Blogging Through the Book of Mormon

Section 25 is a little bit different in that it is initially addressed to Emma Smith, Joseph’s wife. The IM gives background information as follows: “It had been just over three years since the Prophet Joseph Smith and Emma Hale had been married in the small village of South Bainbridge, New York. Joseph was now twenty-five years of age and Emma twenty-six. The seventh of nine children born to Isaac and Elizabeth Hale, Emma was born on 10 July 1804 in Harmony, Pennsylvania. There the Prophet met and courted her while he was working for Josiah Stowell. It is reported that Emma was a beautiful woman with an attractive personality, and he had the reputation of being a refined and dignified woman who was an excellent housekeeper and cook. Her Methodist upbringing had helped her develop a great love of music. The first three years for the newly married couple were indeed tense and trying ones. Eight months after their marriage Joseph received the golden plates from the angel Moroni. From tha...

I am so very short on time tonight. Section 24 is longer than the last couple of them, and is of a different sort. DJR gives a very detailed background about what might have led up to this revelation, but the IM gives a more brief and concise account saying, “During the month of April 1830, Joseph Smith spent time at the home of Joseph Knight Sr., of Colesville, New York. The Knights were willing to hear Joseph Smith’s message. While there, the Prophet cast out an evil spirit from Newel Knight, one of Joseph Knight’s sons. Most of those who witnessed the miracle eventually sought baptism. This brought increased opposition from neighbors, some trying to prevent baptisms, others bringing lawsuits against the Prophet based on trumped-up charges. The Prophet was always acquitted of the charges but lost much time. Joseph had the responsibility of caring for his family and at the same time leading, counseling, and directing the newly organized Church. After the Prophet returned from Colesvil...

Section 23 is an interesting one, the IM gives introduction as follows: “In April 1830 at Manchester, New York, Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Samuel H. Smith, Joseph Smith Sr., and Joseph Knight Sr., came to joseph Smith to receive from him the mind and will of the Lord in their behalf. The Prophet consented to their request and received the revelation known as section 23. When this revelation was first published in the Book of Commandments, it was divided into five parts comprising chapters 17 through 21. In all later editions, however, they were combined into one section.” There is an interesting quote from JS explaining this section that is in DJR’s book, which says, “The hollowing persons being anxious to know of the Lord what might be their respective duties in relation to this word, I enquired of the Lord, and received for them the following: (section 23).” 23:1-2 – Oliver Cowdery is given the first two verses which say, “Behold, I speak unto you, Oliver, a few words. Behold, tho...

Section 22 is very short, only four verses, and covers an interesting topic, that of baptism and proper priesthood authority. The IM quotes President Joseph Fielding Smith as teaching, “Immediately after the Church was organized, converts were made. Some of these had belonged to churches which believed in baptism by immersion. In fact, many of the early converts of the Church had previously accepted this mode, believing that it was right. The question of divine authority, however, was not firmly fixed in their minds. When they desired to come into the Church, having received the testimony that Joseph Smith had told a true story, they wondered why it was necessary for them to be baptized again when they had complied with an ordinance of baptism by immersion.” It’s an interesting question, but I guess it would be the same thing if the Lord told us today that we had to be baptized every day in order to gain salvation, it would be about obedience and submission, about doing what he says t...

Section 21 is much shorter, 12 verses, but again, a lot of content. The section gives the background as follows: “revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Fayette, New York, April 6, 1830. This revelation was given at the organization of the Church, on the date names, in the home of Peter Whitmer, Sen. Six men, who had previously been baptized, participated. By unanimous vote these persons expressed their desire and determination to organize, according to the commandment of God; see Section 20. They also voted to accept and sustain Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery as the presiding officers of the Church. With the laying on of hands, Joseph them ordained Oliver an elder of the Church; and Oliver similarly ordained Joseph. After administration of the sacrament, Joseph and Oliver laid hands upon the participants individually, for the bestowal of the Holy Ghost and for the confirmation of each as a member of the Church.” The IM says, “For over seventeen centuries the Church o...

20:32-36 - Even though the concept of Justification and Sanctification can be a little bit complex, at least for me, the next topic discussed by the Lord is pretty interesting, it’s about personal apostasy. The Lord warns “There is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God; Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation; Yea, and even let those who are sanctified take heed also.” Interestingly, I noticed that there was a heavy emphasis on personal testimony in this last general conference, and I just listened to an Ensign article today entitled “Avoiding Personal Apostasy.” In the article Elder Claudio D. Zivic taught “Apostasy frequently results when a person commits serious sin but does not repent. To silence his conscience or justify his sinful actions, the individual moves away from the truth, looking for imperfections in others or questioning Church doctrine with which he no longer agrees. Conflicts between Church...

Listening to a little bit more information on this section has given me a little bit more perspective, so I want to go back through and discuss a little bit more about some concepts. First, going back to verse 19, DJR says that the doctrine here is, “Heavenly Father is the only being we should worship. (Christ always directs us to worship the Father. We pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. We reverence, love and respect the Savior, but in the strict sense of verse 19, we do not worship Him.) I’ve thought about this recently because I was taken off guard by something I heard in the most recent general conference. In the beginning of his talk entitled, “Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom,” Elder Robert D. Hales said, “This is Easter Sunday: a day of gratitude and remembrance honoring our Savior Jesus Christ’s Atonement and Resurrection for all mankind. We worship Him, grateful for our freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and our God-given r...

20:10-25 - These verses bring up a concept that I have felt strongly about my whole life, that strengthens my faith in the gospel but would be difficult for me to reconcile without it, and that is that “he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever.” I’ve always thought that it only makes sense that God still talks to us today, that we still have a prophet just like they did in the ancient days because otherwise God would not be the same and unchanging. DJR has some good insight though, as to the varying aspects of a growing church and the sameness of God, saying, “Be careful not to confuse policies with doctrines, as you consider verse 12, above. Some members wonder how God can be the same ‘yesterday, today, and forever’ when He changes the age for missionaries to go on missions, changes from separate meetings for priesthood and Relief Society, Sunday School and sacrament meetings to a meeting block for all, eliminates seventies on a stake basis and only has general authority seven...

20:5-7 - After the first few instructions, which were the assignment of the office of first and second elders. Now the Lord goes into something that I don’t quite understand, but as far as I understand it, it’s telling JS that he has “received a remission of his sins, he was entangled again in the vanities of the world.” This, I think, references the time between the First Vision and when Moroni appeared to him 3 years later. The IM quotes him as saying that during that time, “I was left to all kinds of temptations; and mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations, offensive in the sight of God. In making this confession, no one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant sins. A disposition to commit such was never in my nature. But I was guilty of levity, and sometimes associated with jovial company, etc., not consisten...