Authentic Joseph Smith (No. 15)

Part of the Joseph Smith, Jr. Series

All blue quotes by Joseph Smith (unless otherwise noted).

From History of the Church, 6:473

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Nauvoo Temple

Just a quick note – I recently went through the Nauvoo Temple, and the endowment session has four rooms instead of just one or two. Each room has a delightful mural. Since you stand up and move thrice as the session progresses, it keeps you awake. The temple interior and the four rooms feel like they came from pioneer times. Even the lockers are made out of wood. If you ever have the opportunity to go through the Nauvoo Temple – it’s worth it.

The Book of Revelation

On Sunday, the 16th of June, 1844, Joseph Smith spoke to a crowd in a grove of trees east of the Nauvoo Temple. He died 11 days later – so this is Joseph at the height of his understanding and wisdom.

He read Revelation 1:6

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Made us kings and priests unto God – where have you heard that idea before?

Note: the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation.

Joseph Smith then said, “I am bold to declare I have taught all the strong doctrines publicly, (and always stronger…what I preach in private). John was one of the men & the apostles [who] declare they were made kings and priests unto God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Looking at the Joseph Smith translation sheds a little more light.

6 And unto him who loved us, be glory; who washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God, his Father. To him be glory and dominion, forever and ever. Amen.

7 For behold, he cometh in the clouds with ten thousands of his saints in the kingdom, clothed with the glory of his Father. And every eye shall see him; and they who pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (JST Revelation 1:6-7)

Church of the Firstborn

Clicking on the footnotes in verse 6 came up with D&C 76:50-60. Especially notice verse 56.

50 And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—
51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
53 And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true. (Your valiant, compassionate, merciful, charitable, stalwart Saints)
54 They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.
55 They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—
56 They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;
57 And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.
58 Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—
59 Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
60 And they shall overcome all things.

That’s quite a picture – those who have been made kings and priests unto God will be the ones that come with Him in the clouds.

Takeaway

Joseph leaves us a legacy of rich understanding and a much fuller picture of the Gospel and the Plan. I am forever grateful to that man who communed with Jehovah. When he died, he had 40-50 lawsuits against him – the world despised him and mocked him from every angle. He sacrificed much to be the prophet of this dispensation. It will be an honor to ‘know Brother Joseph again’ during the millennium.

Author’s Notes

The Joseph Smith Series comes from, in part, a book called “The Words of Joseph Smith.”

Note: usually, the book costs a small fortune ($150-$250) because it is out of print. But I found it for free at the BYU Religious Studies Center. (Thank you, BYU)

(P.S. I receive no compensation for any recommendations – I like sharing.)