Crandall Printing Press

It is 7:45 on a tuesday morning. I wake up in a panic, I accidently overslept after staying up until the wee hours of the morning finishing up my fifteen page research paper. I come to the sudden realization that my class, the same class that my research paper is due in, starts in fifteen minutes and I cannot afford to be late! I jump out of bed, throw on some clothes, and run up to campus. Before rushing into my class, I stop by the Harold B. Library to print off the fifteen page research paper that kept me up so late. I swipe my card in the  nearest printer, and watch as my paper comes out of the machine in the space of about five seconds, pick up the pages, and hurry off to class, arriving just as the clock strikes eight.

As much as I hate to admit it, this scenario has happened to me more than once. On several occasions, the amazingly fast printers have saved me. My experience at the Crandall Printing Press made me realize this fact, and appreciate the amazing technology of today's printers like I never had before. My tour of the museum began at a replication of Guttenberg's printing press. The tour guides explained the amazing inventive process that Guttenberg went through to create the press, and all of the obstacles he had to overcome in order to make his dream a reality. He had to figure out, through experimentation over a long period of time, how to make every single step of the process work, from how to spread the ink, what paper to use, what composition of metal to use as the type, and how to distribute the weight of the press. He truly was a complete pioneer in a completely new field. 

Something particularly amazing about his invention was that for being the first of its kind, it was constructed and thought through so well, that his original design was unchanged and replicated for centuries. It laid the foundation for a whole generation of printers and enabled a vast array of important documents throughout all of history-from the bible, to Common Sense, to the Declaration of Independence, to the Book of Mormon, hundreds of years later. The process of printing was extremely an time consuming practice, required meticulous attention to detail, and was a monotonous task to say the least. Because of this, one can be sure that the works that people chose to print and publish are worthwhile and important. People dedicated there lives to bring ideas and words to people, and I am guilty of often taking this for granted. What I can print off so quickly in the library, would have taken Guttenberg hours and hours. My experience at the Crandall Printing Press Museum really opened my eyes to how far the printing press has come, and gave me a testimony that it truly is a divinely inspired invention.

Sermon to Scripture

As the beginning of April approaches, I always find myself reminiscing about general conferences past. Images of my family all sitting together on the couch in our sweats, munching on chips and dip, playing conference bingo, taking notes and eating delicious Sunday morning Belgian waffles with strawberries and whipped cream, come rushing into my mind. I also vividly remember the times where I have been lucky enough to attend a session of conference in person. I recall getting all dressed up, making the drive up to Salt Lake, walking past the crazy picketers shouting at me that I am damned, sitting in the conference center, hearing the crowd go silent and standing when the prophet walks in, watching the Mormon Tabernacle choir perform, and seeing all the apostles sit on the stand in their big red velvet armchairs.

            While all of these memories are certainly fond ones, by far my favorite part of General Conference twice a year is getting to hear the words of the prophet. During those four sessions of conference, I sit in wonder and am utterly amazed at the opportunity to hear direct messages from my Father in heaven that apply to our lives today. The prophets and apostles I am privileged enough to hear speak for hours, reminding me of what is truly important and give me renewed dedication to more faithfully live the commandments of God. After General Conference has concluded I wait anxiously during the next month for the conference issue of the Ensign to come. Once it arrives, I love dedicating time over the next six months to carefully studying the talks, as modern day revelation and scripture, and applying the counsel to my life.

            I imagine the early saints of the church felt in a very similar way to hearing the prophet Joseph Smith speak, as we feel about general conference today. During the Nauvoo Period of the church between 1839 and 1846 there is a huge decline in “thus saith the Lord” direct revelations and an increase of sermons given by the prophet Joseph.  This decline came from the fact that all of the big questions of the church had already been answered and therefore institutional revelation decreased. At this time however, there was an increase of sermons given by Joseph, along with a greater number of detailed descriptions of them. Many of these sermons were canonized and became scripture for the church. Just as the talks given by prophets and apostles today become modern day scripture, the talks given by Joseph became scripture for the whole church. I am so grateful for the fact that our church is like this, a living church, where we are continually receiving revelation from our Heavenly Father for our lives and that we have prophets, like Joseph Smith and Thomas S. Monson who are worthy to be these mouthpieces of God. 

