Doctrine and Covenants
124:1 - VERILY, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph Smith, I am well pleased with your offering and acknowledgments, which you have made; for unto this end have I raised you up, that I might show forth my wisdom through the weak things of the earth.
124:2 - Your prayers are acceptable before me; and in answer to them I say unto you, that you are now called immediately to make a solemn proclamation of my gospel, and of this stake which I have planted to be a cornerstone of Zion, which shall be polished with the refinement which is after the similitude of a palace.
124:3 - This proclamation shall be made to all the kings of the world, to the four corners thereof, to the honorable president-elect, and the high-minded governors of the nation in which you live, and to all the nations of the earth scattered abroad.
124:4 - Let it be written in the spirit of meekness and by the power of the Holy Ghost, which shall be in you at the time of the writing of the same;
124:5 - For it shall be given you by the Holy Ghost to know my will concerning those kings and authorities, even what shall befall them in a time to come.
124:6 - For, behold, I am about to call upon them to give heed to the light and glory of Zion, for the set time has come to favor her.
124:7 - Call ye, therefore, upon them with loud proclamation, and with your testimony, fearing them not, for they are as grass, and all their glory as the flower thereof which soon falleth, that they may be left also without excuse--
124:8 - And that I may visit them in the day of visitation, when I shall unveil the face of my covering, to appoint the portion of the oppressor among hypocrites, where there is gnashing of teeth, if they reject my servants and my testimony which I have revealed unto them.
124:9 - And again, I will visit and soften their hearts, many of them for your good, that ye may find grace in their eyes, that they may come to the light of truth, and the Gentiles to the exaltation or lifting up of Zion.
124:10 - For the day of my visitation cometh speedily, in an hour when ye think not of; and where shall be the safety of my people, and refuge for those who shall be left of them?
124:11 - Awake, O kings of the earth! Come ye, O, come ye, with your gold and your silver, to the help of my people, to the house of the daughters of Zion.
124:12 - And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant Robert B. Thompson help you to write this proclamation, for I am well pleased with him, and that he should be with you;
124:13 - Let him, therefore, hearken to your counsel, and I will bless him with a multiplicity of blessings; let him be faithful and true in all things from henceforth, and he shall be great in mine eyes;
124:14 - But let him remember that his stewardship will I require at his hands.
124:15 - And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord.
124:16 - Again, let my servant John C. Bennett help you in your labor in sending my word to the kings and people of the earth, and stand by you, even you my servant Joseph Smith, in the hour of affliction; and his reward shall not fail if he receive counsel.
124:17 - And for his love he shall be great, for he shall be mine if he do this, saith the Lord. I have seen the work which he hath done, which I accept if he continue, and will crown him with blessings and great glory.
124:18 - And again, I say unto you that it is my will that my servant Lyman Wight should continue in preaching for Zion, in the spirit of meekness, confessing me before the world; and I will bear him up as on eagles' wings; and he shall beget glory and honor to himself and unto my name.
124:19 - That when he shall finish his work I may receive him unto myself, even as I did my servant David Patten, who is with me at this time, and also my servant Edward Partridge, and also my aged servant Joseph Smith, Sen., who sitteth with Abraham at his right hand, and blessed and holy is he, for he is mine.
124:20 - And again, verily I say unto you, my servant George Miller is without guile; he may be trusted because of the integrity of his heart; and for the love which he has to my testimony I, the Lord, love him.
124:21 - I therefore say unto you, I seal upon his head the office of a bishopric, like unto my servant Edward Partridge, that he may receive the consecrations of mine house, that he may administer blessings upon the heads of the poor of my people, saith the Lord. Let no man despise my servant George, for he shall honor me.
124:22 - Let my servant George, and my servant Lyman, and my servant John Snider, and others, build a house unto my name, such a one as my servant Joseph shall show unto them, upon the place which he shall show unto them also.
124:23 - And it shall be for a house for boarding, a house that strangers may come from afar to lodge therein; therefore let it be a good house, worthy of all acceptation, that the weary traveler may find health and safety while he shall contemplate the word of the Lord; and the corner-stone I have appointed for Zion.
124:24 - This house shall be a healthful habitation if it be built unto my name, and if the governor which shall be appointed unto it shall not suffer any pollution to come upon it. It shall be holy, or the Lord your God will not dwell therein.
124:25 - And again, verily I say unto you, let all my saints come from afar.
124:26 - And send ye swift messengers, yea, chosen messengers, and say unto them: Come ye, with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all your antiquities; and with all who have knowledge of antiquities, that will come, may come, and bring the box-tree, and the fir-tree, and the pine-tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth;
124:27 - And with iron, with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and with all your precious things of the earth; and build a house to my name, for the Most High to dwell therein.
124:28 - For there is not a place found on earth that he may come to and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood.
124:29 - For a baptismal font there is not upon the earth, that they, my saints, may be baptized for those who are dead--
124:30 - For this ordinance belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable to me, only in the days of your poverty, wherein ye are not able to build a house unto me.
124:31 - But I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me; and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me.
124:32 - But behold, at the end of this appointment your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God.
124:33 - For verily I say unto you, that after you have had sufficient time to build a house to me, wherein the ordinance of baptizing for the dead belongeth, and for which the same was instituted from before the foundation of the world, your baptisms for your dead cannot be acceptable unto me;
124:34 - For therein are the keys of the holy priesthood ordained, that you may receive honor and glory.
124:35 - And after this time, your baptisms for the dead, by those who are scattered abroad, are not acceptable unto me, saith the Lord.
124:36 - For it is ordained that in Zion, and in her stakes, and in Jerusalem, those places which I have appointed for refuge, shall be the places for your baptisms for your dead.
124:37 - And again, verily I say unto you, how shall your washings be acceptable unto me, except ye perform them in a house which you have built to my name?
