The Era of Gathering Together All Things in One in Christ The Church Comes Out of the Wilderness (Part 2)

Introduction The JST One of the means by which the Lord restored truth through was through his work of translation. It was June of 1830—in the immediate aftermath of two unjust arrests, legal trials, and near- miss brushes with violent mobs in Colesville, New York—when Joseph Smith received a revelation now known as Moses chapter 1. This chapter records a significant revelation from God to Moses received while he was on a mountain top speaking with God face to face. It effectively frames the Bible, outlining God's purposes and designs regarding man, and acts as something of a preface to the account of the Creation and Fall recorded in Genesis 1-3. Joseph said that Moses 1 "was a precious morsel" that was "vouchsafed" to him and Oliver Cowdery as "a supply of strength" subsequent to "all the trials and tribulations we had to wade through" (History of the Church, 1:98). This significant revelation was the beginning of what would come to be known as the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible (ie. JST). The next month, July 1830, the Lord commanded Joseph to devote his time to studying the Bible, among other endeavors (see D&C 26:1). During this study time Joseph began making additions and doctrinal corrections to the Bible which scribes would record. Although this biblical interpretation project did not involve multiple languages, the Lord referred to this endeavor as "translation" work (see D&C 37:1). The greatest benefit of Joseph's time spent studying/translating the Bible was surprisingly not the improved Bible that resulted from these efforts (although

1 there were several priceless additions added to the text); rather it was the additional revelations Joseph received as a result of the questions he was led to ask while engaged in the translation work. Many sections of the , for instance, are the Lord's responses to questions Joseph asked as a result of his JST work. These D&C sections tend to be doctrinally rich and deal with matters from the ancient past or the end of the world (see D&C 29, 65, 74, 76, 77, 86, 93, and 132 for examples). Thus the work of the JST served the dual purposes of (1) adding inspired text to the existing Bible, and (2) acting as a springboard for Joseph to ask meaningful questions to receive additional revelations, recorded primarily in the D&C.

Gathering Together All Things in Christ on Earth As discussed in a previous class, one sense in which the Church went “into the wilderness” in the Meridian dispensation was that the teachings and practices of Christ continued to spread throughout the world, and another sense was that God revealed to portions of mankind additional truths and inspired certain practices in order to gently guide the fulfillment of his covenant purposes. Thus, as part of the Church coming “out of the wilderness” in the latter-days, these truths and practices were to be gathered together. In other words, in addition to revealing “new” or “lost” truths to Joseph Smith directly from heaven, the Lord also inspired Joseph to gather truth from everywhere he could find it on earth—including from his own culture and contemporaries. In this role Joseph acted as an inspired gatherer and synthesizer of those truths which already existed on earth. This work of gathering together truths from heaven and earth is a fundamental purpose of the Lord's work in our dispensation (see D&C 27:13) and seems to be an important part of the Church coming out of the wilderness. As Joseph Smith explained, “The work of the Lord in these last days is one of vast magnitude and almost beyond the comprehension of mortals…. It is … truly the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, when all things which are in Christ Jesus, whether in heaven or on the earth, shall be gathered together in him, and when all things shall be restored, as spoken of by all the holy prophets since the world began” (Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, p. 234). In this class we will consider how Joseph’s work on parts of the JST and his encounter with and appropriation of parts of Masonry are examples of gathering together truth already on earth.

2 Scripture Reading & Textual Engagement Questions

IMPORTANT NOTE: You are NOT required to answer all of the questions provided at the beginning of each section. The point of these readings is to rigorously ENGAGE WITH THE TEXT and WITH ONE ANOTHER to promote understanding. The questions are simply guides to help you do so.

The Joseph Smith Translation

Qs: When did the "JST" begin? How long did it take? What methodology did Joseph use to translate (and what didn't he use)? What different categories do Joseph Smith's changes in the Bible fall into? Did all of the changes Joseph made to the Bible come directly from inspiration? If not, what other source(s) did he use? Why is this significant?

Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible translation, dictating inspired changes and (from churchofjesuschrist.org) additions to scribes who recorded them first on paper and later as notes in the margins of While translating the , the Bible itself. His revisions fall into Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery found several categories. His early work on the they held different views on the meaning of translation resulted in long revealed a passage in the Bible. They “mutually passages that Joseph dictated to his scribes, agreed to settle” the question “by the Urim much as he did when receiving the and [Thummim].” As a result, Joseph revelations in the Doctrine and received a revelation giving the translation Covenants.2 These passages sometimes of an account by the ancient disciple John, dramatically expanded the biblical text. The written on parchment but lost to history. best-known example of this type of revision This early experience seeking revelation that is found today in the in the expanded the text of a Bible passage was an Pearl of Great Price. Joseph Smith also important precedent. About a year later, made many smaller changes that improved during the summer of 1830, Joseph and grammar, modernized language, corrected Oliver received by revelation an account of points of doctrine, or alleviated a vision of Moses not found in the Old inconsistencies. As he worked on these Testament. This revelation marked the changes, he appears in many instances to beginning of Joseph Smith’s efforts to have consulted respected commentaries by prepare an inspired revision or translation of biblical scholars, studying them out in his the Bible. For the next three years, Joseph mind as a part of the revelatory process.3 continued work on his “new translation of the Bible,” considering the project a “branch Joseph proceeded from Genesis 1 through of [his] calling” as a prophet of God.1 the Old Testament until a revelation in 1831 directed him to advance to the New Joseph Smith did not employ Hebrew and Testament. Once finished with the New Greek sources, lexicons, or a knowledge of Testament, Joseph picked up where he left biblical languages to render a new English off in Genesis and completed his work on text. Rather, he used a copy of the King the Old Testament by July 1833. Joseph James Bible as the starting point for his briefly considered translating the

