4/18/2017 - Section 17:1-9

April 18, 2017

Section 17:1-9

Desire Importance Of, Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail Against You, Three Witnesses, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, Testimony, Holy Ghost Power Of,  Hope Faith Belief Work,

In the History of the Church, 1:52-53, Joseph describes what happened during the translation process after they “ascertained that three special witnesses [D&C 5:11-15: And in addition to your testimony, the testimony of three of my servants, whom I shall call and ordain, unto whom I will show these things, and they shall go forth with my words that are given through you.    Yea, they shall know of a surety that these things are true, for from heaven will I declare it unto them.   I will give them power that they may behold and view these things as they are…] were to be provided by the Lord.  “Almost immediately after we had made this discovery, it occurred to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and the aforementioned Martin Harris (who had come to inquire after our progress in the work) that they would have me inquire of the Lord to know if they might not obtain of him the privilege to be these three special witnesses…”

The scriptures speak so often of the importance of our desire. These three men, who were already spending significant time and means to help move the work forward –which certainly shows the level of their desire, had an increased desire to do more and to learn more. They didn’t immediately assume that they could be those witnesses, but they did immediately implore Joseph to go to the Lord with this question. Hope, faith and desire all work together to enrich and increase our growth and knowledge and capabilities. I pray that my desires might be in line with what the Lord would want me to do, and that I might have the courage to follow through when I discover that my desires to do more leads me to things more difficult than I had at first imagined.

These three men received the desire of their heart. They saw an angel and heard his testimony and council, they saw the golden plates, and they heard the Lord’s voice in testimony regarding the truth of these things.

V 4 says that one of the blessings the three witnesses would provide would be that Joseph Smith would be preserved by their testimony. Lucy Mack Smith wrote of that afternoon: “When they returned to the house it was between three and four o’clock p.m. Mrs. Whitmer, Mr. Smith and myself, were sitting in a bedroom at the time. On coming in, Joseph threw himself down beside me, and exclaimed, “Father, mother, you do not know how happy I am: the Lord has now caused the plates to be shown to three more besides myself. They have seen an angel, who has testified to them, and they will have to bear witness to the truth of what I have said, for now they know for themselves, that I do not go about to deceive the people, and I feel as if I was relieved of a burden which was almost too heavy for me to bear, and it rejoices my soul, that I am not any longer to be entirely alone in the world.”

Joseph Fielding Smith writes Doctrines of Salvation 1:44 as he speaks of heavenly manifestations of angels, of tangible resurrected beings, or of Christ himself and states that these things would not convince us, or leave within us, anything more than that “which we receive through a manifestation of the Holy Ghost. Personal visitations might become dim as time goes on, but this guidance of the Holy Ghost is renewed and continued, day after day, year after year, if we live to be worthy of it.” That is my goal…each and every day. I ask the Lord that I may become better each day in recognizing the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and in having the courage and the determination to follow through. Just as a testimony grows stronger with the bearing of it, so does our relation with the Holy Ghost become stronger as we enter-act with Him, listening AND following His suggestions.

P 33 in the student manual gives a further history of the three witnesses:

“Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris never faltered in bearing testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. As history attest, however they did falter in other Church-related areas. David Whitmer left the Church and never came back. Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris both left the Church but were eventually rebaptized and died in full fellowship. Bet even while they were out of the Church, all three continued to bear solemn witness of the reality of their experience on that day. They undoubtedly felt the weight of the Lord’s warning to them to keep his commandments or the gates of hell would prevail against them.

Francis W Kirkham wrote about Oliver Cowdery’s death that “in the year 1878, David Whitmer said to the Elders Orson Pratt and Joseph F Smith concerning his departure: ‘Oliver died the happiest man I ever saw. After shaking hands with the family and kissing his wife and daughter, he said, ‘Now I lay me down for the last time; I am going to my Savior’; and he died immediately, with a smile on his face.’” (New Witness for Christ, 1:248)

The Richmond Democrat carried the following account of David Whitmer: ‘On Sunday evening, at 5:30 (Jan 22, 1988), Mr. Whitmer called his family and some friends to his bedside, and addressing himself to the attending physician, said: ‘Dr. Buchanan, I want you to say whether or not I am in my right mind, before I have my dying testimony.” The doctor answered: ‘Yes, you are in your right mind, for I have just had a conversation with you.’ He then addressed himself to all around his bedside in these words: ‘Now you must all be faithful in Christ. I want to say to you all, the Bible and the record of the Nephites (Book of Mormon) is true, so you can say that you have heard me bear my testimony on my death-bed. All be faithful in Christ, and your reward will be according to your works. God bless you all. My trust in in Christ forever, worlds without end. Amen.’” (In Jenson, Biographical Encyclopedia 1:270)