124:38 - For, for this cause I commanded Moses that he should build a tabernacle, that they should bear it with them in the wilderness, and to build a house in the land of promise, that those ordinances might be revealed which had been hid from before the world was.
124:39 - Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices by the sons of Levi, and for your oracles in your most holy places wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes and judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for the glory, honor, and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name.
124:40 - And verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people;
124:41 - For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times.
124:42 - And I will show unto my servant Joseph all things pertaining to this house, and the priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built.
124:43 - And ye shall build it on the place where you have contemplated building it, for that is the spot which I have chosen for you to build it.
124:44 - If ye labor with all your might, I will consecrate that spot that it shall be made holy.
124:45 - And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.
124:46 - But if they will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of these men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blest, because they pollute mine holy grounds, and mine holy ordinances, and charters, and my holy words which I give unto them.
124:47 - And it shall come to pass that if you build a house unto my name, and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfil the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord.
124:48 - For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practise before me, saith the Lord.
124:49 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to any of the sons of men to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all their might and with all they have to perform that work, and cease not their diligence, and their enemies come upon them and hinder them from performing that work, behold, it behooveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those sons of men, but to accept of their offerings.
124:50 - And the iniquity and transgression of my holy laws and commandments I will visit upon the heads of those who hindered my work, unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord God.
124:51 - Therefore, for this cause have I accepted the offerings of those whom I commanded to build up a city and a house unto my name, in Jackson county, Missouri, and were hindered by their enemies, saith the Lord your God.
124:52 - And I will answer judgment, wrath, and indignation, wailing, and anguish, and gnashing of teeth upon their heads, unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord your God.
124:53 - And this I make an example unto you, for your consolation concerning all those who have been commanded to do a work and have been hindered by the hands of their enemies, and by oppression, saith the Lord your God.
124:54 - For I am the Lord your God, and will save all those of your brethren who have been pure in heart, and have been slain in the land of Missouri, saith the Lord.
124:55 - And again, verily I say unto you, I command you again to build a house to my name, even in this place, that you may prove yourselves unto me that ye are faithful in all things whatsoever I command you, that I may bless you, and crown you with honor, immortality, and eternal life.
124:56 - And now I say unto you, as pertaining to my boarding house which I have commanded you to build for the boarding of strangers, let it be built unto my name, and let my name be named upon it, and let my servant Joseph and his house have place therein, from generation to generation.
124:57 - For this anointing have I put upon his head, that his blessing shall also be put upon the head of his posterity after him.
124:58 - And as I said unto Abraham concerning the kindreds of the earth, even so I say unto my servant Joseph: In thee and in thy seed shall the kindred of the earth be blessed.
124:59 - Therefore, let my servant Joseph and his seed after him have place in that house, from generation to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord.
124:60 - And let the name of that house be called Nauvoo House; and let it be a delightful habitation for man, and a resting-place for the weary traveler, that he may contemplate the glory of Zion, and the glory of this, the corner-stone thereof;
124:61 - That he may receive also the counsel from those whom I have set to be as plants of renown, and as watchmen upon her walls.
124:62 - Behold, verily I say unto you, let my servant George Miller, and my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant John Snider, and my servant Peter Haws, organize themselves, and appoint one of them to be a president over their quorum for the purpose of building that house.
124:63 - And they shall form a constitution, whereby they may receive stock for the building of that house.
124:64 - And they shall not receive less than fifty dollars for a share of stock in that house, and they shall be permitted to receive fifteen thousand dollars from any one man for stock in that house.
124:65 - But they shall not be permitted to receive over fifteen thousand dollars stock from any one man.
124:66 - And they shall not be permitted to receive under fifty dollars for a share of stock from any one man in that house.
124:67 - And they shall not be permitted to receive any man, as a stockholder in this house, except the same shall pay his stock into their hands at the time he receives stock;
124:68 - And in proportion to the amount of stock he pays into their hands he shall receive stock in that house; but if he pays nothing into their hands he shall not receive any stock in that house.
124:69 - And if any pay stock into their hands it shall be for stock in that house, for himself, and for his generation after him, from generation to generation, so long as he and his heirs shall hold that stock, and do not sell or convey the stock away out of their hands by their own free will and act, if you will do my will, saith the Lord your God.
124:70 - And again, verily I say unto you, if my servant George Miller, and my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant John Snider, and my servant Peter Haws, receive any stock into their hands, in moneys, or in properties wherein they receive the real value of moneys, they shall not appropriate any portion of that stock to any other purpose, only in that house.
124:71 - And if they do appropriate any portion of that stock anywhere else, only in that house, without the consent of the stockholder, and do not repay fourfold for the stock which they appropriate anywhere else, only in that house, they shall be accursed, and shall be moved out of their place, saith the Lord God; for I, the Lord, am God, and cannot be mocked in any of these things.
124:72 - Verily I say unto you, let my servant Joseph pay stock into their hands for the building of that house, as seemeth him good; but my servant Joseph cannot pay over fifteen thousand dollars stock in that house, nor under fifty dollars; neither can any other man, saith the Lord.
124:73 - And there are others also who wish to know my will concerning them, for they have asked it at my hands.
124:74 - Therefore, I say unto you concerning my servant Vinson Knight, if he will do my will let him put stock into that house for himself, and for his generation after him, from generation to generation.
124:75 - And let him lift up his voice long and loud, in the midst of the people, to plead the cause of the poor and the needy; and let him not fail, neither let his heart faint; and I will accept of his offerings, for they shall not be unto me as the offerings of Cain, for he shall be mine, saith the Lord.
124:76 - Let his family rejoice and turn away their hearts from affliction; for I have chosen him and anointed him, and he shall be honored in the midst of his house, for I will forgive all his sins, saith the Lord. Amen.
