Tag: Sacred

  • Buy anything

    Buy anything

    Excerpt from the LDS ‘For the Strength of Youth’ (2011): 1

    “A tithe is one-tenth of your income. In order to enter the temple, you must be a full-tithe payer.”

    Question 10 from the LDS Temple recommend interview questions: 2

    “10 Are you a full-tithe payer?”

    Excerpt from the LDS endowment ceremony performed in the temple: 3

    PETER: We do not wonder that you cannot comprehend such doctrine. Have you any tokens or signs?

    LUCIFER: [Interjecting.] Do you have any money?

    PETER: We have sufficient for our needs.

    LUCIFER: You can buy anything in this world for money.

    PETER: [To Adam.] Do you sell your tokens or signs for money? You have them, I presume.

    ADAM: I have them, but I do not sell them for money. I hold them sacred. I am looking for the further light and knowledge Father promised to send me.

    PETER: That is right. We commend you for your integrity. Good day. We shall probably visit you again.

    References

    References
    1 ‘For the Strength of Youth’ pamphlet – https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/ForTheStrengthOfYouth-eng.pdf?lang=eng
    2 Referenced in ‘Preparing for a Heavenly Marriage’ by Robert D. Hales – https://www.lds.org/liahona/2006/02/preparing-for-a-heavenly-marriage?lang=eng
    3 LDS Endowment, the celestial world – http://www.ldsendowment.org/telestial.html
  • Literal Descendants

    Literal Descendants

    Excerpt from the LDS Gospel Topic Essays, ‘Book of Mormon and DNA Studies’: 1

    The evidence assembled to date suggests that the majority of Native Americans carry largely Asian DNA. Scientists theorize that in an era that predated Book of Mormon accounts, a relatively small group of people migrated from northeast Asia to the Americas by way of a land bridge that connected Siberia to Alaska. These people, scientists say, spread rapidly to fill North and South America and were likely the primary ancestors of modern American Indians.”

    Excerpt from the journal of Joseph Smith Jr., November 9, 1835: 2

    “When I was about 17 years old I saw another vision of angels, in the night season after I had retired to bed I had not been a sleep, when but was meditating upon my past life and experiance, I was verry concious that I had not kept the commandments, and I repented hartily for all my sins and transgression, and humbled myself before Him; <whose eyes are over all things>, all at once the room was iluminated above the brightness of the sun an angel appeared before me, his hands and feet were naked pure and white, and he stood between the floors of the room, clothed <with> in purity inexpressible, he said unto me I am a messenger sent from God, be faithful and keep his commandments in all things, he told me of a sacred record which was written on plates of gold, I saw in the vision the place where they were deposited, he said the indians, were the literal descendants of Abraham

    References

    References
    1 Book of Mormon and DNA Studies – https://www.lds.org/topics/book-of-mormon-and-dna-studies?lang=eng
    2 Joseph Smith journal, November 9, 1835 – http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/journal-1835-1836/23
  • Too Numerous

    Too Numerous

    Excerpt from the BYU Journal of Undergraduate Research, A Recently Recovered Source: Rethinking Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation (March 16, 2017): 1

    “Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible has attracted significant attention in recent decades, drawing the interest of a wide variety of academics and those who affirm its nearly canonical status in the LDS scriptural canon. More recently, in conducting new research into the origins of Smith’s Bible translation, we uncovered evidence that Smith and his associates used a readily available Bible commentary while compiling a new Bible translation, or more properly a revision of the King James Bible. The commentary, Adam Clarke’s famous Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, was a mainstay for Methodist theologians and biblical scholars alike, and was one of the most widely available commentaries in the mid-1820s and 1830s in America. Direct borrowing from this source has not previously been connected to Smith’s translation efforts, and the fundamental question of what Smith meant by the term “translation” with respect to his efforts to rework the biblical text can now be reconsidered in light of this new evidence. What is noteworthy in detailing the usage of this source is that Adam Clarke’s textual emendations come through Smith’s translation as inspired changes to the text. Moreover, the question of what Smith meant by the term translation should be broadened to include what now appears to have been an academic interest to update the text of the Bible. This new evidence effectively forces a reconsideration of Smith’s translation projects, particularly his Bible project, and how he used academic sources while simultaneously melding his own prophetic inspiration into the resulting text. In presenting the evidence for Smith’s usage of Clarke, our paper also addressed the larger question of what it means for Smith to have used an academic/theological Bible commentary in the process of producing a text that he subsequently defined as a translation. In doing so, we first presented the evidence for Smith’s reliance upon Adam Clarke to establish the nature of Smith’s usage of Clarke. Following that discussion, we engaged the question of how Smith approached the question of the quality of the King James Bible (hereafter KJV) translation that he was using in 1830 and what the term translation meant to both Smith and his close associates. Finally, we offered a suggestion as to how Smith came to use Clarke, as well as assessing the overall question of what these findings suggest regarding Smith as a translator and his various translation projects.