Joseph Smith Papers Part 2

This week I had the opportunity to study another couple of Joseph Smith's revelations. One of the revelations that struck me as particularly strong was the revelation given on February 17, 1834 in Kirtland, commonly known as the War Prophecy. This revelation is so amazing because it predicts the Civil War in America, thirty years before it actually happened. It gives details on the upcoming war, from the fact that the southern states will be divided against the northern ones, that foreign countries will be involved, and even the specific fact that it will begin with the seceding of South Carolina. This is incredible to me because it is undeniable proof that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. No one could have predicted so exactly events that were yet to occur, without divine inspiration. This revelation was wildly popular, and for a reason. Joseph prophesying such specific events that were to happen was a bold move. It was essentially a way that both non members and saints alike would test him. Of course, Joseph passed this test and his prophecy came to pass, because he was a true prophet and spokesman for God.

The other thing about this revelation that stuck out to me was the advice given at the end of it how to best make it through this time of war and natural disaster. It commands "stand ye in holy places and be not moved". Although the time of the American Civil War has long since past, this commandment is still just as applicable today. We live in a world truly infested with war and rumors of war. You can't turn on the news without hearing of some new conflict or tension. Natural disasters are just as common. Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, and fires seem to be striking everywhere, and many people are living in a state of constant fear. Signs such as this, that these are the last days are inescapable. And just as the saints in 1834 were commanded because of similar events to "stand in holy places and be not moved", we need to follow the same advice today with withstand the world. 

What are these holy places, exactly? The obvious answers such as the temples of the Lord and church buildings are correct. By spending time in these holy buildings we will certainly find new strength and grow closer to our Heavenly Father. Other, less obvious, Holy Places are also present. Our homes can be a holy place, a place of peace, love, and refuge from the world. Anyplace, in fact, where the Holy Ghost can reside is a holy place. I personally believe that a holy place can even be a state of mind-when one wants nothing more than to serve the Lord, follow the commandments, and return back to him one day. Surely more wars and treacherous times, like the American Civil War prophesied by Joseph Smith, will occur. But if we stay strong and stand unmovable in holy places, we will make it through them as better people and better servants of God.

My Experience at the Art Museum

I had the opportunity to spend over an hour in the Museum of Art at Brigham Young University today, and I must say that wandering through the Types and Shadows: Imitations of Divinity exhibit was a very powerful spiritual experience for me. The works of art all spoke of Christ, even though a wide variety of mediums were used, from paintings, to sculptures, to etchings. I was amazed at the beauty of all the artwork and the time it must have taken to the artists to create such masterpieces. But the images were so much more than something beautiful to look at, for they testified of Christ. Some spoke of the Savior obviously by depicting him and his life directly. However, some of my very favorite pieces were the ones which at first glance were not even religious. In fact, when I first saw them I wondered if the curator had made some sort of mistake, because surely this particular piece did not belong in a religious exhibit. But as I took the time to carefully study the piece, dissecting it in my mind, and asking myself questions like "what message is the artist trying to communicate to me?" and "Where is the Savior hidden in the piece, what are the symbols?", the art truly came to life for me. Religious symbols seemed to leap off of the canvas and I was able to see how the piece was an "imitation of divinity". The presence of God in the piece was suddenly so obvious that I questioned why I could not see it before. I was able to relate things elements from the work to my own life and the Savior's presence in it. I attained an important message and significance from each piece in the exhibit, and whether it was the specific message the artist had intended, it certainly strengthened my testimony and made the art relatable and applicable to me.  

Searching for the Savior in all the artwork of the exhibit made me ponder about my own life. There are times in my life when I can feel his presence and hand in my life directly, while attending church or the temple, praying, or receiving a priesthood blessing for example. I think these are like the pieces in the exhibit at the Museum of Art which displayed the Savior clearly and specifically. There are also times on the other hand, when I have to stop, be still, and ponder in order to see his presence in my life. And just as I was always able to find religious meaning in each piece at the Types and Shadows: Imitations of Divinity exhibit, I will always be able to find his hand in my life and feel his love for me, and that is something more beautiful than any piece of art in any museum in the world.

