I'm posting here so that I don't have to look it up again in the future:
Parley P. Pratt: The gift of the Holy Spirit adapts itself to all these organs or attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections; and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, invigorates, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being. (Key to the Science of Theology, chapter 10.)
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Trivia for D&C Lesson #6
What Indonesian event in 1815 put in place the events that resulted in the Smith family moving from Vermont to Palmyra?
In April 1815 the Mt. Tambora volcano in Indonesia erupted with a rating of seven on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (which has a maximum rating of 8), making it the largest eruption in the world since the AD 181. For comparison purposes, Mount Saint Helens had a rating of 5. And since each rating point represents a 10X increase in power, the eruption of Mt. Tambora was 100 times more explosive than Mt. Saint Helens. Mount Vesuvias/Pompeii was also a category 5. There hasn’t been a category 8 volcanic eruption during recorded history.
The explosion of Mt. Tambora was heard on Sumatra island (more than 1,200 miles away). The volcano sent dust and ash miles into the earth’s atmosphere, obscuring the sun. Seasons were affected around the world. The volcano resulted in at least 71,000 deaths (perhaps the most deadly eruption in history), of whom 11,000–12,000 were killed directly by the eruption.
The next year, 1816, was known as “The year without summer” because of the effect on North American and European weather. Agricultural crops failed and livestock died in much of the northern hemisphere, resulting in the worst famine of the 19th century. In Vermont, where the Smiths lived, and in many other places in the northern hemisphere, snow fell in June; killing frosts came in July and then again in August.
The Smith family worked hard, but nothing they did could overcome the near-famine caused by the unusual weather. Father Smith decided to move the family to New York where land was cheap. He left for Palmyra in the fall of 1816, and later sent a wagon for his family to follow and make the difficult 300-mile journey through the snow and cold of November.
In April 1815 the Mt. Tambora volcano in Indonesia erupted with a rating of seven on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (which has a maximum rating of 8), making it the largest eruption in the world since the AD 181. For comparison purposes, Mount Saint Helens had a rating of 5. And since each rating point represents a 10X increase in power, the eruption of Mt. Tambora was 100 times more explosive than Mt. Saint Helens. Mount Vesuvias/Pompeii was also a category 5. There hasn’t been a category 8 volcanic eruption during recorded history.
The explosion of Mt. Tambora was heard on Sumatra island (more than 1,200 miles away). The volcano sent dust and ash miles into the earth’s atmosphere, obscuring the sun. Seasons were affected around the world. The volcano resulted in at least 71,000 deaths (perhaps the most deadly eruption in history), of whom 11,000–12,000 were killed directly by the eruption.
The next year, 1816, was known as “The year without summer” because of the effect on North American and European weather. Agricultural crops failed and livestock died in much of the northern hemisphere, resulting in the worst famine of the 19th century. In Vermont, where the Smiths lived, and in many other places in the northern hemisphere, snow fell in June; killing frosts came in July and then again in August.
The Smith family worked hard, but nothing they did could overcome the near-famine caused by the unusual weather. Father Smith decided to move the family to New York where land was cheap. He left for Palmyra in the fall of 1816, and later sent a wagon for his family to follow and make the difficult 300-mile journey through the snow and cold of November.
D&C Lesson 4: Translated by the gift and power of God
Even though Joseph had had the plates since fall 1827, he was unable to do much work on the translation until Oliver Cowdery came on the scene, April 5, 1829. He came to Palmyra to teach school and lived with the Smith family. It was there that he learned about Joseph and his responsibility to translate the plates. Oliver soon got to know David Whitmer and travelled to Harmony to be with the prophet.
In fact, shortly after Oliver’s arrival in Harmony, Joseph asked David Whitmer to transport them back to Palmyra because they were threatened with mob violence in Harmony. You’ll remember that David lived in Fayette, which is about halfway between Palmyra and Harmony. David was in the midst of his spring farming. He had some twenty acres of land to plow and decided that he’d first do the plowing and then go.
David Whitmer recorded: “I got up one morning to go to work as usual, and on going to the field, found that between five and seven acres of my land had been plowed under during the night. I don't know who did it; but it was done just as I would have done it myself, and the plow was left standing in the furrow. This enabled me to start sooner.” (Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol 1, Chapter X by B. H. Roberts)
Then while harrowing in a field of wheat before starting on his journey, David found to his surprise that he had accomplished more in a few hours than he usually did in two or three days. The next day he went out to spread plaster over a field, according to the custom of the farmers in that locality, when he found the work had already been done, and done well. David's sister, who lived near the field, told him that three strangers had appeared in the field the day before and spread the plaster with remarkable skill. She had presumed that they were men David had hired to do the work
The process of translation
Even more miraculous than the printing of the Book of Mormon is its translation. It took about 65 working days (“I Have a Question,” Ensign, Jan. 1988, 46–47), or about 3 months elapsed time to translate.
The Prophet himself said very little about the process of translation: Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the record by the gift and power of God” is pretty much all he said about it.
Oliver didn’t say much more: I wrote with my own pen the entire Book of Mormon (save a few pages), as it fell from the lips of the Prophet Joseph Smith, as he translated by the gift and power of God, by the means of the Urim and Thummim, or, as they are called by that book, 'Holy Interpreters'.
