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PreparatoryLightsandPerfections

Inthedispensationofthegospelforthelasttimes,theLordsaidHewouldgathertogetherin oneallthings(D&C27:13).ThatHechosetoinitiatethisgatheringofdoctrines,keys,andcovenants ofthepastbymeansofJosephSmith,Jr.,uneducatedandunimportantintheworld,allowsustosee theLordsprocessofinventingaprophet,seer,andrevelatorfromthegroundup.Inthefirsthalfofthe DoctrineandCovenants,Josephisaquietbutpersistentpresence,surfacingessentiallywhenreproved orcommanded,whichoccurswithegalitarianconsistency.Withinthesepassages,andexternalaccounts byJosephandhiscontemporaries,itispossibletocometoagreaterunderstandingofthemeansand toolsGodusedtoshapethisobscureboy(JSH1:22)intoaprophetlikethoseofold.Inthis analysis,IwillfocusprincipallyontheuseofmiraculousoraculartoolssuchastheUrimandThummim (inHebrew,lightsandperfections)andseerstonesinJosephstraining,andcomparethemtoancient andcontemporarycontexts,seekingtounderstandtheireffectontheProphetandontherestorationof theChurchofJesusChristinthisdispensation. TheprocessbywhichJosephSmith,Jr.cametounderstandandaccepthisdivinecallingwas evidentlyverygradual.Thathewasraisedinaspiritualenvironmentbutwithoutagreatdealof organizedreligionmaybeverysignificant:theorganizedreligionofhisdayhadalmostentirelygivenup ontheideaofdivinerevelationinthewayitappearedintheBible.RichardBushmanwritesinRough StoneRolling,however,thatthespiritualclimateoftheAmericannortheastinJosephsdaywasfar moreopentothephenomenaoftheunseenworld,includingfolkmagicandsupernaturalpowers:unlike

theministers,ordinarypeopleapparentlyhadnotroubleblendingChristianitywithmagic(50). Whethermisplacedorotherwise,Josephsfamilyhadasimplewillingnesstobelieveinmorethanthey couldseeaswellasmorethanwhattheyheardintheoccasionalSundaysermon.Bushmanproposes thatthiswasanimportantaspectoftheenvironmentinwhichJosephfirstreceivedrevelationand preparedfortheworkofaprophet,allowinghisfamilytobelievehisunorthodoxclaimswherethe establishmentrejectedthemoutright. Josephsexperienceinthegroveoftrees,whichhedidnotrecountuntillater,andthennotallat once,musthaveseemeddeeplypersonaltohimatthetime.FromtheChurchscanonicalaccount,we readonlythathewasforbiddenbyGodtojoinanyexistingchurchandtoldmanyotherthings,whichI cannotwriteatthistime(JSH1:1920),leavingopenthepossibilitythatheknewsomewhatofhis futurepropheticcall,butgivingnoevidencethereof.Hisfirstknownintimationsofthiscallwouldnot comeuntil,attemptinganothercommunicationwithGod,hewasvisitedbyMoroniandtoldaboutthe platesofgoldhiddenatCumorah. Itisthetaskofrecoveringandtranslatingtheplatesthatappearstohaveformedthemost crucialandlastinginfluenceinJosephstransformationfromanobscureboyintoaseer,atranslator, aprophet,anapostleofJesusChrist(D&C21:1)ashewascalledbyrevelationonthedayofthe officialorganizationoftheChurch.WhereJosephhadbeforebeenemployedasatreasureseeker, usingnotonlyshovelsandpicksbutsupernaturalmeanstoseekriches,Moroniremindedhimagainand againthathecouldnotapproachthegoldenplatesinthesamespiritorframeofmind.Hereports Moroniswarning:[...]Satanwouldtrytotemptme[...]togettheplatesforthepurposeofgettingrich. Thisheforbademe,sayingthatImusthavenootherobjectinview[...]buttoglorifyGod(JSH

