofMosesandofPeter,James,andJohnIn1829,Peter,James,andJohnordainedJosephSmithandOliverCowdery

totheMelchizedekPriesthoodandconfirmedthemtobeApostlesandespecialwitnessesofChrist.WiththisordinationcamethekeysofChrist’skingdomanditsfinalgospeldispensation.65Underthatauthority,missionariespreachedthegospelintheUnitedStatesandCanadaandbegantobuilduptheChurch.TheLord,however,restrainedmissionariesfromgoingabroaduntilMosesreturnedwithhiskeystogatherIsrael.Thedifferencebetweenthekeysof1829and1836arenotfullyunderstood,butwedoknowthatMoses’keysbroadlypertainedtogatheringIsraelfromthefourpartsoftheearth.ThoseofPeter,James,andJohnwereusedtoinitiatemissionaryworkinCanadaandtheUnitedStates.

JosephFieldingSmith,drawingadistinctionbetweenthekeystopreachandthekeystogather,taught:“ThekeysorpowertogoforthandproclaimthegospelwasrestoredtoJosephSmithandOliverCowderywhenPeter,James,andJohnconferreduponthemtheMelchizedekPriesthoodbeforetheorganizationoftheChurch.”66Hesaid,“Moseswassenttorestorethekeysofthegathering,notthepreachingofthegospel.Itwasafterpeoplewereconvertedthatthespiritofgatheringenteredtheirsouls.”67

ElderBruceR.McConkieusedthephrase“fullgathering”toexplainthe

meaningofMoses’keysandpowers:

Bythe3rdofAprilin1836manythousandshadcomeoutoftheEgyptoftheworldintoapromisedlandofgospelpeace.Andthentheheavenswererent,theGreatGodsentMosesbacktoconferkeysandpowersuponmortals,andthewaywaspreparedforthefullgatheringthatwouldmakethefirstflightoutofEgyptseemasnothing.68

“AnEnsigntotheNations”Finally,aprophecyrevealedinanupstairsroomofNewelK.Whitney’s

simplefrontierstorebecameanensignfromKirtlandtoallnations.TheLorddeclared:“Foritshallcometopassinthatday,thateverymanshallhearthefulnessofthegospelinhisowntongue,andinhisownlanguage,throughthosewhoareordaineduntothispower,bytheadministrationoftheComforter,shedforthuponthemfortherevelationofJesusChrist.”69

TheLordmadeitimmediatelyclearinOhiothatHewasconcernedwithallpeople:“ThevoiceoftheLordisuntoallmen....allthatwillhearmayhear....ItheLordamwillingtomakethesethingsknownuntoallflesh;ForIamnorespecterofpersons.”70JosephSmithtaughtthatthosewhoarenotofIsraelbutacceptthegospelandreceivetheHolyGhostareliterallychangedandchosentoreceiveallblessingspromisedtotheobedientinIsrael.71

SixyearsafterMoses’visittotheKirtlandTemple,JosephSmithreportedtheprogressoftheChurchinalettertoaChicagonewspaper.HestatedthataprinciplepurposeoftheChurchwas“theliteralgatheringofIsraeland...therestorationoftheTenTribes.”72Henotedthattheworld-widegatheringwaswellunderway:“TheEldersofthisChurch[have]goneforth....intoEngland,Ireland,Scotland,andWales,where...overfivethousandjoined...[and]therearenumbersnowjoiningineveryland.”Hefurtherstated,“Ourmissionariesaregoingforthtodifferentnations...Germany,Palestine,NewHolland,Australia,theEastIndies,andotherplaces.73

TheProphetthendeclaredtheChurch’scommitmentanddeterminationtoseethegatheringofIsraelcompleted:

TheStandardofTruthhasbeenerected;nounhallowedhandcanstoptheworkfromprogressing;persecutionsmayrage,mobsmaycombine,armiesmayassemble,calumnymaydefame,butthetruthofGodwillgoforthboldly,nobly,andindependent,tillithaspenetratedeverycontinent,visitedeveryclime,swepteverycountry,andsoundedineveryear,tillthepurposes

ofGodshallbeaccomplished,andtheGreatJehovahshallsaytheworkisdone.74

ThegospelofJesusChristasempoweredinKirtlandwouldneverbestopped.

Notes^1.Isaiah11:12.^2.Doctrine&Covenants110:10.^3.JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2d

ed.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),2:433;DeanC.Jessee,MarkAshurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,Journals,1832–1839,vol.1oftheJournalsseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2008),1:216.

^4.Doctrine&Covenants137:5.^5.InthecontextoftheOldTestament,theterminology“Christ”and“theLord”areusedsynonymously.

BruceR.McConkiewrote,“Jehovah-ChrististheGodofIsrael....whenhe,asaresurrectedperson,invitedtheNephitestofeeltheprintsofthenailsinhishandsandinhisfeet,hediditsothattheymayknowthathewastheGodofIsrael...andhadbeen‘slainforthesinsoftheworld’(3Ne.11:14).AsIsrael’sGod,itisclearthatheandnottheFatherspoketoalltheancientprophets—toMoses,Isaiah,Malachi,toallwhowerecalledasguidesandlightstotheLord’sancientpeoples.HeitwaswhogavetheLawofMosesandinhimitwasfulfilled(3Ne.15:1–10).Infact,thewholeOldTestamentismostexplicitthattheDeityinwhosenametheancientprophetsspokewasJehovah,notElohim”(ThePromisedMessiah[SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1978],122).

^6.ThetermGentileisgenerallyusedtodenoteallnationsandpeoplenotofthehouseofIsrael;however,theearliestusageofthewordintheKingJamesBibleoccurredbeforethehouseofIsraelwasestablishedanddatesfromthesamegeneraltimeperiodastheTowerofBabel.Nimrod,thegreat-grandsonofNoah,isoftencreditedasbeingthebuilderoftheTowerofBabel.Accordingtothebiblicalaccount,hiscousins,whoweresonsofJapethand,likeNimrod,great-grandsonsofNoah,divided“theislesoftheGentiles...intheirlands;everyoneafterhistongue,aftertheirfamilies,intheirnations”(Genesis10:5).ItisthereforeassumedthattheGentilenationsemergedaftertheconfusionoftongues.

^7.JST,Genesis11:5.^8.Itshouldbenotedthatfromthebeginning,theLordestablishedapatternofmakingcovenantswith

patriarchsandpeoples.ProfessorGeorgeS.Tatediscussedthesecovenants:“God’scovenantrelationshipwithmankindbeganwithAdamandEve.TextsinthePearlofGreatPriceshowthatAdamandEvewerethefirstaftertheFalltoenterintoacovenantrelationshipwithGod—throughsacrifice,baptism(Moses6:64–66),andreceivingthepriesthoodandordinancesassociatedwiththetemple:‘ThusallthingswereconfirmeduntoAdam,byanholyordinance’(Moses5:59;seealso4:4–5,8,10–12).AdamandEvewerepromisedasaviorandwereinstructedtobeobedient,toberepentant,andtodoallthingsinthenameoftheSonofGod(Moses5:6–8)”(“CovenantsinBiblicalTimes,”in

EncyclopediaofMormonism,ed.DanielH.Ludlowetal.,4vols.[NewYork:Macmillan,1992],1:334.)

^9.Genesis17:4;seealso15:18;17:8.^10.Genesis17:7.^11.Exodus6:6–7.^12.Exodus32:13.^13.Doctrine&Covenants132:30.^14.Abraham1:3–4,18.^15.Abraham2:9,11.^16.Doctrine&Covenants110:11.^17.Esdras,orEzra,anauthoritativeandoft-quotedapocryphalwriteriscitedbyApostleJamesE.Talmage

ashavinggiven“evidencethatmanyremainedinthelandoftheircaptivity”(ArticlesofFaith[SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1981],295).ApostleBruceRMcConkiequotesasourcethattheorizesthatothersdroppedoutonthejourneynorthbyaskingthequestion,“Isitaltogetherimprobablethatinthatlongjourneyofoneandahalfyears,asEsdrasstatesit,fromMediathelandoftheircaptivitytothefrozennorth,someofthebackslidingIsraelrebelled,turnedasidefromthemainbody,forgottheirGod,byandbymingledwiththeGentilesandbecametheleaventoleavenwiththepromisedseedallthenationsoftheearth?”(GeorgeReynolds,AreWeofIsrael?3ded.[SaltLakeCity:DeseretSundaySchoolUnion,1916],10,inBruceR.McConkie,MormonDoctrine,2ded.[SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1966],457).

^18.Ezekiel12:15.^19.Leviticus26:33.^20.Amos9:9.^21.Deuteronomy28:25.^22.Deuteronomy28:64.^23.1Nephi22:3.^24.JosephFieldingSmith,AnswerstoGospelQuestions,comp.JosephFieldingSmithJr.,5vols.(Salt

LakeCity:DeseretBook,1957–66),1:141.^25.Smith,AnswerstoGospelQuestions,4:40–41.^26.HughW.Nibley,“Lecture24:Jacob3–4,”inTeachingsoftheBookofMormon:Semester1(lectures

presentedtoanhonorsBookofMormonclassatBrighamYoungUniversity,1988–90);availableonlineatmaxwellinstitute.byu.edu.

^27.ElderBruceR.McConkiedefined“believingblood”asfollows:“Thisisafigurativeexpressioncommonlyusedtodesignatetheaptitudeandinclinationofcertainpersonstoacceptandbelievetheprinciplesofrevealedreligion”(MormonDoctrine,81).

^28.Leviticus26:42.^29.3Nephi16:11.^30.Judges2:1.^31.3Nephi16:12.^32.Jeremiah23:3–4.

^33.Isaiah43:5–7.^34.Jeremiah32:37–38.^35.Takenfromthehymn“TheMorningBreaks,”writtenbyParleyP.Prattandpublishedin1840onthe

coverofthefirstissueoftheChurch’sfirstperiodicalinEngland,entitledTheStar(seeB.H.Roberts,AComprehensiveHistoryoftheChurch,CenturyOne,6vols.[SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1930],2:87).IthasoftenappearedasthefirsthymninChurchhymnals(includingthe1985HymnsofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints)sinceitappearedfirstintheManchester,England,hymnalentitledACollectionofSacredHymnsfortheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaintsinEuropein1840.Inthehymn,ParleytellsofvisitsbyangelsandChristandhighlightsthelatter-daygatheringofIsrael.

^36.HistoryoftheChurch,4:537.^37.TitlePageoftheBookofMormon.^38.Doctrine&Covenants38:33.^39.HistoryoftheChurch,1:313.^40.HistoryoftheChurch,1:326;“HistoryofJosephSmith,”MillennialStar14,no.24(August7,1852):

374.^41.Doctrine&Covenants88:70,119.^42.SidneyRigdon,NewelK.Whitney,andOliverCowdery,May6,1834,inOliverCowderyletterbook,

letternumbers45–46,inStanleyR.Gunn,OliverCowdery:SecondElderandScribe(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1962),101.

^43.GivenintheApostolicChargeadministeredbyOliverCowdery,inKirtlandCouncilMinuteBook,typescriptbyLyndonW.Cook,1978,ChurchHistoryLibrary,TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,SaltLakeCity,Utah,162.

^44.JosephFieldingSmith,DoctrinesofSalvation,comp.BruceR.McConkie,3vols.(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1954–56),2:234.