124:77 - Verily I say unto you, let my servant Hyrum put stock into that house as seemeth him good, for himself and his generation after him, from generation to generation.
124:78 - Let my servant Isaac Galland put stock into that house; for I, the Lord, love him for the work he hath done, and will forgive all his sins; therefore, let him be remembered for an interest in that house from generation to generation.
124:79 - Let my servant Isaac Galland be appointed among you, and be ordained by my servant William Marks, and be blessed of him, to go with my servant Hyrum to accomplish the work that my servant Joseph shall point out to them, and they shall be greatly blessed.
124:80 - Let my servant William Marks pay stock into that house, as seemeth him good, for himself and his generation, from generation to generation.
124:81 - Let my servant Henry G. Sherwood pay stock into that house, as seemeth him good, for himself and his seed after him, from generation to generation.
124:82 - Let my servant William Law pay stock into that house, for himself and his seed after him, from generation to generation.
124:83 - If he will do my will let him not take his family unto the eastern lands, even unto Kirtland; nevertheless, I, the Lord, will build up Kirtland, but I, the Lord, have a scourge prepared for the inhabitants thereof.
124:84 - And with my servant Almon Babbitt, there are many things with which I am not pleased; behold, he aspireth to establish his counsel instead of the counsel which I have ordained, even that of the Presidency of my Church; and he setteth up a golden calf for the worship of my people.
124:85 - Let no man go from this place who has come here essaying to keep my commandments.
124:86 - If they live here let them live unto me; and if they die let them die unto me; for they shall rest from all their labors here, and shall continue their works.
124:87 - Therefore, let my servant William put his trust in me, and cease to fear concerning his family, because of the sickness of the land. If ye love me, keep my commandments; and the sickness of the land shall redound to your glory.
124:88 - Let my servant William go and proclaim my everlasting gospel with a loud voice, and with great joy, as he shall be moved upon by my Spirit, unto the inhabitants of Warsaw, and also unto the inhabitants of Carthage, and also unto the inhabitants of Burlington, and also unto the inhabitants of Madison, and await patiently and diligently for further instructions at my general conference, saith the Lord.
124:89 - If he will do my will let him from henceforth hearken to the counsel of my servant Joseph, and with his interest support the cause of the poor, and publish the new translation of my holy word unto the inhabitants of the earth.
124:90 - And if he will do this I will bless him with a multiplicity of blessings, that he shall not be forsaken, nor his seed be found begging bread.
124:91 - And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant William be appointed, ordained, and anointed, as counselor unto my servant Joseph, in the room of my servant Hyrum, that my servant Hyrum may take the office of Priesthood and Patriarch, which was appointed unto him by his father, by blessing and also by right;
124:92 - That from henceforth he shall hold the keys of the patriarchal blessings upon the heads of all my people,
124:93 - That whoever he blesses shall be blessed, and whoever he curses shall be cursed; that whatsoever he shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever he shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
124:94 - And from this time forth I appoint unto him that he may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my church, as well as my servant Joseph;
124:95 - That he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph; and that he shall receive counsel from my servant Joseph, who shall show unto him the keys whereby he may ask and receive, and be crowned with the same blessing, and glory, and honor, and priesthood, and gifts of the priesthood, that once were put upon him that was my servant Oliver Cowdery;
124:96 - That my servant Hyrum may bear record of the things which I shall show unto him, that his name may be had in honorable remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever.
124:97 - Let my servant William Law also receive the keys by which he may ask and receive blessings; let him be humble before me, and be without guile, and he shall receive of my Spirit, even the Comforter, which shall manifest unto him the truth of all things, and shall give him, in the very hour, what he shall say.
124:98 - And these signs shall follow him--he shall heal the sick, he shall cast out devils, and shall be delivered from those who would administer unto him deadly poison;
124:99 - And he shall be led in paths where the poisonous serpent cannot lay hold upon his heel, and he shall mount up in the imagination of his thoughts as upon eagles' wings.
124:100 - And what if I will that he should raise the dead, let him not withhold his voice.
124:101 - Therefore, let my servant William cry aloud and spare not, with joy and rejoicing, and with hosannas to him that sitteth upon the throne forever and ever, saith the Lord your God.
124:102 - Behold, I say unto you, I have a mission in store for my servant William, and my servant Hyrum, and for them alone; and let my servant Joseph tarry at home, for he is needed. The remainder I will show unto you hereafter. Even so. Amen.
124:103 - And again, verily I say unto you, if my servant Sidney will serve me and be counselor unto my servant Joseph, let him arise and come up and stand in the office of his calling, and humble himself before me.
124:104 - And if he will offer unto me an acceptable offering, and acknowledgments, and remain with my people, behold, I, the Lord your God, will heal him that he shall be healed; and he shall lift up his voice again on the mountains, and be a spokesman before my face.
124:105 - Let him come and locate his family in the neighborhood in which my servant Joseph resides.
124:106 - And in all his journeyings let him lift up his voice as with the sound of a trump, and warn the inhabitants of the earth to flee the wrath to come.
124:107 - Let him assist my servant Joseph, and also let my servant William Law assist my servant Joseph, in making a solemn proclamation unto the kings of the earth, even as I have before said unto you.
124:108 - If my servant Sidney will do my will, let him not remove his family unto the eastern lands, but let him change their habitation, even as I have said.
124:109 - Behold, it is not my will that he shall seek to find safety and refuge out of the city which I have appointed unto you, even the city of Nauvoo.
124:110 - Verily I say unto you, even now, if he will hearken unto my voice, it shall be well with him. Even so. Amen.
124:111 - And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant Amos Davies pay stock into the hands of those whom I have appointed to build a house for boarding, even the Nauvoo House.
