The Prophet Joseph Smith received the Word of Wisdom in the Newel K. Whitney store.
Brigham Young: I think I am as well acquainted with the circumstances which led to the giving of the Word of Wisdom as any man in the Church, although I was not present at the time to witness them. The first school of the prophets was held in a small room situated over the Prophet Joseph's kitchen, in a house, which belonged to Bishop [Newel K.] Whitney, and which was attached to his store, which store probably might be about fifteen feet square. In the rear of this building was a kitchen, probably ten by fourteen feet, containing rooms and pantries. Over this kitchen was situated the room in which the Prophet received revelations and in which he instructed his brethren.
The brethren came to that place for hundreds of miles to attend school in a little room probably no larger than eleven by fourteen. When they assembled together in this room after breakfast, the first [thing] they did was to light their pipes, and, while smoking, talk about the great things of the kingdom, and spit all over the room, and as soon as the pipe was out of their mouths a large chew of tobacco would then be taken. Often when the Prophet entered the room to give the school instructions he would find himself in a cloud of tobacco smoke. This, and the complaints of his wife at having to clean so filthy a floor, made the Prophet think upon the matter, and he inquired of the Lord relating to the conduct of the Elders in using tobacco, and the revelation known as the Word of Wisdom was the result of his inquiry.
The Word of Wisdom wasn’t issued as a commandment when it was first given. From time to time, between 1834 and 1880, Church leaders exhorted the Saints to obey the Word of Wisdom, but they did not see fit to require obedience. However, in 1880 under John Taylor's presidency, President George Q. Cannon presented to the Church membership a new edition of the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants and declared: "It has been deemed wise to submit these books with their contents to the conference, to see whether the conference will vote to accept the books and their contents as from God, and binding upon us as a people and as a Church." President Joseph F. Smith seconded the motion, and the conference sustained the proposition by unanimous vote.
Here the Saints acknowledged to the Lord their desire to have his "order and will" become commandment. In 1913 President Joseph F. Smith, reviewing the Church's gradual compliance with the Word of Wisdom, wrote: “The reason undoubtedly why the Word of Wisdom was given—as not by 'commandment or [constraint] was that at that time, at least, if it had been given as a commandment, it would have brought every man addicted to the use of these noxious things under condemnation; so the Lord was merciful and gave them a chance to overcome, before he brought them under the law.” When the Lord's timetable was fulfilled, it was Heber J. Grant who made this law once and for all binding on the Saints.
So is the Word of Wisdom a commandment now?
President Brigham Young: I know that some say it [the Word of Wisdom] is not given by way of commandment. Very well, but we are commanded to observe every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
At the October, 1937, General Conference, President Heber J. Grant spoke as follows:
We expect all the General Officers of the Church, each and every one of them, from this very day, to be absolute, full-tithepayers, to really and truly observe the Word of Wisdom; and we ask all of the officers of the Church and all members of the General Boards, and all Stake and Ward officers, if they are not living the Gospel and honestly and conscientiously paying their tithing, to kindly step aside, unless from this day they live up to these provisions. No Latter-day Saint is entitled to anything that is contrary to the mind and will of the Lord, and the Word of Wisdom is the mind and the will of the Lord.
John A. Widtsoe: [The Word of Wisdom] was given "by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and the will of God." It came by "revelation" and not because of the likes or dislikes of the Prophet. Whatever is "the will of God", men are required to do, if they wish full salvation. The Word of Wisdom is the will of God, hence binding upon all who desire to show full obedience to the principles of the plan of the Lord for human welfare. God's human children may accept or reject the truths of the Word of Wisdom—it is their privilege—but they lose by disobedience the blessings promised the obedient.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Trivia: Which parable is taught in three of the standard works?
Answer: The Parable of the Fig Tree. (Found in Matt. 24:32-33; Mark 13:28-29; Luke 21:29-31; JS-Matthew 1:38-43). The parable of the fig tree is also spoken of twice in the Doctrine and Covenants (35:16; 45:34-39). I don’t know about you, but when a scripture is mentioned multiple times and in multiple books of scripture, I try to pay attention.
In the parable, the Savior indicated that when the fig tree began to shoot forth its leaves, we would know that his coming was nigh.
D&C 45:36–39 And when the light shall begin to break forth [The restoration of the gospel, with the light that thereby breaks forth in darkness, is the beginning of the shooting forth of the leaves of the fig tree – showing that this parable applies to the latter days.], it shall be with them like unto a parable which I will show you— 37 Ye look and behold the fig trees, and ye see them with your eyes, and ye say when they begin to shoot forth, and their leaves are yet tender, that summer is now nigh at hand; 38 Even so it shall be in that day when they shall see all these things, then shall they know that the hour is nigh. 39 And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man.