    Our research has revealed that the number of direct parallels between Smith’s translation and Adam Clarke’s biblical commentary are simply too numerous and explicit to posit happenstance or coincidental overlap. The parallels between the two texts number into the hundreds, a number that is well beyond the limits of this paper to discuss. A few of them, however, demonstrate Smith’s open reliance upon Clarke and establish that he was inclined to lean on Clarke’s commentary for matters of history, textual questions, clarification of wording, and theological nuance. In presenting the evidence, we have attempted to both establish that Smith drew upon Clarke, likely at the urging of Rigdon, and we present here a broad categorization of the types of changes that Smith made when he used Clarke as a source.

    For the sake of this report we will include only one or two examples of Smith’s obvious borrowing of Clarke. Among the more compelling examples are two that witness the omission of entire biblical verses or the rearrangement of parts of biblical verses. In Colossians 2:20–22, Smith rearranges the KJV order so that a portion of verse 22 (“which are after the doctrines and commandments of men”) is appended directly to the end of verse 20, a verse which ends with a comma in the KJV. This change appears to directly reflect Adam Clarke’s statement regarding it, “After the commandments and doctrines of men? These words should follow the 20th verse, of which they form a part; and it appears from them that the apostle is here speaking of the tradition of the elders.” The change does little to smooth out the flow of the English translation, and does nothing to change the meaning, but it can be no mere coincidence that the two sources relocate a portion of the verse in precisely the same way by adding a part of one verse to another verse earlier in the same passage.

    While the data presented herein accounts for a significant advance in our understanding about the origins of Smith’s Bible translation, it is still unclear how Smith determined which verses were to be changed and which verses were to be spared. The next step in the discussion would need to be a consideration of whether there is a unified purpose in the choice of verses that were changed. Our overall impression is that Smith was inclined to follow Clarke especially in instances where he drew upon manuscript evidence or language expertise.”

     

    Information about Adam Clarke:

    Adam Clarke (1760 or 1762-1832) was a British Methodist theologian and Biblical scholar. He is primarily remembered for writing this commentary on the Bible. It took him 40 years to complete this work. Clarke adhered theologically to the Methodist founder John Wesley. Clarke’s commentary is largely written from an orthodox Methodist perspective.

     

    KJV Colossians 2:20-22:

    20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

    21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

    22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

     

    Adam Clarke’s biblical commentary Colossians 2:20-22: 2

    Colossians 2:20

    If ye be dead with Christ – See the notes on Rom 6:3, Rom 6:5 (note).

    From the rudiments of the world – Ye have renounced all hope of salvation from the observance of Jewish rites and ceremonies, which were only rudiments, first elements, or the alphabet, out of which the whole science of Christianity was composed. We have often seen that the world and this world signify the Jewish dispensation, or the rites, ceremonies, and services performed under it.

    Why, as though living in the world – Why, as if ye were still under the same dispensation from which you have been already freed, are ye subject to its ordinances, performing them as if expecting salvation from this performance?

    Colossians 2:21

    Touch not; taste not; handle not – These are forms of expression very frequent among the Jews. In Maccoth, fol. xxi. 1: “If they say to a Nazarite, Don’t drink, don’t drink; and he, notwithstanding, drinks; he is guilty. If they say, Don’t shave, don’t shave; and he shaves, notwithstanding; he is guilty. If they say, Don’t put on these clothes, don’t put on these clothes; and he, notwithstanding, puts on heterogeneous garments; he is guilty.” See more in Schoettgen.

