Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts

Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”

Historical Background

In September 1830, the Lord gave Joseph Smith a revelation where He commanded Oliver Cowdery to "go unto the Lamanites and preach my gospel unto them" (D&C 28:8

Oliver obeyed, and soon left for the frontier settlement of Independence, Missouri. Oliver was accompanied by Peter Whitmer, Parley P. Pratt, and Ziba Peterson.

En route to western Missouri, they stopped and preached for several weeks in Ohio, particularly in the Kirtland area where they found a great deal of interest.

Within three weeks they had baptized 127 persons, including Sidney Rigdon, a Cambellite preacher and friend of Parley Pratt.

The zealous missionaries departed and continued on their journey to the Lamanite. This, however left this new community of saints virtually leaderless. Without leadership and direction, this enthusiastic group of converts engaged in practices, some new and some traditional, that were not in harmony with the restored gospel.

Upon hearing the reports, the Prophet sent John Whitmer to preside over the Ohio branches, but it was too much for him and he pleaded with the Prophet for help.

The Prophet arrived in Kirtland early in 1831 and was able to witness first hand the confusion amongst these new Latter-day Saints.

o Joseph found these new Saints in Kirtland striving to do their best, but also found that they were continuing practices not in keeping with the gospel. Joseph referred to them as "strange notions and false spirits." A group in Kirtland called the Morley Family, lived an imperfect law of sharing all things, which caused some difficult feelings. They had a revelator known as "Black Pete." They claimed to see angels and to receive letters from heaven.

o John Whitmer reported: "Some had visions and knew not what they saw, some would fancy to themselves that they had the sword of Laban, and would wield it as expert as a light dragon, some would act like an Indian in the act of scalping, some would slide or scoop on the floor, with the rapidity of a serpent, which they termed sailing in the boat to the Lamanites, preaching the gospel. And many other vain and foolish manoevers that are unseeming and unprofitable to mention. . . . These things grieved the servants of the Lord, and some conversed together on this subject, and others came in and we were at Joseph Smith, Jr. the Seer, and made it a matter of consultation, for many would not turn from their folly, unless God would give a revelation." (Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p134)

o Parley P. Pratt, who returned to Kirtland in the early summer of 1831, wrote that "some very strange spiritual operations were manifested, which were disgusting, rather than edifying. Some persons would seem to swoon away, and make unseemly gestures, and be drawn or disfigured in their countenances. Others would fall into ecstasies, and be drawn into contortions, cramps, fits, etc. Others would seem to have visions and revelations, which were not edifying, and which were not congenial to the doctrine and spirit of the gospel. In short, a false and lying spirit seemed to be creeping into the Church." (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, p61)

It was in response to these practices, on March 8, 1831, that the Prophet received the revelation contained in Section 46.

D&C46:7-8
7 But ye are commanded in all things to aask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all bholiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, cconsidering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and dthanksgiving, that ye may not be eseduced by evil fspirits, or doctrines of devils, or the gcommandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils.
8 Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived aseek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;


1. All faithful members of the Church can receive gifts of the Spirit.


Gifts of the Spirit are spiritual blessings or abilities that are given through the Holy Ghost. These gifts were taken from the earth during the Great Apostasy, but God restored them in the early days of this dispensation.

Spiritual gifts come from God, are administered by the Holy Ghost, and they are transmitted to men by the Spirit of Christ, which is the light of Christ, which is the agency of God’s power. Their receipt is predicated upon faith, obedience, and personal righteousness; hence they are reserved for the saints of God, for those who believe in his name and live his laws. They are the signs and miracles that follow those who believe, and their receipt, in one degree or another, is essential to salvation. ( A New Witness to the Articles of Faith, Bruce R. McConkie, p. 367)

What are some of the gifts of the Spirit?

( gifts of the Spirit are also identified in 1 Corinthians 12:4–12; 1 Corinthians 13:1–13; and Moroni 10:8–18.)