The fig tree has broad green leaves that are a good source of shade in the summer. In the spring – often during the first week of April, the new leaves begin to come forth. When we see the signs of the times taking place, we will know that the Second Coming is near.
Elder Melvin J. Ballard said: "One characteristic of a fig tree is that it does not put forth its leaves until relatively late in the year, long after most of the trees are in full leaf. The Savior used this feature in a parable concerning his second coming. Although the world will not know the day nor the hour of his coming, we should observe the signs of the times, for when the fig tree puts forth its leaves, we know that summer is nigh. In other words, when the signs of the second coming begin to be made manifest, we know that the second coming is nigh or near at hand." (CR, Oct. 1923, p. 32.)
The parable is perfect for the Lord's purposes. It announces that he will most assuredly return in the "season" when the promised signs are shown. But it refrains from specifying the day or the hour when the figs will be harvested, thus leaving men in a state of expectant hope, ever keeping themselves ready for the coming harvest.
D&C 35:15-16 And the poor and the meek shall have the gospel preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth for the time of my coming, for it is nigh at hand— 16 And they shall learn the parable of the fig-tree, for even now already summer is nigh.
In this other reference (above) to the parable of the fig tree, it is the poor in spirit and the meek that possess the gospel who will “learn the parable” and “shall be looking forth” for Jesus’ second coming.
In a 1973 conference address, after reviewing the signs of the times, President Harold B. Lee said: Brothers and sisters, this is the day the Lord is speaking of. You see the signs are here. Be ye therefore ready.
And in 1976, Elder Bernard P. Brockbank quoted President Spencer W. Kimball as saying: The leaves are commencing to show on the fig tree.
So, are there other parables about the last days and second coming? Yes, at least 10 more of Jesus’ parables were about the second coming and events of the last days:
Parables of the second coming
(1) Wheat and tares (Matt. 13:24-43; D&C 86:1-11), (2) 10 virgins (Matt. 25:1-13, D&C 45:56-57), (3) fig tree
Parables of the Lord’s judgment and vengeance
(4) Parable of the gospel net (Matt. 13:47-53), (5) Parable of the wicked husbandmen (Matt. 21:33-46), (6) Parable of the great supper (Luke 14:12-24), (7) Parable of the marriage of the king’s son (Matt. 22:1-14), (8) Parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8)
Parables of our earthly stewardship in preparing for the Kingdom of God
(9) Parable of the laborer in the vineyard (Matt. 20:1-16), (10) Parable of the pounds (Luke 19:11-28), (11) Parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30)
In the parable, the Savior indicated that when the fig tree began to shoot forth its leaves, we would know that his coming was nigh.
D&C 45:36–39 And when the light shall begin to break forth [The restoration of the gospel, with the light that thereby breaks forth in darkness, is the beginning of the shooting forth of the leaves of the fig tree – showing that this parable applies to the latter days.], it shall be with them like unto a parable which I will show you— 37 Ye look and behold the fig trees, and ye see them with your eyes, and ye say when they begin to shoot forth, and their leaves are yet tender, that summer is now nigh at hand; 38 Even so it shall be in that day when they shall see all these things, then shall they know that the hour is nigh. 39 And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man.
The fig tree has broad green leaves that are a good source of shade in the summer. In the spring – often during the first week of April, the new leaves begin to come forth. When we see the signs of the times taking place, we will know that the Second Coming is near.
Elder Melvin J. Ballard said: "One characteristic of a fig tree is that it does not put forth its leaves until relatively late in the year, long after most of the trees are in full leaf. The Savior used this feature in a parable concerning his second coming. Although the world will not know the day nor the hour of his coming, we should observe the signs of the times, for when the fig tree puts forth its leaves, we know that summer is nigh. In other words, when the signs of the second coming begin to be made manifest, we know that the second coming is nigh or near at hand." (CR, Oct. 1923, p. 32.)
The parable is perfect for the Lord's purposes. It announces that he will most assuredly return in the "season" when the promised signs are shown. But it refrains from specifying the day or the hour when the figs will be harvested, thus leaving men in a state of expectant hope, ever keeping themselves ready for the coming harvest.
D&C 35:15-16 And the poor and the meek shall have the gospel preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth for the time of my coming, for it is nigh at hand— 16 And they shall learn the parable of the fig-tree, for even now already summer is nigh.
In this other reference (above) to the parable of the fig tree, it is the poor in spirit and the meek that possess the gospel who will “learn the parable” and “shall be looking forth” for Jesus’ second coming.
In a 1973 conference address, after reviewing the signs of the times, President Harold B. Lee said: Brothers and sisters, this is the day the Lord is speaking of. You see the signs are here. Be ye therefore ready.
