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Joseph Smith And I

Here is how a recent Sunday of mine went:

I got up at 3:30 AM to go to work. I work at a hospital, which explains both the oddball hours and why I was at work on Sunday. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormons, affirms the Law of the Sabbath and holds worship services on Sunday. However, the Church also allows servicemen, first responders, peace officers, and so forth to do their jobs on Sunday. A hospital, of course, comes under these obvious exemptions.

By the way, if you have this odd-hour, graveyard shift scheduling, one fun hobby to pick up is astronomy. Right now the stars Deneb, Vega, and Altair make a wonderful triangle, and Arcturus is a gem!

There is a relevant passage in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, which Latter-day Saints believe to be scripture. The prophet Alma is confronting Korihor, a wicked philosopher. The discussion turns to the topics of God’s existence. Korihor says that he does not believe that God exists. He then asks Alma for a sign. Alma replies:

“Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.” (Alma 30:44, emphasis added.)

Astronomy (not astrology) can be a faith-promoting science.

After I finished my shift at work, I came home and made a Carnation Instant Breakfast, put on some church music, and then had a catnap. When I woke up an hour later, I put on my church clothes and went home teaching with my companion.

Home teaching is a program in the church were two men are assigned to visit a certain number of families. We deliver a spiritual message, and then see how they are doing, both spiritually and with physical necessities. It helps unify the congregation, and eases the workload of the local leadership.

The first family we visited had recently graduated from university. The husband had a summer internship, while the wife was looking for a job. I referred her to LDS Employment Resources Services. This is a job-hunting and career planning service offered by the Church. They have several senior missionaries that help people in need. They help with writing résumés, interviewing practice, internet job-hunting, and so forth. They also have resources for self-employment, small business entrepreneurs, and home-businesses. All of this for free.

We then visited our second family. They dropped a bomb on us. The husband got an education opportunity in the San Francisco Bay Area, so they were moving next month. So we spent most of the time talking about their plans: How they were getting there? Did they have an agent or any buyers? What about the furniture? We got a nice tour of the house, which was good practice in dealing with potential buyers.

We then delivered the spiritual message, which was from Thomas S. Monson, the current world leader of the Church of Jesus Christ. He began the spiritual thought this way:

“When I was a boy, I enjoyed reading Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. I also saw adventure movies where several individuals had separate pieces of a well-worn map which led the way to buried treasure if only the pieces could be found and put together.”

“I recall listening to a 15-minute radio program each weekday afternoon—Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy. As it began, a voice filled with mystery would emanate from the radio: “We now join Jack and Betty as they approach the fabulous secret entry to the elephants’ burial ground, where a treasure is concealed. But wait; danger lurks on the path ahead.” Nothing could tear me away from this program. It was as though I were leading the search for the hidden treasure of precious ivory.”

I pointed out that Raiders of the Lost Ark used a similar gimmick: Indiana Jones has to bring Marion Ravenwood along with him because she owned the Headpiece to the Staff of Ra, which Indy needs to find the Ark of the Covenant. The friction between these two ex-lovers adds to the comedy of the film.

I also pointed out that we sometimes get funny ideas about spirituality. We sometimes get the idea that we aren’t supposed to like these adventure stories because they are not “churchy.” Righteous people just don’t watch these types of things. But the prophet of our church used these fun adventure stories to illustrate an important spiritual truth.

President Monson explained:

At another time and in a different setting, the Savior of the world spoke of treasure. In His Sermon on the Mount, He declared:

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

The promised reward was not a treasure of ivory, gold, or silver. Neither did it consist of acres of land or a portfolio of stocks and bonds. The Master spoke of riches within the grasp of all—even joy unspeakable here and eternal happiness hereafter.

I wish to provide the three pieces of your treasure map to guide you to your eternal happiness. They are:

1.Learn from the past.

2.Prepare for the future.

3.Live in the present.

(Thomas S. Monson, “Treasure of Eternal Value,” Ensign, Apr 2008, 4–9.)

The visits took two hours total. I came home, cooked a microwave dinner, reheated some homemade cornbread, then had a large salad. After my late lunch, I did some Sunday reading.

I am reading We Reach The Moon, a book about the Apollo 11 moonshot. Then I read a chapter in Miracle At Philadelphia, about the 1787 Constitutional Convention. I also read in a theological commentary, and then a chapter in a book on personal finance. I am also slowly plodding my way though The Life And Times Of Jesus The Messiah, by Alfred Edersheim. I got about halfway through the chapter and realized that I had not yet written in my journal.

My memory is not as good as the already written page, so I stopped reading at a convenient break, and set the book aside. The journal entry was a short one, mostly recording three dreams I had.

The journal is really a writing journal for another project I am working on. And when your mind is purring like a Formula-1 engine, your dreams can take on a creative significance. And, of course, God speaks to people by way of dreams. The Bible says, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” (Joel 2:28)

So I recorded these dreams. When I finished putting my journal in order, I then retired.

I mention this “day in the life of a blogger” for one reason: There are two reasons why I spent my Sunday this way, instead of vegging-out in front of the idiot box, or hanging out at the beach or a casino.

The first reason is my faith in Jesus Christ. I have a testimony, or a witness that He is the Son of God, and that He died for my sins, and that He resurrected.

The second reason is my faith that Joseph Smith was called of God to establish a Church, to translate The Book of Mormon, and to restore the priesthood to operate this church.

Since I actually and honestly believe these things, I change my behavior accordingly. I do what I do because I know what I know. I spent my time that Sunday in the way I did because of both Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith.

One hundred and eighty-eight years ago, Joseph Smith walked into a nearby grove and prayed. He had two concerns. One was about his sins—he wanted forgiveness. The second was about denominationalism—he wanted to know which church to join.

In response to that prayer, God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. The Savior said that Joseph’s sins were forgiven him. He was also told not to join any church, since they were not recognized by the Lord. He was also told that the fullness of the gospel would be made known to him at a future point.

What I did that one Sunday was a direct result of this First Vision of Joseph Smith. If you believe that God exists, that His Son died for our sins, and that there is a true church on the face of the earth, then it affects everything you do. Your priorities in life are completely different.

In this sense, I feel a close connection to Joseph Smith. Across the ages, Joseph Smith and I are coworkers and compatriots in this religious endeavor. Not in a mystical sense, but in a way that causes me to order my daily schedule in such a way to serve. It’s a matter of both faith and works.

Joseph Smith: Leadership And Correct Principles

John Taylor, the third president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (known as the Mormons), reminisced about his associate Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church:

“Some years ago, in Nauvoo [Illinois], a gentleman in my hearing, a member of the Legislature, asked Joseph Smith how it was that he was enabled to govern so many people, and to preserve such perfect order; remarking at the same time that it was impossible for them to do it anywhere else. Mr. Smith remarked that it was very easy to do that. ‘How?’ responded the gentleman; ‘to us it is very difficult.’ Mr. Smith replied, ‘I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves.’ ” (“Chapter 24: Leading in the Lord’s Way,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 281–91.)

Isn’t that answer impressive? “I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves.”

AUTOCRATIC BOSS

To me, it seems that Joseph Smith has bridged the gap between two leadership styles. One is the autocratic “toxic boss” approach, where the leader both leads, manages, and ultimately micromanages those under his watch.

I think we have all dealt with this kind. Essentially, their approach to leadership is that they give you a “to-do list” and then hover over you waiting for that one false step. Then you get chewed out for making that one little mistake.