The last testimony of Martin Harris was give to Elder William Harrison Homer, who was with him at the time of his death. Elder Homer recorded: ‘The next day, July 10, 1875, marked the end. It was in the evening. It was milking time, and Martin Harris, Jr., and his wife, Nancy Homer Harris, had gone out to milk and to do the evening’s chores. In the house with the stricken man were left my mother, Eliza Williamson Homer, and myself, who had had so interesting a day with Martin Harris at Kirtland. I stood by the bedside holding the patient’s right hand and my mother at the foot of the bed, Martin Harris had been unconscious for a number of days. When we first entered the room the old gentleman appeared to be sleeping. He soon work up and asked for a drink of water.  Put my arm under the old gentleman, raised him, and my mother held the glass to his lips. He drank freely, then he looked up at me and recognized me. He said, ‘I know you. You are my friend.” He said, ‘Yes, I did see the plates on which the Book of Mormon was written; I did see the angel; I did hear the voice of God; and I do know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God, Holding the keys of the Holy Priesthood.’ This was the end. Martin Harries, divinely-chosen witness of the work of God, relaxed, gave up my hand. He lay back on his pillow and just as the sun went down behind the Clarkston mountains, the world of Martin Harris passed on…(signed) William Harrison Home. Signed in the presence of Mrs. WH. Homer, Joseph Homer, Leah Widtsoe, John A Widtsoe.’ (In New Witness for Christ, 1:253-54”

2/17/2021 – D&C 17

“This simple revelation is directed to the individual and at first sight has no permanent value for the Church. Yet as a revelation from God it was preserved and published. An insincere man could have eliminated this and other similar revelations as of little consequence. Not so with Joseph. The Lord had spoken. The words were part of the building of the kingdom of God, and the same advice would be useful to many men then and now.” (Joseph Smith, pp. 251–52.)

The synopsis of this section tells us that it was during the translation of the gold plates, Joseph and Oliver learned that three special witnesses would be designated. (Ether 5:2-4, 2 Nephi 11:3 & 2 Nephi 27:12)—and that “Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Matin Harris, moved upon by an inspired desire to be the three special witnesses. The Prophet inquired of the Lord, and this revelation was given in answer…”

When I read this, I thought back to our time living on Imperial Way in Provo. I was working for Alpine Home Health as a supervisor of the nurses and the physical and occupational therapists. I kept thinking about how good it would be if I could work in the temple. I thought that working there might give me additional insights into the things that are taught. I was going to the temple on a regular basis, but I wanted the chance to gain better understanding about the temple ordinances. This desire became so very strong. I went to my bishop and asked if there was a possibility of my working in the Provo Temple. He set up an appointment for me to talk with the temple president. At that point, I went in I asked Melanie Spackman, my boss and my former neighbor and my former fellow ward member, if it would be possible for me to come in at noon on Mondays, because I wanted to work in the temple. Amazingly, Melanie’s answer was an immediate YES! I’m not sure why she was so willing for me to do this. I thought that possibly because it was common, at the end of our working day, for us to get requests to bring on new patients. I always stayed at work and got the ball rolling for those patients. But it’s also possible that Melanie was just a wonderful boss who wanted us all to happy in our work. 

I did learn so much from my few years of working at the temple. To do the work in initiatory, I had to memorize the words that are used there. Yes, I did learn more about the temple ordinances, but the most important thing is that I FELT more. Everything I did there was a boost to my spiritual strength. One of my assignments there was to be a companion for the women who were coming through the temple for the first time. I would meet them at the door of the temple and stayed with them until it was time for them to dress in their street clothes again and return to their homes. I loved this assignment. I believe I was able to develop greater charity. I was able to listen, to love, and to gently teach. I so enjoyed this wonderful work until my brain tumor made itself known. My recuperation took months, and I found I had to be kinder to my body as far as sleep and intensity of work. When the temple called after about six months and asked if I would be coming back, I felt it wise to tell them that my body wasn’t ready for that.  I write all this now because I, too, was “moved upon by an inspired desire” and the Lord said ‘yes’ (how else could Melanie have given me that time off?)  and it enriched my life even more than I had ever imagined. 

“I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which is you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates…. And it is by your faith that you shall obtain…” (v’s 1-2)

2/18/2021 – D&C 17

I want to linger on this section for a bit. I love the very first verse, for it tells me why I might have had difficulties at time getting an answer to my prayers: “Behold, I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates.” Desire, hope and faith are crucial as I work to learn more about my time and my possibilities here on this earth. 