David Whitmer was a bit more specific on this subject. After describing how the Prophet would cover his head and shoulders with a blanket or a hat to obscure the light, and look through the Seer Stone, he said:
"In the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God and not by any power of man." (Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol 1, Chapter X, by B. H. Roberts)
Martin added that if the translation was correctly written, the sentence would disappear and another appear in its place; but if not written correctly it remained until corrected, so that the translation was just as it was engraven on the plates, precisely in the language then used.
The Seer Stone and Urim and Thumim were different instruments to aid in translating. Apparently sometimes the prophet used the Urim and Thumim, and sometimes the Seer Stone. Martin said that the Seer Stone differed in appearance entirely from the Urim and Thummim, which were two clear stones set in two rims, very much resembling spectacles, only they were larger.
B. H. Roberts reminds us: The translation of the Book of Mormon by means of the Interpreters and Seer Stone, was not merely a mechanical process. It required the utmost concentration of mental and spiritual force possessed by the Prophet, in order to exercise the gift of translation through the means of the sacred instruments provided for that work. (Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol 1, Chapter X, by B. H. Roberts)
Although when Joseph Smith died in 1844 he was well educated, having learned many things – including ancient languages such as Hebrew, when he was doing the translation he was truly the “unlearned man” referred to by Isaiah in Isaiah 29.
The speed of translation
Elder Neal A. Maxwell: One able LDS translator in Japan, surrounded by reference books, language dictionaries, and translator colleagues ready to help if needed, indicated that he considered an output of one careful, final page a day to be productive. And he is retranslating from earlier Japanese to modern Japanese! More than 50 able English scholars labored for seven years, using previous translations, to produce the King James Version of the Bible, averaging about one precious page per day. The Prophet Joseph Smith would sometimes produce 10 pages per day! (see the bulletin Insights: An Ancient Window [Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (F.A.R.M.S.), Feb. 1986], 1).
A second marvel of the Book of Mormon translation process is that from what we know, rarely would Joseph go back, review, or revise what had already been done. There was a steady flow in the translation. … Emma Smith said of the inspired process: ‘After meals, or after interruptions, [Joseph] would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him’ (“Last Testimony of Sister Emma,” Saints’ Herald, 1 Oct. 1879, 290). One who has dictated and been interrupted must usually would resume by inquiring ‘Now, where were we?’ Not so with the Prophet Joseph Smith!
If one were manufacturing a text, he would constantly need to cross-check himself, to edit, and to revise for consistency. Had the Prophet dictated and revised extensively, there would be more evidence of it. But there was no need to revise divinely supplied text. Whatever the details of the translation process, we are discussing a process that was truly astonishing!” (“By the Gift and Power of God,” Ensign, Jan. 1997, 39–40).
D&C Lesson 4: Another miraculous preservation of the Book of Mormon
One example of the miraculous preservation of the Book of Mormon occurred when Martin Harris lost 116 pages of the translated manuscript. Martin worked as scribe for a couple months – April through June 1828. Joseph had completed 116 pages that Martin had written on foolscap paper. You know the rest of the story. Martin asked Joseph to let him take the transcription and show it to a number of his friends; Joseph said ‘no’. Martin begged Joseph to inquire of the Lord through the Urim and Thumim – which he did, but was also denied. Martin asked Joseph to ask again, which he did, with the same answer. Then once more Martin pleaded with Joseph:
Joseph Smith: “After much solicitation, I again inquired of the Lord, and permission was granted him to have the writings on certain conditions, which were that he should show them only to his brother, his wife, his father and mother, and Mrs. Cobb, a sister of his wife… I required of him that he should bind himself in a covenant to me in the most solemn manner, that he would not do otherwise than he had been directed. He did so. He bound himself as I required of him, took the writings and went his way.” (Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol 1, Chapter IX by B. H. Roberts)
After Martin departed, Emma gave birth to their first son – but he lived only a few hours. Emma’s life hung in the balance for a couple weeks. Joseph agonized over the reluctant consent he’d received from the Lord after multiple refusals – and now there was no word from Martin. When it was clear that Emma would fully recover, Joseph headed back to Palmyra – and upon arriving sent at once for Martin Harris, who reluctantly came to the Smith home.
B. H Roberts: He had broken his solemn covenant with the Prophet. In fact he recklessly disregarded that covenant and exhibited the manuscript not only to those named in the agreement, but to others, and that quite freely. As a result the manuscript was stolen from him and he was never able to recover it, nor has it ever been found to this day. (Ibid.)
After the 116 pages of manuscript were lost, the Lord chastened Joseph for fearing man more than God.
D&C 3:1-3, 7 The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught. 2 For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round. 3 Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men; … 7 For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words—
What’s particularly interesting to me is that even before Joseph learned that the plates had been lost, Moroni was instructed to take back the plates and the Urim and Thumim. Moroni then returned the Urim and Thumim long enough for Joseph Smith to receive the revelation in Section 3, and possibly Section 10 as well as it was also given in the summer of 1828. (Although the D&C is generally in chronological order, that is the revelations are in the order they were given, for some reason Section 10 follows several revelations given in 1829.)
The Lord, however, showed tremendous love towards Joseph following the chastisement.
D&C 3:9–10 Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware thou wilt fall. 10 But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work;
If Joseph had retranslated the lost material, whoever stole the manuscript would have altered the words. They would have compared the altered original to the retranslation, trying to show that the two versions contradicted each other.