HANDS WAY-OFF

The other approach to leadership is akin to an absentee landlord. It is a bit hard to describe this type of boss, since they really don’t do anything. They have an open door policy, but they are never in the office. When you do see them, the conversations are so superficial, it is almost pointless to have them, except to say, “Long time, no see.” The fundamental mistake with this approach is that it confuses delegation with dereliction.

TEACHING CORRECT PRINCIPLES

Joseph Smith’s approach is a third way, completely separate from the other two. The first half of the formula is “I teach them correct principles.” Now, there is a hidden premise to this: the leader must first know correct principles. This involves life-long learning, be it by formal enrollment in classes and seminars, or informal erudition.

Then, once the leader has mastered these principles (both in theory and in practice), the leader needs to teach them to those in the organization. This, of course, brings up subject of time-wasting meetings. At your next staff or in-service meeting, see how many times your boss discusses correct principles.

If your workplace is anything like the company depicted in the Dilbert comics, they you quickly realize that this teaching does not go on as it should. This explains why things don’t go so well, but it also suggests the solution. The answer is simply a return to fundamental truths.

SIMPLE TRUTH

Truth is easy to master. Shakespeare spoke of “simple truth miscall’d simplicity” (Sonnet 66) and my experience confirms this.

Right now I am reading Albert Einstein’s book on relativity. Instead of an alphabet soup of equations resembling an explosion at a printing shop, Einstein explains his special and general theories of relativity with trains, lighting strikes, and with other commonplace things. He creates vivid word-pictures that anyone can understand.

Indeed, his approach reminds me of Jesus Christ’s use of parables. If we understand planting seeds, casting nets, and finding buried treasure, then we can understand how the gospel works. Or general relativity, for that matter.

Along these lines C. S. Lewis, a Christian philosopher, wrote:

“There is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amateur should content himself with the modern books. Thus I have found as a tutor in English Literature that if the average student wants to find out something about Platonism, the very last thing he thinks of doing is to take a translation of Plato off the library shelf and read the Symposium. He would rather read some dreary modern book ten times as long, all about ‘isms’ and influences and only once in twelve pages telling him what Plato actually said.”

“The error is rather an amiable one, for it springs from humility. The student is half afraid to meet one of the great philosophers face to face. He feels himself inadequate and thinks he will not understand him. But if he only knew, the great man, just because of his greatness, is much more intelligible than his modern commentator.”

“The simplest student will be able to understand, if not all, yet a very great deal of what Plato said; but hardly anyone can understand some modern books on Platonism. It has always therefore been one of my main endeavours as a teacher to persuade the young that firsthand knowledge is not only more worth acquiring than secondhand knowledge, but is usually much easier and more delightful to acquire.” (On Reading Old Books)

Understanding correct principles is within the grasp of everyone.

GOVERNING OURSELVES

To begin, the leader must be proactive in understand correct principles and simple truths, and then consistently—and sometimes persistently—teach them. The second part of the equation is “and they govern themselves.” This is where the concepts of empowerment, stewardship, and accountability come in. We think that these ideas are cutting-edge approaches to business administration and organizational behavior, but Joseph Smith pioneered these in the 1840s

This part allows people to shine. Once taught correct principles, the individual can act upon these principles in the specific situations and aspects of their job. Empowerment leads to synergy, which, as Stephen R. Covey explained, is when the whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts (Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, 262-263).

Covey also observed:

“The difference between people who exercise initiative and those who don’t is literally the difference between night and day. I’m not talking about a 25 to 50 percent difference in effectiveness; I’m talking about a 5000-plus percent difference, particularly if they are smart, aware, and sensitive to others.” (ibid, 76)

BOY SCOUT ANALOGY

We see this leadership model in the Boy Scout merit badge program. The scout has the requirements for the ranks, which serve as a guide and a measure of the progress. Additionally, the scout must earn 21 merit badges for the Eagle Scout rank. Some of these merit badges are required, such as first aid and personal finance, but other merit badges are optional.

These optional merit badges allow for personal initiative. For example, some of the merit badges that interested me were astronomy, space exploration, and atomic energy. My brother got the rifle and shotgun merit badge, and the computer merit badge. These just reflect personal taste. Moreover, each merit badge is also a door to a possible career—my brother is now a software engineer—or they can become a new hobby, as astronomy is for me.

But the point is that with the merit badges, we have the correct principles outlined by the rules and bylaws of the Boy Scout program. But then we are allowed to govern ourselves in selecting our own path to the Eagle Scout award. Truth and empowerment, again.

CONCLUSION

Joseph Smith’s approach to leadership brings out the strengths of both the leader and the team. It is the ultimate in empowerment and synergy, which explains why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can function with so many members—13 million members and grown strong.

Joseph Smith And Peacemakers

Joseph Smith, the first prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormons, was a man of peace. Being a victim of prejudice and misunderstanding himself, he had sympathy for the outcast, the loner, and the forgotten. His was a voice of inclusiveness and love:

In 1844, Joseph Smith wrote:

“Jesus said: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.’ [Matthew 5:9.] Wherefore if the nation, a single State, community, or family ought to be grateful for anything, it is peace.”

“Peace, lovely child of heaven!—peace like light from the same great parent, gratifies, animates, and happifies the just and the unjust, and is the very essence of happiness below, and bliss above. … ”

“Animation, virtue, love, contentment, philanthropy, benevolence, compassion, humanity and friendship push life into bliss: and men, a little below the angels, exercising their powers, privileges, and knowledge according to the order, rules, and regulations of revelation, by Jesus Christ, dwell together in unity; and the sweet odor that is wafted by the breath of joy and satisfaction from their righteous communion is like the rich perfume from the consecrated oil that was poured upon the head of Aaron, or like the luscious fragrance that rises from the field of Arabian spices. Yea, more, the voice of the peacemaker—”

“It is like the music of the spheres—
It charms our souls and calms our fears;
It turns the world to Paradise,
And men to pearls of greater price.”
(“Chapter 29: Living with Others in Peace and Harmony,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 339–48.)

This statement reaffirms the importance of being peacemakers. Whichever circles we move in, or whomever we deal with, we need to be civil, friendly, and peaceful. Love is the basis of society and civilization.

Recently this message was reaffirmed by Thomas S. Monson, the sixteenth president of the Church:

“I would encourage members of the Church wherever they may be to show kindness and respect for all people everywhere. The world in which we live is filled with diversity. We can and should demonstrate respect toward those whose beliefs differ from ours.” (Looking Back and Moving Forward)

I grew up in California, which is a melting-pot of cultures. I had friends from about every demographic: black, white, Asian, Mid-eastern, male, female, rich, poor, native-born, immigrant, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu—everything.

One wonders how we could unify so many people with different backgrounds. Part of it has to do with the American Outlook as codified in the Declaration of Independence and reaffirmed in the Bill of Rights:

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” (Declaration of Independence)

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech.”(First Amendment)

Both of these create a philosophical and legal framework for tolerance and respect. Of course we all have our own ideas about religion, but it is understood that in America everyone has a right to believe as they wish.

But behind the legal framework of these founding American documents there is something deeper. It doesn’t come form the law, but from the heart. I think in America we have a sense of love for other people. This is not to say we are perfect (however you choose to define that word), but we do have to admit there is a “special something” in the air that has kept us stable since 1776.

