Crandall Museum

The Crandall Museum was a very cool experience for me. I went a few years ago, but I didn't remember much from that visit. It was amazing to see a replica of the Gutenberg press, and understand everything that Gutenberg went through in order to make a printing press that truly worked, and served as the guide for all printing presses for hundreds of years. Truly, he must have been inspired by God to be able to come up with all of the designs of the press, what metals to be used to make the perfect alloy for the type, what inks to use, etc. It was interesting to me to see how he started his presses in secret because he was scared of what would be done with him for creating something new. Yet, before he knew it he was making copies of the Bible for the Catholic Church.
The other aspect of the Museum that I found fascinating was of the printing of the Book of Mormon. I thought it was really cool how much of a miracle it was that there were even resources in Palmyra to allow for the printing of the Book of Mormon. The mentioned there too, how quickly they would have had to print the pages to the Book of Mormon to make the 5,000 copies in time, and just how much strength that would have taken. Just the printing and binding aspects of the Book of Mormon are miracles. It truly was set up and made possible by God. It is an evidence to me that if we put our faith in the Lord, anything can happen. We just need to do our best and leave the rest to Him.

Before Nauvoo, Joseph Smith received many revelations from the Lord, forming much of the Doctrine and Covenants we have to day. In the early days of the church, the Prophet Joseph Smith was receiving revelation about how the Lord’s church was to be run and organized. They addressed specific questions and restored doctrine. Like everyone though, Joseph did not learn everything all at once. It took time to study it out and to fully put all the pieces of a puzzle together. It seems that upon reaching Nauvoo, he started to see the whole picture. As a result, he began to expound on the further truths of the gospel. He didn’t just get up and tell the people “Thus saith the Lord,” but he taught true truths and doctrines.
This was only one reason that some of his earlier discourses were not recorded and saved as scripture. Very few of Joseph Smith’s sermons were recorded, and most of them were only small excerpts. In Nauvoo, we have the records of people writing down his words as he spoke, plus some letters from Joseph to congregations. These sermons contained true doctrine, which shed more light upon who we are, and our relationship to deity. As a result, they were and are considered scripture.
What I find interesting today is that we work in much the same way as the Nauvoo era. We don’t hear the prophet get up in conference very often and teach us brand new doctrine, or receive groundbreaking revelations. Instead he teaches us the truths of the God. As he does so by the Spirit, it is as though his words are scripture, for they are words of God.

Joseph Smith Papers

I really enjoyed reading the minutes from February 17, 1834. It gave me a lot of insight as to the origins of the high council system, and even disciplinary councils in these last days. It was cool to see how it was set up for a council of people to gather together to discuss very hard issues in the church. What particularly stuck out was that regarding what sounded like the disciplinary councils of the church. I didn't realize it was during this time that the order and manner of these councils was established. My dad is on the high council for my stake, so I've talked to him a little bit about how disciplinary councils work and function. After reading these minutes, I realized that the church still follows this very order of things. It all sounded so familiar to what my dad had told me. I think it's amazing how it is set up though--that there are six members who represent and defend that accused, and then twelve who basically prosecute. But all of it done in love to be sure that both justice and mercy are able to take place. I think the important part of this too, is that was not just for the everyday cases. It was only for those cases where bishops and their councils, or other smaller councils could not resolve an issue. It was only for major issues. I think that's an important thing to remember.
The other thing I found interesting about the readings was the revelation talking about wars. It's interesting to see that these two events happened on the same day-the organization of the high council, and a revelation prophesying of the civil war.
It's really cool to read in the Joseph Smith Papers and see the origins of some of the procedures, and the actual documents for revelations I had known of for a long time.

Museum of Art

This past week we went to the Museum of Art on BYU campus to view religious art, much of which was focused on types and shadows of Christ. The experience was very touching personally. Initially I stayed with the class as people discussed their ideas of what they felt different aspects of a painting represented to them. Part way through though, I wandered off on my own and studied pieces of art on my own. It was a great to be able to sit by myself and look at different paintings and draw my own parallels and ideas. To be there studying on my own and see how it touched me, and not everyone else around me. Not that I didn’t like, or agree with, their ideas, I just didn’t get the same experience from it. I think had I studied those specific pieces of art beforehand, I would have enjoyed the conversation more, but I really just wanted to take it in on my own this first time. It was a great blessing to me to be able to look at paintings of Christ, of the Prodigal Son, and even paintings of nature and see how they were all works of God—that pointed to Christ and His divine role. I’m sad that it’s leaving and that I won’t get a chance to go and study more of the paintings on my own.