^45.Exodus3:10;2Nephi3:9,11,13,15,16.^46.Doctrine&Covenants110:11.^47.HistoryoftheChurch,2:380;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:167.^48.WilfordWoodruff,inTheWordsofJosephSmith,comp.anded.AndrewF.EhatandLyndonW.Cook

(Provo,Utah:BrighamYoungUniversityReligiousStudiesCenter,1980),221.^49.Doctrine&Covenants109:62–64.^50.Betweentheyears1948and2012thetotalnumberofpeoplewhoimmigratedtoIsraelwas3,092,729

(“ImmigrationtoIsrael,”JewishVirtualLibrary,accessedJune28,2012,https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Immigration/Immigration_to_Israel.html).

^51.Doctrine&Covenants133:26.^52.Doctrine&Covenants133:33.^53.Doctrine&Covenants133:32.^54.Doctrine&Covenants109:23–67.^55.HistoryoftheChurch,2:431;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:214.^56.HistoryoftheChurch,2:432;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:215.

^57.Doctrine&Covenants110:7.^58.HistoryoftheChurch,2:432;Jessee,Ashurst-McGee,andJensen,Journals,1:215–16.^59.ParleyP.Pratt,AutobiographyofParleyP.Pratt,ed.ParleyP.PrattJr.(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,

1985),110.^60.Pratt,Autobiography,113–14.^61.JohnTaylor,inJournalofDiscourse,26vols.(London:Latter-daySaints’BookDepot,1854–86),23:31.^62.Pratt,Autobiography,143.^63.HeberC.Kimball,inOrsonF.Whitney,LifeofHeberC.Kimball(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1945),

149.^64.Taylor,inJournalofDiscourses,23:31.^65.Doctrine&Covenants27:12–13.^66.Smith,AnswerstoGospelQuestions,1:131.^67.Smith,AnswerstoGospelQuestions,3:153.^68.BruceR.McConkie,TheMillennialMessiah(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1982),202.^69.Doctrine&Covenants90:11.^70.Doctrine&Covenants1:2,11,34,35.^71.JosephSmith,TeachingsoftheProphetJosephSmith,sel.JosephFieldingSmith(SaltLakeCity:

DeseretBook,1976),149–50.^72.ArticlesofFaith1:10;HistoryoftheChurch,4:541.^73.HistoryoftheChurch,4:540.^74.HistoryoftheChurch,4:540.

Chapter15

ChristReturnsKeysforFullSalvation

LetthedeadspeakforthanthemsofeternalpraisetotheKingImmanuel,whohathordained...thatwhichwouldenableustoredeemthem.

—JosephSmith,Doctrine&Covenants128:22“JesusChristmiraculouslyreturnstoearthandbringstheancientprophets

Moses,Elias,andElijahwithHim!”Ifthenewsmediaof1836hadcoveredthis

epiceventintheKirtlandTempleonApril3,thisishowtheymighthavereportedit.Hadtheyunderstoodthefullimplicationofthisheavenlymanifestation,theymighthaveannounced,“Christ’svisitonApril3,1836,providedthelatter-dayopportunityforfullsalvationtoallofGod’schildren.”1

BeforeChrist’sApril3,1836,visit,fullsalvationwasapromise,notareality,exceptforthoseHeempoweredthroughHispriesthoodinearliertimes.Foralmosteighteenhundredyearsnoknowledgeorauthorityexistedtoconducttempleordinances.OnApril3,1836,theSaviorfulfilledthepromisebysendingEliasandElijahtodeliverpriesthoodkeysandauthoritytotheChurch.

JosephSmithtaughtthatthefulnessofsalvationcomesonlyintemplesthroughElijah’skeys.HeencouragedChurchmemberstosubmitto“alltheordinances...andsealingpowers”forthemselvesandfortheirdeadprogenitors.HewasconcernedthatmembersoftheChurchwouldbe“divided,brokenup,andscattered,beforewegetoursalvationsecure.”JosephconnectedfullsalvationtoElijah’skeys,stating:“Thequestionisfrequentlyasked‘Canwenotbesavedwithoutgoingthroughwithallthoseordinances,&c.?’Iwouldanswer,No,notthefullnessofsalvation.”2

Redemption,salvation,andexaltationarewordsthatkeeprecurringinprophecy,tradition,andscripture.Thepowertofullyattainredemption,salvation,andexaltationforallmankindwasfulfilledonthatlandmarkday,April3,1836.JewishtraditionforthousandsofyearscreatedanexpectationthattheMessiah,thesonofDavid,wouldcomewithElijahto“redeemus.”3Sotheydid.Infact,thetimingoftheirvisittotheKirtlandTemplecameintheJewishcalendarmonthofNissan,knownas“themonthofredemption.”

PresidentJosephFieldingSmithexplainedthatChristcamewithMoses,Elias,andElijahonApril3,1836,tobringcompletesalvationandexaltation.Hesaidthattheyrevealed“theauthoritieswhichmakeitpossibletobringtopassthecompletesalvationandexaltationofallwhoarewillingtoobeythegospel.Today,throughtherestorationofthesekeyseveryordinanceandpowerhasbeengiventotheChurchwhichisessentialtothefulnessofcelestialexaltation.”4

“EvenAsManyAsWill”InthethreedaysofChrist’satonement,death,andresurrectionina.d.33,

Heunconditionallybrokethebandsofdeathforallmankind.HeconditionallyatonedforindividualsinandextendedcompletesalvationandexaltationtoallwhowouldacceptHisgospelandsubmittoordinancessuchasbaptism,templeordinances,andsealings.ThisconditionalaspectoftheAtonementisreflectedin

thewordsofChrist’spromisetoAdam:“Asthouhastfallenthoumayestberedeemed,andallmankind,evenasmanyaswill.”5

BeforethebirthofChrist,manydiedwithoutreceivingbaptismandothersacredordinances.Thosewhodidreceivethemwereprobablylimitedinnumber.InthetimebetweenChrist’sresurrectionandHisreturntotheKirtlandTemple,someordinancesofsalvationwerecompleted.PeterandtheotherancientApostlesundoubtedlyadministeredbaptismsandprobablyothertempleordinances,6includingbaptismsforthedead,buttheactualnumbersofthosewhoreceivedsuchordinanceswouldalsohavebeenlimited.7TheauthoritytoperformtempleordinancesvanishedwiththedeathoftheApostles.8Therefore,ordinancestofullyextendtheconditionalpartofChrist’satonementtoindividualshadessentiallybeenheldinabeyanceforvirtuallyallmankindonbothsidesoftheveiluntilkeysandauthoritywerereturnedonApril3,1836.

Duringthosealmost1,800years,believersweresustainedbytherealityofChrist’ssufferingforsinandthepromiseoftheAtonement.ManyofthesebelieverssacrificedandevenlaiddowntheirlivesduringdarktimestopreservetheBible,religiousfreedom,andfaithintheSavior.Manyfulfilledmissionstoprepareforandenablethelatter-dayRestoration.Despiteallthatthebelieversdid,however,savingordinanceswerestillrequiredfortheirfullredemption.

WilfordWoodruff,whoreceivedinitialtempleordinancesintheKirtlandTemple,learnedthatdeceasedindividualsyearntoreceiveredemptivetempleordinances.SignersoftheDeclarationofIndependencepersonallyvisitedhim.TheyrequestedredemptionthatcouldonlycomethroughkeysrestoredintheKirtlandTemple.PresidentWoodruffsaidthatastheystoodbeforehimintheSt.GeorgeTemple,theywantedtoknow“whywedidnotredeemthem.”9Asaresultoftheirvisit,hewrote:

IfeeltosaylittleelsetotheLatter-daySaintswhereverandwheneverIhavetheopportunityofspeakingtothem,thantocalluponthemtobuildtheseTemplesnowunderway,tohurrythemuptocompletion.Thedeadwillbeafteryou,theywillseekafteryouastheyhaveafterusinSt.George.Theycalleduponus,knowingthatweheldthekeysandpowertoredeemthem....

...Thespiritsofthedeadgatheredaroundme....Saidthey,“YouhavehadtheuseoftheEndowmentHouseforanumberofyears,andyetnothinghaseverbeendoneforus.Welaidthefoundationofthegovernmentyounowenjoy,andweneverapostatizedfromit,butweremainedtruetoitandwerefaithfultoGod.”...theywaitedonmefortwodaysandtwonights...

.Istraightwaywentintothebaptismalfont.10

WhenEliasandElijahappearedintheKirtlandTemple,JesusChristprovidedkeysfortheconditionalpartofHisatonementtobeextendedtoallwhohadnotyetmetitsconditions.

Throughthesepriesthoodkeysandauthority,HeunlockedthedoorforanyofHischildren(past,present,orfuture)whowouldacceptvicariousordinancesofsalvation.ChristshowedHislovebyempoweringthelatter-dayChurchwiththemeansoffullsalvationandexaltation.Manybutnotallofthebillionswhohavelivedwillacceptthesepotentialblessings.BecauseofElijah,billionsofthedeadcouldnowaccepttheplanofsalvationandtheauthorizedordinances.Requiredordinancesforexaltation,suchasbaptismforthedeadandcelestialmarriageandsealingsforboththelivingandthedead,couldnowbeperformed.Mostimportant,allcouldnowhavetheopportunitytoacceptthefulleffectoftheSavior’satonement.

RedemptionofAllMankindThepromiseofChristtoAdamwasthat“allmankind,evenasmanyas

will”couldberedeemed.11Thephrase“allmankind”representsastaggeringnumberofpeople.Itisestimatedthattheworld’spopulationonApril3,1836,wasmorethanonebillionpeople.Statisticiansestimatethataboutninetybillionpeoplehadlivedanddiedbythattime.12Therefore,whenElijahrepeatedMalachi’sprophecythattheheartsofthechildrenwouldturntothefathers,therecouldhavebeenasmanyasninetytimesmorefathers(ancestors)whohadpassedintothespiritworldthantherewerechildrenonearth.BillionshadprobablyacceptedthegospelinthespiritworldandwereeagerlyawaitingElijah’sreturnwithkeysto“redeemthem.”13AnimmensegatheringinthespiritworldprobablycelebratedtherestorationofElijah’skeysonApril3,1836.

BillionsCouldNowRejoiceTempleworkforthedead,authorizedthroughElijah’skeys,musthavebeen

asurprisingconcepttotheearlySaints.JosephSmithcalledthepowerbywhichitwasdone“verybolddoctrine.”14InhelpingtheSaintstocomprehendtempleworkforthedead,Josephsaid,“ItisnomoreincrediblethatGodshouldsavethedead,thanthatheshouldraisethedead.”15

OnApril3,1836,authorizedtempleworkbeganonascaleunparalleledinallhistoryonbothsidesoftheveil.16Wecannotevenenvisionthegreatdesire

andanticipationofthosewhowaitontheothersideoftheveilforustocompletetheirtemplework.ManyhadwaitedforthousandsofyearsforChristtointroduceElijahtoJosephSmithandOliverCowdery,therebyopeningthedoorfortheirredemption.Thesetwolatter-dayApostleswerereservedforthistimeandplacetousethesekeysandinitiatethegreatworkofbuildingtemplesandperformingordinances“fortheredemptionofthedead,andthesealingofthechildrentotheirparents.”17GodpromisedallofHischildren“beforetheworldwas”thatinthelatterdays,templeswouldbebuiltinwhichredeemingordinanceswouldbeperformedforthesalvationofthedead.18

SaviorsonMountZionApril3,1836,openedthelatter-daygatethroughwhichallmustpassto

receivesavingtempleordinancesandcovenantsforthemselvesorvicariouslyforthedead.Basedupongospelobedience,allmankindmayreceiveexaltationinthecelestialkingdomandacontinuanceofmarriagebeyondthegravewithunendingeternaloffspring.