D&C 46:13. (Knowledge “given by the Holy Ghost … that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.”)

“This describes a different, more powerful gift than being certain through our faith. This is the gift of direct, empirical knowledge of Christ, the kind of knowledge that Joseph took with him when he left the Sacred Grove.” ( A Commentary on the Doctine and Covenants, Robinson & Garrett, p.77)


b. D&C 46:14. (Belief in others’ testimonies of the Savior.)
This the category most members of the church fall into and is no trivial gift. “ We are promised eternal life if we continue faithful to the witness that confirms to us the testimony of others who have personally seen and experienced.”. (Commentary on the Doctrine & Covenants, Robinson & Garrett p. 78)

c. D&C 46:15. (Knowledge of “the differences of administration.”)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve said that this gift is “used in administering and regulating the church” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 278).
This phrase is used in 1 Corinthians 12:5, where the Greek means “differences in ways of serving”.
To know these differences is to recognize how God has endowed different individuals with different gifts and with different ‘styles’ of ways of doing things.

d. D&C 46:16. (Discernment “to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God.”
This gift helps us discern whether a teaching or influence comes from God or from some other source.)
This gift also is demonstrated in the ability to see what is really going on around us, to recognize the operation or activity of an influence, movement, or trend, to know what is at work and whether it is of God. (Commentary on the Doctrine & Covenants, Robinson & Garrett p. 78)


e. D&C 46:17–18. (Wisdom and knowledge.)
wisdom is knowledge or data plus judgment, understanding or common sense.

f. D&C 46:19. (Faith to be healed.)
In a conflict between the saints and the mobs in Independence , brother Philo Dibble, of Ohio was shot through his waistband. Elder Parley Pratt related, “ the ball remained in him, He bled much inwardly, and, in a day or two his bowels were so filled with blood and so inflamed that he was about to die, or rather, he had been slowly dying from the time he was wounded. The smell of himself had become intolerable to him and those about him. At length, Elder Newel Knight administered to him, , by the laying on of hands, in the name of Jesus; his hands had scarcely touched his head when he felt an operation penetrating his whole system as if it had been a purifying fire. He immediately discharged several quarts of blood and corruption, among which was the ball with which he had been wounded. He was instantly healed, and went to work chopping wood. “ ( Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, p. 100)

g. D&C 46:20. (Faith to heal.)

h. D&C 46:21. (The working of miracles.)
“properly gifted persons control the elements, move mountains, turn rivers out of their course, walk on water, quench the violence of fire, are carried by the power of the Spirit from one congregation to another, are translated and taken into heaven, or- and this above all- gain for themselves an eternal inheritance in the presence of Him who is Eternal. Miracles are now, have always been, and always will be part and portion of the true gospel of that God who is a God of miracles.” ( A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p.373)

i. D&C 46:22. (Prophecy.)

j. D&C 46:23. (Discerning of spirits.)
Joseph Smith once said, “ Nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the spirit of God.” (Teachings, 205)
k. D&C 46:24. (Speaking in tongues.)
in the biblical world, the words for tongue and language were the same. The gift of tongues, therefore, is the gift of languages. It is designed to reveal and communicate through the spirit.
the gift of tongues has been, from the beginning, the most counterfeited by false spirits.
l. D&C 46:25. (Interpretation of tongues.)

This by no means is an inclusive list of all the gifts of the Spirit. Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety ( A New Witness to the Articles of Faith, p. 371)

Marvin J. Ashton
Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost. (“‘There Are Many Gifts’,” Ensign, Nov 1987, 20).

D&C46:11
11 For all have not every agift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.

EVERY faithful member of the church who has received the gift of the Holy Ghost is given at least one spiritual gift. The presence of these spiritual gifts, in fact, are one of the signs of the true church.

Mormon 9:24
24 And athese signs shall follow them that believe—in my name shall they cast out bdevils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay chands on the sick and they shall recover;

God gives gifts of the Spirit for the benefit of His children

Why does the Lord grant us these gifts?