Joseph Smith Papers

I have always found it amazing as I read the scriptures or another work of revelation, that while all the material is incredibly worthwhile, there is always one particular point that resonates especially strong with me. I experienced this same thing as I studied the winter 1832-1833 revelations in The Joseph Smith Papers. These revelations are full of valuable guidance and counsel and I learned a lot from them. However, the most memorable part for me was the part that discussed that those who do not live a celestial law will not be able to abide a celestial glory, those who do not live a terrestial law will not be able to abide a terrestial glory, and those who cannot live a telestial law would not be able to abide telestial glory. 

I had heard this information before but reading it in the Joseph Smith Papers this time was a powerful experience for me. It really made me think and question if I was living a celestial law. While I try to do what is right and follow the commandments, I am certainly guilty of the common "I will be better when..." mentality that many members of the church struggle with. I find myself saying, almost subconsciously, in my everyday that "I will be more patient when I am a mother" or "I will make more time to attend the temple once I get married" or "I will take the time to serve my fellow men once this semester of school is over". This mentality is a flawed one. Life continues to move forward and continues to be busy. Endless amounts of time to spend on temple attendance, service, or scripture study never just pops up, you need to make time for them. The personal traits you will to obtain will not just arise out of thin air, you need to consciously work to develop them. 

Because of this fact, the revelation in the Joseph Smith Papers just makes sense. When we move on to the next life we will not suddenly be completely different and perfect individuals. We will retain the same personalities, desires, and goals. We will be the exact same people there are we are here, and therefore we must be living the same kind of life here that we hope to be living there. I know that I want with all my heart to obtain a celestial glory and be able to be exalted. Because of this desire, I know that I will have to live the same laws and commandments now that I will be living then. 

Joseph and Liberty

Life is hard. I don't think that anyone could  deny the simple fact that there are times in life that are lonely, stressful, and full of heartache. These times are hopefully short and the majority of life is wonderful but everyone has to go through trials at some point in time. These times of struggle affect everyone differently. Some choose to wallow in their suffering and become bitter and closed off, some choose to remain optimistic, learn from their trials, and become better from them. Many others fall somewhere in the middle, simply enduring their trials and trying to move on afterwards. 

If anyone endured a time of trial it was Joseph Smith during his time at Liberty Jail. During this four and a half month long incarceration  Joseph faced horrible living conditions-little to eat, only dirty straw to sleep on, little protection from the bitter cold, and so little room that he could not even stand erect. Even worse, Joseph was taken away from his wife and family and church as they were being persecuted and in desperate need of help. 

During this time of suffering Joseph is naturally disheartened. He asks the Lord why he has been forsaken and why he and his people are enduring such harsh trials and how much longer they must continue. These types of questions are natural for us as individuals-we seek reassurance that the Lord is listening and that he is aware of our situation and  cares about us. Heavenly Father responds to Joseph just as he has promised to respond to all of his. He answers his heart-felt questions and lets him know that his suffering is only for a small moment. This had to be a welcome message of hope to Joseph-reassurance that brighter times would come and that the pain he was enduring would not last forever. 

The Lord also let him know that he has not yet suffered as much as Christ, or Job for that matter, and that they endured their trials well. This wider perspective had to of have a sobering and humbling effect on Joseph. So much of the time we foolishly convince ourselves that no one understands our problems and that the lot life has given us is so much harder than everyone else's. We fail to see the opportunity that we have to become humble and learn from our trials, just as the prophet Joseph did. During his incarceration at Liberty Jail, Joseph received so much revelation that it has often been referred to as a "temple-prison". From his time of tribulation, not only was Joseph blessed but the entire church was as well. 

Liberty Jail was a catalyst that forever changed Joseph Smith. Not only did it teach him valuable lessons, but it also made him a powerful speaker. Before his imprisonment he relied on spokesman, but after his release he became the preacher of the church. The following revelations recording in Nauvoo were in actuality Joseph's teachings and sermons. Though it was tough, his trial made him better and stronger. I pray that I can react to my own personal "Liberty Jail"s in a similar matter and through them grow closer to Christ and my Father in heaven.