    Colossians 2:22

    Which all are to perish with the using – These are not matters of eternal moment; the different kinds of meats were made for the body, and go with it into corruption: in like manner, all the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion now perish, having accomplished the end of their institution; namely, to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

    After the commandments and doctrines of men?– These words should follow the 20th verse, of which they form a part; and it appears from them that the apostle is here speaking of the traditions of the elders, and the load of cumbrous ceremonies which they added to the significant rites prescribed by Moses.

     

    JST Colossians 2:20-22: 3

    20 Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

    21 Which are after the doctrines and commandments of men, who teach you to touch not, taste not, handle not–all those things which are to perish with the using,

    22 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting the body as to the satisfying the flesh–not in any honor to God.

     

    References

    References
    1 BYU Journal of Undergraduate Research, A Recently Recovered Source: Rethinking Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation (March 16, 2017) – http://jur.byu.edu/?p=21296
    2 Adam Clarke’s biblical commentary – http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/clarke/index.htm
    3 Joseph Smith’s Translation of the Bible – http://www.centerplace.org/hs/iv/
  • Cumorah Cave

    Cumorah Cave

    Topic: Hill Cumorah Cave

    From Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 17 June 1877: 1

    “Oliver Cowdery went with the Prophet Joseph when he deposited these plates. Joseph did not translate all of the plates; there was a portion of them sealed, which you can learn from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. When Joseph got the plates, the angel instructed him to carry them back to the hill Cumorah, which he did. Oliver says that when Joseph and Oliver went there, the hill opened, and they walked into a cave, in which there was a large and spacious room. He says he did not think, at the time, whether they had the light of the sun or artificial light; but that it was just as light as day. They laid the plates on a table; it was a large table that stood in the room. Under this table there was a pile of plates as much as two feet high, and there were altogether in this room more plates than probably many wagon loads; they were piled up in the corners and along the walls. The first time they went there the sword of Laban hung upon the wall; but when they went again it had been taken down and laid upon the table across the gold plates; it was unsheathed, and on it was written these words: “This sword will never be sheathed again until the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God and his Christ.” I tell you this as coming not only from Oliver Cowdery, but others who were familiar with it, and who understood it just as well as we understand coming to this meeting. . . . [Don] Carlos Smith was a young man of as much veracity as any young man we had, and he was a witness to these things. Samuel Smith saw some things, Hyrum saw a good many things, but Joseph was the leader.”

     

    From The Journal of Wilford Woodruff, December 11, 1869: 2

    “December 11, 1869: At School of the Prophets: President Young said in relation to Joseph Smith returning the plates of the Book of Mormon, that he did not return them to the box from where he had received them. But he went into a cave in the Hill Cumorah with Oliver Cowdery and deposited those plates upon a table or shelf and in that room were deposited a large amount of gold plates, containing sacred records; and when they first visited that room, the sword of Laban was hanging upon the wall and when they last visited it, the sword was drawn from the scabbard and lain upon the table, and a messenger who was the keeper of the room informed them that that sword would never be returned to its scabbard until the Kingdom of God was established upon the earth and until it reigned triumphant over everyone. Joseph Smith said that cave contained tons of choice treasures and records. ”

     

    From the Journal of Discourses, 28 September 1856. In response to a Brother Mills’s statement about the handcart pioneers, Heber C. Kimball said: 3

    “How does it compare with the vision that Joseph and others had, when they went into a cave in the hill Cumorah, and saw more records than ten men could carry? There were books piled up on tables, book upon book. Those records this people will yet have, if they accept of the Book of Mormon and observe its precepts, and keep the commandments.”

     

    From Orson Pratt, The Contributor, September 1882: 4

    “But the grand repository of all the numerous records of the ancient nations of the western continent, was located in another department of the hill, and its contents put under the charge of holy angels, until the day should come for them to be transferred to the sacred temple of Zion.”

     

     

    Additional Study

    Hill Cumorah Cave, Joseph Smith Foundation – http://www.josephsmithfoundation.org/wiki/hill-cumorah-cave/
    Cumorah’s Cave, Cameron J. Packer, BYU – https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&httpsredir=1&article=1360&context=jbms

    References

    References
    1 Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 17 June 1877 – http://jod.mrm.org/19/36
    2 The Journal of Wilford Woodruff, December 11, 1869 – https://archive.org/stream/WoodruffWilfordJournalSelections/Woodruff_Wilford_Journal_Selections_djvu.txt
    3 Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, 28 September 1856 – http://jod.mrm.org/4/105
    4 Orson Pratt, The Contributor, September 1882 – https://archive.org/details/contributor0312eng
  • Birth Control is Wickedness

    Birth Control is Wickedness

    Excerpt from ‘Doctrine of Salvation’ by Joseph Fielding Smith: 1

    “BIRTH CONTROL IS WICKEDNESS. The abuse of this holy covenant has been the primary cause for the downfall of nations. When the sacred vows of marriage are broken and the real purpose of marriage abused, as we find it so prevalent in the world today, then destruction is inevitable.