This love for other people is a fundamental ingredient to my faith. Joseph Smith taught:

“Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.” (“Chapter 37: Charity, the Pure Love of Christ,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 327–38.)

I think that is the key. We can live in unity—despite differences—if we love one another.

So what is love? The Book of Mormon, which is book of scripture and is another testament of Jesus Christ, gives a supernal definition of love. The book was translated in 1830, and follows the wording of the King James Version of the Bible. So instead of the common word “love,” it sometimes uses an older word “charity.” The word charity means more than just almsgiving or organizations like the Salvation Army. The word is defined as “the pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47) and is also described as being “everlasting love” (Moroni 8:17), both meaning the kind of “super-delux love” that God has for us.

The Book of Mormon passage is as follows:

“And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” (Moroni 7:45)

So charity, or love, is not just attraction or affection. It is an invigorating power that enlivens all aspects of our lives.

I have seen love build bridges and melt hearts. I recently moved, so I began attending a new congregation. Things were awkward at first. In my area there are a lot of move-ins and movie-outs, so skins are understandably thick. But here and there, as I have spoken in scripture study classes, or talked with people, and attended church-sponsored activities, I have come to be accepted in the ward.

I did have to work at it, yes. But I think this same thing can happen anywhere, and to anyone. If we work at loving others, it will surely come back to us. That is the key to living in unity—commonplace love.

Joseph Smith And Self-Reliance

This Saturday I received training for a new volunteer position in my church. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormons, I now have the responsibility to help members of my congregation to find jobs, to find better jobs, to get job training, or to start home businesses or become self-employed. This calling is sometimes known as the Employment Consultant.

SELF-RELIANCE

As I attended the training meeting (much of what I was taught can be found at the Church’s web-page Provident Living), one word was repeated over and over again: self-reliance.

Bruce R. McConkie, a leader and theologian in the Church, defined self-reliance this way:

“Properly understood and practiced, self-reliance is a desirable saintly virtue … The saints [members of the Church], for instance, should have confidence in their own abilities, efforts, and judgments to make a living, to increase in faith and the attributes of godliness, to work out their salvation, to pass all the tests of this mortal probation.”

“They should know that the Lord has not placed his children in positions beyond their capacities to cope with, that the normal trials and tribulations of life are part of the eternal system. Ordinarily members of the Church should make their own personal decisions, using the agency [free will] the Almighty has given them, without running to their bishops (the leaders of the local congregation) or others for direction.” (Mormon Doctrine, 701)

Self-reliance covers every aspect of Church and the gospel; however, my focus is on employment and provident living.

JOSEPH SMITH AND SELF-RELIANCE

The Church’s emphasis on self-reliance goes back to its beginnings. Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of the Church, grew up in a poor family. He was candid about his family’s situation, but was clear that it was not due to laziness:

“Being in indigent circumstances, [we] were obliged to labor hard for the support of a large family, having nine children. And … it required the exertions of all that were able to render any assistance for the support of the family.” (1832 History. Standardized.)

In an interview with Joseph’s younger brother William, we learn more about their family’s circumstances:

“Well,” said Brother Briggs, “It is said that Joseph and the rest of the family were lazy and indolent.”

“[William Smith replied] We never heard of such a thing until after Joseph told his vision, and not then by our friends. Whenever the neighbors wanted a good day’s work done they knew where they could get a good hand and they were not particular to take any of the other boys before Joseph either.”

“We cleared sixty acres of the heaviest timber I ever saw. We had a good place. We also had on it from twelve to fifteen hundred sugar trees, and to gather the sap and make sugar and molasses from that number of trees was no lazy job. We worked hard to clear our place and the neighbors were a little jealous.”

“If you will figure up how much work it would take to clear sixty acres of heavy timber land, heavier than any here, trees you could not conveniently cut down, you can tell whether we were lazy or not, and Joseph did his share of the work with the rest of the boys.” (William Smith, “Another Testimony,” Deseret Evening News, 20 January 1891)

They were sturdy pioneer stock. The Smith family knew the importance of work. So it is not surprising that Joseph Smith taught the following:

“Let the Saints remember that great things depend on their individual exertion.” (Chapter 23: “How Good and How Pleasant It Is … to Dwell Together in Unity”, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 271–80)

HELPING HANDS

Of course, at times people are in need of help. That is why Joseph Smith also taught:

“Let us realize that we are not to live to ourselves, but to God; by so doing the greatest blessings will rest upon us both in time and in eternity.”

“The greatest temporal [physical] and spiritual blessings which always flow from faithfulness and concerted effort, never attended individual exertion or enterprise. The history of all past ages abundantly attests this fact.” (ibid.)

That is the delicate balance. Sometimes we need to be self-reliant, and sometimes we honestly need a helping hand. That, in part, was what my training was about. I have to help people without smothering them.

A CASE STUDY

A few years ago I was visiting a friend of mine. As we talked, she opened up and mentioned that she was in-between jobs—and she really was: she had quit her previous job and would be starting her new job in a week—and was out of food. I told her that the Church had resources available for her. She should not feel guilty because she was working, and had honestly hit a snag. Later, she visited with our bishop and he took care of her immediate needs.

This is an ideal case. Not only was she self-reliant, she was improving her work situation. But she was just a victim of circumstance and Murphy’s Law. And The Church of Jesus Christ was there for her when she had a legitimate need.

Self-reliance. Self-reliance. Self-reliance. All of my training could be summed up in that one compound word.

CONSTRUCTIVE HELP

As these principles of work and self-reliance were being taught, I thought about the words of Henry David Thoreau, who was, coincidentally, a contemporary of Joseph Smith:

“Be sure that you give the poor the aid they most need … If you give money, spend yourself with it, and do not merely abandon it to them. … ”

“There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root, and it may be that he who bestows the largest amount of time and money on the needy is doing the most by his mode of life to produce that misery which he strives in vain to relieve. … ” (Walden, Ch. 1)

That is a good guide: am I being constructive in my help? Are people becoming self-reliant, and therefore stronger? Or am I aggravating a problem with short-term band-aid solutions? My charge is to help people with long-term solutions. I do this by encouraging self-reliance.

CONCLUSION

That is what makes the Church of Jesus Christ so great—we want people to become better and stronger. I am excited for this calling, and for the chance to help people to better themselves financially. This is one of the practical—and financial—fruits of Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith On The Mission Of John The Baptist

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormons, revere John the Baptist. As Jesus Christ said, John was not only a prophet, but also “much more than a prophet” (Luke 7:26).

WHAT IS A PROPHET?

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ explained that a prophet was essentially a witness of Christ.

“If any person should ask me if I were a prophet, I should not deny it, as that would give me the lie; for, according to John [The Revelator], the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy; therefore, if I profess to be a witness or teacher, and have not the spirit of prophecy, which is the testimony of Jesus, I must be a false witness; but if I be a true teacher and witness, I must possess the spirit of prophecy, and that constitutes a prophet.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 269.)

God has always called prophets to instruct His children. Moses, Joel, Jeremiah—all of these men were sent to teach us about the life and mission of Jesus Christ.

JOHN THE BAPTIST

However, there is one special prophet that we usually overlook. That is John the Baptist. We do not usually think of him as a prophet—partly because he did no miracles like Elijah or Elisha, and partly because we sandwich him in-between Christ’s teenage appearance at the Temple and the three temptations. We quickly mention that he was beheaded at the request of Salomé, and then we drop him off the radar until May 15, 1829, when he appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and gave them the Aaronic Priesthood.