D&C 10:10–14 And, behold, Satan hath put it into their hearts to alter the words which you have caused to be written, or which you have translated, which have gone out of your hands. 11 And behold, I say unto you, that because they have altered the words, they read contrary from that which you translated and caused to be written; 12 And, on this wise, the devil has sought to lay a cunning plan, that he may destroy this work; 13 For he hath put into their hearts to do this, that by lying they may say they have caught you in the words which you have pretended to translate. 14 Verily, I say unto you, that I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing.
However, about 2,400 years earlier, the Lord inspired Nephi, who was writing a secular history of the Nephites, to prepare a second set of records. The second set contained an account of the Nephites’ ministry during the same period of time and had greater doctrinal value than the first. Later, Mormon was inspired to add to his abridgement the Small Plates he discovered, which had included the abridgement of the Book of Lehi. The interesting thing is that as a result of this, many scholars believe that we actually have the record that the Lord intended us to have.
Joseph Smith: “After much solicitation, I again inquired of the Lord, and permission was granted him to have the writings on certain conditions, which were that he should show them only to his brother, his wife, his father and mother, and Mrs. Cobb, a sister of his wife… I required of him that he should bind himself in a covenant to me in the most solemn manner, that he would not do otherwise than he had been directed. He did so. He bound himself as I required of him, took the writings and went his way.” (Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol 1, Chapter IX by B. H. Roberts)
After Martin departed, Emma gave birth to their first son – but he lived only a few hours. Emma’s life hung in the balance for a couple weeks. Joseph agonized over the reluctant consent he’d received from the Lord after multiple refusals – and now there was no word from Martin. When it was clear that Emma would fully recover, Joseph headed back to Palmyra – and upon arriving sent at once for Martin Harris, who reluctantly came to the Smith home.
B. H Roberts: He had broken his solemn covenant with the Prophet. In fact he recklessly disregarded that covenant and exhibited the manuscript not only to those named in the agreement, but to others, and that quite freely. As a result the manuscript was stolen from him and he was never able to recover it, nor has it ever been found to this day. (Ibid.)
After the 116 pages of manuscript were lost, the Lord chastened Joseph for fearing man more than God.
D&C 3:1-3, 7 The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught. 2 For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round. 3 Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men; … 7 For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words—
What’s particularly interesting to me is that even before Joseph learned that the plates had been lost, Moroni was instructed to take back the plates and the Urim and Thumim. Moroni then returned the Urim and Thumim long enough for Joseph Smith to receive the revelation in Section 3, and possibly Section 10 as well as it was also given in the summer of 1828. (Although the D&C is generally in chronological order, that is the revelations are in the order they were given, for some reason Section 10 follows several revelations given in 1829.)
The Lord, however, showed tremendous love towards Joseph following the chastisement.
D&C 3:9–10 Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware thou wilt fall. 10 But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work;
If Joseph had retranslated the lost material, whoever stole the manuscript would have altered the words. They would have compared the altered original to the retranslation, trying to show that the two versions contradicted each other.
D&C 10:10–14 And, behold, Satan hath put it into their hearts to alter the words which you have caused to be written, or which you have translated, which have gone out of your hands. 11 And behold, I say unto you, that because they have altered the words, they read contrary from that which you translated and caused to be written; 12 And, on this wise, the devil has sought to lay a cunning plan, that he may destroy this work; 13 For he hath put into their hearts to do this, that by lying they may say they have caught you in the words which you have pretended to translate. 14 Verily, I say unto you, that I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing.
However, about 2,400 years earlier, the Lord inspired Nephi, who was writing a secular history of the Nephites, to prepare a second set of records. The second set contained an account of the Nephites’ ministry during the same period of time and had greater doctrinal value than the first. Later, Mormon was inspired to add to his abridgement the Small Plates he discovered, which had included the abridgement of the Book of Lehi. The interesting thing is that as a result of this, many scholars believe that we actually have the record that the Lord intended us to have.
D&C Lesson 4: Remember the New Covenant
The miracle of the Book of Mormon’s preservation
Satan tried to stop the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. He tempted men to try to steal the gold plates, and people continued to persecute Joseph Smith and his family.
Joseph Smith—History 1:60 I soon found out the reason why I had received such strict charges to keep them safe, and why it was that the messenger had said that when I had done what was required at my hand, he would call for them. For no sooner was it known that I had them, than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me. Every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for that purpose. The persecution became more bitter and severe than before, and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible. But by the wisdom of God, they remained safe in my hands, until I had accomplished by them what was required at my hand. When, according to arrangements, the messenger called for them, I delivered them up to him; and he has them in his charge until this day, being the second day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.
Joseph was frequently warned when mobs were coming to try to find the plates.
Joseph Smith: "The house was frequently beset by mobs and evil designing persons, … and every device was made use of to get the plates away from me."
He hid the plates in many different places:
- Under the hearthstones in the Smith kitchen
- In a quantity of flax that had been stored away in the loft of a cooper's shop that at the time stood across the road from the Smith home, and then hidden under the floor of the coopers shop; later that night, the mob ransacked the cooper’s shop, but did not enter the Smith home. In the morning the family found the cooper's shop door broken down, the floor torn up and the chest shivered to splinters, but the record was secure where it had been hidden
- En route to Harmony by wagon, the plates were hidden in a barrel of beans; twice Joseph was stopped on the road with a search warrant, but the plates were not discovered.