124:112 - This let him do if he will have an interest; and let him hearken unto the counsel of my servant Joseph, and labor with his own hands that he may obtain the confidence of men.
124:113 - And when he shall prove himself faithful in all things that shall be entrusted unto his care, yea, even a few things, he shall be made ruler over many;
124:114 - Let him therefore abase himself that he may be exalted. Even so. Amen.
124:115 - And again, verily I say unto you, if my servant Robert D. Foster will obey my voice, let him build a house for my servant Joseph, according to the contract which he has made with him, as the door shall be open to him from time to time.
124:116 - And let him repent of all his folly, and clothe himself with charity; and cease to do evil, and lay aside all his hard speeches;
124:117 - And pay stock also into the hands of the quorum of the Nauvoo House, for himself and for his generation after him, from generation to generation;
124:118 - And hearken unto the counsel of my servants Joseph, and Hyrum, and William Law, and unto the authorities which I have called to lay the foundation of Zion; and it shall be well with him forever and ever. Even so. Amen.
124:119 - And again, verily I say unto you, let no man pay stock to the quorum of the Nauvoo House unless he shall be a believer in the Book of Mormon, and the revelations I have given unto you, saith the Lord your God;
124:120 - For that which is more or less than this cometh of evil, and shall be attended with cursings and not blessings, saith the Lord your God. Even so. Amen.
124:121 - And again, verily I say unto you, let the quorum of the Nauvoo House have a just recompense of wages for all their labors which they do in building the Nauvoo House; and let their wages be as shall be agreed among themselves, as pertaining to the price thereof.
124:122 - And let every man who pays stock bear his proportion of their wages, if it must needs be, for their support, saith the Lord; otherwise, their labors shall be accounted unto them for stock in that house. Even so. Amen.
124:123 - Verily I say unto you, I now give unto you the officers belonging to my Priesthood, that ye may hold the keys thereof, even the Priesthood which is after the order of Melchizedek, which is after the order of mine Only Begotten Son.
124:124 - First, I give unto you Hyrum Smith to be a patriarch unto you, to hold the sealing blessings of my church, even the Holy Spirit of promise, whereby ye are sealed up unto the day of redemption, that ye may not fall notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may come upon you.
124:125 - I give unto you my servant Joseph to be a presiding elder over all my church, to be a translator, a revelator, a seer, and prophet.
124:126 - I give unto him for counselors my servant Sidney Rigdon and my servant William Law, that these may constitute a quorum and First Presidency, to receive the oracles for the whole church.
124:127 - I give unto you my servant Brigham Young to be a president over the Twelve traveling council;
124:128 - Which Twelve hold the keys to open up the authority of my kingdom upon the four corners of the earth, and after that to send my word to every creature.
124:129 - They are Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, William Smith, John Taylor, John E. Page, Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards, George A. Smith;
124:130 - David Patten I have taken unto myself; behold, his priesthood no man taketh from him; but, verily I say unto you, another may be appointed unto the same calling.
124:131 - And again, I say unto you, I give unto you a high council, for the corner-stone of Zion--
124:132 - Namely, Samuel Bent, Henry G. Sherwood, George W. Harris, Charles C. Rich, Thomas Grover, Newel Knight, David Dort, Dunbar Wilson--Seymour Brunson I have taken unto myself; no man taketh his priesthood, but another may be appointed unto the same priesthood in his stead; and verily I say unto you, let my servant Aaron Johnson be ordained unto this calling in his stead--David Fullmer, Alpheus Cutler, William Huntington.
124:133 - And again, I give unto you Don C. Smith to be a president over a quorum of high priests;
124:134 - Which ordinance is instituted for the purpose of qualifying those who shall be appointed standing presidents or servants over different stakes scattered abroad;
124:135 - And they may travel also if they choose, but rather be ordained for standing presidents; this is the office of their calling, saith the Lord your God.
124:136 - I give unto him Amasa Lyman and Noah Packard for counselors, that they may preside over the quorum of high priests of my church, saith the Lord.
124:137 - And again, I say unto you, I give unto you John A. Hicks, Samuel Williams, and Jesse Baker, which priesthood is to preside over the quorum of elders, which quorum is instituted for standing ministers; nevertheless they may travel, yet they are ordained to be standing ministers to my church, saith the Lord.
124:138 - And again, I give unto you Joseph Young, Josiah Butterfield, Daniel Miles, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Levi Hancock, James Foster, to preside over the quorum of seventies;
124:139 - Which quorum is instituted for traveling elders to bear record of my name in all the world, wherever the traveling high council, mine apostles, shall send them to prepare a way before my face.
124:140 - The difference between this quorum and the quorum of elders is that one is to travel continually, and the other is to preside over the churches from time to time; the one has the responsibility of presiding from time to time, and the other has no responsibility of presiding, saith the Lord your God.
124:141 - And again, I say unto you, I give unto you Vinson Knight, Samuel H. Smith, and Shadrach Roundy, if he will receive it, to preside over the bishopric; a knowledge of said bishopric is given unto you in the book of Doctrine and Covenants.
124:142 - And again, I say unto you, Samuel Rolfe and his counselors for priests, and the president of the teachers and his counselors, and also the president of the deacons and his counselors, and also the president of the stake and his counselors.
124:143 - The above offices I have given unto you, and the keys thereof, for helps and for governments, for the work of the ministry and the perfecting of my saints.
124:144 - And a commandment I give unto you, that you should fill all these offices and approve of those names which I have mentioned, or else disapprove of them at my general conference;
124:145 - And that ye should prepare rooms for all these offices in my house when you build it unto my name, saith the Lord your God. Even so. Amen.