    No nation can endure for any length of time, if the marriage covenants are abused and treated with contempt. The anger of the Almighty was kindled against ancient nations for their immorality. There is nothing that should be held in greater sacredness than this covenant by which the spirits of men are clothed with mortal tabernacles.

    When a man and a woman are married and they agree, or covenant, to limit their offspring to two or three, and practice devices to accomplish this purpose, they are guilty of iniquity which eventually must be punished. Unfortunately this evil doctrine is being taught as a virtue by many people who consider themselves cultured and highly educated. It has even crept in among members of the Church and has been advocated in some of the classes within the Church.

    It should be understood definitely that this kind of doctrine is not only not advocated by the authorities of the Church, but also is condemned by them as wickedness in the sight of the Lord.”

     

     

    Additional Study

    Teachings Concerning, Birth Control and Family Size, BYU – http://emp.byui.edu/SATTERFIELDB/Quotes/Birth%20Control%20Family%20Size.htm

     

    References

    References
    1 Doctrines of Salvation Volume 1-3, Joseph Fielding Smith – https://archive.org/details/Doctrines-of-Salvation-volume-1-2-3-joseph-fielding-smith
  • Sacred Sex

    Sacred Sex

    Excerpt from Apostle Mark E. Petersen’s, The Way to Peace: 1

    “Sex is for the procreation of the species, not for sensual pleasure. God made it clean and sacred. He intends that we shall keep it so.”

    References

    References
    1 Apostle Mark E. Petersen, ‘The Way to Peace’, Bookcraft, pg. 143 – https://deseretbook.com/p/way-peace-mark-e-petersen-78285?variant_id=20267-ebook
  • Five Points of Fellowship

    Five Points of Fellowship

    Excerpt from the LDS temple ceremony, ‘Five Points of Fellowship’ (pre-1990):1

    LORD: You shall receive it upon the Five Points of Fellowship, through the Veil.
    (The officiator demonstrates the Five Points of Fellowship through the Veil with the temple worker who represents the Lord, as each point is mentioned.)
    PETER: The Five Points of Fellowship are “inside of right foot by the side of right foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, and mouth to ear.

    Excerpt from the Masonic ‘Five points of Fellowship’ from the 3rd Degree Master Mason Ritual:2

    Worshipful Master: The five points of fellowship are: foot to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, and cheek to cheek, or mouth to ear.

    References

    References
    1 LDS temple endowment (pre-1990) – http://thoughtsonthingsandstuff.com/pre-1990-temple-endowment
    2 ‘Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor’, Master mason, or third degree – http://www.sacred-texts.com/mas/dun/dun04.htm
  • Angel and Sword

    Angel and Sword

    Excerpt from the ‘Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo’, LDS Gospel Topic Essay:1

    “When God commands a difficult task, He sometimes sends additional messengers to encourage His people to obey. Consistent with this pattern, Joseph told associates that an angel appeared to him three times between 1834 and 1842 and commanded him to proceed with plural marriage when he hesitated to move forward. During the third and final appearance, the angel came with a drawn sword, threatening Joseph with destruction unless he went forward and obeyed the commandment fully.”

    Below are several references to the angel and sword commanding plural marriage of Joseph.

    Excerpt from the ‘Autobiography of Benjamin F. Johnson’: 2

    “He had asked me to bring my sister to the city, which I soon did, where he saw her at my sister’s, the Widow Sherman, who had already been sealed to him by proxy. His brother, Hyrum, said to me, “Now, Brother Benjamin, you know that Brother Joseph would not sanction this if it was not from the Lord. The Lord revealed this to Brother Joseph long ago, and he put it off until the Angel of the Lord came to him with a drawn sword and told him that he would be slain if he did not go forth and fulfill the law.” He told my sister to have no fears, and he there and then sealed my sister, Almira, to the Prophet.”