- Moroni himself even transported the plates between Harmony and Palmyra on behalf of Joseph.
David Whitmer recorded: When I was returning to Fayette, with Joseph and Oliver all of us riding in the wagon, Oliver and I on an old fashioned, wooden spring seat, and Joseph behind us – when traveling along in a clear, open place, a very pleasant, nice looking old man suddenly appeared by the side of our wagon and saluted us with, 'Good morning; it is very warm;' at the same time wiping his face or forehead with his hand. We returned the salutation, and by a sign from Joseph, I invited him to ride if he was going our way. But he said very pleasantly, 'No, I am going to Cumorah.' This name was somewhat new to me, and I did not know what 'Cumorah' meant. We all gazed at him and at each other, and as I looked round inquiringly of Joseph, the old man instantly disappeared, so that I did not see him again… It was the messenger who had the plates, who had taken them from Joseph just prior to our starting from Harmony. (Comprehensive History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 1, Chapter X, by B. H. Roberts)
Plates given to Joseph on Rosh Hashanah
Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith three times during the night of Sept. 21, 1823 repeating the same message, which included the reciting of many scriptural passages relating to the last days. If we have time, we’ll take a look at the scriptures, because certainly they were important enough for Moroni to quote 3 different times during the night of Sept. 21 – each time adding a little bit more information.
The next day Moroni again appeared and told Joseph to tell his father about everything.
JS-History 1: 50 I obeyed; I returned to my father in the field, and rehearsed the whole matter to him. He replied to me that it was of God, and told me to go and do as commanded by the messenger. I left the field, and went to the place where the messenger had told me the plates were deposited; and owing to the distinctness of the vision which I had had concerning it, I knew the place the instant that I arrived there.
So Joseph went to the hill where the Book of Mormon plates were buried. He met Moroni and saw the plates, but was told that he would not receive them for four years. He was to begin an important period of preparation that would make him equal to the sacred task of translating the Book of Mormon. Joseph returned to the hill each September 22 for the next four years to receive further instructions from Moroni.
Sept. 22 is also the autumnal equinox, the date when days and nights are of equal length. In 1827, the year Joseph Smith finally received the plates, Sept. 22 was also the date of the Feast of the Trumpets, Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanah. Is there anything significant about that?
That evening Jews all over the world would have been in synagogues praying that God would remember His covenant people and that He would restore lost truths. Surely Moroni’s turning over the gold plates to Joseph Smith was a fulfillment of these Jewish prayers and traditions.
And what else would have happened during those synagogue services? A trump – the shofar – would have been sounded 100 times. Now, think of one of the most prominent modern-day symbols of the restoration of the gospel. It is atop nearly every temple: Moroni himself with a trump in his hands sounding the “everlasting gospel”. Is it possible that the Lord picked that date for the very reason that it is so significant to the House of Israel?
(For more information see John Pratt's calendar research.)
The next day Moroni again appeared and told Joseph to tell his father about everything.
JS-History 1: 50 I obeyed; I returned to my father in the field, and rehearsed the whole matter to him. He replied to me that it was of God, and told me to go and do as commanded by the messenger. I left the field, and went to the place where the messenger had told me the plates were deposited; and owing to the distinctness of the vision which I had had concerning it, I knew the place the instant that I arrived there.
So Joseph went to the hill where the Book of Mormon plates were buried. He met Moroni and saw the plates, but was told that he would not receive them for four years. He was to begin an important period of preparation that would make him equal to the sacred task of translating the Book of Mormon. Joseph returned to the hill each September 22 for the next four years to receive further instructions from Moroni.
Sept. 22 is also the autumnal equinox, the date when days and nights are of equal length. In 1827, the year Joseph Smith finally received the plates, Sept. 22 was also the date of the Feast of the Trumpets, Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanah. Is there anything significant about that?
That evening Jews all over the world would have been in synagogues praying that God would remember His covenant people and that He would restore lost truths. Surely Moroni’s turning over the gold plates to Joseph Smith was a fulfillment of these Jewish prayers and traditions.
And what else would have happened during those synagogue services? A trump – the shofar – would have been sounded 100 times. Now, think of one of the most prominent modern-day symbols of the restoration of the gospel. It is atop nearly every temple: Moroni himself with a trump in his hands sounding the “everlasting gospel”. Is it possible that the Lord picked that date for the very reason that it is so significant to the House of Israel?
(For more information see John Pratt's calendar research.)
Another trivia question for D&C lesson 4
What is an “amanuensis”? What is “foolscap”?
Amanuensis: Someone who writes down what someone else dictates, or acts as scribe. Oliver Cowdery was an "amanuensis" for Joseph Smith.
Foolscap: refers to the size of paper on which the translation was written – 8-1/2 by 13-1/2 inches; so it was the same width as our standard paper, but 2.5 inches longer. Foolscap has been a standard paper size since the 15th century, when it was first produced in Germany. It gets its name, typically pronounced full-scap or full-scape, from the watermark once used to identify it, in the shape of a jester's hat, or “fool's cap.”
Amanuensis: Someone who writes down what someone else dictates, or acts as scribe. Oliver Cowdery was an "amanuensis" for Joseph Smith.