ShareThis
Today a commenter on the site mentioned how I should include more parallels with the practices of the Masons, since that is plainly where the temple ordinances came from. And I would respond, did they? Did they really, so easily, come from the Masons? Can we dismiss Joseph as a prophet, seer, and revelator as simply as that?
DearScriptures.com
22 Comments
It seems to me that you have swung the pendulum into the hinterlands. It is no secret that Joseph Smith was a mason and that the ritual methods of the endowment are similar to those of the masonic rituals. To be sure the content of the rituals are strikingly different, but to assert that Joseph didn’t learn some of the teaching methods from his experience is somewhat naive.
While its true that temple elements can be found throughout a broad range of historical cultures, I don’t think its wise to completely discount the masonic influence in the Nauvoo period of the church. I think you will find Richard Bushman’s discussion of this very interesting when you reach that point in “Rough Stone Rolling.”
I think the key is to accept that there is a distinction between “the message,” and “the messenger.” The “message” of the temple is clearly inspired and came to the prophet Joseph Smith by revelation. The concepts of the Abrahamic promises as they relate to a covenant with Christ in the scope of eternal progression is unique to the temple and bear no resemblance to any masonic functions. However, when Joseph was left to present these eternal truths and covenants to the Saints, I don’t find it at all unreasonable that he, at least in part, formulated the presentation in a way that the participants would be able to understand well.
Most of the men in Nauvoo were experienced masons, and as such, were familiar with a ritualistic form of learning and instruction. A traditional lecture or workshop would certainly not do justice to the complex and abstract concepts of the temple, and as such, it would seem that some semblance of Masonic rituals was used to bring the message to the people. When the endowment was presented to these experienced masons, none of them reported to believe Joseph was plagiarizing; it seems they took it *as a given* that is was being presented in a masonic style, and such they were more fully able to absorb the message and teachings.
This idea holds even more ground when we consider what changes have been made to the form of the ordinance over the years. The message of the temple has never changed, but the “messenger” of this message has, giving credence to the notion that while the content of endowment was obtained by revelation, Joseph was given more personal liberty in terms of formulating its presentation, and according to the needs and disposition of the church, this presentation can be continually altered as needed.
If we think about the Book of Mormon, which was brought into existence by divine means, we see that while its contents are inspired, it is presented to in the English language. English is not the language of God, and it does not need to be a divine tongue in order for us to accept the contents of the English Book of Mormon as authentically divine.
Again, I think its important to see the difference between the message and the messenger. In the case of the temple, the message was certainly received by revelation, but I don’t think that means we have to believe that every presentational element of the ceremony was also. That said, the “borrowing-from-masonry” theory does not hold its ground when we consider the myriad of other temple elements found elsewhere in the world and throughout history, but on at least a limited level, I don’t think it should be entirely discounted.
Yes, Joseph Smith was a Mason, and the ritual methods of the endowment are similar to those of the Masons. Is that where he got the temple ordinances from? No. But did he learn something from his experience with the Masons? Absolutely!
I believe the LDS temple ordinances were revealed by God to a prophet, and are much older than the Masons or the Saints. The ordinances are primordial. Joseph did not get them from an adaptation, translation, or pilferage of Masonic ceremony. I believe the Masons got their rites from the same place the Joseph got them, from God, albeit the Masonic forms came through the grapevine and have become corrupted down through the ages of time.
But that does not mean the Masonic rites are without value or meaningless? No. I believe the Masonic ceremonies were very helpful to Joseph and the early Saints in becoming accustomed to rituals, rites, and ceremonies, and helped prepare them for the revelation and restoration of the original and genuine forms of the ordinances and worship of God in the temple. The Masonic forms were a type of forerunner for the real deal.
When Nibley was asked about the similarities between the temple ordinances and the Masons, he replied that the Hopi Indian rites “come closest of all as far as I have been able to discover--and where did they get theirs?” (Boyd Jay Petersen. Hugh Nibley: A Consecrated Life. 282)
Thank you Aha for your very well-worded commentary! I believe you are right. Yes, I believe Joseph might have borrowed some masonic elements to present the endowment to the Saints. But if these same “Masonic” elements are to be found in other cultures, customs, religions, and ancient traditions, can they be called “Masonic” any longer? We have to dig a little deeper to find the original source.
My point is that Joseph didn’t get the whole thing from the Masons, as our critics are apt to venture. Much of the ritual, including many presentational elements, are much older than the Masons, but a Masonic influence in the early temple ordinances is not to be discounted. Perhaps the Lord consciously utilized the Masons as part of the restoration of some of the presentational elements of the ceremony.
Your noting of some of the more peculiar “Masonic” elements of the presentation that have been dropped through the years is good. I do believe that the content and form of the ordinances are separate, and that while the content is eternal, the form may change depending on the needs of the Saints and their present-day experience and culture. The Lord speaks plainly to His people, not only in word, but in deeds and actions which they will understand and absorb.
Forgive my lack of humility, but I think I participated in one of the best, inter-Mormonism discussions on Masonry on the web. And here is the link: Swick On Masonry
Great post Bryce!
-David
As an historical note, it wasn’t considered a scandal by Joseph Smith’s contemporary followers that he got some of the Temple ritual from Masonic rites. They actually considered it a Restoration in the same way that Mormonism as a whole was considered a Restoration of Christianity. It was an inspired redaction of the Masonic message of the “brotherhood” of human kind. On the other hand, that doesn’t take away from the possible ancient and cross-cultural similarities or influences.
I think Mormons have bought too much into the anti-Catholic and anti-Masonic beliefs of the Protestants. That has diluted some of the most profound teachings and historical Mormon moments. We should never deny our Christian identity, but we shouldn’t follow the lemmings or defend ourselves against them as much as we have.
JS- To be sure the content of the rituals are strikingly different, but to assert that Joseph didn't learn some of the teaching methods from his experience is somewhat naive.