We loose the savor of his mission and greatness. We only see him as a minor character, written out at the end of the first act of a play. As Jesus Christ said, “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist” (Luke 7:28).

Since he did not perform miracles, and spent most of the New Testament in prison before being beheaded, what does this mean, he was “much more than a prophet”?

JOHN’S GREATNESS: THREE REASONS

In 1843, Joseph Smith gave a three-point explanation why John was such an impressive prophet—even the greatest prophet, second to Christ.

He explained:

“I attended [a] meeting at the Temple [on January 29, 1843]. … I stated that there were two questions which had been asked me concerning my subject of the last Sabbath, which I had promised to answer in public, and would improve this opportunity.”

“The question arose from the saying of Jesus—‘Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.’ [Luke 7:28.] How is it that John was considered one of the greatest of prophets? His miracles could not have constituted his greatness. [See John 10:41: ‘John did no miracle.’]”

“First. He was entrusted with a divine mission of preparing the way before the face of the Lord. Whoever had such a trust committed to him before or since? No man.”

“Secondly. He was entrusted with the important mission, and it was required at his hands, to baptize the Son of Man. Whoever had the honor of doing that? Whoever had so great a privilege and glory? Whoever led the Son of God into the waters of baptism, and had the privilege of beholding the Holy Ghost descend in the form of a dove, or rather in the sign of the dove, in witness of that administration? The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a personage, and is in the form of a personage. It does not confine itself to the form of the dove, but in sign of the dove. The Holy Ghost cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence.”

“Thirdly. John, at that time, was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the kingdom there was then on the earth, and holding the keys of power. The Jews had to obey his instructions or be damned, by their own law; and Christ Himself fulfilled all righteousness in becoming obedient to the law which He had given to Moses on the mount, and thereby magnified it and made it honorable, instead of destroying it. The son of Zacharias wrested the keys, the kingdom, the power, the glory from the Jews, by the holy anointing and decree of heaven, and these three reasons constitute him the greatest prophet born of a woman.” (“Chapter 6: The Mission of John the Baptist,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 79–87.)

So John was great because he prepared the way before Christ, baptized Him, and had proper priesthood authority. But his greatness has nothing to do with miracles (like Moses or Elisha), or eloquence like Isaiah, or solid theology like Paul. Christ’s teaching, in essence, turns our assumptions about greatness on their heads. John the Baptist was a servant.

SERVICE

This reminds us of the Psalmist, “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalms 84:10). It is the quiet service that counts. Dallin H. Oaks, an apostle, warned about “property, pride, prominence, [and] power” (“Alternate Voices,” Ensign, May 1989, 27ff). John the Baptist had none of these—he was a hermit in the wilderness living off of locust and wild honey. Yet, he was the greatest prophet.

The key was his service. In a sense, we all need to be the woman who washed Christ’s feet—

“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).

ORDINANCES AND AUTHORITY

The last two points that Joseph Smith highlighted dealt with ordinances and authority. These two questions are hot-button issues for Christianity. Sometimes we get the idea that all we need to do as Christians is to feed the poor. Of course that is an element of Christianity, but there are other issues to Christianity.

Christ fed the hungry, true, but He also submitted to the ordinances of the Gospel. And He also submitted to the Jewish authorized ministers “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe.”(Matthew 23:2-3). Christ also called twelve apostles and groups of seventy elders. Implicit with this is church organization. Christ endorsed organized religion.

I also appreciate the point that “John did no miracle.” We look back at Moses, Elijah, or Elisha, and we get the idea that to be great, a prophet must do mighty miracles. Being a prophet is more than calling fire from heaven, smiting people, or such things. We get distracted by the spiritual razzle-dazzle.

Jesus points out that one can be great without doing the things we usually call greatness:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8)

TRUE GREATNESS: CHILDREN

In another situation, the disciples were debating who was the greatest among their group. Jesus Christ explained:

“And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.” (Matthew 18:1-5)

In Christ’s eyes, who is the greatest? Those who are humble as children, and those that receive children. In other words, garden-variety parents.

MEEKNESS

Howard W. Hunter, the fourteenth president of the Church of Jesus Christ, said this about the meek:

“In a world too preoccupied with winning through intimidation and seeking to be number one, no large crowd of folk is standing in line to buy books that call for mere meekness. But the meek shall inherit the earth, a pretty impressive corporate takeover—and done without intimidation!”

“Sooner or later, and we pray sooner than later, everyone will acknowledge that Christ’s way is not only the right way, but ultimately the only way to hope and joy. Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that gentleness is better than brutality, that kindness is greater than coercion, that the soft voice turneth away wrath. In the end, and sooner than that whenever possible, we must be more like him. ‘To those who fall, how kind thou art!/How good to those who seek!’” (Howard W. Hunter, “‘Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee’,” Ensign, May 1993, 63.)

CONCLUSION

That hits me in the heart. We aspire to greatness, but what does that exactly mean? Christ shows us that we can be great in small ways. John played second-fiddle to Christ, but so do we all. First-, second-, or third-fiddles—it’s all irrelevant, so long as we play our part well.

John said of Christ and himself, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). We should have the same outlook. The key issue is not our perceptions of so-called greatness, but increasing Christ.

This is the point of John the Baptist’s mission: true greatness is really true meekness.

The Wagon-Wheel Of Life

Life can be circular at times. Sometimes we are up. Other times we are down. And sometimes it feels like we are just merely going in circles.

I believe this—not only from personal experience, but also from my religion. Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (known as the Mormons) said that our lives are indeed like a wheel.

Oliver B. Huntington remembered Joseph Smith’s statement this way:

“‘Every man will fail sometime. Be charitable and liberal with your substance, for it is only a secondary consideration. You may do good to some one who is down today and who will rise and be on top of the wheel when you are down, for every man will fail some time.’”

“He [Joseph Smith] said that he would compare our existence to a wheel that was forever revolving—we are on the outside of the wheel, and some times we are on the top and some times on the downside.” (They Knew The Prophet, 69-70)

This has become very apparent to me in recent weeks. This Easter Sunday my grandfather passed away. It was no surprise, since he was in his 90s, but actually hearing the news stirred up emotions. Ralph Waldo Hunter was preceded in death by my grandmother Mavis Claire Poulton, and by two of my uncles, Dale and Samuel. So he is not alone. But I still grieve.

Of course, this means that I am on the bottom of life’s wheel.

So how do I reach to the upside of the wheel? And where do I draw my faith? Simple: Jesus Christ. He is the great Atoner,“the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25).

Thomas S. Monson, the current president of the Church, reaffirmed Christ’s atonement with these words:

My brothers and sisters, we laugh, we cry, we work, we play, we love, we live. And then we die. Death is our universal heritage. All must pass its portals. Death claims the aged, the weary and worn. It visits the youth in the bloom of hope and the glory of expectation. Nor are little children kept beyond its grasp. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “It is appointed unto men once to die.”

And dead we would remain but for one Man and His mission, even Jesus of Nazareth. Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, His birth fulfilled the inspired pronouncements of many prophets. He was taught from on high. He provided the life, the light, and the way. Multitudes followed Him. Children adored Him. The haughty rejected Him. He spoke in parables. He taught by example. He lived a perfect life.