Foolscap: refers to the size of paper on which the translation was written – 8-1/2 by 13-1/2 inches; so it was the same width as our standard paper, but 2.5 inches longer. Foolscap has been a standard paper size since the 15th century, when it was first produced in Germany. It gets its name, typically pronounced full-scap or full-scape, from the watermark once used to identify it, in the shape of a jester's hat, or “fool's cap.”
Trivia for D&C Lesson #4
How long did it take to print the Book of Mormon?
Seven months. The contract with E. B. Grandin’s print shop was signed on Aug 25, 1829 and the first copies of the Book of Mormon were available for sale by March 26, 1830.
Seven months seems like plenty of time to print a book, so it’s not surprising that the official histories of the Church don’t include a lot of detail about the printing itself. Joseph Smith himself simply recorded: “Whilst the Book of Mormon was in the hands of the printer, we still continued to bear testimony…” (DHC 1:74-75).
B. H. Roberts Comprehensive History of the Church doesn’t say much about the printing other than mention that the typesetter did most of the punctuation, that there was a second manuscript produced just for the printer, and he includes the account of Esquire Cole printing his own newspaper at night and on Sunday at the same print shop. Cole was illegally including excerpts from the Book of Mormon in his newspaper, peppering it with vulgarity, so that his readers could read it without paying the Smiths for it.
None of the accounts addressed anything special or miraculous about the printing of the book. They do include some useful details, such as: the printing was not done at night or on Sundays; it was completed at the rate of at least “one form [e.g. signature] per week”.
What else do we know about the original printing of the Book of Mormon? The type was set by hand, letter by letter. The typesetter needs to be able to read letters set upside-down and backwards, and manually insert spaces so that the lines are justified. It all has to fit perfectly in the “composing stick” so nothing falls out when it’s put into place. But not only did the letters have to be composed, they also had to be broken down and redistributed one letter at a time into two type cases – one for upper case and one for lower case. (Note that the terms upper and lower case came from the fact that the “capital” letters were in the upper case.)
Miracle #1, Typesetting: Gordon Weight, a former Deseret News typesetter in the 50s, estimated that it would have taken all seven months of the allotted production time just to set and break down the type. But the typesetter, John H. Gilbert, could not have worked full time on the typesetting because he was also one of the two pressmen. Perhaps he had help – but even his own record of the printing process didn’t mention another typesetter, only help with the actual printing.
Miracle #2, Printing: They used a manual press that of course needed to be inked manually using a leather ball filled with sand. (Note that rubber had not yet been vulcanized – that wouldn’t happen until 1843.) It printed 16 pages on one side of an 18X30 inch sheet of paper; then those same 16 pages were printed on the other side in such a way that opposite pages were in the correct places. When the paper was cut in half, each sheet made two 16-page signatures which were then folded into shape. To print 5000 copies of the Book of Mormon, that meant making 5000 impressions, front and back on 2500 sheets of paper for each of the 37 signatures needed. Weight estimates that the paper would have been a stack about 40 feet high.
Weight also estimated that it would have taken an hour to make 100 impressions, which means it would require 25 hours to do 2500 impressions on one side of a piece of paper. (That matches Gilbert’s own statement that it took “nearly 3 days to print each form”. That means it took 50 hours for each of 37 signatures, meaning it would have taken 8.5 months for the printing alone. Assuming the typesetting and printing couldn’t be done simultaneously (limited amount of type, not to mention the typesetter was busy helping with the printing), this would mean 15.5 months for the two jobs together. But wait, that doesn’t yet include the binding time.
Miracle #3, Binding: Binding 5000 books by hand required that all of the signatures be completed before the binding of even the first book. As each signature was completed, the sheets were cut in half, folded 3 times and clamped in a device which Grandin invented, called the Grandin Clamp. Then all of the signatures were sewn together by hand through the back of each signature, removed from the clam and trimmed to size with a hand paper cutter. Then the leather-wrapped cardboard covers were attached. Weight estimated that the binding would have taken two months after all the press work was completed. We are now up to 17.5 months. But it was completed in 7 months. Some sort of miraculous intervention must have happened – but what it was we don’t know.
From John Pratt's calendar research: Did it matter that the Book of Mormon was finished by March 25th? Definitely, so that the Church could be organized on April 6, 1830 – in commemoration of the actual birth of Jesus Christ. If any of you follow John Pratt’s calendar research you’ll also find it interesting to note that the binding of the Book of Mormon finished on March 25, 1830 – the date of Christ’s resurrection according to both the Venus and Mercury calendars. He suggests that this is the “resurrection date of the Book of Mormon”. The following morning, the Book of Mormon officially went on sale.
Seven months. The contract with E. B. Grandin’s print shop was signed on Aug 25, 1829 and the first copies of the Book of Mormon were available for sale by March 26, 1830.
Seven months seems like plenty of time to print a book, so it’s not surprising that the official histories of the Church don’t include a lot of detail about the printing itself. Joseph Smith himself simply recorded: “Whilst the Book of Mormon was in the hands of the printer, we still continued to bear testimony…” (DHC 1:74-75).
B. H. Roberts Comprehensive History of the Church doesn’t say much about the printing other than mention that the typesetter did most of the punctuation, that there was a second manuscript produced just for the printer, and he includes the account of Esquire Cole printing his own newspaper at night and on Sunday at the same print shop. Cole was illegally including excerpts from the Book of Mormon in his newspaper, peppering it with vulgarity, so that his readers could read it without paying the Smiths for it.
