“This Generation Shall Have My Word through You”

1. “This Generation Shall Have My Word through You”

2. JS-H 1:3321 Sept 1823 • Joseph Smith • 17 Years old • God had a work for me to do • My name should be had for good and evil among all nations

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

4. The Impact of Joseph Smith on the world? ME Joseph 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. • “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

5. Prophecy about Joseph Smith D&C 5:10 • This generation shall have my word through you • Word? • What generation?

6. Prophecy about Joseph Smith2 Nephi 3:11-15 • Seer • Power to bring forth my word • Power to convince them of my word

7. What blessings will come from the writings? 2 Nephi 3:11-15 • Confounding of false doctrines • Laying down of contentions • Establishing peace • Bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days • Knowledge of covenants

8. Moses 1:40-41How is this prophecy being fulfilled? • “…they shall be had again” How? • The Book of Mormon • Doctrine and Covenants • Pearl of Great Price • Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible

9. Joseph Smith – The WordD&C 135:3 “In the space of 20 years…”

10. “Learning experience for the Prophet” BD

11. 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.

12. Pearl of Great PriceIntroductory NoteLast Five Paragraphs • a. Selections from the book of Moses • b.  The book of Abraham • c.  Joseph Smith—Matthew • d.  Joseph Smith—History • e.  The Articles of Faith • How 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

13. “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

14. “What I have received from the Lord, I have received by Joseph Smith” • (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 458).

15. The Impact of Joseph Smith on the world? ME • “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

16. 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)

17. The Divine Nature Terryl L. Givens, BYU Forum, 29 November 2005

18. The Nature of God • Sinners in the hands of an Angry God • By 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…

19. Communication with God

21. What has not been revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith? • Physical nature of the GodheadOur 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

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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).

26. 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

27. 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

28. JST • 138The 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.

29. 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.

30. JST • Robert 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

31. 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).

33. M Backman, experience with other preachers

34. Summer, 1830 • Joseph is living in Harmony (Translation) • Oliver Cowdrey with his inlaws, the Whitmers • Two 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

35. D&C 28 • 1 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;

36. Journal of Newell Knight • On 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,

37. 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

38. 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;

39. Joseph Smith TranslationsRobert J. Matthews, BYU BookTimeframeLanguage The Book of Mormon Between 1828 and 1829 Reformed Egyptian D&C Section 7 John the Apostle April 1829 Probably Aramaic or Greek June 1830 to 1833 English (Restoration) The JST Egyptian July 1835 to March 1842 The Book of Abraham Scroll of Joseph December 1835 Egyptian 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. 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

40. 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 What He revealed through Joseph Smith about Easter

41. Question: • What other doctrines or knowledge did Joseph Smith give to the world?

42. President Gordon B. Hinckley The Cornerstones 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 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 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. 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 4 3 2 1 Faith: The Essence of True Religion, Page 12