“This Generation Shall Have My Word

through You”

JS-H 1:3321 Sept 1823

Joseph Smith17 Years old

God had a work for me to do

My name should be had for good and evil

among all nations

Good and Evil Spoken

“If I had known how he how he was going to turn out, I’d have smothered the little cuss”

Dr Joseph Dennison

The Life and Contributions of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Susan Easton Black, BYU Education Week 2005 (8/16/2005)

Dr Kazi Islam, a Muslim and chair of the Dept of World Religions, Khaka University, Bangladesh, explained that he introduced Mormonism as a compulsory part of the master’s degree in his department “because of (his) profound love and respect for the ideals” of that tradition Joseph Smith founded.

Terryl Givens, BYU forum, 29 Nov 2005

Dr. Jason Lase, a director general in the Indonesian Dept of Religious Affairs, affirmed his belief that Joseph Smith was “a modern religious genius: who created what he called “one of the most stable and well-organized religious organizations” he has ever known

Terryl Givens, BYU forum, 29 Nov 2005

Arun Joshi, a Hindu journalist from India, gave a remarkable talk at the Taipei conference in which he related the experience of the First Vision to the conflicts in Kashmir and the Middle East, concluding, “The message of Joseph Smith is more relevant . . . today than ever before.” Terryl Givens, BYU forum, 29 Nov 2005

The Impact of Joseph Smith on the world?

“The Great Man, was always as lightning out of Heaven; the rest of men waited for him like fuel, and then they too would flame.”

Thomas Carlyle

Terryl L. Givens, BYU Forum, 29 November 2005

MEJoseph ignited

something in thousands of men and women that connects them to God and to each other in powerful ways…That was why Joseph’s message resonated and caught hold like a burning fire.

Prophecy about Joseph Smith D&C 5:10

This generation shall have my

word through you

Word?

What generation?

Prophecy about Joseph Smith

2 Nephi 3:11-15

Seer

Power to bring forth my word

Power to convince them of my word

What blessings will come from the writings?

2 Nephi 3:11-15

Confounding of false doctrinesLaying down of contentionsEstablishing peace Bringing them to the knowledge

of their fathers in the latter days

Knowledge of covenants

Moses 1:40-41 How is this prophecy being

fulfilled?

“…they shall be had again” How?

The Book of MormonDoctrine and CovenantsPearl of Great PriceJoseph Smith Translation of the Bible

Joseph Smith – The WordD&C 135:3 “In the space of 20 years…”1828-1829 The Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith used

the Urim and Thummim to translate the reformed Egyptian of the gold plates into English

June 1830-July 1833, 1844

Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible (JST), this was an inspired commentary on the Bible, 77 sections of the D&C

July 1835-Mar 1842

Translated the Book of Abraham from Papyri

1842 Articles of Faith written in a letter to John Wentworth

1823-1843 Recorded revelations received and published as the Doctrine and Covenants

“Learning experience for the Prophet” BD

Bible D&C

John 5:29 D&C 76 “more kingdoms than one”

Revelation D&C 77 answers to questions concerning Revelation

Apocrypha D&C 91 read with the Spirit

The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible

Two excerpts from the Joseph Smith Translation are in the Pearl of Great Price the book of Moses

Joseph Smith—Matthew

Brief portions of the Joseph Smith Translation are included in the footnotes of the Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Bible

Longer excerpts are included in the appendix following the Bible Dictionary.

Pearl of Great PriceIntroductory Note

Last Five Paragraphsa. Selections from the book of Mosesb.  The book of Abrahamc.  Joseph Smith—Matthewd.  Joseph Smith—Historye.  The Articles of FaithHow have the teachings in the Pearl of

Great Price helped you? What are some passages in the Pearl of

Great Price that are particularly meaningful to you?0

“As far as our records show, he has given us more revealed truth than any prophet who has ever lived upon the face of the earth”

LeGrand Richards, Ensign, May 1981, 33

“What I have received from the Lord, I have received by Joseph Smith”

(Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 458).

The Impact of Joseph Smith on the world?

“The Great Man, was always as lightning out of Heaven; the rest of men waited for him like fuel, and then they too would flame.”

Thomas Carlyle

Terryl L. Givens, BYU Forum, 29 November 2005

ME

D&C 5:9-10

This generation shall have my word through you

How is this statement true for you?

Theological Contributions of the Prophet..., Milton V. Backman, Jr.BYU Education Week 2004 (8/16/2004)

The Divine Nature

19th Century Joseph Smith

Created out of nothing

Crippled from birth

Depraved nature

Little or no freedom of will

Limited in potential

Eternally existent

Inherently innocent

Boundlessly free

Infinitely perfectible

Terryl L. Givens, BYU Forum, 29 November 2005

The Nature of God

Sinners in the hands of an Angry GodBy Jonathan Edwards

The wrath of God is like great waters that are dammed for the present…

The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you.