ES- Thanks for you comments here. As a Mormon and a Master Mason I found your comments interesting. You seem to hold a position on this similar to Greg Kearney who has presented at FAIR conferences. However, in contrast to Kearney’s opinion, from another who has experienced both sides of the coin, I would suggest to you that the content of the rituals, while they have their differences, are strikingly similar in content. Additionally, I would comment that my understanding of Masonic ritual has helped me understand the Temple ritual. Finally, I will politely say that many of the differences in the Masonic rituals and Temple rituals that Mormons point to as significant, while convincing to non-Masons, are in IMHO are entirely the differences we would expect from the Masonic tradition of creating an appendage degree system. Joseph’s stance towards masonry becomes comprehensible when you understand the Masonic view of itself in the 1820-1840. If you are interested in this I would suggest the book Revolutionary Brotherhood. To understand how Joseph may have viewed Masonry from a religious view I would suggest you read any of the work by Rev. George Oliver which can be found on Google books.
This is an issue that caused me to question my faith when I was younger. I accidentally came across an anti-Mormon website that said the church can’t be true because Joseph Smith copied the Masons for the temple ritual. But, as has been put so eloquently here already, I don’t believe that is true. Assuming that at the beginning of the earth, the Lord gave the rituals to the people, and assuming that the people have broken apart and spread out, is it so hard to believe that different groups of people have different pieces of the truth? Even though Joseph Smith received the temple ceremony in revelation, it’s not hard to believe that parts of it are similar to parts of ceremonies passed down through the ages that originated from the same source.
Thank you all for your comments. I think we can all agree that there was at least some influence from Masonry when Joseph instituted the Mormon endowment. But I strongly believe that Masonry was not the source of the endowment. You could no sooner have got the endowment from the Masons than you could have got it from the Hopis, or the Egyptians, or the Catholics, or any of a host of peoples who display similar patterns in their forms of worship – all showing signs of the same archetype, but still very different.
Joseph didn’t build the pinnacle of Christian worship around the rites of a fraternal brotherhood. And this can plainly be seen when we comparatively study the parallels which run through ancient societies – they had the same things too. The temple was a restoration and revelation of the highest ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ which were also had in times past. Masonry is the continuation of those same ordinances as they were given to the ancients, but which have devolved through time.
I think the answer is yes.
The Temple Endowment, in my opinion, is a modification of the Masonic Rite, and more explicit in many levels. Nevertheless, I find perplexing that such a statement will simply translate into dismissing Joseph Smith as a prophet, seer and revelator.
Many revelations received by Joseph Smith were a result of his inquiries to God regarding something he encountered in his life or in the scriptures. This is how Joseph received the First Vision, the Priesthood, explanations for prophecies from Daniel and Revelation, reliability of the Apocrypha, etc etc etc etc etc.
One thing I personally believe is that the Masosn left a powerful and extremely valuable lesson on Joseph Smith, and that is the principle of honor and how it can be used to make covenants, even if it means to put one’s life before breaking them, to keep things sacred, etc. The Masons have a systematic, symbolic, instructive and powerful way to teach this main principle. And that was exactly what the Church needed per the events that were going to unfold later in history.
The endowment reflects this very nature of the covenant making process, with a very explicit context of the interactions between the nature of God and the nature of man. A true treasure and in my belief, divinely inspired. Like most of our doctrines, it builds upon something that already existed, like baptism, religious marriage, confirmation, etc etc etc. It’s not like Joseph Smith plagiarized these doctrines from other religious traditions; rather, the semantics that we use is that he “restored” them to the extent we need to gain salvation.
Well, that was my quick apologetics version of how I reconcile both sources.
Thanks Manuel for your comment. Your comments are honest and sincere, however, I believe you are mistaken in that the temple endowment is a “modification of the Masonic rite.” Yes, Joseph encountered Masonry in his life, and probably inquired of God about it, and that may have been how he received the revelation of the endowment. But the endowment did not come from a modification of the Masonic rite. I agree with Nibley who said of Joseph, “He has actually been charged with plundering some of the baggage brought to the West by certain fraternal orders during the Middle Ages-as if the Prophet must rummage in a magpie's nest to stock a king's treasury!”
I would note that the revelations that Joseph received as a result of inquiry were oft times not what he probably expected (i.e. polygamy). The revelations that he received were full-fledged and detailed restorations of principles, doctrines, practices and ordinances which were in some ways very different from the practices and teachings of the day. He didn’t need to take the Masonic rite and modify it. He was given the original by God. Might he have been influenced by Masonry in the introduction of it to the Saints? Yes, because it did have similarities. But he did not get the endowment from the Masons. To believe that, in my opinion, is to believe Joseph did not receive it from God through revelation, and I believe dismisses Joseph as the prophet he claimed to be.
All the points you mention as coming from the Masonic forms may have just as easily come from God, and the fact that they are also present in other ancient civilizations is evidence that these things were not exclusive to the Masons. As with the incompleteness of the practice of baptism without the authority of the priesthood, so were the corrupted forms of the rituals practiced by the Masons. I don’t believe that the principles and ordinances that Joseph received were built upon or modifications of the scattered fragments of the apostate gospel, but were actually brand new revelations on those important subjects. Put another way, you can’t put new wine into old bottles (Mark 2:22, etc.).
And I largely agree with Manuel.
The wider LDS population needs to escape from some of the views we have assimilated from a small minded protestant (not all protestants are small minded) culture.
-David
I am also uncomfortable with the phrase “a modification of the Masonic rite” because it is then often misunderstood, as meaning it was ripped-off, and is not legitimate.
I believe Masonry is the fragmented remains of earlier gospel dispensations. To use the language found in those remains to frame the restored ascension ritual, is only logical.