None of the accounts addressed anything special or miraculous about the printing of the book. They do include some useful details, such as: the printing was not done at night or on Sundays; it was completed at the rate of at least “one form [e.g. signature] per week”.
What else do we know about the original printing of the Book of Mormon? The type was set by hand, letter by letter. The typesetter needs to be able to read letters set upside-down and backwards, and manually insert spaces so that the lines are justified. It all has to fit perfectly in the “composing stick” so nothing falls out when it’s put into place. But not only did the letters have to be composed, they also had to be broken down and redistributed one letter at a time into two type cases – one for upper case and one for lower case. (Note that the terms upper and lower case came from the fact that the “capital” letters were in the upper case.)
Miracle #1, Typesetting: Gordon Weight, a former Deseret News typesetter in the 50s, estimated that it would have taken all seven months of the allotted production time just to set and break down the type. But the typesetter, John H. Gilbert, could not have worked full time on the typesetting because he was also one of the two pressmen. Perhaps he had help – but even his own record of the printing process didn’t mention another typesetter, only help with the actual printing.
Miracle #2, Printing: They used a manual press that of course needed to be inked manually using a leather ball filled with sand. (Note that rubber had not yet been vulcanized – that wouldn’t happen until 1843.) It printed 16 pages on one side of an 18X30 inch sheet of paper; then those same 16 pages were printed on the other side in such a way that opposite pages were in the correct places. When the paper was cut in half, each sheet made two 16-page signatures which were then folded into shape. To print 5000 copies of the Book of Mormon, that meant making 5000 impressions, front and back on 2500 sheets of paper for each of the 37 signatures needed. Weight estimates that the paper would have been a stack about 40 feet high.
Weight also estimated that it would have taken an hour to make 100 impressions, which means it would require 25 hours to do 2500 impressions on one side of a piece of paper. (That matches Gilbert’s own statement that it took “nearly 3 days to print each form”. That means it took 50 hours for each of 37 signatures, meaning it would have taken 8.5 months for the printing alone. Assuming the typesetting and printing couldn’t be done simultaneously (limited amount of type, not to mention the typesetter was busy helping with the printing), this would mean 15.5 months for the two jobs together. But wait, that doesn’t yet include the binding time.
Miracle #3, Binding: Binding 5000 books by hand required that all of the signatures be completed before the binding of even the first book. As each signature was completed, the sheets were cut in half, folded 3 times and clamped in a device which Grandin invented, called the Grandin Clamp. Then all of the signatures were sewn together by hand through the back of each signature, removed from the clam and trimmed to size with a hand paper cutter. Then the leather-wrapped cardboard covers were attached. Weight estimated that the binding would have taken two months after all the press work was completed. We are now up to 17.5 months. But it was completed in 7 months. Some sort of miraculous intervention must have happened – but what it was we don’t know.
Miracle #4: Mobs did NOT destroy this press as they did with other publications of sacred works of the restoration.
Other unusual events:
- Grandin originally refused to print the book, but then changed his mind.
- Invention of the Grandin Clamp
- Where did the type come from as there were no local foundries that provided sufficient type to set 6 pages at a time
- Where did the paper come from? Joseph Smith specified thin white paper, opaque enough not to see the print on the other side. The process for making that type of paper didn’t yet exist and most books were either printed on very heavy paper, or on only one side of the page. The paper was apparently all delivered mysteriously one night.
- Who paid for all this new type and special paper, as Martin Harris hadn’t yet sold his farm to make any payment for the materials or printing?
From John Pratt's calendar research: Did it matter that the Book of Mormon was finished by March 25th? Definitely, so that the Church could be organized on April 6, 1830 – in commemoration of the actual birth of Jesus Christ. If any of you follow John Pratt’s calendar research you’ll also find it interesting to note that the binding of the Book of Mormon finished on March 25, 1830 – the date of Christ’s resurrection according to both the Venus and Mercury calendars. He suggests that this is the “resurrection date of the Book of Mormon”. The following morning, the Book of Mormon officially went on sale.
Trivia for D&C Lesson #2
How many different names and titles for jesus christ are found in the doctrine & covenants?
a) 28 b) 54 c) 66 d) 37
The Doctrine and Covenants contains 66 unique names and titles for Jesus Christ, each of which invokes special respect for Him. For example, the Lord refers to Himself as “Redeemer,” “Savior,” and “the light and the life of the world.”