1. That all the saints may be profited
D&C 46:11-12
11 For all have not every agift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.
12 To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.

Elder Orson Pratt
“Spiritual gifts are distributed among the members of the Church, according to their faithfulness, circumstances, natural abilities, duties, and callings; that the whole may be properly instructed, confirmed, perfected, and saved” (Masterful Discourses and Writings of Orson Pratt, comp. N. B. Lundwall [1953], 571).

“We are meant to join together in one body to complement each other’s strengths and compensate for each other’s weakness. Collectively, we possess all the gifts.. And so it follows that we need each other, each of the members needs the whole body. By design, no single individual is inteded to be spiritually self-sufficient.” ( Commentary on the Doctrine & Covenants, Robinson & Garrett p. 76)


2. To strengthen and bless us individually

Dallin H. Oaks
gifts of the Spirit “can lead us to God. They can shield us from the power of the adversary. They can compensate for our inadequacies and repair our imperfections” (“Spiritual Gifts,” Ensign, Sept. 1986, 72).

3. To help us avoid being deceived

The Lord designed in the beginning to place before man the knowledge of good and evil, and gave him a commandment to cleave to good and abstain from evil.

Bruce R. McConkie
“Satan and his fallen angels abide on earth. They seek to destroy men and doom them to an everlasting perdition. If they alone had influence and there were no help from above, men would slide everlastingly downward, until, bound by the chains of hell, they would be in bondage to that evil spirit who fell from the presence of the Eternal God. As we have seen, God gives gifts to men to lift them up, to light their way back to heaven, to let them gain glimpses, while yet on their mortal pilgrimages, of that eternal home whence they came. These good gifts are shown forth in the midst of a world filled with evil gifts. And as we have seen, these good gifts are given so that men need “not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men.” The Lord’s people are to “be aware lest [they] are deceived; and that [they] may not be deceived, “ they are to seek..earnestly the best gifts” ( D&C 46:7-8) (A New Witness to the Articles of Faith, p. 376)


We should seek and cultivate gifts of the Spirit.

The Lord expects us to desire and seek for spiritual experiences and gifts.



Paul says: “Covet earnestly the best gifts” ( 1 Cor 12:31), “desire spiritual gifts”, and be
“zealous of spiritual gifts”, seeking “that ye may excel to the edifying of the church” ( 1 Cor 14:1, 12). Moroni says: “Lay hold upon every good gift.” ( Moroni 10:31) and to Joseph Smith, the Lord said, “ Ye are commanded In all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally.”

The Lord posed the following question in the latter days: “ What doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?” The answer: “Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.” ( D&C 88:33)


What can we do to cultivate and develop the spiritual gifts we have been given?
Elder Orson Pratt (1811–81) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles discussed John Wesley’s insightful words from the mid-1700s (Sermon 94) as he wrote about the Dark Ages:

“ ‘The real cause why the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost were no longer to be found in the christian church, was, because the christians were turned heathens again. ..If then, the ‘whole of christendom,’ without one exception, have been ‘buried in the most abominable idolatry for upwards of eight hundred years,’ .. And if they, because they are destitute of the gifts, are not even now christians, but heathens .. , we ask where the authority was during this eight hundred years, and where is it now? Surely God would not recognise ‘the most abominable idolaters,’ as holding authority” (Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, no. 2 [1850], 21).

We can ponder, pray, fast, priesthood blessings, patriarchal blessings, obey the commandments, being set apart for our callings and serve others. Essentially, we can live the gospel to the best of our ability.


What can we do to seek gifts of the Spirit?

D&C46
30 He that aasketh in the bSpirit asketh according to the cwill of God; wherefore it is done even as he asketh.
31 And again, I say unto you, all things must be done in the name of Christ, whatsoever you do in the Spirit;
32 And ye must give athanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with.
33 And ye must practise avirtue and holiness before me continually. Even so. Amen.