 

Section 137

The word gospel, as many know, literally means good news. There could not be a more fitting meaning for the gospel and teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout my life as a member of this church there have been countless times where possessing the knowledge and testimony the gospel has given me hope, comfort and joy. But the joy the gospel gives does not just apply to me, it is rather a gospel of universal good news. It is a source of hope for every man, woman, and child who has ever lived on the earth.

I believe that Section 137 of the Doctrine and Covenants is one of the most hopeful and comforting revelations in all doctrine. In this revelation, the prophet Joseph Smith has a vision of the Celestial Kingdom. In this vision of heaven he sees his mother and father, who were both alive at the time, and to his great surprise he also sees his older brother Alvin in the Celestial Kingdom. Joseph was not surprised because Alvin was not a good person, because he certainly was. Joseph was shocked because Alvin passed away at a fairly young age and had never been baptized. Everything that Joseph had learned in his previous religious education had suggested that in order to be saved, baptism was an absolute necessity. Without it, Christians simply believed that a soul was damned. 

In this marvelous vision, however, Joseph learns an entirely new concept-that it is possible for those who have died without being baptized to still receive salvation. He further learns that if a child dies before reaching the age of accountability, that they will be exalted as well, even though they were not formally baptized. Both of these ideas were completely novel to religion during the time period of this revelation.

I absolutely love section 137 and the revelations it holds. Not only do I love them, but they make perfect sense to me! One thing that I have learned to be an absolute truth during my life and experiences is that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me, knows me and wants me to return to live with him again. I also know, however that he loves every one of his children just as much as he loves me, even those who were not as lucky as I was to be born into his true church or to accept the gospel during their lives. Because of this great love he possesses, of course he provided an opportunity for every single one of them to be receive eternal life, nothing else would be fitting!  This glorious fact should most certainly be a piece of "good news" to every child of god, but it should also install a deep sense of responsibility into those privileged enough to have heard it. That profound and responsibility is to do the necessary work so that the dead will indeed have that joyful opportunity.

Special Collections

This week I had the opportunity to visit the Special Collections in the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University. It was a truly amazing chance to see many pieces of ancient and extremely valuable literature from all around the world. It was also fascinating to hear about how the methods of recording and publishing have changed over the centuries. I was able to see a wide variety of examples of the different techniques  that were used such as carvings in clay and turtle shells, meticulous recording by hand on papyrus and vellum and finally the type of Guttenberg's modern printing press on paper. 

One of the things that left a huge impression on me was how much time and energy individuals placed into recording things that they believed to be of great importance. Their entire life's work could often be viewed as a few pages in a book. These men and women, primarily in monasteries and convents, poured countless hours into making a perfect copy and record of religious writings so that they could be preserved for future generations. But they did not just stop with the flawless writing. They adorned these texts with beautiful adornments, illustrations, and borders. This elaborate artwork added to the text showed just how much value these texts possessed and how much respect they showed it.

Seeing the herculean effort that was put into recording this religious literature made me realize how much I take the books I have for granted. As a student, I flip through the pages of various books everyday without giving a second thought to how amazing it is that I have all this literature at my disposal. More importantly, as I study my scriptures every night I unfortunately rarely think of the immense sacrifices many people made so that I could hold that book in my hands. People through the centuries have endured countless trials and many even gave their lives to preserve the word of God for future generations. Because of their sacrifice I am able to profit and learn from these amazing works of literature. It also reminded me of the sacrifice that Joseph Smith made to bring another piece of ancient literature containing the words of God into the hands of people all over the world. Though he was recording revelations through a scribe on paper instead of on a turtle shell, publishing these revelations was a huge part of his life's work and he made enormous sacrifices to have it published. My visit to the special collections heightened my gratitude for the efforts that people around the world have made to conserve important pieces of literature and made me realize just how blessed I am to have access to them today.