    Excerpt from the ‘Life of Heber C. Kimball’: 3

    “A grand and glorious principle had been revealed, and for years had slumbered in the breast of God’s Prophet, awaiting the time when, with safety to himself and the Church, it might be confided to the sacred keeping of a chosen few. That time had now come. An angel with a flaming sword descended from the courts of glory and, confronting the Prophet, commanded him in the name of the Lord to establish the principle so long concealed from the knowledge of the Saints and of the world—that of plural marriage.”

    Excerpt from ‘The Testimony of Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner’, (Mary, 23, was married to Adam Lightner at the time Joseph took her as a plural wife): 4

    “I know whereon I stand, I know what I believe, I know what I know and I know what I testify to you is the living truth. As I expect to meet it at the bar of the eternal Jehovah, it is true. And when you stand before the bar you will know. He preached polygamy and he not only preached it, but he practiced it. I am a living witness to it. It was given to him before he gave it to the Church. An angel came to him and the last time he came with a drawn sword in his hand and told Joseph if he did not go into that principle, he would slay him.

    …”Well,” said I, “don’t you think it was an angel of the devil that told you these things?” Said he, “No, it was an angel of God. God Almighty showed me the difference between an angel of light and Satan’s angels. The angel came to me three times between the years of 1834 and 1842 and said I was to obey that principle or he would slay me.

    Excerpt from ‘Wilford Woodruff’s Journal’: 5

    “An Angel of God Stood by him (Joseph Smith) with a drawn Sword and told him he should be slain & Cut off from the Earth and the kingdom of God if he did not obey that Law (of polygamy). George Q Cannon was of the same opinion, that a man must have more then one wife at a time in order to obey that Law.”

     

     

    References

    References
    1 ‘Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo’, LDS Gospel Topic Essay – https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-in-kirtland-and-nauvoo?lang=eng
    2 The Autobiography of Benjamin F. Johnson – http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/BFJohnson.html
    3 Life of Heber C. Kimball, pg 321-325 –https://archive.org/details/LifeOfHeberC.Kimball
    4 The Testimony of Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner –http://www.ldshistory.us/pc/merlbyu.htm
    5 Wilford Woodruff’s Journal Vol. 8, pg 235 –https://bcgmaxwell.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/wilford-woodruff-journal-volume-8/
  • Where is Cumorah?

    Where is Cumorah?

    Image: The Hill Comorah is a drumlin in Manchester, New York, United States, where Joseph Smith said he found a set of golden plates which he translated into English and published as the Book of Mormon.

    In the text of the Book of Mormon, “Cumorah” is a hill located in a land of the same name, which is “a land of many waters, rivers and fountains”. In this hill, a Book of Mormon figure, Mormon, deposited a number of metal plates containing the record of his nation of Nephites, just prior to their final battle with the Lamanites in which at least 230,000 people were killed.


    From the BYU publication ‘Journal of Book of Mormon Studies’, Archaeology and Cumorah Questions, 2004 —John E. Clark

    In accord with these general observations about New York and Pennsylvania, we come to our principal object—the Hill Cumorah. Archaeologically speaking, it is a clean hill. No artifacts, no walls, no trenches, no arrowheads. The area immediately surrounding the hill is similarly clean. Pre-Columbian people did not settle or build here. This is not the place of Mormon’s last stand. We must look elsewhere for that hill. The Palmyra hill is still a sacred place and was the repository of the golden plates and other relics placed there by Moroni. How Moroni made his way to this place and constructed his time capsule of artifacts is a historic adventure for another time.”

    From an October 16, 1990 letter from the secretary of the First Presidency addressing a question from a Brother Sparks about the location of the Hill Cumorah referenced in the Book of Mormon:

    Dear Bishop Brooks:

    l have been asked to forward to you for acknowledgment and handling the enclosed copy of a letter to President Gordon B. Hinckley from Ronnie Sparks of your ward. Brother Sparks inquired about the location of the Hill Cumorah mentioned in the Book of Mormon, where the last battle between the Nephites and Lamanites took place.

    The Church has long maintained, as attested to by references in the writings of General Authorities, that the Hill Cumorah in western New York state is the same as referenced in the Book of Mormon.

    The Brethren appreciate your assistance in responding to this inquiry, and asked that you convey to Brother Sparks their commendation for his gospel study.


