The persecution that Joseph Smith experienced after the appearance of the Father and the Son to him intensified after he received the plates from Moroni and began the translation of the Book of Mormon. The continuing persecution became so unrelenting after the organization of the Church in April of 1830, that it seriously hampered the necessary development of the Lord’s Kingdom on earth. To avoid some of the obstacles the evil one was throwing up in the Church’s way, a major change in approach was necessary. The Saints were commanded to migrate from their various locations mostly in New York State to what was then the western State of Ohio. As they gathered there, they would be strengthened through their increased numbers and for a time be somewhat freer of the opposition’s persecution.
While in Fayette, New York in December 1830, the Prophet received the revelation commanding the Saints to gather to Ohio. “And again, a commandment I give unto the church, that it is expedient in me that they should assemble together at the Ohio, against the time that my servant Oliver Cowdery shall return” from his mission to the Lamanites (Doctrine and Covenants 37:3). On the second day of the following month while Joseph Smith was still in Fayette, the Lord explained His reasons for directing them to gather in the West. “And that ye might escape the power of the enemy, and be gathered unto me a righteous people, without spot and blameless--Wherefore, for this cause I gave unto you the commandment that ye should go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high; And from thence, whosoever I will shall go forth among all nations, and it shall be told them what they shall do; for I have a great work laid up in store, for Israel shall be saved, and I will lead them whithersoever I will, and no power shall stay my hand” (D&C 38:31-33).
The five reasons given by the Lord for this westward move are important for our consideration. First, He desired that His Saints be freer of the “power of the enemy” than they had been. Second, there was strength to be gained from increased numbers allowing them a greater opportunity to live the gospel and thereby be more highly blessed both individually and collectively. Third, the Lord would there reveal His “law,” and the Saints’ obedience thereto would bring them additional blessings. Fourth, the Saints were to “be endowed with power from on high.” And lastly, from their new settlements in Ohio, missionaries would be sent out into the world to begin the real gathering of Israel.
Between December 1830 and February 9, 1831, a sufficient number of faithful Saints had migrated to Ohio including the Prophet, and so the Lord saw fit to reveal “the law of the Church” as promised. We know this revelation as Section 42 of the D&C. Quite simply, this section reveals the rules or laws by which the Saints were to live and be governed.
The endowment that the Lord had promised would not be given until the Saints had made proper preparations including the building of a temple. The word endowment is generally used in cases where the recipient of the gift will view it as being of considerable value and importance. The temple endowment is such a gift, and anyone may receive it from their Father in Heaven if they will but keep His commandments. Recognizing also that the “mysteries” of God’s Kingdom are those things of which we learn and in which we participate in the Lord’s house, the following pronouncement is better understood: “Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich” (D&C 6:7).
The full temple endowment was given to the early Saints of this dispensation in at least two stages. A portion of what we call the initiatory ordinances today was revealed and given to worthy members following the dedication of the temple in Kirtland. However, these initial ordinances were sufficient to provide “the power from on high” necessary for them to succeed in their mission to begin the gathering of Israel. The dedicatory prayer was offered by Joseph Smith on March 27, 1836, and it confirmed the commission they had received earlier namely, to initiate the gathering of Israel. “And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them; And from this place they may bear exceedingly great and glorious tidings, in truth, unto the ends of the earth, that they may know that this is thy work, and that thou hast put forth thy hand, to fulfill that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of the prophets, concerning the last days” (D&C 109:22-23).
As is the case today, the early missionaries received their temple endowment before leaving home for their various fields of missionary labor. Blessed with this additional “power from on high,” the work of the gathering of Israel in the last days commenced. Given that these activities of preparation and missionary work continue in our day, the blessings pronounced in verses twenty-two and twenty-three of Section 109 should be interpreted as they apply now. For all living endowed members are “in the world,” and we may carry with us the light and power we receive in a temple for our own benefit as well as the benefit of our families and all others both members and non-members with whom we associate. I know this promised blessing to be true from my personal experience. We are to be a light unto the world and not hide our light under a “bushel” (Matthew 5:15).
The remainder of the priesthood keys necessary for the accomplishment of the Church’s mission in this dispensation namely, preparing for the Savior’s triumphal return in the last days, were restored to the earth and bestowed upon the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the temple at Kirtland on April 3, 1836 by the hands of the Old Testament prophets Moses, Elias, and Elijah.
No comments:
Post a Comment