The presence of God was so near, and so real, that I seemed scarcely conscious of any thing else. God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, seemed as distinct

persons, both manifesting their inconceivable loveliness, and mildness,

and gentleness, and their great and immutable love to me…

Communication with God

What has not been revealed through the Prophet Joseph

Smith? Physical nature of the Godhead

Our creation in God’s imageApostles and prophetsMelchizedek PriesthoodAaronic PriesthoodMode of baptismThe gift of the Holy GhostPremortal existenceBaptism for the deadResurrectionThe three kingdoms of gloryEternal marriageOur potential to become like Heavenly Father

The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible

Read the eighth article of faith [Articles of Faith 1:8] with class members. What is the significance of the phrase “as far as it is translated correctly”?

guided by the Spirit to make corrections and restore passages that had been lost completely.

Joseph Smith Translation

The account and teachings of Enoch are an example of the restoration of long passages in the Joseph Smith Translation. The Bible’s only references to Enoch are in Genesis 5:18–24, Luke 3:37, Hebrews 11:5, and Jude 1:14–15. The Joseph Smith Translation’s references to Enoch are greatly expanded to include his teachings, visions, and prophecies as recorded in Moses 6:21–68 and Moses 7:1–69. Select a few of these verses to read in class, and discuss their value.

JSTMatthew 4

The revisions to Matthew 4 are an example of inspired corrections to specific verses in the Bible. If class members have excerpts of the Joseph Smith Translation in the footnotes of their Bibles, have them review a few of the footnotes for Matthew 4 that begin with “JST.” Discuss how these corrections clarify the verses in the King James Version.

JST

The process of translating the Bible not only brought the correction and restoration of doctrines in the Bible.

It also helped bring about the restoration of doctrines through the Doctrine and Covenants. Many revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants are responses to questions the Prophet asked while pondering the translation of the Bible. One Church member who spent many years studying the Joseph Smith Translation observed, “The Joseph Smith Translation is not just a better Bible; it was the channel, or the means, of doctrinal restoration in the infancy of this Church” (Robert J. Matthews, in The Capstone of Our Religion: Insights into the Doctrine and Covenants [1989], 64).

JST

He sought to harmonize himself with the Spirit of God, as well as the mind and will of the ancient writers, so as to convey (as nearly as possible) not only that which was written, but also that which was intended. In one sense, then, Joseph was "translating" the Bible in attempting to interpret it, to explain it by the use of clearer terms or a different form or style of language

Studies in Scripture, Vol 1, Joseph Smith's Translation of the Bible and the Doctrine and Covenants, Robert L Millett, 132

Joseph Smith and the Lord himself viewed this "branch of his calling"—his work as Bible translator—as a key element in the grand Restoration. The translation of the Bible was not a gospel hobby, a parlor game, or a prophetic whim. In the nineteenth century Joseph's work with the Bible was undertaken and received as a labor and a product of profound gravity. In the words of the Lord, Joseph was called "to do a great work and hath need that he may do the work of translation for the salvation of souls." 1

Studies in Scripture, Vol 1, Joseph Smith's Translation of the Bible and the Doctrine and Covenants, Robert L Millett, 132

JST138The Lord had Joseph Smith make a translation of the Bible

because of the good it would do Joseph Smith as well as the good it would also do the Church. This was the way in which the Prophet Joseph Smith learned many things about the gospel. He did not read through the Bible looking for errors, looking for ways to correct it. He studied the scripture for what he could gain. Then when it was inadequate, either because of loss of material or because of faulty translation, by inquiring of the Lord and studying and pondering and thinking about it, he was able to perceive by revelation what the intention of that passage really was. 13

138In short, "through the experience of translating the Bible Joseph Smith was to come into possession of knowledge he did not previously have. . . . The labor was to be its own reward and would result in the spiritual education of the Prophet." 14

Robert J. Matthews, "Using the Scriptures," in 1981 Brigham Young University Speeches (Provo, Ut.: Brigham Young University Publications, 1981), p. 123.

138In a very real sense, to speak of the JST as a process of 'Mormonizing' the Bible is historically anachronistic. Not only were a large percentage of the revelations now contained in the Doctrine and Covenants (77 sections or approximately 56 percent of our present total) received during the June 1830-July 1833 time period, but, more significant, key revelations containing singular doctrinal matters came to the Prophet directly or indirectly as a result of the Bible translation.

JSTRobert J. Matthews, the world authority on the JST, made the following remarks at the

1984 Sidney B. Sperry Symposium regarding the relationship of the JST to the Doctrine and Covenants:

141 - 142What then is the conclusion to the whole matter? That the Prophet's work with the Bible was a primary source for much of the doctrinal content and the instructional information of the D&C. Consequently, one could not adequately understand either the background or the content of those parts of the D&C without an acquaintance with the history and content of the JST. The two volumes, when placed in tandem, enable the student to gain a clearer picture of how the gospel was restored in this dispensation, and gives the reader an insight as to how divine revelation comes. Underlying the whole process is the bold demonstration that revelation comes through a careful study of the scriptures. As the Prophet labored with the translation of the Bible, additional revelation was given to him. That this is one of the purposes of the JST is stated in D&C 45:60-62, wherein the Lord said in effect, if you want more knowledge, translate the New Testament, for in it "all these things shall be made known." Thus, we see enacted a gospel truth: that when we study the revelations already given, new revelation comes to enlarge our spiritual understanding. And that is, after all, our reason for searching the scriptures. 15

JST

In a revelation to Sidney Rigdon—the primary scribe for the translation—Jesus Christ gave to his people his own perception of the nature and scope of the Bible translation: "And a commandment I give unto thee—that thou shalt write for him; and the scriptures shall be given, even as they are in mine own bosom, to the salvation of mine own elect" (D&C 35:20).