    Crash Course:

  • Tithing or Food

    Tithing or Food

    Image: Elder Valeri V. Cordón, Quorum of the Seventy. 


    Excerpt from the April 2017 General Conference, Valeri V. Cordón: [footnote]Full Conference Address (video) – LDS.org[/footnote]

    “One day, during those difficult times, I heard my parents discussing whether they should pay tithing or buy food for the children. On Sunday, I followed my father to see what he was going to do. After our church meetings I saw him take an envelope and put his tithing in it.”

    The LDS Church is likely worth $40 billion today:[footnote]How the Mormons Make Money – Bloomberg, July 2012 [/footnote]

    “…a recent investigation by Reuters in collaboration with sociology professor Cragun estimates that the LDS Church is likely worth $40 billion today and collects up to $8 billion in tithing each year.”

    Recent documents reveal members of the Quorum of the 70, such as Elder Cordón, receive a base salary of $120,000/yr (from 2014): [footnote]First Q70 Living Allowance – Mormon Leaks[/footnote]

    In Accordance with approved procedures, the annual General Authority base allowance has been increased from $116,400 to $120,000. This will begin with your paycheck issued on January 10, 2014 (pay period 1).

    Detailed information on the t2014 medical benefits and related premiums was sent to you earlier by Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators.

     


     

    Crash Course:

    Full Conference Address (video) – LDS.org
    Sacred Transformations, Aaron L. West – 2012 December Ensign
    LDS Church Finances – Wikipedia
    First Q70 Living Allowance – Mormon Leaks
    Church Finances, 1947-Style – By Common Consent

  • First, First Vision the Second

    First, First Vision the Second

    From the first account of the first vision in 1932, 12 years after the experience:

    [footnote]1832 First Vision Account – Joseph Smith Papers [/footnote]

    At about the age of twelve years, my mind become seriously impressed with regard to the all-important concerns for the welfare of my immortal soul, which led me to searching the scriptures—believing, as I was taught, that they contained the word of God and thus applying myself to them. My intimate acquaintance with those of different denominations led me to marvel exceedingly, for I discovered that they did not adorn their profession by a holy walk and godly conversation agreeable to what I found contained in that sacred depository. This was a grief to my soul.

    Thus, from the age of twelve years to fifteen I pondered many things in my heart concerning the situation of the world of mankind, the contentions and divisions, the wickedness and abominations, and the darkness which pervaded the minds of mankind. My mind became exceedingly distressed, for I became convicted of my sins, and by searching the scriptures I found that mankind did not come unto the Lord but that they had apostatized from the true and living faith, and there was no society or denomination that was built upon the gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament. I felt to mourn for my own sins and for the sins of the world, for I learned in the scriptures that God was the same yesterday, today, and forever, that he was no respecter of persons, for he was God.

    For I looked upon the sun, the glorious luminary of the earth, and also the moon, rolling in their majesty through the heavens, and also the stars shining in their courses, and the earth also upon which I stood, and the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and the fish of the waters, and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in majesty and in the strength of beauty, whose power and intelligence in governing the things which are so exceedingly great and marvelous, even in the likeness of him who created them. And when I considered upon these things, my heart exclaimed, “Well hath the wise man said, ‘It is a fool that saith in his heart, there is no God.’” My heart exclaimed, “All, all these bear testimony and bespeak an omnipotent and omnipresent power, a being who maketh laws and decreeth and bindeth all things in their bounds, who filleth eternity, who was and is and will be from all eternity to eternity.” And I considered all these things and that that being seeketh such to worship him as worship him in spirit and in truth.

    Therefore, I cried unto the Lord for mercy, for there was none else to whom I could go and obtain mercy. And the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness, and while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord, in the sixteenth year of my age, a pillar of light above the brightness of the sun at noonday came down from above and rested upon me. I was filled with the spirit of God, and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord.

    And he spake unto me, saying, “Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee. Go thy way, walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments. Behold, I am the Lord of glory. I was crucified for the world, that all those who believe on my name may have eternal life. Behold, the world lieth in sin at this time, and none doeth good, no, not one. They have turned aside from the gospel and keep not my commandments. They draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me. And mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth, to visit them according to their ungodliness and to bring to pass that which hath been spoken by the mouth of the prophets and apostles. Behold and lo, I come quickly, as it is written of me, in the cloud, clothed in the glory of my Father.”