3 , a selection of books accepted as of Christ) published Joseph’s revisions in scripture by Catholic and Orthodox 1867 under the title The Holy Scriptures, Christians but rejected by many Protestants. Translated and Corrected by the Spirit of A revelation directed Joseph not to translate Revelation, but the volume quickly became apocryphal writings even though such known as the “Inspired Version of the writings contained “many things … that are Bible.”7 , then President of true.”4 the Church, expressed skepticism of the accuracy of the Inspired Version, having not Joseph Smith’s work on the Bible revision had the chance to review the manuscript led to several revelations now contained in sources himself. Despite possessing a the Doctrine and Covenants. Perhaps the handwritten copy of some revision most dramatic of these occurred when manuscripts, the Church under President Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon wondered Young’s direction and thereafter did not how to interpret John 5:29, a passage publish an edition.8 mentioning the resurrection of the dead, and were blessed with a revelatory vision of the During the 1960s, RLDS scholar Richard P. degrees of glory in the afterlife Howard and LDS scholar Robert J. (D&C 76).5 Several similar episodes Matthews each studied the manuscripts to occurred during the process of revising the authenticate the published editions using the Bible, prompting revelations original texts. The Reorganized Church regarding Matthew 13; 1 Corinthians 7; and made manuscripts available and granted the the Book of Revelation.6 LDS Church permission to publish excerpts as footnotes and endnotes in the 1979 After Joseph Smith’s death, the Bible LDS edition of the Bible. Continued translation manuscripts remained with his research from this collaboration led to the wife Emma until she gave them to her son publication of the complete Bible revision Joseph Smith III, who led the Reorganized manuscripts in 2004 and again as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Joseph Smith Papers.9 The Reorganized Church (now Community

4 Masonry

Qs: What is masonry? Where did it come from? What are the connections between masonry and our ? How are they similar? How are they different? How might Joseph's use of masonic ritual and symbolism in the temple endowment be an example of Joseph pulling together vestiges of truth from his own culture and infusing it with newer and higher meaning?

Masonry 1600 and indicate that the organization was primarily concerned with regulating the Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that trade of stonemasonry. Later minutes show grew out of centuries-old European trade that the lodges were gradually overtaken by guilds. Freemasons (or Masons) meet in men who were not stonemasons. These lodges, where they ritually reenact a story members transformed the organization from based on the brief biblical account of a man a trade guild into a fraternity. named Hiram, whom Solomon commissioned to work on the temple in Masons told a story about how their ancient Jerusalem.1 During the reenactment, Masons forebears had learned stonemasonry, used it advance by degrees, using handgrips, key to build Solomon’s temple, protected the words, and special clothing. In Masonic temple site, and held knowledge about their rituals, Masons commit to be worthy of trust craft as a closely guarded secret.3 By Joseph and to be loyal to their Masonic brothers. In Smith’s day, the boundaries between addition to participating in these rituals, Masonry’s early European history and its Masons meet socially, participate in founding myths and traditions had long community-building activities, and make since been blurred. The rituals of charitable contributions to various causes. Freemasonry appear to have originated in early modern Europe.4 Aspects of these Some early Latter-day Saints were Masons. ceremonies bear resemblance to religious Heber C. Kimball, Hyrum Smith, and others rites in many cultures, ancient and modern.5 belonged to Masonic lodges in the 1820s, and Joseph Smith joined the fraternity in The popularity of Freemasonry peaked in March 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois.2 Soon after the United States between 1790 and 1826. he became a Mason, Joseph introduced the Prominent American founders George temple endowment. There are some Washington and Benjamin Franklin were similarities between Masonic ceremonies Masons, and well-known politicians such as and the endowment, but there are also stark Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay later differences in their content and intent. participated in the fraternity.6 Even so, some Americans in Joseph Smith’s day were History of Masonry concerned by the secretive and exclusive nature of Masonry.7 These “anti-Masons” There are no known Masonic documents formed societies, published newspapers, before about 1400. The earliest records tell a and, for a time, organized as a national story of Masonry originating during Old political party.8 In spite of this movement, Testament times. The oldest surviving secret societies like the Masons flourished in minutes of Masonic lodges date to about