The list prepared by Robert Millett:
1. Advocate (29:5)
2. Almighty (84:96)
3. Alpha and Omega (19:1)
4. Alphus and Omegus (95:17)
5. Beginning and the End (38:1)
6. Beloved Son (93:15)
7. Bridegroom (33:17-18)
8. Christ (38:4)
9. Christ the Lamb (76:85)
10. Christ the Lord (19:1)
11. Creator of the first day (95:7)
12. Creator of worlds (38:3; 76:24; 93:9-10)
13. Deliverer from death (138:23)
14. Endless (19:10)
15. Eternal King (128:23)
16. First and the Last (110:4)
17. Firstborn (93:21)
18. God (19:16-18)
19. God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (136:21)
20. God of Enoch (45:11)
21. Good Shepherd (50:44)
22. Great I Am (38:1)
23. Holy One (78:16)
24. Holy One of Zion (78:15)
25. Jehovah (110:3)
26. Jesus (45:52)
27. Jesus Christ (35:2)
28. Judge (76:68)
29. King (38:21)
30. King Immanuel (128:22)
31. Lamb (76:85)
32. Lamb of God (88:106)
33. Life of Man (93:9)
34. Life of the World (10:70)
35. Light and Redeemer (93:9)
36. Light of Men (93:9)
37. Light of the World (10:70)
38. Light which cannot be hid (14:9)
39. Light which shineth in darkness (6:21)
40. Living God (50:1)
41. Lord (5:2)
42. Lord God (20:16)
43. Lord Jesus Christ (21:1)
44. Lord of Hosts (1:33)
45. Lord of Sabaoth (95:7)
46. Lord of the whole earth (55:1)
47. Mediator (76:69)
48. Messenger of Salvation (93:3)
49. Messiah (13:1)
50. Mighty One of Israel (36:1)
51. Only Begotten Son (20:21)
52. Redeemer (8:1)
53. Redeemer of the World (93:9)
54. Savior (19:41; 76:1)
55. Savior of the World (43:34)
56. Son (76:73)
57. Son Ahman (78:20)
58. Son of God (10:57)
59. Son of Man (58:65)
60. Son of the Living God (55:1)
61. Son of Thy Bosom (109:4)
62. Spirit of Truth (93:9, 26)
63. Stem of Jesse (113:1-2)
64. Stone of Israel (50:44)
65. True Light (88:50)
66. Word (93:2, 8)
Many of the above names are used repeatedly. The word Christ occurs 122 times; God, 517 times; Lord, 706 times; and Mediator, 2 times.
Lyrics from Michael McLean's "The Man with Many Names" from "The Garden":
There is one, who to this garden comes,
Like a most unusual rain.
Drink it in and never thirst again.
Living water is his name.
There is one, who comes to find each one,
Who has lost his way again.
He will lead the way back to the fold.
The good shepherd is his name.
There is one, who when your crying’s done,
Gives the gift you’ve never known.
He’ll give fruit because he is the vine,
And life for He’s the living stone.
He is known by oh so many names,
And will be forever more.
Hope comes from the one with many names.
And he’s not forgotten yours.
No, he’s not forgotten yours.
a) 28 b) 54 c) 66 d) 37
The Doctrine and Covenants contains 66 unique names and titles for Jesus Christ, each of which invokes special respect for Him. For example, the Lord refers to Himself as “Redeemer,” “Savior,” and “the light and the life of the world.”
The list prepared by Robert Millett:
1. Advocate (29:5)
2. Almighty (84:96)
3. Alpha and Omega (19:1)
4. Alphus and Omegus (95:17)
5. Beginning and the End (38:1)
6. Beloved Son (93:15)
7. Bridegroom (33:17-18)
8. Christ (38:4)
9. Christ the Lamb (76:85)
10. Christ the Lord (19:1)
11. Creator of the first day (95:7)
12. Creator of worlds (38:3; 76:24; 93:9-10)
13. Deliverer from death (138:23)
14. Endless (19:10)
15. Eternal King (128:23)
16. First and the Last (110:4)
17. Firstborn (93:21)
18. God (19:16-18)
19. God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (136:21)
20. God of Enoch (45:11)
21. Good Shepherd (50:44)
22. Great I Am (38:1)
23. Holy One (78:16)
24. Holy One of Zion (78:15)
25. Jehovah (110:3)
26. Jesus (45:52)
27. Jesus Christ (35:2)
28. Judge (76:68)
29. King (38:21)
30. King Immanuel (128:22)
31. Lamb (76:85)
32. Lamb of God (88:106)
33. Life of Man (93:9)
34. Life of the World (10:70)
35. Light and Redeemer (93:9)
36. Light of Men (93:9)
37. Light of the World (10:70)
38. Light which cannot be hid (14:9)
39. Light which shineth in darkness (6:21)
40. Living God (50:1)
41. Lord (5:2)
42. Lord God (20:16)
43. Lord Jesus Christ (21:1)
44. Lord of Hosts (1:33)
45. Lord of Sabaoth (95:7)
46. Lord of the whole earth (55:1)
47. Mediator (76:69)
48. Messenger of Salvation (93:3)
49. Messiah (13:1)
50. Mighty One of Israel (36:1)
51. Only Begotten Son (20:21)
52. Redeemer (8:1)
53. Redeemer of the World (93:9)
54. Savior (19:41; 76:1)
55. Savior of the World (43:34)
56. Son (76:73)
57. Son Ahman (78:20)
58. Son of God (10:57)
59. Son of Man (58:65)
60. Son of the Living God (55:1)
61. Son of Thy Bosom (109:4)
62. Spirit of Truth (93:9, 26)
63. Stem of Jesse (113:1-2)
64. Stone of Israel (50:44)
65. True Light (88:50)
66. Word (93:2, 8)
Many of the above names are used repeatedly. The word Christ occurs 122 times; God, 517 times; Lord, 706 times; and Mediator, 2 times.
Lyrics from Michael McLean's "The Man with Many Names" from "The Garden":
There is one, who to this garden comes,
Like a most unusual rain.