M Backman, experience with other preachers

Summer, 1830Joseph is living in Harmony (Translation) Oliver Cowdrey with his inlaws, the WhitmersTwo points of difficulty arise:

The editing of the Constitution of the Church (Section 20)

Hiram Page Incident

Joseph moves to Fayette and a conference is held at the Peter Whitmer home

D&C 281 Behold, I say unto thee, Oliver…

2 …no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses.

3 And thou shalt be obedient unto the things which I shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power and authority unto the church.

6 And thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church;

11 And again, thou shalt take thy brother, Hiram Page, between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me and that Satan deceiveth him;

Journal of Newell KnightOn my arrival [at Fayette] I found Brother Joseph in great distress of mind

on account of Hyrum Page, who had managed to get up some dissension of feeling among the brethren by giving revelations concerning the government of the Church and other matters, which he claimed to have received through the medium of a stone he possessed. …

Even Oliver Cowdery and the Whitmer family had given heed to them,

although they were in contradiction to the New Testament and the revelations of these last days. Here was a chance for Satan to work among the little flock, and he sought by this means to accomplish what persecution failed to do.

Joseph was perplexed and scarcely knew how to meet this new exigency.

That night I occupied the same room that he did and the greater part of the night was spent in prayer and supplication. After much labor with these brethren they were convinced of their error, and confessed the same, renouncing the revelations as not being of God,

1913 First Presidency Message(Quoted by Harold B. Lee in 1972

Conference)

From the days of Hiram Page . . . at different periods there have been manifestations from delusive spirits to members of the Church. . . .

When visions, dreams, tongues, prophecy, impressions or an extraordinary gift of inspiration convey something out of harmony with the accepted revelations of the Church or contrary to the decisions of its constituted authorities, Latter-day Saints may know that it is not of God, no matter how plausible it may appear

They had forgotten earlier revelations

D&C 5:6 For hereafter you [Joseph] shall be ordained and go forth and deliver my words unto the children of men.

9 Behold, verily I say unto you, I have reserved those things which I have entrusted unto you, my servant Joseph, for a wise purpose in me, and it shall be made known unto future generations;

10 But this generation shall have my word through you;

Joseph Smith translated it into English in April 1829 by use of the Urim and Thummim. It is not clear from the Prophet's record whether he actually had the document, or saw it in vision, or was given the translation by inspiration without seeing the document.

Joseph Smith TranslationsRobert J. Matthews, BYU

The Book of Mormon Between 1828 and 1829 Reformed Egyptian

D&C Section 7John the Apostle

April 1829 Probably Aramaic or Greek

The JST June 1830 to 1833 English (Restoration)

The Book of Abraham July 1835 to March 1842 Egyptian

Scroll of Joseph December 1835 Egyptian

Oliver Cowdery reported in December 1835, that the work contained an account of the Creation, the Godhead, the Final Judgment, Enoch's pillar, and other things

Book Timeframe Language

What He revealed through Joseph Smith about Easter

Christian World

Jesus died and rose again

He died for us

We must believe in him

Latter-Day Saints

Jesus died and rose again

He died for us

We must believe in him

We will be resurrected too

We can be exalted

He visited the dead

He visited the Nephites

Question:Question:

What other doctrines or knowledge did Joseph Smith give to the world?

President Gordon B. Hinckley The Cornerstones of Our

Faith Absolutely basic to our faith is our testimony of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who under a divine plan was born in Bethlehem of Judea. … Nothing in all of human history equals the wonder, the splendor, the magnitude, or the fruits of the matchless life of the Son of God, who died for each of us. He is our Savior. He is our Redeemer… He is the chief cornerstone of the church which bears his name,

The second cornerstone is the first vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith…There had been nothing of comparable magnitude since the Son of God walked the earth in mortality. Without it as a foundation stone for our faith and organization, we have nothing. With it, we have everything

The third cornerstone is the Book of Mormon…The Book of Mormon is here. It must be explained. It can be explained only as the translator himself explained its origin. Hand in hand with the Bible, whose companion volume it is, it stands as another witness to a doubting generation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. It is an unassailable cornerstone of our faith.

Cornerstone number four is the restoration to earth of priesthood power and authority…We have seen the sick healed, the lame made to walk, and the coming of light and knowledge and understanding to those who have been in darkness…These great God-given gifts are the unshakable cornerstones that anchor The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as the individual testimonies and convictions of its members

Faith: The Essence of True Religion, Page 12

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