These three men, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer & Martin Harris were promised great things. The Lord first taught them the importance of faith, and then in in v 3 He tells them of the importance of action: “…after that you have obtained faith, and have seen them with your eyes [the plates, the Urim and Thummim and the sword of Laban], you shall testify of them by the power of God,” As I read that, I thought that the same is true of our individual testimonies—if we share our testimonies, they become stronger. There are times in my life when I have felt that growth of testimony, and there are other times when I have been quiet and keeping to myself, that I have felt what happens to a testimony when it is put to one side for a time of no attention…it begins to fade. 

These 3 men given the privilege of viewing these things, because they longed for, and accepted, the role of witnesses. The struggles that the saints when through in those early days of the church were not easy. The struggles we go through in our time are not easy either. We all handle our struggles differently. But as we look at the lives of these three men, although each of them left the Church at some point, not one of them ever denied his testimony of the Book of Mormon.

I love knowing of the experience of Mary Whitmer, as she was also a witness of the gold plates. Not only did Joseph and Oliver Cowdery move to the Whitmer home, but so did Emma. The Whitmer’s did truly welcome them all into their home. But the reality of it was that Mary and her husband, Peter, had eight children living in that house. These children were between the ages of 15 & 30. Mary’s job of tending to the house with three houseguests added considerably to her daily labors. She had great faith in Joseph and his work, but as the days went on she was becoming more fatigued and worn out. It was a hot summer. When Joseph & Oliver felt fatigue, they would stop the translation and walk down to the pond. Mary was kept busy with the clothes washing, meal prep, and house cleaning, and she was feeling the stress. 

One day, while she was out by the barn where the cows were milked, she saw a gray-haired man with a knapsack slung across his shoulder. He was just suddenly there, and that sudden appearance frightened her, but as he approached, he spoke to her in a kind voice that set her at ease. “My name is Moroni,” he said. “You have become pretty tired with all the extra work you have to do.” He swung the knapsack off his shoulder and Mary watched as he started to untie it. “You have been very faithful and diligent in your labors. It is proper, therefore that you should receive a witness that your faith may be strengthened.” Moroni opened his knapsack and removed the gold plates. He held them in front of her and turned their pages so she could see the writings on them. After he turned the last page, he urged her to be patient and faithful as she carried the extra burden a little longer. He promised she would be blessed for it. Then the old man vanished a moment later, leaving Mary along. She still had work to do, but that no longer troubled her.  [This taken from the Orson Pratt and Joseph F Smith interview with David Whitmer, Sept 7-8, 1878 and it is found in the Joseph F Smith, Papers, Church History Library].

This section also contains the phrase that is found in the other books of scriptures: v 8 “And if you do these last commandments of min, which I have given you, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; for my grace is sufficient for you, and you shall be lifted up at the last day.”  These are the words that my mother read in the Book of Mormon when she was trying to decide whether or not to join the LDS Church.  When she read that phrase, she hear a voice repeating it to her “ the gates of hell shall not prevail against you”. She felt the power of that experience. It was just one of the marvelous helps she was given as she made this decision, which would affect her life, the life of her children, and possibly her marriage, as Chester did not believe there was a God. My mother had her hard and stressful times and she continued on. Thinking of her strength and the gift of the gospel that she placed in my life gives me the strength to go forward through difficult times. I, too, have found that the Lord has been there when I have found myself feeling almost too weary to go on. And at each of those few times, I have been given renewed strength, and have known that it came from the Lord. He watches over us all, and when I follow Him and his commandments, I am at peace.

2/19/2021 – D&C 17

In my readings today I discovered something I had never known. It is a paragraph in the Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845:156-57…this can be found at josephsmithpapers.org. 

 

“After these witnesses returned to the house, the angel again made his appearance to Joseph; at which time Joseph delivered up the plates into his hands.” I knew that the plates had been taken back, but I never knew when or how. I loved reading this!

 Lucy Mack Smith also wrote: “That evening we held a meeting in which all the witnesses bore testimony to the facts as stated above; and all of our family, even to Don Carols [Smith], who was but 14 years of age, testified of the truth of the latter day dispensation—that it was then fully ushered in.”  

The scriptures tell us repeatedly that the more we share our testimony, the more it will grow. I feel that need to find ways to share my testimony more often, for I love the scriptural phrase: “in the strength of the Lord”. In one place in the scriptures it assures us that “in the strength of the Lord, I can do all things.”  I have definitely felt the strength of the Lord at many times during my life—something I am so grateful for. But if I can increase my testimony simply by sharing it, why am I so ready to listen to others, but not contribute? I think I’ll work on correcting this!