President George Q. Cannon
“If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. Have I imperfections? I am full of them. What is my duty? To pray to God to give me the gifts that will correct these imperfections. If I am an angry man, it is my duty to pray for charity, which suffereth long and is kind. Am I an envious man? It is my duty to seek for charity, which envieth not. So with all the gifts of the Gospel. They are intended for this purpose. No man ought to say, ‘Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.’ He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them” (Millennial Star, 23 Apr. 1894, 260).



Conclusion
Robert D. Hales
Remember that the reason we want to have the stability and strength of the gifts of the Spirit is that we want to weather the storms when they come. We will be tried in this mortal probation. We don’t want to decide to learn how to swim when the boat is already sinking. When a severe disability or problem comes to a family or an individual, a high percentage of families and individuals break up, disintegrate, because they are overwhelmed and unprepared. That is why we are faithful, and that is why we remain strong and have those spiritual gifts.

Through His knowledge and obedience, when Jesus was in pain and upon the cross, He thought about taking care of His mother and spoke to John the Beloved about it (see John 19:25–27). In all of the pain we must go through, we have to remember the pain that is in others.

The gifts of the Spirit can guide and enrich our lives. They can strengthen us spiritually and temporally. They can help us bless the lives of others. Most important, they can bring us comfort in times of trial. They can help us magnify our callings. They can help guide us in our relationships. They can help us avoid being deceived.

I bear testimony that God has given us the gifts of the Spirit to allow us to be drawn more closely into His circle of love. He desires that we should receive these gifts of the Spirit and magnify them and have them grow within us. We have to teach one another how to seek after them. As we do, our faith in Him will increase and our true destiny will be fulfilled, ultimately to return to His presence as His valiant sons and daughters. May we seek after and obtain these gifts, I humbly pray. (Robert D. Hales, “Gifts of the Spirit,” Ensign, Feb 2002, 12).

This Generation Shall Have My Work Through You

This Generation Shall Have My Work Through You
Doctrine &Covenants and Church History Lesson 13

The Lord declared that the people in this dispensation would receive His word through Joseph Smith.

After Martin Harris had lost the 116 pages of translation and was removed as Joseph’s scribe, he still felt an obligation to the work and to assist financially with the printing of the Book of Mormon. So, in March 1829, he traveled to Joseph’s home in Harmony to determine if Joseph still had the plates and the power to translate them. To settle this question, he wanted to see the plates, which had not been his privilege while acting as Joseph’s scribe. In response to his request, Joseph Smith received Doctrine and Covenants 5.

D&C 5:9-10
9 Behold, verily I say unto you, I have areserved 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 athrough you;

To be clear, “this generation” is the whole present dispensation of the gospel, which enjoys the fullness of the gospel only through the work of the Prophet Joseph Smith.( Robinson& Garrett A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants p. 47)

Joseph Smith was the chosen prophet to restore the gospel in this dispensation, including the covenants and doctrines associated with it.

Brigham Young
“ What I have received from the Lord, I have received by Joseph Smith; he was the instrument made use of. If I drop him, I must drop these principles, they have not been revealed, declared, or explained by any other man since the days of the Apostles.” ( Discourses of Brigham Young p. 458).

That great outpouring of truth in this dispensation through the prophet Joseph Smith included the coming forth of both ancient and latter-day scripture.

Many ancient and letter-day scriptures have come through Joseph Smith

The ancient prophets saw the day that Joseph Smith would be raised up and bring all truth to the children of men


To Moses, the Lord said,
40 And now, Moses, my son, I will speak unto thee concerning this earth upon which thou standest; and thou shalt awrite the things which I shall speak.
41 And in a day when the children of men shall esteem my words as anaught and btake many of them from the cbook which thou shalt write, behold, I will raise up another dlike unto thee; and they shall be ehad again among the children of men—among as many as shall believe

Lehi, in blessing his son Joseph, talks about their father Joseph, who was sold into Egypt:


2 Nephi 3:7, 12
7 Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice aseer will I braise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the cknowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers
12 Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall awrite; and the fruit of the loins of bJudah shall cwrite; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the dconfounding of efalse doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing fpeace among the fruit of thy loins, and gbringing them to the hknowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

LeGrand Richards
The Prophet Joseph Smith brought us the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and many other writings. 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. And the Lord said: “And not to the bringing forth my word only, … but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.” (2 Ne. 3:11.) What did he mean by that? That in the midst of these hundreds of churches of men—the result of men’s interpretations of the scriptures because they can’t agree, and these churches keep multiplying—that the Lord would give to this new prophet the ability to comprehend the scriptures that had already been sent forth among them. (LeGrand Richards, “Call of the Prophets,” Ensign, May 1981, 31)

So, lets talk about what the prophet Joseph has done to bring us the Lord’s word

The Book of Mormon
Since 1830 over 100 million copies of the Book of Mormon have been published in dozens of languages.
What significance does the Book of Mormon have?

Few men on earth, said Elder Bruce R. McConkie, either in or out of the church, have caught the vision of what the Book of Mormon is all about. Few are they among men who know the part it has played and will yet play in preparing the way for the coming of Him whom it is a new witness.. The Book of Mormon shall so effect men that the whole earth and all its peoples will have been influenced and governed by it..There is no greater issue ever to confront mankind in modern times that this: Is the Book of Mormon the mind and will and voice of God to all men? We testify that it is. (The Mellenial Messiah p. 159, 170, 179)
1. Although it does not contain every aspect of the restoration or all the principles of the gospel, it served as a catalyst for continuing revelation.
· One example: In the spring of 1829, while Joseph and Oliver were translating, the record raised questions about baptism. Joseph and Oliver retired to the woods to pray about their questions. The result of their prayer was the visit of John the Baptist and the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood.
2. It is a second witness for Jesus Christ. It declares that the gospel is a gospel for the world and not just a chosen few.
3. Possibly, the greatest significance of the Book of Mormon is that it brings men and women to Christ. It is the greatest tool of conversion in this generation.
Consider Parley P. Pratt's experience: "As I read, the spirit of the Lord was upon me, and I knew and comprehended that the book was true, as plainly and manifestly as a man comprehends and knows that he exists" (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, p20). One cannot read this book, learn of its truth, and then ignore it. At the time Parley read the Book of Mormon, he was on a mission preaching the word of God as he knew it. He had been a recent convert to the Cambellite faith. Almost immediately, Parley made his way to Palmyra in search of the Prophet and shortly thereafter Parley was baptized. The remainder of his life was spent in service to the restored church.
The Doctrine & Covenants

From 1823 to 1831, Joseph Smith received more than 60 revelations from the Lord. A few handwritten copies of these revelations were given to missionaries and others, but most Church members did not have access to them.

At a conference held in Ohio in late 1831, church leaders decided to publish the revelations in a volume called the Book of Commandments. Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer were selected to take the revelations to Independence, Missouri, a distance of approximately 1,000 miles, where the book would be printed and bound.

Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer reached Independence in January 1832, and by July 1833 William W. Phelps had printed the first 160 pages of the Book of Commandments. However, on 20 July 1833 a mob destroyed Brother Phelps’s printing press and many of the unbound pages of the Book of Commandments were thrown into the street.

Two young girls, Mary Elizabeth and Caroline Rollins, seeing this were determined, at the risk of their own lives, to rescue what they could. While the mob was busy at one end of the house, the two girls ran and filled their arms with the precious sheets. The mob saw them and ordered the girls to stop. Mary Elizabeth reported, “ We ran as fast as we could. Two of them started after us. Seeing a gap in a fence, we entered into a large cornfield, laid the papers on the ground, and hid them with our persons. The corn was from five to six feet high, and very thick; they hunted around considerable, and came very near us but did not find us.”