And in 1976, Elder Bernard P. Brockbank quoted President Spencer W. Kimball as saying: The leaves are commencing to show on the fig tree.
So, are there other parables about the last days and second coming? Yes, at least 10 more of Jesus’ parables were about the second coming and events of the last days:
Parables of the second coming
(1) Wheat and tares (Matt. 13:24-43; D&C 86:1-11), (2) 10 virgins (Matt. 25:1-13, D&C 45:56-57), (3) fig tree
Parables of the Lord’s judgment and vengeance
(4) Parable of the gospel net (Matt. 13:47-53), (5) Parable of the wicked husbandmen (Matt. 21:33-46), (6) Parable of the great supper (Luke 14:12-24), (7) Parable of the marriage of the king’s son (Matt. 22:1-14), (8) Parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8)
Parables of our earthly stewardship in preparing for the Kingdom of God
(9) Parable of the laborer in the vineyard (Matt. 20:1-16), (10) Parable of the pounds (Luke 19:11-28), (11) Parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Background to "The Vision" -- D&C 76
D&C 76 is perhaps the most important latter-day revelation except for the First Vision.
Joseph Smith spoke of its importance: Nothing could be more pleasing to the Saints upon the order of the Kingdom of the Lord, than the light which burst upon the world through the foregoing vision. Every law, every commandment, every promise, every truth, and every point touching the destiny of man, from Genesis to Revelation, where the purity of the Scriptures remain unsullied by the folly of men, go to show the perfection of the theory (of different degrees of glory in the future life) and witness the fact that the document is a transcript from the records of the eternal world. The sublimity of the ideas; the purity of the language; the scope for action; the continued duration for completion, in order that the heirs of salvation may confess the Lord and bow the knee; the rewards for faithfulness, and the punishments for sins, are so much beyond the narrow-mindedness of men, that every man is constrained to exclaim: “It came from God.”
The heading to D&C 76 provides its historical context, and shows how the Lord schooled Joseph Smith in response to his own questions and circumstances.
Heading to D&C 76 A vision given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, February 16, 1832. HC 1: 245–252. Prefacing his record of this vision the Prophet wrote: “Upon my return from Amherst conference, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures. From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body, the term ‘Heaven,’ as intended for the Saints’ eternal home, must include more kingdoms than one. Accordingly, while translating St. John’s Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision.” It was after the Prophet had translated John 5: 29 that this vision was given.
John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
D&C 76:18-19 Now this caused us to marvel, for it was given unto us of the Spirit. 19 And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about.
What's amazing to me is that there were others in the room when Joseph and Sidney were seeing the vision.
Philo Dibble had called at the John Johnson home, knowing that the Prophet Joseph Smith was living there with his family. He was directed to an upper room where Joseph, Sidney Rigdon, and several other men were seated. Joseph and Sidney seemed surrounded in magnificent glory, and a sense of power filled the room. Joseph appeared to be dressed in white, though in fact he wore a black suit. Dibble watched for more than an hour. Joseph would say, “What do I see?” and describe what he was seeing. Sidney would reply, “I see the same.” Then Sidney would make a similar statement, and Joseph would reply “I see the same.”
When the vision closed, Joseph sat up straight and was calm, “but Sidney sat limp and pale, apparently as limber as a rag, observing which Joseph remarked, smilingly, ‘Sidney is not used to it as I am.’” Joseph and Sidney stayed up late into the night transcribing a portion of the vision, and their impressions, which became Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants -- one of the grandest revelations recorded in all scripture.
What we now have as Section 76 was known simply as “the vision”, and copies circulated among the members of the Church and was used as a missionary tract.
Wilford Woodruff recognized its beauty and depth: When I read these solemn, these eternal declarations made through the mouth of Joseph Smith, my heart swells with gratitude and praise to God, my heavenly Father. I consider that the Doctrine and Covenants, our Testament, contains a code of the most solemn, the most Godlike proclamations ever made to the human family. I will refer to the ‘Vision’ alone, as a revelation which gives more light, more truth, and more principle than any revelation contained in any other book we ever read. It makes plain to our understanding our present condition, where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going to. Any man may know through that revelation what his part and condition will be. For all men know what laws they keep, and the laws which men keep here will determine their position hereafter; they will be preserved by those laws and receive the blessings which belong to them. (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham [1946], 47–48)
However, the revelation was not initially received well by all members of the church.
Brigham Young: When God revealed to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon that there was a place prepared for all, according to the light they had received and their rejection of evil and practice of good, it was a great trial to many, and some apostatized because God was not going to send to everlasting punishment heathens and infants, but had a place of salvation, in due time, for all and would bless the honest and virtuous and truthful, whether they ever belonged to any church or not.