Though the King of kings and Lord of lords had come, He was accorded by some the greeting given to an enemy, a traitor. There followed a mockery which some called a trial. Cries of “crucify him, crucify him” filled the air. Then commenced the climb to Calvary’s hill.

He was ridiculed, reviled, mocked, jeered, and nailed to a cross amidst shouts of “Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” “He saved others; himself he cannot save.” His response: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” “Into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” His body was placed by loving hands in a sepulchre hewn of stone.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, along with others, came to the sepulchre. To their astonishment, the body of their Lord was gone. Luke records that two men in shining garments stood by them and said: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.” …

With all my heart and the fervency of my soul, I lift up my voice in testimony as a special witness and declare that God does live. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; He is our Mediator with the Father. He it was who died on the cross to atone for our sins. He became the firstfruits of the Resurrection. Because He died, all shall live again. “Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!’ ” May the whole world know it and live by that knowledge, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior, amen.

(Thomas S. Monson, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives!,” Ensign, May 2007, 22–25.)

There are also other things I turn to for strength. One is the temple. Although my grandparents eloped, they were later married in the Salt Lake Temple.

When Latter-day Saints marry, it is not “till death do you part” or “for long as your love shall last,” but “for time and all eternity.” After all, our baptism is something eternal—it being the gateway to heaven. Likewise, our marriages and families must also be eternal.

I also rely on the members of my Church. Of course, living in Utah that is about 75% of everyone here. Yet I can honestly say that everyone has been supportive of me. From kind words to adjusting work schedules so that I could make the pilgrimage to Oakley, Idaho for the funeral, they all have been kind. I am truly grateful.

However, there is one tragicomic sidenote. Joseph Smith spoke of the wheel of life as being antipodal: one person is up while the other is down. But this may not always true, in an over-precise view of things.

For example, this past Sunday I visited a member of my ward (or congregation) as part of a home teaching assignment. Earlier last week he had caught the flu, became dehydrated, and then passed out and slipped while in the shower. He was taken to the ER, and then later had surgery where they placed pins in his ankle. As we visited him, his left leg was bundled in beige wrappings, and kept cool by an ice pack. And all this while being newly married and enrolled in school.

So what do we do when both spokes are on the downside? I had a death in the family and he had this stunning reaffirmation of Murphy’s Law. Where do we get the power to help each other out?

I believe that it is in these types of situations that Christ’s Atonement shines. Christ is able to make up the difference, lifting us both up. The scriptures record that “He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth” (D&C 88:6). Christ rode the wagon-wheel of life all the way around, and in a bigger orbit than we do. Thus the experience of atoning has, in the words of a Latter-day apostle Neal A. Maxwell, made “Jesus … a fully atoning [and] also a fully comprehending Savior” (Men and Women of Christ, 72-73).

In this meeting with my friend we discussed Jesus Christ. I read the words of Boyd K. Packer, the president of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of the Church, about the overpowering reach of the Atonement:

How the Atonement was wrought we do not know. No mortal watched as evil turned away and hid in shame before the Light of that pure being. All wickedness could not quench that Light. When what was done was done, the ransom had been paid. Both death and hell forsook their claim on all who would repent. Men at last were free. Then every soul who ever lived could choose to touch that Light and be redeemed.

By this infinite sacrifice, “through [this] Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel” (Articles of Faith 1:3). (Who is Jesus Christ?)

I know that Jesus is the Christ and the Resurrection and the Life. That faith of mine has been the one thing I have relied on in the past few days. And I know I can rely upon it always.

Joseph Smith And Easter

This Sunday is Easter. Christians everywhere will pause and reflect upon the central point of their theology: the resurrection and the redemption of Jesus Christ.

In this spirit, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church) issued an Easter message. In it, they reaffirm the basics of Christ’s mission and atoning sacrifice. It is proper that they should do this. As the supreme governing body of the Church, it is their responsibility to set the tone for the season and for worship services this Sunday.

Here is their message:

“Every thoughtful person has asked himself that question best asked by Job of old: ‘If a man die, shall he live again?’ (Job 14:14). Try as we may to put the question out of our thoughts, it always returns. Death comes to all mankind. It comes to the aged as they walk on faltering feet. Its call is heard by those who have scarcely reached midway in life’s journey, and often it hushes the laughter of little children.”

“Job’s question was answered on that first Easter, when, very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came unto the sepulcher. To their astonishment, the body of their Lord was gone. Luke records that two men in shining garments stood by them and said: ‘Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen…’ (Luke 24:1, 5—6).”

“We solemnly testify that God lives. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; He is our mediator with the Father. He it was who died on the cross to atone for our sins. He became the firstfruits of the resurrection. Because of His glorious resurrection all mankind will live again. ‘Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives!’ (Hymns, no. 136).”

The First Presidency
Thomas S. Monson
Henry B. Eyring
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
(Source: Deseret News)

I appreciate this seasonal reminder. Although it is not as commercial as Christmas, Easter, too, can be a time of distractions. We focus on new Sunday clothes, egg-shaped junk food, pseudo-grass, plush rabbits, and so forth. Even the concern about not commercializing a sacred day can also be a distraction. I hope we do not get to the point where we define Easter as the time of year where we worry about commercialization.

Yes, Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. This month the Ensign, the official magazine of the Church, has been exclusively on the life and mission of Jesus Christ. This reinforces what members of the Church have been taught all along.

The fourteenth prophet of the Church, Howard W. Hunter, said:

“The doctrine of the Resurrection is the single most fundamental and crucial doctrine in the Christian religion. It cannot be overemphasized, nor can it be disregarded.”

“Without the Resurrection, the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a litany of wise sayings and seemingly unexplainable miracles—but sayings and miracles with no ultimate triumph.”

“No, the ultimate triumph is in the ultimate miracle: for the first time in the history of mankind, one who was dead raised himself into living immortality. He was the Son of God, the Son of our immortal Father in Heaven, and his triumph over physical and spiritual death is the good news every Christian tongue should speak.”(Howard W. Hunter, “An Apostle’s Witness of the Resurrection,” Ensign, May 1986, 15.)

And Bruce R. McConkie, an apostle in the Church, succinctly stated, “As far as man is concerned, all things center in Christ.” (Mormon Doctrine, 129).

It does not get plainer than that. I appreciate how the leaders of my church make our Christianity so obvious. You can never overemphasize the fundamentals, be it in reading, writing, or religion. Once Christ is in place, everything else then falls into its proper place.

That is why the Church has emphasized using the correct name of the Church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It reminds us of our theological center.

In fact, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been a Christian church since before day one. Ten years before the Church was organized, Joseph Smith had his first experience with Christ and with forgiveness.

He wrote:

“Thus from the age of twelve years to fifteen I pondered many things in my heart concerning the situation of the world, of mankind, the contentions and divisions, the wickedness and abominations, and the darkness which pervaded the of the minds of mankind. My mind became exceedingly distressed for I became convicted of my sins.”

“I cried unto the Lord for mercy for there was none else to whom I could go and to obtain mercy. And the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness, and while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord (in the 16th year of my age), a pillar of fire light above the brightness of the sun at noon day come down from above and rested upon me. And I was filled with the spirit of God, and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord.”

“And he spake unto me saying, ‘Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee. Go thy way, walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments. Behold, I am the Lord of glory. I was crucified for the world, that all those who believe on my name may have eternal life.’” (1832 History. Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 10-11. Standardized.)