President Ezra Taft Benson:
"The Book of Mormon brings men to Christ. The Doctrine & Covenants brings men to Christ's kingdom, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 'the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth' (D&C 1:30)....
"The Book of Mormon is the 'keystone' of our religion, and the Doctrine and Covenants is the capstone, with continuing latter-day revelation. The Lord has placed His stamp of approval on both the keystone and the capstone" (Ensign, May 1987, p83).

The Pearl of Great Price
the Pearl of Great Price is appropriately named. Like a pearl, it is small in size but great in worth. Although it is only 61 pages long, it spans the eternities, including passages about the Grand Council in Heaven, the restoration of the gospel in the dispensation of the fulness of times, the Savior’s Second Coming, the Millennium, and everlasting life. It contains valuable teachings on the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement, and the agency of mankind. This book of scripture has five parts:
1. Selections from the Book of Moses.
· Shortly after the organization of the Church, the Prophet returned to Colesville and Harmony. There were troubles between the believers and some of their neighbors. Joseph went through two trials. He was acquitted in both instances. The Prophet wrote: "I will say, however, that amid all the trials and tribulations we had to wade through, the Lord who well knew our infantile and delicate situation, vouchsafed for us a supply of strength, and granted us 'line upon line of knowledge—here a little and there a little,' of which the following was a precious morsel" (HC, 1:98). This morsel was a revelation now known as the first chapter in the Book of Moses.
· The translation of the Book of Mormon convinced the Prophet that many plain and precious parts of the Bible were missing. After receiving Moses 1, the Prophet took up a revision of the Bible which occupied much of his time over the next few years. The remainder of the Book of Moses is an extract from that revision. The Prophecy of Enoch was restored in December 1830 and provided information that would enable the Church to begin the building up of Zion after the pattern of the Zion of Enoch.
2.The Book of Abraham.
· The Book of Abraham came from the Prophet's translation of ancient Egyptian scrolls that came into his hands through a Michael Chandler of Philadelphia. Chandler had been bequeathed mummies and scrolls from Antonio Lebolo who had discovered them in Egypt in 1818. Part of the collection was sold to the Church in 1835.
· Joseph Smith: "Soon after this, some of the Saints at Kirtland purchased the mummies and papyrus, a description of which will appear hereafter, and with W. W. Phelps and Oliver Cowdery as scribes, I commenced the translation of some of the characters or hieroglyphics, and much to our joy found that one of the rolls contained the writings of Abraham, another the writings of Joseph of Egypt, etc.,—a more full account of which will appear in its place, as I proceed to examine or unfold them. Truly we can say, the Lord is beginning to reveal the abundance of peace and truth." (HC, 2:231)
3.Joseph Smith—Matthew.
· Joseph Smith—Matthew is part of the Prophet's inspired revision of the Bible and parallels Matthew 23:39 and Matthew 24.

4. Joseph Smith—History.
· In 1838, Joseph Smith began to write his history, which became known as the History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The first part of this history is the content contained in the Pearl of Great Price and includes the accounts of the First Vision and subsequent visits from the angel Moroni. The first portion of this to appear in print was contained in the Times and Seasons, published in Nauvoo.

5. The Articles of Faith.
· Elder B.H. Roberts: "One other document of great historical and even doctrinal importance was published about the same time as this Book of Abraham, namely, in the spring of 1842. This document is what is called The Wentworth Letter. Mr. John Wentworth, editor and proprietor of the Chicago Democrat, solicited of Joseph Smith a statement concerning the history and doctrine of the Church of the Latter-day Saints, for his friend Mr. Barstow, of New Hampshire, who was writing a history of that state. Responding to this request the Wentworth Letter was prepared by the Prophet. Beginning with the birth of Joseph Smith, in 1805, it traces in admirable manner the development of the great latter-day work, the story of its persecutions, up to the settlement of the saints in Nauvoo; and also details their prosperous condition and happy prospects at the time the letter was written." (CHC, 2:130-131)
· The letter closed with the Articles of Faith as a summation of the beliefs of the Church.
· Elder Roberts: "They were not produced by the labored efforts and the harmonized contentions of scholastics, but were struck off by one mind at a single effort to make a declaration of that which is most assuredly believed by the church, for one making earnest inquiry about her history and her fundamental doctrines. The combined directness, perspicuity, simplicity and comprehensiveness of this statement of the doctrine of the church is regarded as strong evidence of a divine inspiration operating upon the mind of Joseph Smith." (CHC, 2:131)