Drink it in and never thirst again.
Living water is his name.
There is one, who comes to find each one,
Who has lost his way again.
He will lead the way back to the fold.
The good shepherd is his name.
There is one, who when your crying’s done,
Gives the gift you’ve never known.
He’ll give fruit because he is the vine,
And life for He’s the living stone.
He is known by oh so many names,
And will be forever more.
Hope comes from the one with many names.
And he’s not forgotten yours.
No, he’s not forgotten yours.
Doctrine & Covenants Lesson #2
The Doctrine and Covenants helps us understand the Savior’s roles and attributes.
In the Lectures on Faith, Joseph Smith said that to be able to exercise faith in God, we must have “a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes”.
Joseph Smith: Let us here observe, that three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation. First, the idea that he actually exists. Secondly, a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes. Thirdly, an actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to his will. For without an acquaintance with these three important facts, the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive; but with this understanding it can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in righteousness, unto the praise and glory of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Lectures On Faith, Lecture Third)
The Doctrine and Covenants helps us gain this understanding, especially a “correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes”.
Match the scripture reference to the correct summary statement below:
(a) D&C 6:20–21
b) D&C 6:32–37
c) D&C 19:1–3
d) D&C 29:1–2
(e) D&C 38:1–3
(f) D&C 43:34
g) D&C 50:44
h) D&C 76:5
i) D&C 93:5–19
j) D&C 136:22
- He is merciful and gracious to those who fear Him.
- He is the Good Shepherd and the Stone of Israel.
- He is the Savior of the World.
- He offers us protection and comfort.
- He was in the beginning before the creation of the world. Light of the world and the Spirit of truth. Redeemer of the world. The worlds, men, and all things were made by him. The only Begotten of the Father in the flesh.
- He was present in the beginning before the creation of the world. He is the creator of the world. He knows all things.
- His arm is stretched out to save His people. He will save his people in the last days.
- His arm of mercy has atoned for our sins.
- The obedient are encircled in his arms of love. The light which shineth in darkness.
- The Redeemer of the world. Accomplished and finished the will of the Father. He will destroy Satan and his works at the end of the world. He will judge all according to their works and deeds.
The main purpose of all scripture is to testify of Jesus Christ and to persuade people to come to Him and partake of salvation. The Book of Mormon carries the subtitle: Another testament of Jesus Christ. We recognize it as ancient scripture and it goes hand-in-hand with the Bible. The D&C is no less a testament of Jesus Christ – but it is unique in that it was given in this dispensation.
It is the word of the Lord to the Church and people in our day. It was not given to saints of earlier days – but specifically revealed for us in the latter days. Almost every section contains the words of Jesus Christ. What a marvelous companion to the ancient Old and New World testaments!
The D&C is of “more worth than the riches of the whole earth”
We know that Joseph Smith called the Book of Mormon “the most correct of any book” on earth. Do you know how the D&C is described? Turn to the second page of the Explanatory Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants. Read the last sentence in the eighth paragraph:
“Finally, the testimony that is given of Jesus Christ—his divinity, his majesty, his perfection, his love, and his redeeming power—makes this book of great value to the human family and of more worth than the riches of the whole earth.”
What an interesting statement! Within the pages of this great book we find that which has great value to all mankind – in fact a message that is invaluable. Its message is universal.
In our world great value is placed on wealth. People invest lifetimes and fortunes in an effort to obtain the riches of the earth. Yet we find within the pages of the Doctrine and Covenants something which is of infinitely greater value.
The Savior testifies of himself in the D&C
The Explanatory Introduction in the D&C explains: In the revelations one hears the tender but firm voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking anew in the dispensation of the fulness of times.
We are “hearing” (reading) His words exactly as they were revealed – and with very little “latency”. Many times they were recorded in real time – as they were given. In other cases, they were recorded very soon after. Compare this to the words of the Lord in the Old and New Testaments, which were typically recorded years after they were spoken.
Richard Bushman, the historian who wrote Rough Stone Rolling, the recent biography of Joseph Smith, noted that “the striking feature of Joseph Smith’s revelations is the purity of God’s voice coming out of the heavens and demanding our attention.”
Neal A. Maxwell: If asked which book of scripture provides the most frequent chance to “listen” to the Lord talking, most individuals would at first think of the New Testament. The New Testament is a marvelous collection of the deeds and many of the doctrines of the Messiah. But in the Doctrine and Covenants we receive the voice as well as the word of the Lord. We can almost ‘hear’ him talking.”
Some versions of the New Testament print the first-person voice of the Savior in red ink so readers can more easily discern when they are listening to the Lord itself. If all of the Latter-day Saint standard works were printed that way, the D&C would be overwhelmingly the "reddest".
The Doctrine and Covenants contains powerful testimonies of the Savior and His work. Many are from the Savior Himself. In fact, the D&C contains more direct quotes from the Savior than any other book of scripture. An example of the Savior testifying of himself:
D&C 50:41–44 Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me; 42 And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost. 43 And the Father and I are one. I am in the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me and I in you. 44 Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall.
The Lord has promised us that if we receive him, he will be with us. We are not left alone as seek to follow the gospel. He will be there to guide us. What a great promise! He also gives us the key to success in this effort of discipleship, "He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall" (v44). If we center our lives around the Lord and his gospel, we cannot fail!
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