ChristmadeitpossibletoblessourancestorswithvicariousserviceinawaysimilartohowHeblessedusthroughHisvicarioussuffering.Insodoing,weparticipatewithHiminensuringtheopportunityforexaltationforourancestorsiftheyaccepttheordinancesperformedforthem.Ourancestorscannotdothisworkforthemselves.JosephSmithadaptedthephrase“SaviorsonMountZion”19todescribeusinoureffortstoperformredeemingtempleordinancesforthedead.Hechallengedusto“comeupasSaviorsonmountZion.”Hesaidwedothisby“goingforth&receivingalltheordinances...&sealingpowers...inbehalfofallourProgenitorswhoaredead&redeemthemthattheymayComeforthinthefirstresurrection&beexhalted.”20

KeysofEliasAsEliasappearedonApril3,1836,JosephSmithsaidhe“committedthe

dispensationofthegospelofAbraham,sayingthatinusandourseedallgenerationsafterusshouldbeblessed.”21ElderBruceR.McConkieconnected“thegospelofAbraham”totheAbrahamiccovenant,stating:

Eliasbringsback“thegospelofAbraham,”thegreatAbrahamiccovenantwherebythefaithfulreceivepromisesofeternalincrease,promisesthatthroughcelestialmarriagetheireternalposterityshallbeasnumerousasthesandsupontheseashoreorasthestarsinheavenformultitude.Eliasgives

thepromise...thatinmodernmenandintheirseedallgenerationsshallbeblessed.AndwearenowofferingtheblessingsofAbraham,Isaac,andJacobtoallwhowillreceivethem.22

Onanotheroccasion,ElderMcConkieexpandedunderstandingofthetemplenatureofthesekeysofElias:“ThegospelofAbrahamwasoneofcelestialmarriage...;itwasagospelorcommissiontoprovidealineagefortheelectportionofthepreexistentspirits,agospeltoprovideahouseholdineternityforthosewholivethefulnessofthecelestiallaw.”23

Thereisaconnectionwiththekeysofthethreemessengers—Moses,Elias,andElijah.ElderRussellM.NelsonhighlightedthisconnectioninageneralconferencetalkonthegatheringofIsrael.HepointedoutthatChurchmembers“helptogathertheelectoftheLordonbothsidesoftheveil.”HepointedoutthatthegatheringofIsraelinthespiritworld“requiresearthlyeffortsofothers.Wegatherpedigreecharts,createfamilygroupsheets,anddotempleworkvicariouslytogatherindividualsuntotheLordandintotheirfamilies.”24

Thequestionisoftenasked,“WhowasEliaswhoappearedonApril3,1836?”Hisidentityhasnotbeenmadeknown,butwecanconcludethatEliaswasaprophetwhoheldthekeysofauthoritytothedispensationinwhichAbrahamlived.25ItmightbededucedfromscriptureandJosephSmith’sstatementsthatEliasisNoah.26PresidentJosephFieldingSmithstatedthat“EliaswasNoah,whocameandrestoredhiskeys.”27

KeysofElijahJosephSmithdefinedthekeysElijahrestored.Hesaid,“The...power&

callingofElijahisthatyehavepowerto...performalltheordinancesbelongingtotheKingdomofGodevenuntothesealingoftheheartsofthefathersuntothechildren&theheartsofthechildrenuntothefatherseventhosewhoareinheaven.”28

Elijah’skeyspertainmainlytothetemples,butPresidentJosephFieldingSmithenlargeduponhiskeysbyinformingtheChurchthat“ElijahrestoredtothisChurch...thekeysofthesealingpower;andthatsealingpowerputsthestampofapprovaluponeveryordinancethatisdoneinthisChurchandmoreparticularlythosethatareperformedinthetemplesoftheLord.”29

ElderMcConkieclarifiedthisstampofapprovalonordinancesforthelivingevenfurther,statingingeneralconference:

Elijahbringsbackthekeysofthesealingpower,thepowerthatenablesmen

nowliving,asitwaswithPeterofold,tobindontheearthbelowandhavetheiractssealedeverlastinglyintheheavensabove.

...BecauseElijahcame,thebaptismsweperformonearthwillhaveefficacy,virtue,andforceineternity.InliteralrealitytheygiveusmembershipintheearthlykingdomwhichistheChurch,andintheheavenlykingdomwhichisthecelestialrealmwhereGodandChristare.30

Elijah’sVisitFulfillsAncientProphecyOneoftheLord’sbest-knownscripturalpromiseswasthatElijahwould

return.MalachiwasthefirstprophettomakethatprophecyhundredsofyearsbeforeChrist’sbirth.HerecordedtheLord’swords:“Behold,IwillsendyouElijahtheprophetbeforethecomingofthegreatanddreadfuldayoftheLord:Andheshallturntheheartofthefatherstothechildren,andtheheartofthechildrentotheirfathers,lestIcomeandsmitetheearthwithacurse.”31

TheLordhassincerepeatedthispromiseineachsuccessivebookofscripture.ChristrepeatedMalachi’sprophecyverbatimtotheNephitesduringHisvisittotheAmericasbecausetheyhadnorecordofMalachi.HenextcommandedtheNephitestorecordthewords.Then,togivetheprophecyaddedemphasis,HesaidthatevenHewasgivenaspecificdirectivetotellthem,“TheFathercommandedthatIshouldgive[Malachi’spromiseofElijah’sreturn]untoyou;foritwaswisdominhimthattheyshouldbegivenuntofuturegenerations.”32

InhisappearancetoJosephSmith,MoronirepeatedtheLord’spromisetoMalachiasheinstructedJosephthreetimesduringthenightofSeptember23,1823.33IntheDoctrineandCovenants,Malachi’spromiseisproclaimedfivetimes.34TheLordfulfilledallofthesewordsofprophecywhenElijahappearedintheKirtlandTempleonApril3,1836.

ElijahreturnedatPassoverseasonwithkeysandpowertoredeemthedead.RedemptioniscentraltothethemeofthePassover.TheLordgaveapromisetothechildrenofIsraelwhowereinbondage,saying,“Iwillredeemyou.”35UnderkeysdeliveredbyElijahintheKirtlandTemple,weadministervicarioustempleordinancestoredeemthedeadfromatypeofbondage.PresidentJosephF.Smith,whosawthespiritsofthedeadforwhomtheseredeemingkeysweregiven,taughtthatordinanceswouldredeemthe“captiveswhowerebound.”36HecametounderstandthatElijah’skeysweregivenfor“theredemptionofthedead....[andthatthe]deadhadlookeduponthelongabsenceoftheirspirits

fromtheirbodiesasabondage.”37

OrsonPratt,whoattendedtheendowmentmeetingsintheKirtlandTemple,explainedthatElijahbroughtnotonlythekeysoftempleworkbutalsotheunderstandingofit:

He[Elijah]appearedinhisgloriousmajesty,andthererevealedthekeysuntotheservantsoftheLordwhichshouldrestorethisunionbetweenthefathersandthechildren—somethingthatwedidnotunderstandanythingabout,untiltheangelElijahrevealedituntous....thatwork[ofredeemingancestors]wecouldnotcommenceuntilElijahtheProphetwassentfromheaven.38

TheSpiritofElijahJosephSmithcoinedthephrase“spiritofElijah”todescribetheinterestand

desireto“redeemourdead.”39The“spiritofElijah”descendedontheearthwithElijah’svisit.Itisauniversalpowerthatinspirespeopletoresearchancestorsandperformvicarioustemplework.Manywhoaredriventoresearchfamilyhistoryattestthatthisunseenpoweroperatesuponallpeople.ElderMcConkiepointedoutthat“genealogicalresearch...wasbornonthethirddayofAprilin1836.”40InterestinfamilyhistoryresearchbeganintheChurchand,itseems,intheworldaswellwiththevisitofElijahin1836.Evengovernmentbodiesandscientistscatchthisspirit.Forexample,abilltomandatetheregistrationofbirths,marriages,anddeathswasintroducedinEnglandin1836andbecamelawin1837.Thisbecamecriticaltofamilyhistoryresearch.ThefirstAmericanpatentforphotography,uponwhichmuchofourbodyoffamilyhistorydatadepends,wasissuedin1840.PresidentJosephFieldingSmithsaid:“ThefirstorganizedefforttocollectandfilegenealogiesofthecommonpeoplewasmadeshortlyafterthecomingofElijah.ThiswastheformationofTheNewEnglandHistoricandGenealogicalSociety.In1844,thissocietywasincorporated.ItschiefpurposeistogatherandpublishdatainrelationtoAmericanFamilies.”41

PerspectivesonRedemptionoftheDeadJosephSmith,whoinpremortalitywasgivenhismissiontobuildtemples

andperformordinancestherein,receivedandtaughtrevelationuponrevelationtohelpusunderstandthatourfocusneedstoturntoourdead.ThesubjectofvicariousworkforthedeadwasontheProphet’smind“morethanmostanyothersubjectthatwasgiventohim.”42Hetaughtthatbaptismforthedeadisthe

“mostgloriousofallsubjectsbelongingtotheeverlastinggospel.”43Hestated,“ThegreatestresponsibilitythatGodhaslaiduponus[is]toseekafterourdead.”44

BrighamYoung,whoparticipatedinmanyofthevisionsintheKirtlandTemple,said,“Whatdoyousupposethefatherswouldsayiftheycouldspeakfromthedead?Wouldtheynotsay:‘Wehavelainherethousandsofyearsinthisprisonhouse,boundandfetteredintheassociationofthefilthyandcorrupt.’Iftheyhadthepowertheverythundersofheavenwouldresoundinourears.”45

PresidentWilfordWoodruff,whoheardangels’voicesintheKirtlandTempleandwasobviouslymoveduponbythespiritofElijah,said,

Iwish...thattheveilwasliftedoffthefaceoftheLatter-daySaints;IwishwecouldseeandknowthethingsofGodastheydowhoarelaboring...inthespiritworld;forifthiswereso,thiswholepeople,withveryfew,ifany,exceptions,wouldloseallinterestintherichesoftheworld,and...theirwholedesiresandlaborswouldbedirectedtoredeemtheirdead,toperformfaithfullytheworkandmissiongivenusonearth.46

ElderJohnA.Widtsoe,anApostle,describedElijah’sauthorizationofworkforthedeadasthedoctrinal“keystone”inourgospelarch:

ThebeginningandtheendoftheGospeliswritten,fromonepointofview,inSection2oftheBookofDoctrineandCovenants.IfIreadthissectioncorrectly,[templeworkforthedead]isthekeystoneofthewonderfulGospelarch.Ifthiscenterstoneisweakened,andfallsout,thewholearchfallsintoaheapofunorganizeddoctrinalblocks.47