The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible

Joseph Smith had learned early in his translation of the Book of Mormon that plain and precious truths, including many covenants of the Lord, had been “taken away” or “kept back” by designing individuals in the periods surrounding the compilation of the Old and New Testaments.

Although we do not have a specific revelation where the Lord commands Joseph to carefully study the Bible as a means of restoring these truths, Joseph and his scribes acknowledged in sections 45 and 76 that this sacred mission was appointed him.

New translations of the Bible I the 1830s was nothing new. Religious revivalism was at it’s peak in the early 19th century. From 1777 to 1833, more than 500 separate editions of the Bible (or parts thereof) were published in America.

Joseph’s translation, however, was different from the rest. Joseph began by careful reading and study of the King James version of the Bible in June of 1830. He acted under divine direction, according to his appointment as prophet, seer and revelator. 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 not only what was written, but what was intended as well.

It took the prophet 3 years to complete the task. A total of 3,410 verses in the printed JST differ In textual construction from the King James bible. Although the formal work of translation ended in 1833, Joseph spent his remaining years reviewing and revising the manuscripts-seeking to find appropriate words to convey what he had come to know by revelation.

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

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

For example:

D&C 76, the “vision of the glories,” received by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon on 16 Feb 1832, came as a result of prayerfully pondering John 5:29

D&C 77 is a question and answer session with the Lord, wherein Joseph learned valuable insights regarding the Apocalypse of John the Beloved

The JST can be found in the Pearl of Great Price, footnotes of the LDS edition of the king James bible and in the appendix following the Bible Dictionary.

Plain and precious doctrines of the gospel have been restored through Joseph Smith

The Doctrines
Reference
Physical nature of the Godhead
Joseph Smith—History 1:17; D&C 130:1; D&C 130:22
Our creation in God's image
Moses 6:8-9
Apostles and prophets
D&C 107:23; D&C 107:33; D&C 107:35; D&C 107:39; D&C 107:58; D&C 112:30-321835 - The Quorum of the Twelve Organized
Melchizedek Priesthood
D&C 84:19-25; D&C 107:1-8; D&C 107:18-19 1829 - Restored by Peter, James, & John
Aaronic Priesthood
D&C 13; D&C 84:18; D&C 84:26-27; D&C 84:30; D&C 107:1; D&C 107:13-14; D&C 107:20 1829 - Restored by John the Baptist
Mode of baptism
3 Nephi 11:22-26; Moroni 8:8-12; D&C 20:71-74
The gift of the Holy Ghost
D&C 20:41; D&C 20:43; D&C 35:6; D&C 121:46
Pre mortal existence
D&C 93:29; Abraham 3:22-26
Baptism for the dead
D&C 128:16-18
Resurrection
Alma 11:42-45
The three kingdoms of glory
D&C 76:50-112; D&C 131:1
Eternal marriage
D&C 131:1-4; D&C 132:19
Our potential to become like Heavenly Father
D&C 88:107; D&C 93:20; D&C 132:20-24

Joseph was the Lord's mouthpiece, but he was also the Lord's engineer that began the foundation of the Lord's earthly kingdom. Under the Prophet's direction, missionaries were sent out, temples erected, and cities constructed. The gathering of Israel was begun and the building of Zion initiated.

When contemplating what your life would be like without the truths restored through the prophet Joseph, how can you feel anything but tremendous gratitude?