    My soul was filled with love, and for many days I could rejoice with great joy. The Lord was with me, but I could find none that would believe the heavenly vision. Nevertheless, I pondered these things in my heart.

    This first account of the Joseph’s first vision differs from the canonized 1838 account in a number of key areas. One of those being that Joseph, rather than describing two distinct personages,  described a singular Lord. Additionally, rather than inquiring which of the churches is the ‘most correct’ he seeks a ‘forgiveness of his sins’.


    Crash Course:
    1832 First Vision Account – Joseph Smith Papers
    First Vision Accounts – LDS Gospel Topic Essays
    The First Vision – Mormon Think
    Joseph Smith and “The” “First” “Vision” – wasmormon.org

    See also:

  • First, First Vision

    First, First Vision

    From the first account of the first vision in 1932, 12 years after the experience:

    [footnote]1832 First Vision Account – Joseph Smith Papers [/footnote]

    At about the age of twelve years, my mind become seriously impressed with regard to the all-important concerns for the welfare of my immortal soul, which led me to searching the scriptures—believing, as I was taught, that they contained the word of God and thus applying myself to them. My intimate acquaintance with those of different denominations led me to marvel exceedingly, for I discovered that they did not adorn their profession by a holy walk and godly conversation agreeable to what I found contained in that sacred depository. This was a grief to my soul.

    Thus, from the age of twelve years to fifteen I pondered many things in my heart concerning the situation of the world of mankind, the contentions and divisions, the wickedness and abominations, and the darkness which pervaded the minds of mankind. My mind became exceedingly distressed, for I became convicted of my sins, and by searching the scriptures I found that mankind did not come unto the Lord but that they had apostatized from the true and living faith, and there was no society or denomination that was built upon the gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament. I felt to mourn for my own sins and for the sins of the world, for I learned in the scriptures that God was the same yesterday, today, and forever, that he was no respecter of persons, for he was God.

    For I looked upon the sun, the glorious luminary of the earth, and also the moon, rolling in their majesty through the heavens, and also the stars shining in their courses, and the earth also upon which I stood, and the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and the fish of the waters, and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in majesty and in the strength of beauty, whose power and intelligence in governing the things which are so exceedingly great and marvelous, even in the likeness of him who created them. And when I considered upon these things, my heart exclaimed, “Well hath the wise man said, ‘It is a fool that saith in his heart, there is no God.’” My heart exclaimed, “All, all these bear testimony and bespeak an omnipotent and omnipresent power, a being who maketh laws and decreeth and bindeth all things in their bounds, who filleth eternity, who was and is and will be from all eternity to eternity.” And I considered all these things and that that being seeketh such to worship him as worship him in spirit and in truth.

    Therefore, I cried unto the Lord for mercy, for there was none else to whom I could go and obtain mercy. And the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness, and while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord, in the sixteenth year of my age, a pillar of light above the brightness of the sun at noonday came down from above and rested upon me. I was filled with the spirit of God, and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord.

    And he spake unto me, saying, “Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee. Go thy way, walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments. Behold, I am the Lord of glory. I was crucified for the world, that all those who believe on my name may have eternal life. Behold, the world lieth in sin at this time, and none doeth good, no, not one. They have turned aside from the gospel and keep not my commandments. They draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me. And mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth, to visit them according to their ungodliness and to bring to pass that which hath been spoken by the mouth of the prophets and apostles. Behold and lo, I come quickly, as it is written of me, in the cloud, clothed in the glory of my Father.”

    My soul was filled with love, and for many days I could rejoice with great joy. The Lord was with me, but I could find none that would believe the heavenly vision. Nevertheless, I pondered these things in my heart.

    This first account of the Joseph’s first vision differs from the canonized 1838 account in a number of key areas. One of those being how Joseph learned that the other churches were in apostasy. In this first version he learns of this through study of the scriptures. In the 1838 version he is told of the apostasy in the visionary experience:

    [footnote]Joseph Smith History 1:18,19[/footnote]

    18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.