-David
I understand your position but I see several problems.
“He didn't need to take the Masonic rite and modify it.”
The problem I see with this sentence is that it implies that Joseph Smith of his own will modified the rite, which I think is incorrect. Whether there is a hesitant nature among the Saints to use the word “modify,” I believe per the sources available it is not congruent to deny the possibility, and by not denying that possibility, still allow for the Prophet to work through the revelations of God.
“He was given the original by God.”
It needs to be mentioned that the “Endowment” that Joseph Smith established has had significant modifications in content/substance, and that the current Endowment Ceremony does not encompass many of the things the original had. There are quite a few sources on this subject, but due to its nature, it is not easy to openly discuss on a public forum; nevertheless, it is no secret today’s Endowment is not the same Joseph Smith/Brigham Young practiced in the Nauvoo temple.
Furthermore, prophets have continued to modify this ritual to better accommodate the needs and concerns of the saints. I don’t see why the word “modify” would imply that no divine inspiration/revelation was involved in the process.
Also, I we have to take into account the availability of the source (Freemasonry). Joseph Smith became a Mason after he became a Prophet. I don’t think he was moving backwards in the progression line, and I believe him becoming a Mason was an important factor in the development of his character and part of the training God had planned for him.
We can assume that Egyptian rituals, apocryphal descriptions, early Christian traditions, etc resemble the Temple Ceremony, but these sources were not as readily available to Joseph as Freemasonry was. And the early leaders of the Church did not embrace any other tradition as much as they did Freemasonry. It seems also a bit silly to deny the word per word similarities of the Masonic rite and the Temple endowment.
“Yes, because it did have similarities. But he did not get the endowment from the Masons. To believe that, in my opinion, is to believe Joseph did not receive it from God through revelation, and I believe dismisses Joseph as the prophet he claimed to be.”
I see your point above. I don’t think Joseph “got the endowment from the Masons.” But I strongly believe God himself used the Masons to teach Joseph Smith the principles and format that would later prove adequate for the restoration of the Endowment of the Saints. I find it a weak argument to try to divorce Joseph Smith’s teaching from his Masonic training. I also find unethical to completely discredit the Masons as factors in Joseph Smith’s formation of both doctrine and character, and I do believe they deserve a place in the process.
Brigham Young stated:
“I want to say to my friends that we believe in all good. If you can find a truth in heaven, earth or hell, it belongs to our doctrine. We believe it; it is ours; we claim it.”
Bryce:
I think we have a problem with nomenclature here, I suspect most us of here agree.
There is not a fragmented "authority" that is being revitalized, or something like that, but words and teachings. Earlier, someone used the example of baptism. Baptism has been from antiquity. Joseph did not need to call it something else, he took a practice that was had among the apostate remains of earlier gospel dispensations, he said it will be done like this (immersion), with the authority of God, and these are the words that will be said. But an understanding of baptism already existed, with varying degrees of corruption. Joseph chose to call it the same thing, he framed it in the English language, with words representative of the original words. This is the extent that I am comfortable with Mormonism's connection to Masonry.
While I love Hugh Nibley, and I take his point, in all fairness, there was no Hopi lodge in Navuoo, and as far as I know, none of the early brethren had been initiated in a Hopi lodge.
IMHO, the discussion on the Mormon-Masonic connections has been made hyper-sensitive because the enemies of both Mormonism and Masonry have driven a wedge between us. We are afraid (for good reason) to give an inch, conceding that a word, phrase, idea, or imagery was used from Masonry, because we know how that concession will be used against us. Even though that " word, phrase, idea, or imagery" originated or approximates the earliest temple teachings.
-David
Thanks Manuel for the clarifications. Your explanations make more sense to me now.
“Modify” is a strong word, and does have connotations that he took from one and changed it slightly for the Saints, which I don’t believe is what happened, and is an argument that our critics love to use to show that Joseph was not a prophet. I believe he was “influenced” by Masonry, but that the endowment was received by revelation.
The fact that the endowment has had changes in it since Joseph Smith’s time is not to be misunderstood that he did not receive it fully as an original from God. It is only further evidence that the endowment is given by revelation, and that continued revelation today will modify it as God so desires.
I don’t believe that Joseph had to become a Mason in order to introduce the endowment, but it was a sort of training for what was to be revealed to him. As for the word per word similarities, whether Joseph got them from the Masons or direct from revelation they came from the same source. Just because the Masons were using the same language does not mean that they are the source of it. They may have got it from somewhere much more ancient. Put differently, if two things exist that are similar it does not necessarily mean that one came from the other, but that they may have both sprung from the same source, which is what I believe happened here.
I’m glad we agree that Joseph didn’t “get the endowment from the Masons.” I, like you, believe that God may have used the Masons to teach Joseph in the modes of ceremony and ritual in preparation for the endowment.
David,
Your example of the Hopi lodge is instructive. If there had been a Hopi kiva in Nauvoo, and if Joseph and the early Saints had been initiated into the Hopi rites instead of the Masonic ones, would the world have then cried, “Oh, Joseph clearly got it from the Hopis”? I think they would have. But is that correct? Is it accurate to say that he “modified” the Hopi rites? No.
Masonry has similarities with the temple, and the similarities were instructive to Joseph, perhaps even as a precursor or training in the process of the restoration, but I believe he received the endowment by revelation.
Bryce Said: "… I believe he received the endowment by revelation."
And I fully 100% agree.
I believe if a Hopi lodge was in Navuoo, and the people of Navuoo were active in it, the temple experience of today would have a Hopi flavor to it. But the kernel that is required to be an endowment would still be there, as it is with a Masonic influence.
In the same way that Joseph restord the church by revelation, I'll guarantee you LDS worship services resemble more of the protestant services of Joseph's time, than the first century worship services (they would have had a Jewish flavor to them). The flavor of the meeting is not what makes the church.