“TheFameofThisHouse”FromthesmallandsimplebeginninginKirtland,templeworkfortheliving

andthedeadisliterallyspreadingthroughouttheearthinfulfillmentofChrist’sprophecy.OnApril3,1836,theSaviordeclaredasHeacceptedtheKirtlandTemple,“Thefameofthishouseshallspreadtoforeignlands;andthisisthebeginningoftheblessingwhichshallbepouredoutupontheheadsofmypeople.”48

Since1836untoldmissionarieshavespreadthefameoftheKirtlandTemplethroughouttheworldastheyhavetestifiedofElijah’sreturnandtheimportanceoftempleworkforthelivingandthedead.In1856,BrighamYoungprophesied,“Therewillhavetobenotonlyonetemplebutthousandsofthem,andthousands

andtensofthousandsofmenandwomenwillgointothosetemplesandofficiateforpeoplewhohavelivedasfarbackastheLordshallreveal.”49In1877,PresidentWilfordWoodruffforesawthemillennialtimewhen“templeswillappearallover...NorthandSouthAmerica...Europeandelsewhere.”50In1975,PresidentSpencerW.KimballsoughttopreparetheChurchforatime“whenthetempleswillbeusedaroundtheclockandthroughouttheyear.”51

Evennowtemplesarebeingtakentomembersthroughouttheworld.ThepaceoftemplebuildingquickensasChrist’sgloriouscomingapproaches.TheChurchgreatlyincreasedthepacein1997,whenPresidentGordonB.HinckleyannouncedthattemplebuildingwouldbeacceleratedwiththeconstructionofsmallertemplesnearmembersoftheChurchthroughouttheworld.52

Itbecomesapparenttoastudentofsacredevents,then,thatApril3,1836,wasajoyousdayoflatter-dayChristologyintheKirtlandTemple.Itintroducedagaintheprofoundandgrandredeemingtempleordinancesandsealingsforboththeworthylivinganddead.Atthesametime,itliberatedtheobedientwhowerewaitinginspiritprisonfortheirblessedrelease.TheatonementofJesusChristdidreachdownthroughtheagesandbeyondtheveiltoencompassallwhowouldacceptit.

IsitanywonderthatonApril3,1836—theverydayElijahandEliasreturnedkeystoearth—thattheSaviorwouldrepeatedlyencouragetheSaintstorejoice?Hedeclared:“Liftupyourheadsandrejoice.Lettheheartsofyourbrethrenrejoice,andlettheheartsofallmypeoplerejoice....theheartsofthousandsandtensofthousandsshallgreatlyrejoice....andthisisthebeginningoftheblessingwhichshallbepouredout.”53

IsitanywonderthatafterbaptismsforthedeadandotherordinanceswerefinallybeingperformedthatJosephSmithwouldbeexuberant?Heexclaimed:“Letthedeadspeakforthanthemsofeternalpraise....Letthemountainsshoutforjoy....LetallthesonsofGodshoutforjoy!...Letuspresentinhisholytemple...abookcontainingtherecordsofourdead.”54

IsitanywonderthatintheKirtlandTempleangelsjoinedwithSaintssingingpraisestoGod?Josephreported,“Angelsmingledtheirvoiceswithours,whiletheirpresencewasinourmidst,andunceasingpraisesswelledourbosoms.”55

ChristdidcomewithMoses,Elias,andElijahtoKirtland!

Notes^1.Templeordinanceworkforthelivingandvicariousworkforthedeadarerequirementsforfullsalvation

(JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2ded.rev.[SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51],6:184).BasicandpossiblyhigherordinanceswereperformedinthepatriarchalagesaswellasintheChristianeraonmorethanonecontinent,butlatter-daykeysforsealingsofgenerationswillpotentiallyaffectpeopleofallages.ThisstatementassumesthatfullsalvationdependsinpartongenerationalsealingsbeingonedaycompletedbacktoAdam.JosephSmithtaught,“We[thechildren]withoutthem[thefathers]cannotbemadeperfect;neithercantheywithoutusbemadeperfect....foritisnecessaryintheusheringinofthedispensationofthefulnessoftimes...thatawholeandcompleteandperfectunion,andweldingtogetherofdispensations...shouldtakeplace,andberevealedfromthedaysofAdameventothepresenttime”(D&C128:18).Ofcourse,notallofthedeadtowhomthegospelispreachedwillacceptit.Ordinancesconductedforthedeadwillbeeffectiveonlyforthosewhoaccepttheminthespiritworld.

^2.HistoryoftheChurch,6:184;WilfordWoodruffJournal,January21,1844,“Documents,”JosephSmithResourceCenter,josephsmith.net.

^3.“Elijah,”JewishVirtualLibrary,acomprehensiveonlineJewishencyclopedia,http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Elijah.html;accessedMarch1,2012.

^4.JosephFieldingSmith,ChurchHistoryandModernRevelation,2vols.(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1953),2:47.

^5.Moses5:9.^6.RegardingtempleordinancesbeingperformedbyPeterandtheancientapostles,PresidentJoseph

FieldingSmithsaid,“Wedoknowthatinthatdaytheybaptizedforthedead.Whatwastheretopreventthemfromgivingendowments?TrulyitwouldnotbedoneinthetempleatJerusalem,forthathadfallenintoapostatehands.Buttheycould,andmostlikelydid,giveendowmentstotheotherapostlesandmanyothersinsomesecludedspotoronsomemountain”(JosephFieldingSmith,DoctrinesofSalvation,comp.BruceR.McConkie,3vols.[SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1954–56],2:165).

^7.1Corinthians15:29.^8.JohntheBaptistrestoredauthoritytobaptizethelivinginMay1829,butkeysbestowedonApril3,1836

byElijahauthorizedbaptismsforthedeadandothersealingordinancesforthelivingandthedead.^9.WilfordWoodruff,inJournalofDiscourses,26vols.(London:Latter-daySaints’BookDepot,1854–

86),19:229.^10.Woodruff,inJournalofDiscourses,19:229.^11.Moses5:9.^12.CarlHaub,“HowManyPeopleHaveEverLivedonEarth?”PopulationReferenceBureau,accessed

March1,2012,www.prb.org/Articles/2002/HowManyPeopleHaveEverLivedonEarth.aspx.^13.Doctrine&Covenants128:22.^14.Doctrine&Covenants128:9.^15.HistoryoftheChurch,4:425;TimesandSeasons1–2(October15,1841):577.^16.Vicariousworkforthedeadwaspracticedinonlyoneearlierdispensation.IttookChrist’satonementto

enableworkforthedeadtoproceed,asPresidentJosephFieldingSmithstated:“TherecouldbenobaptismsorendowmentsoranyotherworkforthedeadbeforethedeathofJesusChrist.Heitwaswho

carriedthemessageofthegospeltothedeadandbridgedthegulfspokenofintheparableoftherichmanandLazarus.Heitwaswho,infulfillmentoftheprophets,openedthedooroftheprisonhouseandpermittedtheprisonerstocomefree.Untilthattimethedeadwerewaitingfortheirsalvationorredemption,whichshouldcomethroughthebloodofChrist”(DoctrinesofSalvation,2:164–165).PeterandtheotherApostlesinitiatedbaptismsforthedeadandprobablyothertempleordinancesaswell(see1Corinthians15:29).

^17.Doctrine&Covenants138:48.^18.Doctrine&Covenants128:22,24;138:53–56.^19.SeeObadiah1:21.^20.WilfordWoodruff,inTheWordsofJosephSmith,comp.anded.AndrewF.EhatandLyndonW.Cook

(Provo,Utah:BrighamYoungUniversityReligiousStudiesCenter,1980),318.^21.Doctrine&Covenants110:12.^22.BruceR.McConkie,“TheKeysoftheKingdom,”Ensign,May1983,22.^23.BruceR.McConkie,MormonDoctrine,2ded.(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1966),219–20.^24.RussellM.Nelson,“TheGatheringofScatteredIsrael,”Ensign,November2006,80–81.^25.McConkie,MormonDoctrine,219.^26.JosephSmithsaidthat“Noah...isGabriel”(HistoryoftheChurch,3:386).LukesaidthatGabrielis

theangelwhoappearedtoZachariasandtoldhimthathewouldhaveason(Luke1:19).TheLordsaidthattheangelwhovisitedZachariaswasElias(D&C27:7).ThereforeitappearsscripturallythatElias,Gabriel,andNoahmaybethesameperson.

^27.JosephFieldingSmith,inConferenceReport,April1960,72.^28.WilfordWoodruff,inEhatandCook,WordsofJosephSmith,329.^29.JosephFieldingSmith,inConferenceReport,April1948,135;Smith,DoctrinesofSalvation,3:129.^30.McConkie,“KeysoftheKingdom,”22.^31.Malachi4:5–6.^32.3Nephi26:2.^33.JosephSmith–History1:39.^34.Doctrine&Covenants2;27:9;110:13–16;128:17–18;138:46–47.^35.Exodus6:6.^36.Doctrine&Covenants138:22–24,31–33,54.^37.Doctrine&Covenants138:48,50.^38.OrsonPratt,inJournalofDiscourses,13:358–59.^39.HistoryoftheChurch,6:252.^40.BruceR.McConkie,TheMillennialMessiah(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1982),402.^41.JosephFieldingSmith,TheWaytoPerfection(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1975),168.^42.WilfordWoodruff,inConferenceReport,April1894;CollectedDiscourses:DeliveredbyWilford

Woodruff,HisTwoCounselors,theTwelveApostles,andOthers,comp.anded.BrianH.Stuy,5vols.(Burbank,Calif.:B.H.S.Publishing,1987–92),4:6.

^43.Doctrine&Covenants128:17.

^44.ThomasBullockReport,April7,1844(2)(SundayAfternoon),inEhatandCook,WordsofJosephSmith,353.

^45.MatthiasF.Cowley,WilfordWoodruff:HistoryofHisLifeandLabors(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1964),494.

^46.Woodruff,inJournalofDiscourses,21:302.^47.JohnAWidtsoe,“TempleWorship,”inUtahGenealogicalandHistoricalMagazine,12(April1921):

64.^48.Doctrine&Covenants110:10.^49.BrighamYoung,inJournalofDiscourses,3:372.^50.Woodruff,inJournalofDiscourses,19:230.^51.SpencerW.Kimball,inJ.M.Heslop,“GreaterNeedBringsTemple’sRenovation,”ChurchNews,April

19,1975,3.^52.GordonB.Hinckley,“SomeThoughtsonTemples,RetentionofConverts,andMissionaryService,”

Ensign,November1997,49.^53.Doctrine&Covenants110:5–6,9,10;emphasisadded.^54.Doctrine&Covenants128:22–24.^55.HistoryoftheChurch,2:383;DeanC.Jessee,MarkAshurst-McGee,andRichardL.Jensen,eds.,

Journals,1832–1839,vol.1oftheJournalsseriesofTheJosephSmithPapers,editedbyDeanC.Jessee,RonaldK.Esplin,andRichardLymanBushman(SaltLakeCity:ChurchHistorian’sPress,2008),1:172.

Chapter16

April3,1836:AMotherLodeofChristology

Prophets,priests,andkings...havelookedforwardwithjoyfulanticipationto[our]day....[Itis]aworkthatGodandangelshavecontemplatedwith

delight,forgenerationspast.