    19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”


    Crash Course:

    Joseph Smith History 1:18,19
    1832 First Vision Account – Joseph Smith Papers
    First Vision Accounts – LDS Gospel Topic Essays
    The First Vision – Mormon Think
    Joseph Smith and “The” “First” “Vision” – wasmormon.org

    See also:

  • Secret not Sacred

    Secret not Sacred

    Excerpt from the pre-1930 endowment ceremony:[footnote]Why the need for secret death oaths in the LDS Temple Endowment Ceremony?  [/footnote]

    ADAM : “We, and each of us, covenant and promise that we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the first token of the Aaronic priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should we do so, we agree that our throats be cut from ear to ear and our tongues torn out by their roots.”

    ADAM: “All bow your heads and say Yes.”

    TEMPLE PATRONS: “Yes.” (All patrons sit down.)

    PETER: “The brethren and sisters will now stand, push back the seats, place the robe on the left shoulder, and receive the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood. We and each of us do covenant and promise that we will not reveal the secrets of this, the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign, grip or penalty. Should we do so, we agree to have our breasts cut open and our hearts and vitals torn from our bodies and given to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.”

    “All bow your heads and say yes.”

    TEMPLE PATRONS: “Yes.” (All patrons sit down.)

    PETER: “We and each of us do covenant and promise that we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should we do so, we agree that our bodies be cut asunder in the midst and all our bowels gush out.”

    “All bow your heads and say yes.”

    TEMPLE PATRONS: “Yes.” (All patrons sit down.)


     

    Crash Course:

    Why the need for secret death oaths in the LDS Temple Endowment Ceremony?
    Temple Oaths – Mormon Think
    Mormonism and Masonry (Podcast) – Mormon Expressions
    The LDS Endowment – For Latter-day Saints, the endowment serves as a rite of adult initiation.
    Masonic Symbols and the LDS Temple – Sandra Tanner
    Masonry and Mormonism, an Interview with Greg Kearney (Podcast) – Mormon Stories
    Occultic and Masonic Influence in Early Mormonism – Joel B. Groat

  • No Paid Ministry

    No Paid Ministry

    Image: Thomas S. Monson, LDS Church President. 


    From the April 2006 General Conference address ‘Our Sacred Priesthood Trust’:[footnote]Our Sacred Priesthood Trust – LDS April 2006 General Conference[/footnote]

    I have experienced many opportunities. One occurred 21 years ago, prior to the time when the German Democratic Republic—or East Germany, as it was more commonly known—was freed from Communist rule. I was visiting with the East German state secretary, Minister Gysi. At that time our temple at Freiberg, in East Germany, was under construction, along with two or three meetinghouses. Minister Gysi and I visited on a number of subjects, including our worldwide building program. He then asked, “Why is your church so wealthy that you can afford to build buildings in our country and throughout the world? How do you get your money?”

    I answered that the Church is not wealthy but that we follow the ancient biblical principle of tithing, which principle is reemphasized in our modern scripture. I explained also that our Church has no paid ministry and indicated that these were two reasons why we were able to build the buildings then under way, including the beautiful temple at Freiberg.

    From a 2014 letter to First Quorum of the 70 addressing living allowance increase:[footnote]First Q70 Living Allowance – Mormon Leaks[/footnote]

    In Accordance with approved procedures, the annual General Authority base allowance has been increased from $116,400 to $120,000. This will begin with your paycheck issued on January 10, 2014 (pay period 1).

    Detailed information on the t2014 medical benefits and related premiums was sent to you earlier by Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators.

     

     

     


     

    Crash Course:

    How the Mormons Make Money – Bloomberg

    LDS Church Finances – Wikipedia

    Mormon Leaks

    Church Finances, 1947-Style – By Common Consent

    What does “unpaid ministry” look like? – Eric Johnson

  • Tithing First

    Tithing First

    2012 December Ensign – Sacred Transformations: ““If paying tithing means that you can’t pay for water or electricity, pay tithing. If paying tithing means that you can’t pay your rent, pay tithing. Even if paying tithing means that you don’t have enough money to feed your family, pay tithing. “[footnote]Sacred Transformations, Aaron L. West – 2012 December Ensign [/footnote]

    “…a recent investigation by Reuters in collaboration with sociology professor Cragun estimates that the LDS Church is likely worth $40 billion today and collects up to $8 billion in tithing each year.”[footnote]How the Mormons Make Money – Bloomberg, July 2012 [/footnote]

     



    Crash Course:

    How the Mormons Make Money – Bloomberg, July 2012
    LDS Church Finances – Wikipedia