-David
I suspect that in the millennium, the time it will take to do a vicarious endowment session will be less than half an hour. A lot of what is done there is for effect, and is not essential for the ordinances.
-David
Aha said: "Most of the men in Nauvoo were experienced masons, and as such, were familiar with a ritualistic form of learning and instruction. . . . it seems they took it *as a given* that [the endowment] was being presented in a [M]asonic style, and such they were more fully able to absorb the message and teachings."
This assertion is not historically accurate. The small number of Mormon Masons in Nauvoo before the endowment was first given is clearly noted in the Founding Minutes of the Nauvoo Lodge.
Aha said: "the notion that while the content of endowment was obtained by revelation, Joseph was given more personal liberty in terms of formulating its presentation."
Which historical document states that "Joseph" formulated the presentation?
Aha said: "In the case of the temple, the message was certainly received by revelation"
But much MORE of the temple ceremony was received by revelation - as noted in D&C 124.
Bryce Haymond said: "I believe Joseph might have borrowed some masonic elements to present the endowment to the Saints."
Are you sure that "Joseph" did such a thing? Have you read all of the accounts of that first day provided by the participants?
Bryce Haymond said: "Perhaps the Lord consciously utilized the Masons as part of the restoration of some of the presentational elements of the ceremony."
Why would He need to do that when He listed the elements that are allegedly 'Masonic' right in D&C 124 (read the ENTIRE section carefully)?
Bryce Haymond said: "Your noting of some of the more peculiar "Masonic" elements of the presentation that have been dropped through the years is good."
If the elements that were dropped (or modified) are truly 'Masonic' then why can they be found among the temple worship of the Bible? You might want to pay attention to what is said at the next FAIR conference.
Jettboy said: "it wasn't considered a scandal by Joseph Smith's contemporary followers that he got some of the Temple ritual from Masonic rites."
Please feel free to produce historical documents where the Prophet or contemporary Saints claimed that he did any such thing.
Jettboy said: "[The temple ritual] was an inspired redaction of the Masonic message of the 'brotherhood' of human kind."
Does your viewpoint mean that we should all ignore the Lord's own definition of the temple ritual provided in D&C 124?
Elijah Sandalphon said: "To understand how Joseph may have viewed Masonry from a religious view I would suggest you read any of the work by Rev. George Oliver."
No thanks. Mindreading of dead historical figures isn't terribly compatible with good scholarship.
Bryce Haymond said: "I think we can all agree that there was at least some influence from Masonry when Joseph instituted the Mormon endowment. . . . Joseph didn't build the pinnacle of Christian worship around the rites of a fraternal brotherhood."
I don't agree ( I need real evidence to be convinced). Again, you might want to study the accounts of the first endowment session from all of the participants. Taken together, both of your statements almost sound contradictory.
Manuel said: "The Temple Endowment, in my opinion, is a modification of the Masonic Rite."
This 'opinion' contradicts the Lord's own words in D&C 124.
Manuel said: "I believe [Joseph Smith] becoming a Mason was an important factor in the development of his character and part of the training God had planned for him."
Those are some major assumptions. Do you have ANY historical documents to back them up?
Manuel said: "We can assume that Egyptian rituals, apocryphal descriptions, early Christian traditions, etc resemble the Temple Ceremony, but these sources were not as readily available to Joseph as Freemasonry was. And the early leaders of the Church did not embrace any other tradition as much as they did Freemasonry."
But the temple ceremony can be seen in great detail in the Book of Mormon (yes, that's right), the Bible, the Pearl of Great Price, and the D&C revelations. A careful study of all of these "readily available" sources indicates that Joseph Smith's knowledge of Nauvoo-era endowment rites were accessible to Joseph Smith long before he became a Freemason.
Manuel said: "I strongly believe God [H]imself used the Masons to teach Joseph Smith the principles and format that would later prove adequate for the restoration of the Endowment of the Saints."
See the comment directly above.
Manuel said: "Brigham Young stated . . . . . ."
Yes, he certainly did. But you are taking his viewpoint on this matter out of context.
David Littlefield said: "Baptism has been from antiquity. Joseph did not need to call it something else, he took a practice that was had among the apostate remains of earlier gospel dispensations, he said it will be done like this (immersion), with the authority of God, and these are the words that will be said. But an understanding of baptism already existed, with varying degrees of corruption. Joseph chose to call it the same thing, he framed it in the English language, with words representative of the original words."
You are ignoring all of those revelations from God on the matter of restoring baptism - including God-given and angel-delivered instructions on the form and the wording.
David Littlefield said: "We are afraid . . . to give an inch, conceding that a word, phrase, idea, or imagery was used from Masonry"
There is no need to concede when those allegedly 'Masonic' words, phrases, ideas, and images in the LDS endowment keep being found among God's ancient Covenant people, verifying that a restoration has taken place - especially when the context of these similarities matches the LDS version as opposed to the Masonic version. These discoveries are still happening (even as recently as last year). There is no need to throw in the towel.
Greg Kearney, in his podcast interview with John Dehlin, had a great line –
something along the lines of:
(speaking of the Nauvoo saints and their Yankee mason roots)
“Joseph used something they already knew
to teach them something new.”
http://mormonstories.org/?p=14
Sporgsmal,
Thanks for your comments. They are well taken.
No I am not, and I have not. That is why I said “might.” I’m not ruling out the possibility.
I think we have to recognize that Joseph was a Mason, as well as several other early Church leaders and members. We can’t discount the possibility that there might have been some amount of influence of Masonry in the Church. But I think we can be clear that the endowment did not come from the Masons. Masonry was not the source. It was given by revelation from God.
Thanks again for all who commented on this post.