—TimesandSeasonsOnApril3,1836,ChristcametotheKirtlandTempleanddeclared,“Iam

hewholiveth,Iamhewhowasslain.”1PresidentJosephFieldingSmithpointedoutthesignificanceofthisvisitwhenhesaid,“[Christ’s]comingtotheKirtlandTemplecarriesgreatweightandisfarmoresignificantthansomeamongushavethoughtittobe.”2

April3,1836,wasareligiouslysymbolicdaythatcenteredonChristfulfillingancientprophecy,prayers,promises,andreligioustradition.ThedayliesattheheartoftheSavior’sredemptivemission.Onnootherday—todate—inthefinaldispensationissuchamotherlodeofChristologytobefound.3HedisplayedforcefulevidenceofHisliteralresurrectionasHestoodonthesacredpulpitsoftheKirtlandTemple.AspartofHismission,HeopenedthedooroffullsalvationtountoldbillionsofGod’schildrenaskeysandauthoritywerebestowedfortemplesealingsandordinanceworkforthelivingandthedead.4TheeventsHeinitiatedthatdaypotentiallyaffectedeveryonewhohaseverlivedorwilleverliveontheearth.5

ADispensationalHighpointApril3,1836,mightbeconsideredapinnacleoftheRestoration.Every

instructionandorganizationalstepJosephreceived,beginningintheSacredGrove,preparedtheChurchforthisday.KeysbestowedonthisdayhaveempoweredtheChurch’sdivinelyappointedresponsibilities,includingunparalleledeffortstoproclaimthegospelandredeemthedead.

April3,1836,isthedateJesusChristandheavenlymessengersheraldedeightofthemost-sought-aftereventsforpeopleofallfaithsandespeciallyforthechildrenofIsraelscatteredacrossthefaceoftheearth.ThiswasthedayChrist—

•BroughtMosestocommencethelatter-daygatheringofIsrael,thusunleashinganunprecedentedworldwidemissionaryforce.

•BroughtElijahandEliastoauthorizetemplesealingsandsavingordinances,thusprovidingfortheredemptionofinnumerableobedientsouls,bothlivinganddead.

•Cametoadedicatedtempleforthefirsttimeinthousandsofyearstofulfillancientprophecy.6

•FulfilledOldandNewTestamentreligioussymbolism.•InitiatedthefulfillmentofHispromisesandcovenantswithIsrael.

•Broughttopasstheconvergenceofpastgospeldispensationsintothislastdispensationbya“weldingtogetherofdispensations.”7

•AnsweredagesofJewishprayers,songs,andobservancesforthereturnofheavenlymessengers.

•SignifiedthroughthecombinedeventsofthedaythatHis“cominginthecloudsofheaven,withpowerandgreatglory”wasfinallyathand.8

ChristComestoHisDedicatedTempleChristfulfilledawell-knownOldTestamentprophecyasHeappearedinthe

KirtlandTempleonApril3,1836.Malachiprophesied,“TheLordwhomyeseek,shallsuddenlycometohistemple...behold,heshallcome,saiththeLordofhosts.”9Indicatingthatthisprophecyhasbeenfulfilled,PresidentJosephFieldingSmithsaid:“Mayitnotbethecasethatthispredictedcominghasalreadytakenplacein[His]wonderfulmanifestationintheKirtlandTemple?TheSaviorcamesuddenlytothistemple.Heacceptedthehouseandmadepromisesofgreatblessings.”10

SomeinterpretMalachi’sprophecyasanallusiontothetimewhenChristcomesinglory.ElderBruceR.McConkie,however,explains,“Thissuddenlatter-dayappearanceinthetempledoesnothavereferencetohisappearanceatthegreatanddreadfulday,forthatcomingwillbewhenhesetshisfootupontheMountofOlivetinthemidstofthefinalgreatwar.”11

SymbolicallySignificantThedateofApril3,1836,ishighlysymbolic,foritisdeeplyrootedin

religioushistory.Bychoosingadatewithsuchdeepreligioussymbolismandbiblicalparallels,theLordseeminglyplacedastampofauthenticityontheeventsofthatday.April3,1836,fellonthesixteenthdayoftheJewishmonthofNisan—theheartofthatHebrewcalendarmonth(alsoknownasAbibinOldTestamenttimes).TheJewishmonthofNisanissacredtotheJews.ItiscalledinJewishtraditionthe“monthofredemption.”TheTalmud,theofficialbookofJewishlaw,states,“InNisanourancestorswereredeemedfromEgypt,andinthesamemonthweshallagainberedeemed.”12

ThefewdayssurroundingthesixteenthofNisanarearguablythemostsignificantdatesinecclesialhistory.ThroughoutthemillenniatheLordhaschosenthosedaysofNisanforHismostsacredreligioushistoricalevents.ElderMcConkiepointsoutthateventsfallinginthemiddleoftheJewishmonthof

Nisanaresymbolicanddesignedforustofocusourattentiononsalvation:“Everythingconnectedwith...Nisan14through21,issodramatic,sofilledwithsymbolism,sodesignedtocentertheattentionoftheLord’speopleinthegreatandeternaltruthsofsalvationthateventoday,...wearestillpronetouseitshappeningstoteachvariousrelatedtruthsandprinciples.”13

Atleastsixsignificantreligiouseventsoccurredonoraboutthisdateinhistory:

1.TheancientPassoverandMoses’leadingIsraeloutofEgypt.14

2.ThechildrenofIsraelwerebroughttothepromisedland.15

3.Christ’sbirth.4.ThebeginningofChrist’searthlyministry.5.Christ’satonement,crucifixion,andresurrection.6.TheformalfoundingofChrist’slatter-dayChurchonApril6,1830.16

PromisesFulfilledAsJosephSmithofferedhisinspiredprayerofdedicationontheKirtland

Temple,hesaid,“HolyFather,weaskthee...thatwemaybefoundworthy,inthysight,tosecureafulfilmentofthepromiseswhichthouhastmadeuntous.”17

Hisanswercamequickly.Oneweeklater,Christ,Moses,Elias,andElijaheachstoodinsuccessionbeforetheProphetandOliverCowderyinfulfillmentoftheLord’spromises.Itisprobablethatthescopeofboththepromisesandtheirfulfillmentarebroaderanddeeperthanmostpeoplerealize.Listedbelowarepromisesselectedfromagreatnumberofscriptures.Somereferenceshavebeenshortenedtohighlightkeypromises:

•“Iwillredeemyou[Israel].”18

•“Inthee[Abraham]andinthyseedshallallthefamiliesoftheearthbeblessed.”19

•“Iwillbringyouintothebondofthecovenant.”20

•“Heshallsetupanensignforthenations.”21

•“TheLord...shallsuddenlycometohistemple.”22

•“IwillsendyouElijahtheprophetbeforethecomingofthegreatanddreadfuldayoftheLord.”23

•“Yeshallbegatheredonebyone,OyechildrenofIsrael.”24

•“Iwillgatherthemoutofallcountries,whitherIhavedriventhem...

Andtheyshallbemypeople,andIwillbetheirGod.”25

•“Iwillbringthemfromthenorthcountry,andgatherthemfromthecoastsoftheearth.”26

•“Ishallgatherin,fromtheirlongdispersion,mypeople,OhouseofIsrael.”27

•“Iwillsendformanyfishers...andtheyshallfishthem.”28

•“I[will]sendformanyhunters,andtheyshallhuntthemfromeverymountain,andfromeveryhill,andoutoftheholesoftherocks.”29

PastDispensationsFlowintotheLastDispensationThecumulativekeysofpastdispensationswereneededtofullyengagethe

workofthedispensationofthefulnessoftimes.JustasPeter,James,andJohnascendedtheMountofTransfigurationtoreceivetheirdispensationalkeysandauthorityfromMosesandElijah,sodidJosephandOliverreceivethesamekeysastheyascendedtheirlatter-daymount,theelevatedpulpitsoftheKirtlandTemple.30

Christ,withMoses,Elias,andElijah,completedthechainofdispensationalkeysbybestowingthefinalkeysuponJosephandOliver.Elijah,attheconclusionoftheirvisit,said,“Therefore,thekeysofthisdispensationarecommittedintoyourhands.”31PerhapstheprophetofeachpastdispensationvisitedJosephandOliverintheKirtlandTempletobestowtheirdispensationalkeys.32PresidentJosephFieldingSmith,tenthpresidentoftheChurch,alludedtothiswhenhestated,“Itispossiblethattheremayhavebeenotherswhosecoming[totheKirtlandTemple]wasnotrecorded.”33Inreferencetothispossibility,hefurtherwrote,“Howmanyothermessengerscameatthattimewedonotknow.”34

InamemorialservicetohonortheProphetJoseph,PresidentJosephF.Smith,sixthpresidentoftheChurch,concluded,“NomanyetthateverlivedupontheearthhadallthekeysofthegospelandofthedispensationsbestoweduponhimaswerebestowedupontheProphetJosephSmithinthetempleatKirtland.”35

PriesthoodauthoritytoconductChurchaffairswasfirstconveyedin1829whenJohntheBaptistandlaterPeter,James,andJohngaveauthorizationtoactinGod’snametoJosephandOliver.However,thefullrestorationwasnotcompleteuntilalltheprophetsofpastdispensationsalsoconveyedtheirkeysandauthoritytoJosephandOliver.ElderMcConkiesaid,“Ittookallofthemto

bringtopasstherestorationofallthekeysandpowersandauthoritiesneededtosaveandexaltman.”36

PresidentJosephFieldingSmithadded:“Peter,James,andJohngaveJosephSmithandOliverCowderytheMelchizedekPriesthood,butintherestorationofallthingsitbecamenecessaryfortheprophetswhoheldthekeysofdispensationsinthepasttocometoJosephSmithandOliverCowderyandrestoretheirkeysandauthorities.”37

ReflectingonElijah’skeys,theProphetJosephSmithsaid,“Itisnecessaryintheusheringinofthedispensationofthefulnessoftimes...[thata]weldingtogetherofdispensations,andkeys,andpowers,andgloriesshouldtakeplace,andberevealedfromthedaysofAdameventothepresenttime.”38

TheProphetJosephexplainedthatvariousprophetsfromAdamtothepresentcametohim,“alldeclaringtheirdispensation,theirrights,theirkeys,theirhonors,theirmajestyandglory,andthepoweroftheirpriesthood.”39Onanotheroccasion,hestatedsimply,“TherehasbeenachainofauthorityandpowerfromAdamdowntothepresenttime.”40

BuildingtheKirtlandTemplewasessentialforthereturnofkeysnecessaryforthelatter-daywork.The“weldingtogetherofdispensations”hadtowaituntiltheSaintsfinishedthetemple.Thecompletedanddedicatedtemplewasneededforthesekeystoberestored,asexplainedbyPresidentJosephFieldingSmith:

Thesekeys,accordingtodivinedecree,weretoberestoredwithinthewallsofasacredtemplebuilttothenameoftheLord.Itisonlyincaseofexpediency,whenthereisnosuchhouse,thatkeysofauthorityarebestoweduponmen....