Suffering

In today's world we seem to be completely surrounded by human suffering. From watching the current tragic images of torn apart families in Haiti on the news, to watching a close friend deal with the death of her young mother, and witnessing friends and their families trying to overcome destructive addictions, I seem to see heartache at every turn. Many people see this suffering in the world and say that there surely cannot be a God, because no God would allow his children to go through this kind of pain." I, on the other hand, beg to differ. For me, trials serve as a solid piece of evidence that there is indeed a God and that he loves his children.

Helen Keller once said, "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved." This statement is powerful in and of itself, but it is especially poignant coming from a woman who was both deaf and blind and had a life full of suffering. And while I myself am neither deaf of blind, I can attest that her statement is true, that through trials our characters are developed and that our souls are strengthened. Most importantly however, during times of suffering we are brought closer to our Heavenly Father. 

I have seen this happen in my own life many times. Looking back, while the periods of my life when I was enduring trials were painful and certainly not fun, I would not give them up for anything. That is because during these trials and suffering I was humbled and came to rely on my Heavenly Father as a pillar of support. My relationship with him and my Savior were strengthened as I drew near to them when I felt I had no one else to turn to. I developed a testimony that my father in Heaven knew me and that he was aware of me and my problems. I also was taught the value and importance of service as I was able to escape my problems and find joy in easing the burdens of others.

The Doctrine and Covenants is full of experiences where trials helped strengthen character and bring the saints closer to God. The experience of Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail in particularly comes to mind. For four and a half months in the bitter cold of winter he was held in a cramped, dark, and freezing jail cell with little food. While suffering these conditions would most certainly be categorized as suffered, the things that Joseph learned there were so sacred and important that the place is now commonly referred to as a "temple-prison." 

Suffering is inevitable in our lives. It can come from natural calamities, as a result of a  choice made by yourself or another, or simply from the fact that we need to be humbled and our Heavenly Father is trying to teach us something and help us grow. And while no one looks forward to this suffering, if we choose to "suffer our trials well" I have a firm testimony that we can learn from them, develop our character, and grow closer to our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Patriarchal Blessings and the Doctrine & Covenants

 The Doctrine and Covenants shares many characteristics with patriarchal blessings. A patriarchal blessing is a special blessing given to an individual, in which God shares specific insight and guidance to its recipient. The Doctrine and Covenants on the other hand is a book of scripture, comprised of revelations given to the prophet Joseph Smith during the early years of the church. On deeper thought however, the Doctrine and Covenants could be viewed as a compilation of patriarchal blessings. This comparison can be made because like patriarchal blessings, the sections of the Doctrine and Covenants are the written-down revelations directly from Heavenly Father. They are evidence of the fact that God loves his children and continues ti guide and speak to them in modern times. The revelations of the Doctrine and Covenants  hold information pertinent to the church for the time in which they were given, just as out patriarchal blessings possess counsel from Heavenly Father that is directly relevant to our lives today.

Another important characteristic that these two things share is that they are in all actuality scripture. As scripture, they both should be carefully studied frequently and prayerfully. They both possess important guidance and commandments that if followed, will lead an individual towards salvation and exaltation. One difference, however, is that while some of its revelations are given to specific individuals, the Doctrine and Covenants is, as its title suggests, doctrine for the entire church. Accordingly, it is widely distributed and shared and studied in public settings. Patriarchal blessings, on the other hand, are immensely personal. So personal in fact, that they declare the recipient's direct lineage from the house of Israel. The commandments and blessings it holds are specifically and exclusively directed towards the individual it was given to. They are so sacred and personal that they are not to be shared with others, except for on specific occasions when its owner is prompted to share certain sections of it with close loved ones.

One aspect that patriarchal blessings and the Doctrine and Covenants share is that they are both given through the means of divinely inspired and ordained men. The revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants were given to the prophet Joseph Smith. In accordance with his calling as prophet and president of the church, he was able to receive and record the will of Heavenly Father for his church and its members. A patriarchal blessing is also given through ordained men. These men hold the sacred calling of patriarch, and are able to receive revelation from God about a specific individual while giving a blessing.