We now call this event the First Vision. Not only was it an affirmation of God’s existence, but also an affirmation of God’s power. Christ’s Atonement can change people’s lives for the better. Joseph Smith became what he was because of his relationship to Christ and his reliance upon the Atonement.

In a sense, the First Vision was also a first Easter for Joseph Smith. Like the women at the tomb and the early apostles, he saw the risen Lord.

But it also goes deeper than that. It was only after having this vision in spring 1820 that Joseph Smith understood Christ in the full and complete sense. Christ ceased being a shadowy and disinterested figure from the Bible, and finally became a living reality, and a source of personal inspiration and power.

I too have felt this power in my life. We work to discipline our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. Personal effort is effective, but it is not enough. There needs to be some extra power that nudges us along in our righteous goals. This is God’s power, the Atonement. It is what makes bad men good, good men better, and better men perfect.

Behind all the things we do—having large families, abstaining from both coffee and premarital relations, genealogy and other good works—is Jesus Christ’s Atonement. It is what brings purpose and sanity to our endeavors.

One of my favorite quotes from Josephs Smith is his “in a nutshell” summary of the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”

“But in connection with these, we believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost, the power of faith, the enjoyment of the spiritual gifts according to the will of God, the restoration of the house of Israel, and the final triumph of truth.” (“Chapter 3: Jesus Christ, the Divine Redeemer of the World,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 45–56)

All things are an appendage to the Atonement. This means that I must be an appendage to the Atonement. This sounds weird at first blush, but in practice it is not.

Paul, in the New Testament, explained the idea this way:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

“Christ liveth in me.” I must become an instrument in the hands, the pierced hands, of Jesus Christ. Only then does my life have any meaning.

This scripture inspires me to be more and more like Jesus Christ. Hopefully, I can say like Paul that I’m not doing such and such, but it is Christ in me that is doing these good things. I think that is a worthy goal for all.

Joseph Smith and Ecology

One of the most stunning visuals in the film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was the scene of the ents attacking the stronghold of Isengard. Seeing this army of living oak, rowan, and beech trees chucking rocks at the tower and smashing the orcs was a hoot.

Of course this scene reminds us of Macbeth where the soldiers camouflage themselves and attack Dunsinane Castle. As they approach the stronghold, it looks as if Birnam Forest itself is alive and menacing. In his fantasy Tolkien seems to say, “Instead of humans disguising themselves as trees and attacking the castle, why not have real trees instead?”

There is a not-so-subtle environmental message here. Tolkien was clear on this matter:

“I am a hobbit myself, except for my size, of course. I love gardens, trees and farmland without machines on it. I like to smoke a pipe and eat home-style cooking; I go to bed late and get up late. I don’t travel much.” (Letters, 288.)

EARTH AND MAN

This raises a question, “What should our relationship be with the earth?” On one hand, the Industrial Age has brought unprecedented prosperity, and has raised the standard of living beyond what our great-grandparents could have possibly imagined. Think of the increase of longevity, the decrease in infant mortality, and such commonplace things as the microwave oven, cell phones, or the large things, such as MRIs, pharmaceuticals, and space shuttles.

After all, who of us has not benefited from a handy GPS or an ATM? And if you are reading this right now, you are giving tacit consent to the Internet, microchips, and computer algorithms.

On the other hand, we have serious environmental questions. For example, radiation therapy produces radioactive waste. This waste demands care in handling, storage and disposal. If you rush to the hospital in a Life Flight helicopter, then you should also know that choppers are notorious gas-guzzlers. There has been a lot of talk about carbon footprints. And before any building project is done, there must be an environmental impact study.

So industry has wrought untold benefits, but at a cost. Do we pollute the planet, and thereby undermine our own prosperity? But reverting back to nomadic hunter-gatherers also has a cost—a human cost. What happens to the standard of living and such things as dentistry, infant mortality, and the higher things of civilization, such as culture and scientific progress?

There is a reason why cavemen had such a short life expectancy, and never built things like the Mars Rover or the Hoover Dam. For example, they knew that mold was bad, and you could eat it in certain cheeses but other times it was unhealthy. However, they never realized that mold could become penicillin. And given a choice between brie or antibiotics, I’d choose the second.

So there are benefits and costs to both sides of the question. We should rephrase the question to be “How do we manage both industry and ecology?”

I appreciate Joseph Smith’s insights to this dilemma. As the first prophet of the Mormon Church, he had specific teachings relating to industry and ecology.

ATONEMENT

To begin, Joseph Smith was a religious leader and a witness of Christ. Everything he did or said resolves itself back to Christ. In summing up Mormonism, he said:

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” (“Chapter 3: Jesus Christ, the Divine Redeemer of the World,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 45–56)

There is no mystery about Mormonism, just the majesty of Christ’s Atonement. The point of the Atonement is to save people in this life and in the next life. It undergirds all environmental questions.

ENVIRONMENT

Joseph Smith received a revelation from God that described creation as a gift to humanity:

“Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;”

“Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;”

“Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;”

“Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.”

“And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.”

“And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.”

“Behold, this is according to the law and the prophets; wherefore, trouble me no more concerning this matter.” (D&C 59:16-22)

This is a rather detailed statement about the interrelationship between humanity and ecology. The Lord says that nature is a gift and that “all things which come of the earth … are made for the benefit and the use of man.” To paraphrase the Savior, the environment was made for man; man was not made for the environment.

Thus there is hierarchy in the biosphere. We use the environment and natural resources to further the mission of the church. We preserve temporal life in order to preserve spiritual life. We also use the creature comforts and labor-saving devices to spread the message of Christ. Try hand-copying a Bible, and you see my point. The time saved by printing a Bible can be used in other areas.

The revelation, however, has this proviso: the blessings of nature must be “be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.” The Lord reminds us that we do not have a free-for-all. We do not approach environmental management like a pie-eating contest. This is the “not by excess” clause.

The word “extortion” here means “plunder” or “greediness” (cf. Matthew 23:25). Hugh W. Nibley observed that “the literal meaning of the word ‘is to squeeze the last drop out of a thing.’” (Approaching Zion, 193). We are not to wring nature dry. This reminds us of the commandment about not harvesting the corners of a field to allow the poor, like Ruth, to glean the field (Leviticus 19:9).

Gordon B. Hinckley, the fifteenth president of the Mormon Church said this:

“As I walk about my little cluster of trees, my feet on the fruitful earth, there wanders through my mind the words of the seventh chapter of Revelation (verses 2­3) interpreted by Joseph Smith in section 77 of the Doctrine and Covenants: “And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried . . . saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Even without reference to the theological meanings of this declaration, I like the injunction: ‘Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees.’

“I look up to the stars and sense in some small degree the majesty and wonder and magnitude of the universe, the awesome greatness of its Creator and Governor, and the implications of my own place as a child of God.” (A Wonderful Summer)

To sum up, we should not feel guilty about industrialization, so long as it is done with common-sense, wisdom, and care for the environment.

INDUSTRIALIZATION

Born in 1805, and living in the 1830s and 1840s, Joseph Smith in general approved of the Industrial Age.

In a letter to his wife Emma, Joseph Smith talked about his first trip to New York City. Joseph Smith was overawed by what he saw:

“This day I have been walking through the most splendid part of the City of New York. The buildings are truly great and wonderful to the astonishing of every beholder.”