Themainpurposefor[theKirtland]templewastohaveahousewheretheLordcouldcomeandwherehecouldsendhisservantswiththekeysoftheirdispensations.41

PresidentSmithlikenedthepassingdownofkeystoamightyriverthatreceivespurewatersfromallpastdispensations.Hewrote,“Alltheauthorityandkeysofpriesthoodofthepast...flowintothemostgloriousandgreatestofdispensations,likeclearstreamsflowingintoamightyriver.”42Helateremphasizedthisideabysaying,“Allotherdispensationsflowintoit.”43

MillenniaofJewishPrayers,Songs,andObservancesAnsweredNotonlywasthereturnofElijahadirectanswertothetemplededicatory

prayerbutitwasalsoananswertomillenniaofJewishprayers,songs,andobservances.Formorethantwothousandyears,faithfulJewshaveprayedforthereturnoftheirreveredprophetElijah.AharonWiener,anotedHebrewscholar,explainsthatJewsyetpraydailyandweeklyforElijah’sreturn.Daily,whengraceisofferedaftermeals,theysay,“MayGodinHismercysendustheprophetElijah.”Weekly,inbenedictionsafterpublicSabbathreading,theysay,“Letusrejoice,OLord,throughyourservant,theprophetElijah...mayhecomesoonandrejoiceourheart.”44

EvidencethatElijah’sreturnwasexpectedisfoundintheNewTestamentwhenJohntheBaptistwasasked,“ArtthouElias[Elijah]?”45SomealsothoughtthattheSaviormightbeElijah.46Atsomepoint,thisyearningandanticipationwasincorporatedintoJewishtraditionsduringtheFeastofthePassover.Asaresult,forcountlessyearsmillionsoffaithfulJewishfamilieshaveeagerlyanticipatedElijah’sreturnatPassover.ThefaithfulsymbolicallyandroutinelysetachairandtablesettingforElijahattheirPassovermeal.Theyalsopouracupofwineforhimandleavethedooropenacracksothathemayenter.RabbiStevenG.YisraelSager,speakingofElijah’sreturnatPassover,emphasizesthesignificanceofthisJewishtradition.“Weopenthedoorandexpecttofindhimthere.WeexpectnothinglessofElijahthantoreveal,toexplainandtoredeem—us.”47

JewishprayersandritualsanticipatingElijaharealsovocalizedinsong.AharonWienercitesanexample—asongthatevenforeshadowsatraditionthathewillreturnwiththeMessiah:“ElijahsongsaresunginmanyJewishhomes.Thebestknown,includedinalltraditionalprayerbooks....expressesthehopethathewillsoonproclaimtheredemption.Therefrainofthissongis:‘TheprophetElijah,theTishbitefromGilead,mayhecometoussoonwiththesonofDavid,theMessiah.’”48

EventhePassoverdateissignificanttoJewishtradition.Legends,beginningintheTalmud,indicatethat“Israel’sredemptioninfuturedayswillhappenonthefifteenthofNisan,thenightofIsrael’sredemptionfromEgypt,forthusdidMosessay,‘InthisnightGodprotectedIsraelagainsttheAngelsofDestruction,andinthisnightHewillalsoredeemthegenerationsofthefuture.’”49

ParallelsandSymbolismConnectingEventsonApril3,1836April3,1836,wasnoordinarycalendardate.Itwasadayrepletewith

correspondences.ItfellonaSunday.ItwasEaster.ItwasaholydayofPassover.ItwasoneoftwoSeder(Passovermeal)dayscelebratedthroughouttheJewish

world.50ItseemsthatChrist,whenHeappearedintheKirtlandTemple,desiredtoestablishevidence,bothsymbolicandliteral,forJewsandChristianstosee.

JewishSymbolism•InasymbolicmessagetoIsrael,theLordwasidentifiedas“Jehovah.”51

•IntheprayerdedicatingtheKirtlandTemple,HeidentifiedHimselfas“theLamb.”52TheheartofthePassoverwasthelambwhosebloodredeemedthechildrenofIsraelandfreedthemfrombondage.

•HeidentifiedHimselfas“hewhowasslain.”53Thiswasanotherreferencetothelambthatwasslain,whosebloodonthedoorpostsduringthefirstPassoverprotectedthem.

ChristianSymbolism•TheLorddeclaredHiscrucifixionasHeannounced,“Iamhewhowas

slain.”54

•HedeclaredHisresurrectionasHeannounced,“Iamhewholiveth.”55

•HeidentifiedHimselfasyour“advocatewiththeFather.”ChristianswouldrememberthatJohn,theancientApostle,gaveChristthissametitle.56

•Hishair,eyes,countenance,andvoiceweredescribedmuchthesameasJohntheRevelatordescribedChristalmosttwomillenniabefore.57

JewsandChristianstheworldoverwith“eyestosee”and“earstohear”couldrecognizethattheLordoftheOldandNewTestamentswasresurrectedandhadpersonallyreturnedtofulfillHispromisestothem.58

CeremonialDayofthePassoverSeder

OnApril3,1836,inconservativeandorthodoxJewishhomesintheWesternHemisphere,familiesunitedandconductedanancientritualthatincludedeatingofthesecondPassovermealorSeder.59TheSedersymbolizestheancientPassover.TheSederalsoformallyritualizesElijah’slong-promisedreturntobringredemption.LittledidtheyknowthatthehousethatElijahwouldenterwouldbetheLord’shouseinKirtland,Ohio.Littledidtheyknowthattheyearwouldbe1836.Littledidtheyknowthathewouldbringkeysandauthoritytoredeemthegenerationsthroughtemples.

Kirtland’sFive-YearWindowClosesApril3,1836

TheLordestablishedatimetableinadvancefortheKirtlandyears.In1831,HedisclosedthatHispurposesforKirtlandwouldbecompletedby1836.HetoldJosephthattheSaintsweretoremaininKirtland“forthespaceoffiveyears.”60InJune1833theLordseverelychastisedtheSaintsfordelayingconstructionoftheKirtlandTempleafterHehadcommandedthemtobuildit.Hecalledita“verygrievoussin.”61TohavetheeventsofApril3,1836,meetHisdeadline,itisnowonderthatHechastisedJosephSmithsoseverely.Hehadadeadlinetomeet.Muchworkneededtobedoneinashorttime.Apparently,theLordsetthesedateswellinadvancejustasHehadsetotherkeydatesinreligioushistory.ConsiderwhatwasaccomplishedinthoseformativeyearsoftheChurch:

•Thetemplewascompletedanddedicated.•Initialordinancesofendowmentwererevealedandadministered.•Christfulfilledancientprophecy.•MissionarieswereissuedlicensestoofficiallyrepresenttheChurchand

gatherchildrenofIsraelfromthefourpartsoftheearth.•ThekeysforthefulfillmentoftheancientAbrahamiccovenantbegan

functioning.•Josephcametounderstandmanyprinciplesofeternalmarriage.62

•TheProphetreceivedauthoritytoperformsealingsandtempleordinancesforthelivingandthedead.

•ThekeystopreachthegospelandredeemthedeadbecamefullyinvestedintheChurch.

•ThegospelhadtakenrootacrosstheoceaninEngland.•TheLord’spurposesforKirtlandwerefulfilled.PresidentJosephFieldingSmithsaid,“Therewereverysignificantreasons

whytheLorddesiredtoretainastrongholduponKirtlandanditsvicinityforfiveyears.”63HeobservedthatitwasnecessaryfortheLordtodiscloseHistimetableoffiveyearsbecausewithoutthatrevelation,theSaintsmighthavemovedtoMissouri,andtheKirtlandTemplemightnothavebeenbuilt.HealsoconcludedthatthefiveyearswasworththewaitbecausetherestorationofthekeysofthepriesthoodheldbyancientprophetswasessentialtotheprogressoftheChurch.Anotherwriterconcluded,“[Theyear]1836indeedmarkedboththespiritualclimaxoftheChurchaswellasthebeginningoftheendofKirtlandas

astronghold.”64

CONCLUSION

ChristwasinKirtland!HeestablishedHisHousethere.Theseweregloriousdayswhenheavenandearthseemedasone.Theseweredaysofcelestialevents—eventsfilledwithgreatsymbolismandmeaningfortheChurch.Couldanydayshavebeenmoregloriousinourdispensationthanthese?

Divinedirectionandmanifestationswereevidencedinabundance.HundredsofangelsappearedandhundredsoftheSaintswitnessedoutwardsignsfromtheheavens.Inonemeeting,fortyleaders“communedwiththeheavenlyhosts.”65Inanothermeeting,“angelsministered”tofifty-threeleadersinthetemple.66Atleastfifteenancientprophetswereseeninvision.67GodtheFathermanifestedHimselfwithJesusChristinatleastsixvisions.Christwaspresentorseeninvisiononeightotheroccasions.OthersheardHimspeak.Essentialkeyswerebestowed.Inrecordedhistory,thesegloriousdayswerepossiblysecondonlytothedaysofChrist’sbirth,ministry,atonement,andresurrection.

EventsofsuchgreatmagnitudeasthesecausedJosephSmithtoexclaim:

Prophets,priests,andkings...havelookedforwardwithjoyfulanticipationto[our]day...andfiredwithheavenlyandjoyfulanticipationstheyhavesung,andwrote,andprophesiedofthisourday;—buttheydiedwithoutthesight....[Itis]aworkthatGodandangelshavecontemplatedwithdelight,forgenerationspast;thatfiredthesoulsoftheancientpatriarchsandprophets—aworkthatisdestinedtobringabout...therenovationoftheearth,thegloryofGod,andthesalvationofthehumanfamily.68

JosephSmithbecameacquaintedwithandconversedwithsomeofthesevery“angels,ancientpatriarchsandprophets”thatday.HeknewfirsthandthatGodandangelshad“contemplated”theserestorations“withdelight.”Onemightask,whydidprophets,priests,andkingslookforwardtothelatter-dayworkauthorizedandempoweredintheKirtlandTempleonApril3,1836?CoulditbebecausepromisestheLordhadmadetothemwerefinallytobefulfilled?Coulditbebecausemessengerswouldnowbesenttogathertheirchildrenbackintothegospelfoldandprovidetemplesthroughwhichtheycouldacceptessentialvicariousordinancesandbesealed?Fatherscouldnowbeconnectedtothechildrenandchildrentothefathersthroughsacredsealingordinancesforboth

thelivingandthedead.Finally,couldtheyhavebeenlookingforwardwithjoyfulanticipationtoChrist’scoming,whichwouldsoonbeathand?

Inresponsetotheeventsofthatday,Churchmemberscouldrightfullyandboldlydeclare,“Wearethe...peoplethatGodhasmadechoiceoftobringabouttheLatterDayglory.”69

Notes^1.Doctrine&Covenants110:4.^2.JosephFieldingSmith,ChurchHistoryandModernRevelation,2vols.(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,

1953),2:47–48.^3.DictionariesdefineChristologyasthetheologicalstudyofthepersonanddeedsofJesus.Itisalsothe

studyofhowthehuman(Christwaspartmortal)andthedivine(ChristwaspartGod)coexistinoneperson.Thisstudyisusuallybrokenintothreesubtopics:(1)incarnation—ChrististhesonofmanandtheSonofGod;(2)resurrection;(3)salvationanddeliverance(“Christology,”Answers.com;TheAmericanHeritageDictionaryoftheEnglishLanguage,4thed.[Boston:HoughtonMifflin,2004];www.answers.com/topic/christology,accessedFebruary29,2012;seechapter5,pp.95–125,hereinforadiscussionofChrist’steachingofHisincarnation).EvidenceofChrist’sresurrectionisreflectedrepeatedlythroughvisionsinKirtland.Novision,however,definesHisresurrectionmoreclearlythantheonegivenonApril3,1836.ThelargestimplementationofChrist’sconditionalmissionmayhavebegunthroughkeysandauthoritybestoweduponJosephSmithandOliverCowderythatday.