Even Brigham Young himself could not understand it at first, but tells us how he finally came to understand and believe it.
Brigham Young: After all, my traditions were such, that when the Vision came first to me, it was directly contrary and opposed to my former education. I said, Wait a little. I did not reject it; but I could not understand it. I then could feel what incorrect tradition had done for me. Suppose all that I have ever heard from my priest and parents–the way they taught me to read the Bible–had been true, my understanding would be diametrically opposed to the doctrine revealed in the Vision. I used to think and pray, to read and think, until I knew and fully understood it for myself, by the visions of the Holy Spirit.
Joseph Smith spoke of its importance: Nothing could be more pleasing to the Saints upon the order of the Kingdom of the Lord, than the light which burst upon the world through the foregoing vision. Every law, every commandment, every promise, every truth, and every point touching the destiny of man, from Genesis to Revelation, where the purity of the Scriptures remain unsullied by the folly of men, go to show the perfection of the theory (of different degrees of glory in the future life) and witness the fact that the document is a transcript from the records of the eternal world. The sublimity of the ideas; the purity of the language; the scope for action; the continued duration for completion, in order that the heirs of salvation may confess the Lord and bow the knee; the rewards for faithfulness, and the punishments for sins, are so much beyond the narrow-mindedness of men, that every man is constrained to exclaim: “It came from God.”
The heading to D&C 76 provides its historical context, and shows how the Lord schooled Joseph Smith in response to his own questions and circumstances.
Heading to D&C 76 A vision given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, February 16, 1832. HC 1: 245–252. Prefacing his record of this vision the Prophet wrote: “Upon my return from Amherst conference, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures. From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body, the term ‘Heaven,’ as intended for the Saints’ eternal home, must include more kingdoms than one. Accordingly, while translating St. John’s Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision.” It was after the Prophet had translated John 5: 29 that this vision was given.
John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
D&C 76:18-19 Now this caused us to marvel, for it was given unto us of the Spirit. 19 And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about.
What's amazing to me is that there were others in the room when Joseph and Sidney were seeing the vision.
Philo Dibble had called at the John Johnson home, knowing that the Prophet Joseph Smith was living there with his family. He was directed to an upper room where Joseph, Sidney Rigdon, and several other men were seated. Joseph and Sidney seemed surrounded in magnificent glory, and a sense of power filled the room. Joseph appeared to be dressed in white, though in fact he wore a black suit. Dibble watched for more than an hour. Joseph would say, “What do I see?” and describe what he was seeing. Sidney would reply, “I see the same.” Then Sidney would make a similar statement, and Joseph would reply “I see the same.”
When the vision closed, Joseph sat up straight and was calm, “but Sidney sat limp and pale, apparently as limber as a rag, observing which Joseph remarked, smilingly, ‘Sidney is not used to it as I am.’” Joseph and Sidney stayed up late into the night transcribing a portion of the vision, and their impressions, which became Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants -- one of the grandest revelations recorded in all scripture.
What we now have as Section 76 was known simply as “the vision”, and copies circulated among the members of the Church and was used as a missionary tract.
Wilford Woodruff recognized its beauty and depth: When I read these solemn, these eternal declarations made through the mouth of Joseph Smith, my heart swells with gratitude and praise to God, my heavenly Father. I consider that the Doctrine and Covenants, our Testament, contains a code of the most solemn, the most Godlike proclamations ever made to the human family. I will refer to the ‘Vision’ alone, as a revelation which gives more light, more truth, and more principle than any revelation contained in any other book we ever read. It makes plain to our understanding our present condition, where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going to. Any man may know through that revelation what his part and condition will be. For all men know what laws they keep, and the laws which men keep here will determine their position hereafter; they will be preserved by those laws and receive the blessings which belong to them. (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham [1946], 47–48)
However, the revelation was not initially received well by all members of the church.
Brigham Young: When God revealed to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon that there was a place prepared for all, according to the light they had received and their rejection of evil and practice of good, it was a great trial to many, and some apostatized because God was not going to send to everlasting punishment heathens and infants, but had a place of salvation, in due time, for all and would bless the honest and virtuous and truthful, whether they ever belonged to any church or not.
Even Brigham Young himself could not understand it at first, but tells us how he finally came to understand and believe it.
Brigham Young: After all, my traditions were such, that when the Vision came first to me, it was directly contrary and opposed to my former education. I said, Wait a little. I did not reject it; but I could not understand it. I then could feel what incorrect tradition had done for me. Suppose all that I have ever heard from my priest and parents–the way they taught me to read the Bible–had been true, my understanding would be diametrically opposed to the doctrine revealed in the Vision. I used to think and pray, to read and think, until I knew and fully understood it for myself, by the visions of the Holy Spirit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