Joseph Smith Papers

It was cool to read the original manuscript for Doctrine and Covenants section 88. What was interesting to me was to see how many small revisions were made before it was finally published. Most of them were done by Joseph Smith, yet there are a lot of changes made by others who were scribes for Joseph. It was really cool for me to see how although there are a lot of changes, they were only for small grammatical errors really. It helped me to realize even more that Joseph Smith wouldn’t receive a revelation, and then go back and change and rewrite everything he wrote. It’s a testimony to me that these revelations truly are from God. Joseph Smith received these revelations from God, and through mistakes of scribes, or just general grammatical errors, there were a few changes. It’s evidence that the Prophet Joseph Smith did not just sit and contemplate what was going to be written. He didn’t sit and write, then scribble out a few sentences to make it sound better. He would sit and read what the Lord would dictate he should read. Although I haven’t studied many of the other revelations, I assume they’re very similar in nature. No real major revisions. It gives me hope that I can read the Doctrine and Covenants and know that it’s the undefiled word of God.

Liberty Jail

Amid many allegations, Joseph Smith was sent to a few different jails in Missouri before he finally ended up in Liberty Jail. Joseph was treated horribly, and had to live in the most demeaning conditions. From being in dark, cramped quarters, to being offered human flesh, Joseph was in extremely dire situations. He didn’t know how the Saints were doing, and had to trust that Brigham Young and the other free leaders would keep them safe. It’s enough physically and emotionally to break just about anyone. Enough to cause the strongest man to ask: “Why? Why me?” And Joseph did just that. “Oh God, where art thou?” The words which start off the 121st section of the Doctrine and Covenants show just how low Joseph Smith must have felt. It was the first time he had to sit and really have time to ponder things, and wonder if what he was on the right track. Had he truly followed the Lord’s counsel? Had the Lord forsaken him? He was discouraged. He was despairing. Yet the Lord didn’t come to His immediate aid and try only to comfort him. But He does give him what Joseph needed to hear. He says, “My son, peace be unto thy soul.” These sweet words are the beginning of some incredible and sweet revelations, as well as the beginning of a new era for Joseph Smith. Before going to Liberty Jail, Joseph almost seemed to lack confidence in some areas. He typically had somebody else speak for him. He knew the gospel, and was confident in His relationship with the Lord, but he hadn’t truly been tried and tested. It was in the solemn walls of Liberty Jail that he received that test. The Lord promised Joseph that if he would endure the trials well, they would be for His good. In that, and the other counsel the Lord gave Joseph, a new man evolved. Joseph learned how to truly lead. He became completely confident in the teachings. No longer was he going to have somebody else speak for him, but he was now going to be his own spokesmen. He began to teach sermons instead of teaching revelations. In many ways for Joseph, Liberty Jail could be seen as his Garden of Gethsemane. It was probably the hardest time in his life. Possibly the hardest period of time he had to go through. Yet, when he came out of it he was stronger than ever. He did endure it well. He did what the Lord asked of him, and as a result he was able to strengthen and bless those around him. By following the Lord, and working through those hard times, he was able to become what the Lord wanted him to become.

D&C 137

Doctrine and Covenants Section 37 is a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith of the Celestial Kingdom. It gives some extremely comforting to doctrine regarding those who die without ever hearing about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the revelation, Joseph Smith sees his brother Alvin, who died without being baptized. Joseph is surprised to see his brother in the Celestial Kingdom since he had not been baptized in mortality, but then learned an incredible doctrine—that those who would have accepted the gospel, had they had the opportunity in this life, will have a chance to learn it and accept it in the life to come. Of course, they can’t receive the ordinances for themselves, so that puts a lot of responsibility on the rest of us to do their work for them. For me personally, this makes me feel extremely grateful for the gospel. It’s hard for me to imagine a God who wouldn’t provide a way for all of His creations to return to Him. It helps me to remember how much love our Heavenly Father has for all of His children. We all lived with Him before, and His work and His glory is to “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Our Heavenly Father provided a way for everyone on this earth to return to live with Him, not just those who had a chance to hear of Christ, or receive a fullness of that Gospel. It helps me to realize that even though there are hard trials going on throughout the world, God loves all of His children. Even if things are hard in this life, those who do their best still have a chance to have true joy and happiness in the life to come.
This is additionally important to me in the aspect of family history work. Heavenly Father has provided a way for our ancestors to return to Him, but they can’t do it without our help. We have information and technology at our fingertips. We have the gospel in its fullness. It truly is our responsibility and opportunity to search for the names of our ancestors. To give them the opportunity to receive the ordinances is an opportunity that all should pursue in one form or another. Many of them lived good lives, and would have accepted the gospel. Now it’s up to us to give them that chance to receive the blessings.