^4.JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2ded.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),6:184.

^5.ThisstatementassumesthatfullsalvationdependsinpartongenerationalsealingsbeingcompletedbacktoAdam(seechapter15,pp.289–303,herein).

^6.SeeMalachi3:1;3Nephi24:1;Doctrine&Covenants36:8;133:2.^7.Doctrine&Covenants128:18.^8.JosephSmith–Matthew1:36;Malachi4:5–6;JST,Mark13:42;JST,Matthew17:13–14.Elijahwouldbe

arecognizablesignalthattheLord’sreturninglorywasimminent.^9.Malachi3:1.^10.Smith,ChurchHistoryandModernRevelation,2:47.^11.BruceR.McConkie,MormonDoctrine,2ded.(SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1966),693–94.^12.BabylonianTalmud,trans.anded.MichaelL.Rodkinson,10vols.(Boston:TheTalmudSociety,1918),

3:16.^13.BruceR.McConkie,FromBethlehemtoCalvary,TheMortalMessiahseries,4vols.(SaltLakeCity:

DeseretBook,1982),1:165.^14.Numbers33:3.^15.Joshua5:10–12.^16.April6,1830,fellonthethirteenthdayofNisan.^17.Doctrine&Covenants109:10–11.

^18.Exodus6:6.^19.Genesis28:14.^20.Ezekiel20:37.^21.Isaiah11:12.^22.Malachi3:1;Doctrine&Covenants36:8.^23.Malachi4:5.^24.Isaiah27:12.^25.Jeremiah32:37–38.^26.Jeremiah31:8.^27.3Nephi21:1.^28.Jeremiah16:16.^29.Jeremiah16:16.^30.JustasontheMountofTransfiguration,atwo-partpurposewasfulfilledinKirtlandinourlatter-day

echoofthemeridian-dayeventsontheMountofTransfiguration.Itcameintwoparts.First,thebestowalofthekeysoftheFirstPresidencyandsecond,thebestowalofthekeysofmissionaryworkandsealingpowers.InthefinalstepoforganizingtheFirstPresidency,theProphetJosephhadalreadyconferredkeysonhiscounselors,SidneyRigdonandFrederickG.Williams,intheNewelK.Whitneystoreschoolroom.NowJosephandOliverwouldreceivethesealingkeys(TheWordsofJosephSmith,comp.anded.AndrewF.EhatandLyndonW.Cook[Provo,Utah:BrighamYoungUniversityReligiousStudiesCenter,1980],9).

^31.Doctrine&Covenants110:16.^32.ItisknownthatAdam,Abraham,Moses,Elias(whomayhavebeenNoah),Elijah,andPeter,James,

andJohnappearedinvisiontoJosephSmithintheKirtlandTemple.It’sinterestingtonotethatPeter,James,John,andElijahallheldsymbolickeysintheirhandswhentheywereseen.Atan1881conferenceinManti,ApostleErastusSnow“spokeoftheheavenlyvisionintheHallowedTempleatKirtland,ofPeter,James,andJohnandElijahbeingSeenintheHolyofHolieswithgoldenkeysintheirhands,intheArchoftheTemple”(DiaryofCharlesLowellWalker,ed.KarlLarsonand-KatherineMilesLarson,2vols.[Logan:UtahStateUniversityPress,1980],2:563).BenjaminBrownrecordedthatduringonemeetingduringdedicationweek,“twootherssawthreepersonages...intheroomwithbrightkeysintheirhands”(inStevenC.Harper,“KirtlandTempleExperience,”inOpeningtheHeavens:AccountsofDivineManifestations,1820–1844,ed.JohnW.WelchandErickB.Carlson[Provo,Utah:BrighamYoungUniversityPress,2005],336).

^33.Smith,ChurchHistoryandModernRevelation,2:42;HistoryoftheChurch,3:74.^34.Smith,ChurchHistoryandModernRevelation,1:237;HistoryoftheChurch,2:10.^35.JosephF.Smith,December23,1894,inCollectedDiscourses:DeliveredbyWilfordWoodruff,HisTwo

Counselors,theTwelveApostles,andOthers,comp.anded.BrianH.Stuy,5vols.(Burbank,Calif.:B.H.S.Publishing,1987–92),5:29–30.

^36.BruceR.McConkie,TheMillennialMessiah(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1982),120.^37.JosephFieldingSmith,AnswerstoGospelQuestions,comp.JosephFieldingSmithJr.,5vols.(Salt

LakeCity:DeseretBook,1957–66),2:43.

^38.Doctrine&Covenants128:18.^39.Doctrine&Covenants128:21.^40.HistoryoftheChurch,4:425;TimesandSeasons1–2(October15,1841):577.^41.Smith,ChurchHistoryandModernRevelation,2:42;Doctrine&Covenants124:28–41.^42.JosephFieldingSmith,DoctrinesofSalvation,comp.BruceR.McConkie,3vols.(SaltLakeCity:

Bookcraft,1954–56),1:168.^43.Smith,DoctrinesofSalvation,3:126.^44.AharonWiener,TheProphetElijahintheDevelopmentofJudaism:ADepth-PsychologicalStudy

(Boston:Routledge&KeganPaul,1978),132–33.^45.John1:21.EliasistheNewTestament(Greek)formofElijah.^46.Matthew16:14.^47.StevenG.YisraelSager,“StoriesofElijahtheProphetfromTalmudandMidrash,”5,accessedFebruary

29,2012,www.betheldurham.org/docs/Elijah_stories.pdf.^48.Wiener,ProphetElijah,133–34.^49.LouisGinzberg,TheLegendsoftheJews,trans.HenriettaSzold,7vols.(Philadelphia:Jewish

PublicationsSocietyofAmerica,1909–38),2:373.^50.StephenD.Ricks,“TheAppearanceofElijahandMosesintheKirtlandTempleandtheJewish

Passover,”BYUStudies23,no.4(Fall1983):483–86.^51.Doctrine&Covenants110:3.^52.Doctrine&Covenants109:79.^53.Doctrine&Covenants110:4.^54.Doctrine&Covenants110:4.^55.Doctrine&Covenants110:4.^56.Doctrine&Covenants110:4;1John2:1.^57.Revelation1:14–16.^58.Ezekiel12:2;Isaiah53:7;Revelation5:6,9,12.^59.Ricks,“ElijahandMoses,”483–86.^60.Doctrine&Covenants64:21.^61.Doctrine&Covenants95:3.^62.Doctrine&Covenants132.TheheadnoteindicatesthattheProphethadknown“thedoctrinesand

principles”since1831.^63.Smith,ChurchHistoryandModernRevelation,1:237.^64.LyndonW.Cook,TheRevelationsoftheProphetJosephSmith(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,1985),

218.^65.HistoryoftheChurch,2:382.^66.HistoryoftheChurch,2:383.^67.Adam,Seth,Enos,Cainan,Mahalaleel,Jared,Enoch,Methuselah,Abraham,Moses,Elias,Elijah,Peter,

James,andJohn.^68.TimesandSeasons3(May2,1842):776.JohnTaylorapparentlyactedaseditorunderJosephSmith’s

name.^69.TimesandSeasons3(May2,1842):776.

Epilogue

In1832theSaviorencouragedandassuredHisstrugglingSaints,manyofwhomhadwalkedawayfromworldlypossessions,friends,andfamilytogathertoKirtland.Hetoldthem,“Beofgoodcheer,forIwillleadyou.”1Timeandtimeagain,ChristwouldvisiblydemonstrateHisleadership,divinity,andsupremacy.ElderNealA.Maxwellsaidtomeofthisperiod,“ThereisamotherlodeofChristologyinKirtlandthathasneverbeenmined.”AswelookatKirtlandthroughthelensofChrist,werealizethatinnootherplacehavethevisionsandvoiceoftheSaviorbeenmanifestingreatermagnitudeormoreclearly.ThenumberofwaysHemanifestsHimselfandthedepthofHisteachingarestaggering.

Christrepeatedlyborefirst-persontestimonyofHimselfandHisatonement.HetangiblydemonstratedHisleadershipinrevelationafterrevelationandinvisionaftervision.Heappearedorspoketoatleasttwenty-threeofHisservantsinmorethanfourteenseparatevisions.HeallowedhundredstowitnessthesecondaryeffectsofHisvisions.HeconversedwithJosephSmithandSidneyRigdonforhourswhilepresentingthemwithvividscenes,beginningwiththepremortalexistenceandcontinuingthroughcelestialglories.

HismainfocusseemedtobeonHistemple,whichHecommandedandenabledHisSaintstoerect.Heinstitutedcovenantsandordinancesofendowmentasperformedanciently.HebroughtancientprophetstoHisdedicatedhousetoreturnkeysandauthoritythatwouldempowertheworkoftheChurch.WiththesekeysHeenabledfullsalvationforthelivingandthedeadintemples.WiththesekeysHealsounleashedanunprecedentedworldwidemissionaryforcetogatherscatteredIsrael,adivineplaninstitutedinancienttimes.ChristfulfilledancientprophecyandOldandNewTestamentreligioussymbolisminHistemple.Throughtheseevents,HeformallysignifiedthatHislong-prophesiedcomingwithpowerandglorywasfinallyathand.TheSaviorfirmlyestablishedHisdivinityintheKirtlandyears.

Anciently,ChristcitedthreeindisputablemeasuresbywhichHisdivinitywasestablished.OnewasbythedirectwitnessofJohntheBaptist,whosaw“theSpiritdescendingfromheavenlikeadove.”2SecondwasthewitnessofHisFather.3ThethirdconsistedofscripturesthattestifiedofHim.4AllthreeofthesemeasureswereevidencedinKirtland.First,morethantenwitnessestestifiedthattheysawtheSaviororheardHimspeak.Second,fivewitnessessawtheFather

andtheSonmanifestthemselvesinvisiontogether.TheFather’swordsalsowitnessedofChristmorethansixtimes.Third,hundredsofpagesofscripturewenttotheworldfromKirtlandtestifyingoftheSavior.5TheseindisputablewitnessesfromKirtlandthunderChrist’sdivinitytotheworld.Christisresurrected.HeleadsHisChurch.TheRedeemerandSavioroftheworldoffersHisinfiniteatonementtoallofGod’schildren.

Notes^1.Doctrine&Covenants78:18.^2.John1:32;5:33.^3.John5:37.^4.John5:39.^5.AswiththeNewTestament,meaningsofancientscripturewererestoredandnewscripturesweregiven

(see95n1).