5 the United States, and Masonic lodges were the dispensation.12 Then, when Joseph and established in most large communities.9 Hyrum Smith were murdered in Carthage in June 1844, Mormon Masons felt outraged Masonry in Nauvoo and betrayed when witnesses noted that there were Masons in the mob. Upon In December 1841, 18 Mormon Masons hearing the account of his death, some organized a lodge in Nauvoo. Joseph Smith Church members believed Joseph may have and 40 others applied for membership the been invoking a Masonic call of distress in following day. On March 15, 1842, Illinois his last moments, adding to the Saints’ sense Grand Master Mason Abraham Jonas of betrayal.13 Tensions between Latter-day granted a dispensation for the organization Saints and Masons in Illinois and the of the Nauvoo Lodge, installed its officers, surrounding area continued to escalate, and and initiated Joseph and Sidney Rigdon to in October 1844, the Grand Lodge severed the degree of “Entered Apprentice” in the all ties with the Nauvoo Lodge and its upper-floor space above Joseph’s Red Brick members. Nauvoo Masons, however, Store. The next day, Jonas passed Joseph continued to operate their lodge and Sidney as “Fellow Craft” and raised independently until 1846, when the Saints them as “Master Masons.”10 Historical left Illinois en masse.14 After arriving in sources do not explain Joseph Smith’s Utah, Latter-day Saints did not establish motives for joining the Freemasons. In many new Masonic lodges. localities in early America, the most important elected officials were also Masonry and the Endowment Masons. In joining, Joseph may have assumed he would gain a network of allies On May 3, 1842, Joseph Smith enlisted a who could give him access to political few men to prepare the space in his Red influence and protection against persecution. Brick Store in which the Nauvoo Masons After being betrayed by some of his closest met, “preparatory to giving endowments to a associates in Missouri, Joseph may have few Elders.”15 The next day, Joseph found Masonry’s emphasis on introduced the temple endowment for the confidentiality and loyalty appealing. first time to nine men, all of whom were also Mormon Masons also likely encouraged Masons.16 One of these men, Heber C. Joseph to apply for membership. In any Kimball, wrote of this experience to fellow event, Joseph, like all Masons, would have Apostle Parley P. Pratt, who was on a avowed that his purpose for joining was mission in England. “We have received strictly to gain knowledge and be of service some precious things through the Prophet on to others.11 the ,” Kimball wrote of the endowment, noting that “there is a similarity Many Latter-day Saints joined the Nauvoo of priesthood in masonry.” He told Pratt that Lodge, which soon became the largest in the Joseph believed Masonry was “taken from state. This rapid growth made many Masons priesthood but has become suspicious that would dominate degenerated.”17 Joseph Fielding, another the organization in Illinois. At first, the endowed Latter-day Saint and a Mason, state’s Grand Lodge continued the Nauvoo noted similarly in his journal that Masonry Lodge’s dispensation, giving it time to “seems to have been a Stepping Stone or correct irregularities in its admission of new Preparation for something else,” referring to members, but in October 1843, it withdrew the endowment.18

6 Mormons in Nauvoo who experienced both access. While Masons had strict guidelines Masonic rites and the endowment about who could join the fraternity, Joseph acknowledged similarities between some Smith hoped to give the endowment “even elements of the two ceremonies, but they to the weakest of the Saints” just as “soon as also testified that the endowment was the they are prepared to receive, and a proper result of revelation. Willard Richards, place is prepared to communicate writing Joseph Smith’s history, taught that [it].”24 Accordingly, Brigham Young and the introduction of the endowment in other men and women whom Joseph Nauvoo was “governed by the principle of endowed before his death administered the Revelation.”19 Joseph and his associates ordinance to thousands of Latter-day Saints understood Masonry as an institution that in Nauvoo. Moreover, most Masonic groups preserved vestiges of ancient truth.20 They excluded women.25 Joseph, on the other acknowledged parallels between Masonic hand, taught that it was essential that Latter- rituals and the endowment but concluded, day Saint women receive the endowment. based on their experience with both, that the Many women in Nauvoo were prepared for ordinance was divinely restored.21 this ordinance through their involvement in the .26 Emphasis on the similarities between the teaching styles and outward forms of There are different ways of understanding Masonry and the temple endowment the relationship between Masonry and the obscures significant differences in their temple. Some Latter-day Saints point to substance. Masonic ceremonies promote similarities between the format and symbols self-improvement, brotherhood, charity, and of both the endowment and Masonic rituals fidelity to truth for the purpose of making and those of many ancient religious better men, who in turn make a better ceremonies as evidence that the endowment society.22 During temple ordinances, men was a of an ancient and women covenant with God to obey His ordinance.27 Others note that the ideas and laws for the purpose of gaining exaltation institutions in the culture that surrounded through the Atonement of Jesus Joseph Smith frequently contributed to the Christ.23 Masonic rituals deliver stage-by- process by which he obtained stage instruction using dramatization and revelation.28 In any event, the endowment symbolic gestures and clothing, with content did not simply imitate the rituals of based on Masonic legends. The endowment Freemasonry. Rather, Joseph’s encounter employs similar teaching devices, but it with Masonry evidently served as a catalyst draws primarily upon the revelations and for revelation. The Lord restored the temple inspired translations given to Joseph Smith ordinances through Joseph Smith to teach for its content. profound truths about the plan of salvation and introduce covenants that would allow Another significant difference between God’s children to enter His presence. Masonic rituals and the endowment was

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