“And the language of my heart is like this: Can the great God of all the Earth maker of all things magnificent and splendid be displeased with man for all these great inventions sought out by them? My answer is no, it can not be, seeing these works are calculated to make men comfortable wise and happy.” (Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 277ff. Standardized)

Again, Joseph Smith reaffirms that progress is good because it benefits humanity. In fact, Joseph Smith used many of the spin-offs of industrialization to accomplish his work, the foremost being the printing press.

Imagine what would happen if we did not have the printing press. The scriptures would be a rare commodity. Consequently, we would not know the mind of God. Obedience and righteousness would be haphazard. This would hinder God’s work.

In the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Jesus Christ like the Bible, there was a group of people who did not have written scriptures. Over time, they lost their spiritual inheritance:

“They had brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their Creator.” (Omni 1:17)

So one of the blessing of the Industrial Age was that it facilitated the information explosion. An essential part of that was the publication of the scriptures. As Isaiah prophesied:

“For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9)

Later on, other aspects of technology and progress were used to further the Lord’s work: plains, trains, automobiles, telegraphs, telephones, telefax, and Internet. We are all better believers and more righteous because of the Industrial Age.

CONCLUSION

Gordon B. Hinckley once observed:

“There is no music like the music of industry.” (“Nauvoo Symposium Held at Brigham Young University,” Ensign, Nov. 1989, 109–11)

Joseph Smith taught that we need to have both industry and ecology, each of which are assets to the Atonement of Christ. So Joseph Smith would disagree with Tolkien’s position. The key is wise stewardship, since both sides have valid points.

Then again, Tolkien was more of a folksy old man in the sunset of life than a Luddite. Think of all the technology used to publish his books and to make the films.

Rest And Relaxation

William Moore Allred had this charming recollection about Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the Mormon Church:

“[Joseph Smith] said it tried some of the pious folks to see him play ball with the boys. He then related a story of a certain prophet who was sitting under the shade of a tree amusing himself in some way, when a hunter came along with his bow and arrow, and reproved him. The prophet asked him if he kept his bow strung up all the time. The hunter answered that he did not. The prophet asked why, and he said it would lose its elasticity if he did. The prophet said it was just so with his mind, he did not want it strung up all the time.” (Encyclopedia of Joseph Smith’s Teachings, 395)

In our age of over-programming, this is a needed reminder. All too often we try to wedge more and more into the crannies of our schedule. Of course we want to make the most of every day, but we can go overboard. Our time management permutates into time micromanagement. And, as the Law of Diminishing Returns reminds us, the more we try to micromanage our time, the less effective our efforts become.

Indeed, Aristotle said that a well-rounded life includes relaxation as well as activity (Ethics IV.8). We forget that we are both spiritual and temporal beings (D&C 29:35). This temporal aspect requires maintenance, just as much as our spiritual sides need attention. Even God Himself rested after the days of creation, something which workaholics seem to forget.

The same need for rest and relaxation applies to families as well. In 1995 the Mormon Church issued a declaration called “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” This document contains both doctrine and counsel on how to overpower the corrosions that are eating at the family.

One paragraph contains this sentence:

“Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”

We all understand the importance of faith, prayer, compassion, and so forth, in rearing families, but wholesome recreation activities? And that listed right after a reaffirmation of the gospel of work?

As I see it, this is not just another platitude about “taking time to smell the roses.” The roots run deeper. As I mentioned earlier, rest, or to be true to the Hebrew, cessation is a divine activity. Our present-day work week is based upon God’s creative week: six days on, one day off. The weekdays are used for our “day jobs.” Saturday is a special day where we take care of odd jobs around the house, and we use it to prepare for the new week. Sunday is a holy day, set apart from the commonplace days. On that day we are to offer our “oblations and [our] sacraments unto the Most High, confessing [our] sins unto [our] brethren, and before the Lord.” (D&C 59:12)

But never forget that rest is a divine activity. God preformed specific tasks on each of the days of creation, culminating with the creation of Adam and Eve. Then He rested. This rest was as much a part of creation as were the six other days. Of course I am not implying that God needed rest in the way we do. But He clearly stopped working for some reason. It is imperative that we follow this pattern in our lives, even if we do not fully understand the whys and wherefores.

We need to rest because we have to make room in our schedules for God. Sunday allows for proper worship. Instead of focusing on our bills to merchants, we can focus on the debt of the Atonement. This great sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which is the hinge of all history, should also be the hinge of our own personal histories and life plans. Recreation, in effect, allows us to get our bearings, to jump out of our intellectual and behavioral ruts, and to switch focus from our daily anxieties to the peaceable things of eternity. Once we are refocused, we in turn become reinvigorated for the upcoming battle next week.

Gordon B. Hinckley, the fifteenth president of the Mormon Church shared this story about how his father engaged in rest and relaxation:

“Will you pardon me if I tell you about my father? When he was about the age that I am now [87 years], he was fully retired. But he was active. He lived in a rather simple but comfortable home in a rural area. He had an orchard around him and enjoyed giving away the fruit. The yard of his home included lawns and shrubs and trees. It had a rock wall about two feet high separating one level from another. Whenever the weather was good he would sit on the wall, an old hat on his head to shade his eyes from the summer sun. …”

“I discovered that when he sat on the wall, hours at a time on a warm day, he would reflect on the things he had read from his library.”

“I think he grew old gracefully and wonderfully. He had his books with the precious treasures they contained of the thoughts of great men and women of all the ages of time. He never ceased to learn. As he sat on the wall he thought deeply of what he had read the night before. He acquired the habit as a student here under Dr. Maeser. It was part of his BYU experience.”

“At times I almost envy him: time to read and time to ponder. What a blessing. He reminded me of leaves on the trees. When autumn comes with killing frost, the leaves change their color, and they give off a new beauty until they eventually drop to form a carpet on the ground.”

“Now, you are young, and why am I telling you of an old man and the wall on which he sat? I am telling you because I think it has a lesson for each of us. We must never cease to learn. We believe in eternal progression and that this life is a part of eternity to be profitably lived until the very end.” (The BYU Experience)

In addition to learning, we also need to take time to rest. We set down our tools, shut off the computers and other gizmos, retire to our rooms, and pray. We need to make time for unstringing the bow. We need time for God.

What Does “Mormon” Mean, Anyways?

Mormon.

What an unusual word. It sounds rather mysterious, like a word from a Harry Potter spell, or the name of some character from Star Wars.

Mormon.

But what does it mean?

First of all, most people associate it with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They use it as a nickname for the church. As Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the Mormon Church, explained in a letter:

“The name Mormon, and Mormonism, was given to us by our enemies, but Latter-day Saints was the real name by which the church was organized.” (Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 458. Standardized.)

Part of the reason this happened is that the correct name of the church is cumbersome. It is more like a tongue-twister than a name. So the short name sticks.

In some ways this is helpful, since by using a shorter name, we can communicate quicker. On the other hand, this causes problems. First, we use this mysterious-sounding word instead of the proper name. We are not publishing the fact that this denomination is a Christian denomination. And that is tragic.

Second, to the English-speaking ear, it sounds unusual. Do members of this denomination worship a being named “Morm”? And is this being like Gozer the Gozarian from Ghostbusters? Or like H. P. Lovecraft’s demiurge Cthulhu? The word has a specific denotation, but its various connotations can be fertile ground for a runaway imagination.