Appendix

StoriesThatEvidencetheLord’sVoiceandDirectionI,theLord,willbuildupKirtland.—Doctrine&Covenants124:83

JustassurelyastheSaviordirectedHisworkinKirtlandinthe1830s,soalsohasHedirectedrecenteventsinKirtlandbeginninginthe1970s.OnJanuary19,1841,theSaviorprophesiedHisplansasHepromisedHisSaints“I,theLord,willbuildupKirtland.”1Ninemonthslater,HeforetoldthetimeframethroughHispatriarch,HyrumSmith,saying,“[After]manyyearsshallpassaway...IwillsendforthandbuildupKirtland.”2ReferringtocomingeventsintheKirtlandTemple,Hesaid,“Iwill...speakuntothem[myservants]withmineownvoice,ifmypeoplewillkeepmycommandments,anddonotpollutethisholyhouse.”3ManystoriesdemonstratehowtheLordhasfulfilledthesepromises,buttwostandoutabovetherest.

ASpirituallyPowerfulSacramentMeeting

OnNovember6,1993,ElderM.RussellBallardstoodintheelevatedMelchizedekPriesthoodpulpitsoftheKirtlandTempletopresideoveranexceptionalsacramentservice.About180Churchleaders,includingGeneralAuthorities,regionalrepresentatives,missionpresidents,templepresidents,andstakepresidents,attended.Theseleadersandtheirwiveshadcometogetherforanareatrainingmeeting.InadditiontoElderBallard,GeneralAuthoritiesattendingthesacramentmeetingwereEldersCree-LKofford,presidentoftheNorthAmericaNortheastArea;YoshihikoKikuchi,counselortoElderKofford;andJoeJ.Christensen,MarlinK.Jensen,andRexD.Pinegar.

TheLordpouredoutHisSpiritinthissacramentmeetinginanever-to-be-forgottenway.ManypresentlikenedittowhatitmusthavebeenlikeattheKirtlandTemplededicationin1836.Thiswasthefirstsacramentmeetinginpossibly140yearsthatLDSChurchleadershadbeenallowedtoconductintheKirtlandTemple.ElderBallardandElderKoffordblessedthesacrament.Assistedbyothers,includingallGeneralAuthoritiespresent,theythenpassedit

tothecongregation.Peoplewhowereinthatmeetinghavefrequentlymadesuchcommentsasthefollowing:

•“TherewasagreatspiritualpowerthatIfeltinthemeeting.”•“ItwasthemostspiritualmeetingIeverattended.”•“Therewasnotadryeyeintheaudience.”•“ItwasameetingIwillneverforget.”•“Ihadagreatspiritualexperienceinthemeeting.”•“Ireceivedaspiritualmanifestationthere.”•“Weheardangelssinging.”•“IrecordedwhatIsawandheard.”•“WheneverImeetotherswhowerethere,wereminisceaboutthe

meeting.”•“Iamonewhoneverhasthiskindofexperience,butIdidthistime.”4

AlWalters,therepresentativeoftheCommunityofChristwhowaspresent,said,“ItwasobviousthateveryonewasexperiencingagreatoutpouringoftheSpirit.”5ElderBallardsaid,“Deepspiritualfeelingswerefeltbyeveryone.”ElderKoffordadded,“Itwasatremendousspiritualexperience.”ElderPinegarstatedthattheyweresostronglyaffectedthat“wewerealmostunabletospeakorsing,althoughthatopportunitywasaffordedus.’’ElderKikuchiremembered,“We[theGeneralAuthorities]sat,possibly,rightbeneaththespotwheretheSaviorappearedtoJosephandOliver.”6

Alreportedhiscrowningspiritualexperience.Beforethismeeting,hehadstronglyobjectedtoLDSChurchleadersbeinggivenpermissiontoadministerandpartakeofthesacramentinthetemple.HisobjectionwasbasedonthefactthattheCommunityofChristwasa“closedcommunion”church(meaningthatnonmemberswerenotofferedthesacramentduringservices.)7Hetoldhischurchleaders,“TheLDShavetemplesoftheirown.Letthemgotooneoftheirtemplestopartakeofthesacrament.Whydotheycometoourtemple?”CommunityofChristleadershadgivenformalpermission,sotheyaskedAltosupporttheirdecision.Theyalsoassignedhimtoattendthemeeting.

Asthemeetingprogressed,Alfeltadarkcloudcomeoverhim.Heevenbecamephysicallyill.Asthemeetingprogressed,thedarkfeelingintensified.Itreachedthepointthathisheadandheartwerepoundingsohardthathefelthemightbehavingaheartattack.Atthatpoint,ElderKikuchistooduptospeak.

AlfelttheSpiritcomeoverhim.Anaudiblevoicethatonlyheheardmadethreestatements:“Alan,thisisnotyourtemple;thisismine.Thesearealsomy

Saints.Thisisanacceptableuseofthissacredspace!”8Walterscalledthisexperiencea“spiritualspanking”andfeltthattheSaviorhadspokentohimdirectly.Hethenhumbledhimselfandsharedwiththerestthewonderfulspiritofthatoccasion.LaterAlsaidtheSaviorhadcompletelychangedhisattitude.

Othersinattendancewereblessedwiththeirownspiritualexperiences.Ifjournalentriesofthatdayweretobemadepublic,manywouldcertifytothethinnessoftheveil.WhenthefullhistoryofKirtlandiswritten,thetemplesacramentserviceofNovember6,1993,underthedirectionofanApostleoftheLordandadescendantofHyrumSmith,willundoubtedlybemarkedasoneofitsspiritualhighpoints.

TheLordandSteveYoungMoveaRoad

ThesecondstoryisabouthowtheLordenabledahugeobstacletoberemovedsothattheChurch’sHistoricKirtlandVillagecouldbebuilt.Intheearly1990stheFirstPresidencydecidedthatbeforethevillagecouldberestored,twocentury-oldroadsneededtobererouted.Theseroadsdailycarriedabouttwentythousandvehiclesdirectlythroughthecenteroftheproposedvillage.ThemainintersectionoftheseroadsatthecorneroftheWhitneyStorehadfourstopsigns,whichirritateddriversandcreatedtrafficbackups.Thisintersectionwasalsoextremelyunsafeforpedestrians.

Asalongtimepriesthoodleaderandresidentofthearea,IreceivedanassignmentfromtheChurchtoworkwiththeCityofKirtlandtoreroutetheroads.MayorMarioMarcopoliwasinfavoroftheroadrelocation,butcouncilapprovalwasalsonecessary.MayorMarcopoliexplainedthathecouldnotensureafavorablecouncilvote.Heseemedsurethattwoorthreecouncilmemberswouldvotewithhim,butapprovalrequiredamajorityvoteoffourofthesevencouncilmembers.Themayorencouragedmetopray,saying,“YouknowtheManupstairs.PleasetalkwithHimaboutthissothattheothercouncilmenwillvotewithus.”Intheabsenceoffurtherideas,themayorsaid,“Well,we’lljusthavetowaitontheLord.”

AbouttheendofMay1993,MayorMarcopolitelephonedandsaid,“ThankyouforarrangingthiswiththeManupstairs.”ThenhesuggestedthatIpurchaseacopyoftheMay31,1993,issueofSportsIllustratedandcallhimback.Tomysurprise,IfoundaphotographintheissueofstarfootballquarterbacksSteveYoungandJoeMontana.Theywerewalkingsidebysideonafootballpracticefield.Eachworeapullovershirt.JoeMontana’sread,“SanFranciscoForty-

Niners.”SteveYoung’sshirtread,“Kirtland,Ohio,CityofFaithandBeauty”andhadanillustrationoftheKirtlandTempleinthemiddleofit.(TheWhitneystorededicationcommitteehadgivenStevetheshirtnineyearsbeforewhenheattendedthededicationofthestore.)ThatdayStevejusthappenedtowearthatshirtunderhisfootballuniform,whichheremovedjustbeforethephotographersnappedthepicture.

WhenIcalledMayorMarcopoliback,heexplainedthatoneofthecouncilwomen,ateacheratalocalschool,discoveredthephotowhenoneofherstudentsbroughtthemagazinetoschool.ShetookittothemayorandrequestedthatheasktheChurchtoprovidefundstopurchasethephotosothatitcouldbeplacedinthenewlybuiltKirtlandCityHall.TheChurchnotonlyboughtanenlargementofthephotobutalsohaditframedandhungintheentrywaytothecouncilchambers.ThatdaySteveYoungbecameKirtland’sfavoriteson!

Laterinthefallthe49erstraveledtoClevelandtoplaytheClevelandBrowns.AreceptionwasarrangedforKirtlandCityCouncilmembersandtheirfamilies.Stevespentanhourwiththem.Theywereallowedtotakeindividualaswellasfamilyphotographs.Hesignedanythingthatwasavailable,includingclothing,napkins,andtheenlargedphotographofhimandJoeMontana.HetheninvitedalltoattendtheMondaynightfootballgame.ThisexperiencecreatedconsiderablegoodwillwithKirtlandleaders.

AfewmonthslaterIappearedbeforethecounciltoformallyrequestthereroutingofroadsaroundtheWhitneystore.IwillneverforgethowcouncilmembersstoodwhenIwalkedintothecouncilchambers.Iactuallylookedbehindmetoseewhowasthere,notrealizingthattheyhadstoodoutofrespectfortheChurch.Thecouncilvotedunanimouslytoallowthechangeofroadstoproceed.Iconsideredthisananswertoprayerandadivinelydesignedapproachtoaskforthecouncil’ssupport.ThisenabledthecontinuedgrowthanddevelopmentoftheChurch’sHistoricKirtlandVillage.

Afootnotetothisstoryconfirmsthatthemayoralsoattributedtheroadrelocationtodivineintervention.Sixyearslater,finalcityapprovalwasscheduledforavote.Butanimosity,notrelatedtotheChurch,haddevelopedbetweenMayorMarcopoliandthecouncil.Inretributionseveralcouncilmembersannouncedtheywouldvoteagainstfinalroadapproval,whichthemayorstillfavored.“Well,”hesaidthedayofthevote,“wemaybeinforsometroubletonight.”Sensingmyconcern,themayorthensaidsomethingIshouldhavesaidtohim.

“Karl,”hesaid,“don’tyouunderstandthatGodwantsthisroadbuilt?IfGodwantsitbuilt,howcanthecitycouncilstandintheway?”Headded,“One

dayIwillhavetostandbeforeGodandaccountformylife.Imaynothavealotgoingforme,butIwanttobeabletosay,‘AtleastIbuiltyourroadinKirtland.’”Thenheconcluded,“Ithinkitwillcomeoutokay.”InanactionMayorMarcopoliattributedtotheLord,thecouncilvotedsixtoonetofinishtheproject.9

CertainlytheLorddidnotforgetHispromise:“I,theLord,willbuildupKirtland.”10

Notes^1.Doctrine&Covenants124:83.^2.JosephSmith,HistoryofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,ed.B.H.Roberts,7vols.,2d

ed.rev.(SaltLakeCity:TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,1932–51),4:443–44;TimesandSeasons3(November15,1841):589.

^3.Doctrine&Covenants110:8.^4.KarlRicksAnderson,notesonNorthAmericaNortheastAreatrainingmeeting,November6,1993;in

author’spossession.^5.Author’snotes.^6.R.ScottLloyd,“LDSServiceHeldinKirtlandTemple,”ChurchNews,December4,1993.^7.CommunityofChrist,formerlyknownastheReorganizedChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints,

hasmovedawayfromitspracticeofclosedcommunion.^8.AlWalterstoKarlRicksAnderson,2012;usedbypermission;Anderson,journal,June28,1994.^9.Anderson,journal,May31,2001.^10.Doctrine&Covenants124:83.