5/2/2017 - Section 21:1-2

May 2, 2017

Section 21:1-2

Patience in Growth, Prayers Answered, Seer Definition, Translator Definition, Prophet Definition, Apostle Definition, Elder Definition,

This section was given April 6^th1830 at the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I find it interesting that the first vision was in the spring of 1820, for it shows me the great patience of Joseph Smith. He saw God and Jesus Christ, and was instructed by them. It wasn’t until 10 years later that the Church was finally organized. Joseph had a lot to learn about the gospel –its content and its structure; he had a lot to assimilate; he had a lot to learn about listening and responding to the spirit; he had a lot to learn—and work on—regarding himself. The Lord WAS answering his prayers, but the process had to involve multiple avenues of preparation and learning and developing for Joseph himself. I don’t think this is so different from the ways Heavenly Father answers our prayers.

V1 establishes that Joseph “shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ.” And then v 2 states that he was “inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to build it up unto the most holy faith”. Two things struck me there: 1) to everything there is a growth pattern. The Church was to be built up. It is the same for us…WE are to be built up…hopefully continually built up. 2) This all came about because a ‘seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church” was “inspired of the Holy Ghost”. That, too is the same for us. If we work to be close to Heavenly Father, work to improve ourselves just a little every day, trying always to be aware of promptings and to respond to those promptings—then, with time and patience—amazing things will happen in our lives.

P 44 gives definitions of some key words in this section:

Elder John A Widsoe defined a seer as “one who sees with spiritual eyes. He perceives the meaning of that which seems obscure to others; therefore he is an interpreter and clarifier of eternal truth. He foresees the future from the past and the present. This he does by the power of the Lord operating through him directly, or indirectly with the aid of divine instruments such as the Urim and Thummim. In short, he is one who sees, who walks in the Lord’s light with open eyes.”

Student manual: “Translater: The title ‘translator’ may refer to one who has received two blessings given a prophet by the spirit of God: 1( The power to convert the written or spoken word into another language (See D&C 20:8). 2)The power to give a clearer meaning to a given language.   Through the gift of translation a prophet does not merely convey in the language of the reader the words that were recorded by the writer but by revelation preserves for the reader the thoughts or intent of the original writer.”

Elder Widstoe: “a prophet is a teacher. That is the essential meaning of the word. He teaches the body of truth, the gospel, revealed by the Lord to man; and under inspiration explains it to the understanding of the people. He is an expounder of truth. Moreover, he shows that the way to human happiness is through obedience to God’s law. He calls to repentance those who wander away from the truth. He becomes a warrior for the consummation of the Lord’s purposes with respect to the human family. The purpose of his life is to uphold the Lord’s plan of salvation. All this he does by close communion with the Lord, until he is ‘full of power by the spirit of the lord’ (Micah 3:8; D&C 20:26; 34:10; 42:16)…In the course of time the word ‘prophet’ has come to mean, perhaps chiefly, a man who receives revelations and directions from the Lord. The principal business of a prophet has mistakenly been thought to foretell coming events, to utter prophecies which is only one of the several prophetic functions.    In the sense that a prophet is a man who receives revelations from the Lord, the titles’ seer and revelator’ merely amplify the larger and inclusive meaning of the title ‘prophet.”’ (Evidences and Reconciliations, 1:204:-5

Student manual “ Apostle. An apostle is a special witness of Christ to all the world (D&C107:23)…They are the Twelve Apostles, who are called to the office of the Traveling High Council, who are to preside over the churches of the Saints,….They are to hold the keys of this ministry, to unlock the door of the Kingdom of heaven unto all nations, and to preach the Gospel to every creature. This is the power, authority, and virtue of their apostleship.” (History of the Church 2:200)

Elder. The name of an office in the Melchizedek Priesthood, elder is also the general title used to address one who bears this priesthood. Elder Bruce R McConkie: “What is an elder? An elder is a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. He holds the holy Melchizedek priesthood. He is commissioned to stand in the place and stead of his Master—who is the Chief Elder—ministering to his fellowmen. He is the Lord’s agent. His appointment is to preach the gospel and perfect the Saints.” (“only an Elder’ Ensign, June 1975, p 66.

3/4/2021 – D&C 21

The Lord had directed that the Church be organized on April 6th. The year was 1830. Peter Whitmer offered his house for all to gather and participate in the formal organization of the Church. Sixty people filled the Whitmer home. “Approximately twenty of these people had come from Colesville, a distance of approximately on e hundred miles, to participate in the events of this sacred occasion.” (Letter from Edward Stevenson to F.D. Richards; LDS Historical Department) They were there to do the things that would meet New York’s legal requirements for incorporating a religious society. 

Bob and I have visited the Whitmer home. It must have been packed to have 60 people in it. When we were there, it was just us and two sister missionaries. As we sat in that house and listened to the missionaries tell us about the events that took place in that small home, the spirit was so strong and so sweet. That was over a decade ago, and I still remember those wonderful and tender feelings we experienced. 

“After kneeling in solemn prayer, Joseph asked those present it they were willing to accept him and Oliver as their teachers and spiritual advisors. Everyone raised their hands in the affirmative. Although they had previously received the Melchizedek Priesthood, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery then ordained each other to the office of elder. They did this to signify that they were elders in the newly organized church. The sacrament of the Lord’s supper was administered nest. The prayers used had been received through revelation (see D&C 20:75-79). Joseph and Oliver then confirmed those who had previously been baptized as member of the Church of Jesus Christ and bestowed upon them the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Church History in the Fulness of Times, p 68-69). 

Section 21 was given on this day and lists blessings that come from our working in the Church. First the Lord declared that Joseph would be “called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ.” (v 1) and that he, Joseph, was “inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to build it up unto the most holy faith.” (v2)

The Lord explains that that should receive the words of Joseph “as if from my own mouth, in all patience and faith.” I find that last phrase also very meaningful for those of us in this day and time.

In the next verse, the Lord repeats that phrase that was repeated to my mother, as she read those same words in the Book of Mormon: “For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you;” and at this time the Lord continued with the promise that “the Lord will disperse the powers of darkness from before you…” What a beautiful and comforting promise!  The Lord continues with the promise of His blessings in v 9: “For behold, I will bless all those who labor in my vineyard with a mighty blessing, and they shall believe on his words, which are given him through me by the comforter…” I feel so strongly that those blessings promised to those early saints, still stand for those of our generation—for I have felt them.