So where does this word come from?

One the surface, it comes from the title of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Mormons consider this to be a book of scripture that supplements (not supplants) the Bible.

The title page explains the point of the book:

THE BOOK OF MORMON

AN ACCOUNT WRITTEN BY THE HAND OF MORMON UPON PLATES TAKEN FROM THE PLATES OF NEPHI

Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.

An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment–seat of Christ.

That is the sum and substance of the book: “to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD.” The capitals are in the original, so as not to miss the fact of Christ in the book.

And the book has nothing to do with Dungeons and Dragons, and Mormon is not a Dr. Seuss nonsense word.

So it is called the Book of Mormon. Mormon was the name of an ancient prophet who lived in the Americas. He was the principle compiler and editor of this history book, so it bears his name.

In the book, the prophet Mormon explains himself this way:

And behold, I am called Mormon, being called after the land of Mormon, the land in which Alma did establish the church among the people, yea, the first church which was established among them after their transgression.

Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.

And it hath become expedient that I, according to the will of God, that the prayers of those who have gone hence, who were the holy ones, should be fulfilled according to their faith, should make a record of these things which have been done—

Yea, a small record of that which hath taken place from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem, even down until the present time.

Therefore I do make my record from the accounts which have been given by those who were before me, until the commencement of my day;

And then I do make a record of the things which I have seen with mine own eyes. (3 Nephi 5:12-17)

So the word Mormon is really just a name. Of course it sounds unusual to our ear because it is a foreign word. But imagine if you had H. G. Wells’s time machine, and went to the past. I imagine people would snicker at our names the same way we would laugh at Hammurabi’s, Xerxes’s, or the pharaoh Qa’a’s name.

As Mormon explains, he was “called after the land of Mormon.” This is not unusual; look at my name: Kendal Hunter. Hunter is obvious, since it comes from a profession. Kendal, however, is the homeland of some of my English ancestors. Pay close attention—my name has one “l,” exactly as the city’s name is spelled. I also have a niece named Jamayka. So it runs in the family.

This Land of Mormon was the setting for a wonderful event. The ancient exiled saints were gathered in hiding in this place. There, the prophet Alma called the group together and then preached to them.

Here is the full narrative:

And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.

And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.

And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.

And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit.

And again, Alma took another, and went forth a second time into the water, and baptized him according to the first, only he did not bury himself again in the water.

And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four souls; yea, and they were baptized in the waters of Mormon, and were filled with the grace of God. (Mosiah 18:8-16)

The Land of Mormon was sacred ground. It was a place of consecration, covenant, and atonement. The prophet Mormon, in an editorial paean, explains:

And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever. (Mosiah 18:30)

These ancient believers looked at the Land of Mormon the same way we look at the Holy Land, Jerusalem, or the place where we proposed to our spouses. We could never forget them.

Our story would stop there, but for one editorial letter written by Joseph Smith. Just like today, there was confusion about the word “Mormon” in the 1800s. Since some things never change, here is what Joseph Smith wrote:

Through the medium of your paper I wish to correct an error among men that profess to be learned, liberal and wise; and I do it the more cheerfully because I hope sober-thinking and sound-reasoning people will sooner listen to the voice of truth than be led astray by the vain pretensions of the self-wise.

The error I speak of is the definition of the word “Mormon.” It has been stated that this word was derived from the Greek word mormo. This is not the case. There was no Greek or Latin upon the plates from which I, through the grace of the Lord, translated the Book of Mormon. Let the language of the book speak for itself.

On the 523rd page of the fourth edition, it reads: “And now, behold we have written this record according to our knowledge in the characters which are called among us the Reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech; and if our plates had been sufficiently large, we should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record. But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and also that none other people knoweth our language; therefore He hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof.” (Mormon 9:32-34)

Here, then, the subject is put to silence; for “none other people knoweth our language;” therefore the Lord, and not man, had to interpret, after the people were all dead. And, as Paul said, “The world by wisdom know not God;” so the world by speculation are destitute of revelation; and as God in His superior wisdom has always given His Saints, wherever he had any on the earth, the same spirit, and that spirit, as John says, is the true spirit of prophecy, which is the testimony of Jesus. I may safely say that the word “Mormon” stands independent of the wisdom and learning of this generation.

Before I give a definition, however, to the word, let me say that the Bible in its widest sense, means good; for the Savior says according to the gospel of John, “I am the good shepherd;” and it will not be beyond the common use of terms, to say that good is among the most important in use, and though known by various names in different languages, still its meaning is the same, and is ever in opposition to “bad.” We say from the Saxon, “good”; the Dane, “god”; the Goth, “goda”; the German, “gut”; the Dutch, “goed”; the Latin, “bonus”; the Greek, “kalos”; the Hebrew, “tob”; and the “Egyptian, “mon.” Hence, with the addition of “more,” or the contraction, “mor,” we have the word “mormon”; which means, literally, “more good.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 299-300)

Thus “Mormon” means “more good.” That is the golden thread which links all of the senses and shades of the word: a book of scripture, a prophet, and a place of covenant. Each of these things brought about more good.

The Book of Mormon brought about more good by testifying of Christ. The prophet Mormon brought about more good by compiling this additional witness of Jesus Christ. And the Land of Mormon was a place where a body of believers sought sanctuary and sanctification by being baptized. They came to Christ.

So all of these were good. And they lived up to their name. And behind the word “Mormon” is the name of Jesus Christ, the Author of all that is good.

Gordon B. Hinckley, the fifteenth president of the Mormon Church said this:

The Mormon Church, of course, is a nickname. And nicknames have a way of becoming fixed. I think of the verse concerning a boy and his name:

Father calls me William,
Sister calls me Will,
Mother calls me Willie,
But the fellers call me Bill.
(“Jest ’Fore Christmas.”)

I suppose that regardless of our efforts, we may never convert the world to general use of the full and correct name of the Church. Because of the shortness of the word Mormon and the ease with which it is spoken and written, they will continue to call us the Mormons, the Mormon church, and so forth.

They could do worse. More than fifty years ago, when I was a missionary in England, I said to one of my associates, “How can we get people, including our own members, to speak of the Church by its proper name?”

He replied, “You can’t. The word Mormon is too deeply ingrained and too easy to say.” He went on, “I’ve quit trying. While I’m thankful for the privilege of being a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Church which bears His name, I am not ashamed of the nickname Mormon.”

“Look,” he went on to say, “if there is any name that is totally honorable in its derivation, it is the name Mormon. And so, when someone asks me about it and what it means, I quietly say—‘Mormon means more good.’ ” …

His statement intrigued me—Mormon means “more good.” I knew, of course, that “more good” was not a derivative of the word Mormon. I had studied both Latin and Greek, and I knew that English is derived in some measure from those two languages and that the words more good are not a cognate of the word Mormon. But his was a positive attitude based on an interesting perception. And, as we all know, our lives are guided in large measure by our perceptions. Ever since, when I have seen the word Mormon used in the media to describe us—in a newspaper or a magazine or book or whatever—there flashes into my mind his statement, which has become my motto: Mormon means “more good.”

We may not be able to change the nickname, but we can make it shine with added luster. (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Mormon Should Mean ‘More Good’,” Ensign, Nov 1990, 51)

That is our goal—to add luster to this nickname. For us, Mormon must always mean “more good.”

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