1:46).ThusJosephsculturalunderstandingofthesupernaturalwasredirectedfromasearchforthe temporalwellbeingheandhisfamilylacked,tothespiritualfulfillmenttheyalsocraved. BushmanwritesofthistransitioninJosephsperspective:Bythistime,[he]apparentlyfeltthat seeingwithastonewastheworkofaseer,areligiousterm,whilepeepingorglasslookingwas fraudulent(51).Thoughhehadpreviouslyfoundandusedstonesforsupernaturalvision(accordingto hismother),Josephdevelopedagrandervisionoftheiruse.Hewasbeingpreparedtoreceivethe platesaswellastheUrimandThummim,asacredtoolwhichIwilldiscussbelow.Hispreparation lastedfouryears,duringwhichtimehedistancedhimself,withdifficulty,fromformertreasureseeking companyandpursuits,andworkedtopurifyhisintentbeforeGod. ThedayarrivedwhenJosephwasatlastentrustedwiththesacredobjects.Accordingtothe recollectionofJosephKnight,Sr.,whowaspresentattheSmithhomeatthetime,Josephwas tremendouslyexcitedabouteverything,butmostespeciallyabouttheUrimandThummim:Icansee anythinghequotesJosephassaying.TheyareMarvelus(33).Thoughhedidnotyetknowwhathe couldandwoulddowiththeplates,Josephhadpreviousexperiencewiththemechanismofusingstones (ofwhichthisUrimandThummimapparentlywasseeLucyMackSmithshistory,101)andthisdevice apparentlyexceededthecapabilityofotherstonesenoughtoexcitehimconsiderably. ThoughtheChristianworldwasawareoftheexistenceofanoraculartoolcalledtheUrimand Thummim,firstreferencedinExodus28andLeviticus8,ChristianfathersandlaterProtestantreformers madelittleefforttodefineandcommentonitsformorfunction,usuallycontentingthemselveswithan explanationthatitwasrepresentativeofChristasthefinalrevelationtomankind(VanDam,1116). Indeed,theestablishedreligionofJosephSmithsenvironsheldlittleesteemforthemodusoperandiof

theGodoftheOldTestament.Wemaywellask,inlightofthesecircumstances,whyJosephwas providedthistoolinsteadofreceivinginspirationdirectly.Whydidhisfirsttaskoftranslationrequirethe useofanobscureinstrumentmentionedbrieflyinancientscriptureanddisdainedbythemajorityof theologians? CorneliusVanDam,amodern,nonLatterDaySainttheologian,wroteacomprehensivebook ontheform,use,andsignificanceoftheUrimandThummiminancientIsrael.Inhisbook,headmitsthe diversityofopinionsdatingbacktopreChristiansources,eachbasedtosomedegreeonBiblical evidence.Thevastmajorityofsourcesagreeonthebasicidea,however,thattheUrimandThummim was/wereusedasatoolforreceivinganswersfromJehovah,theGodofIsrael.Itwasassociatedwith theholyclothingofthePriesthood,butthemattersitwasusedtoanswerwereoftenpoliticalor conflictrelated(VanDam,205,216).ItwasanimportantfixtureofIsraelitereligionintheperiodofthe judgesandtheearlymonarchyofSaulandDavid(VanDam,4).Itispossible,therefore,thatitsusein thedispensationofthefulnessoftimeswasinordertogathertogetherintooneallthingsfromthepast. However,thereareequallycompellingpossiblereasonsforwhichtheLordmighthavecaused JosephtobeginreceivingtherevelationswiththeaidoftheUrimandThummim.Thoughsomescholars arguethatithadnophysicalform(seeVanDam,4)oneofthemanypossibleinterpretationsofthe BiblicalUrimandThummim(whichisnotnecessarilyidenticalinformtothatobtainedbyJoseph) resemblesthatusedinthisdispensation,whichwasdescribedbyLucyMackSmithastwosmooth threecornereddiamondssetinglassandfixedinbowsthatwereconnected,asshesaid,like oldfashionedspectacles,(quotedinBushman,59).Thetwostonesorstoneanaloguesweresetin metalloopslikethetwoonyxstonesdescribedinExodus28:911,thoughthesearenotspecifically

equatedwiththeUrimandThummim.Theuseofaphysicalobjecttofocusonesmindonspiritual things,asatypeandashadow,wasacommonfeatureoftheAaronic,orpreparatoryPriesthoodofthe OldTestament.Itispossiblethatthepossessionoftheseobjectsactedasaphysicalsupportto Josephsnewandintimidatingwork. ThisviewofapreparatorymeansofrevelationissupportedbyastatementfromJohnA. Widtsoe:

TheProphetdidnotalwaysreceiverevelationsbytheaidoftheUrimandThummim.Ashegrew inspiritualpower,helearnedtobringhismindintosuchharmonywithdivineforcesthatit became,asitwere,itselfaUrimandThummimtohimandGodswillwasrevealedwithoutthe interventionofexternalaidsthatis,truthmaybecomeknownwithoutoutsidehelpwhenoneisin harmonyorinfulltunewiththerequirementsofthesubjectinhand(Evidencesand Reconciliations,90).

ThustheProphetdidindeedreachapoint,laterinhisministry,whereheusedthephysicaltoolsless frequentlyandreliedondirectcommunicationwiththeLordforrevelation.RichardCowennotedthatat leasthalftherevelationsJosephreceivedbeforetherestorationoftheMelchizedekPriesthoodwere facilitatedbytheUrimandThummimwhereas,heclaims,Josephnolongerusedthedeviceafter receivingthesuperiorPriesthood. Afinalreasonmaywellbesimplytofulfilanothersetofpropheciesindeed,thepropheciesare certainlyasecondaryifnotaprimaryreasonforwhichJosephreceivedtheinterpreters.Josephmust havepaidspecialattentionwhen,inthecourseoftranslatingtheBookofMormon,hecametothe followingpassagein2ndNephi:

Yea,Josephtrulysaid:ThussaiththeLorduntome:AchoiceseerwillIraiseupoutofthefruit

ofthyloinsandheshallbeesteemedhighlyamongthefruitofthyloins.AnduntohimwillIgive commandmentthatheshalldoaworkforthefruitofthyloins,hisbrethren,whichshallbeof greatworthuntothem,eventothebringingofthemtotheknowledgeofthecovenantswhichI havemadewiththyfathers(2Nephi3:7).

Laterinthesamepassage,Josephtranslatedadetailtotheprophecythatnamedhimandhis father:thatthischoiceseerwouldbecalledJoseph,afterhisfather(2Nephi3:15).Inthebookof Mosiah,hefurtherlearnedthataseerwasonecommandedtolookinto[interpreters](Mosiah 8:13),andinthebookofAlmathattheseinterpreterswerepreparedthatthewordofGodmightbe fulfilled(Alma37:24).ThecallingsofseerandtranslatorwereunderstoodbytheChurchandby Josephasessentialto,andevidenceof,thedivineworkinthelatterdays,totheextentthatwhen Josephprogressedbeyondtheconstantuseoftheseerstones,DavidWhitmerthoughtthisabig mistake(Bushman,120)andHiramPageclaimedtohavehisownstoneandreceiverevelations thereby(McConkie,5656seeD&C28:11).ThoughdisdainedbymainstreamChristianity,theuseof theUrimandThummimwasanimportantpartofthebeliefofmanyearlyconvertstotheChurch,tothe pointthattheyclungtotheidealongafterJosephneededit. WhateffectsdidtheUrimandThummimhaveontheProphetasheprogressedinhisministry? AcharacteristicoftheuseofthetoolnotedbyVanDamandsummarizedinareviewofhisbookby KerryShirtsisthattheoracularrevelationoftenrequiredtheinitiativeofsomeoneotherthanthebearer ofit.Kingsandwarriorswenttothepriest,butwhentheyinquired,itwasoftheLord.TheearlySaints werequicktolearnthisnotion,ashugenumbersofrevelationsintheDoctrineandCovenantswere receivedasordinarymembersoftheChurchwenttoJosephforhishelpininquiringoftheLord(e.g. D&C4and11,tohisfatherandbrotherHyrum,respectively).

Indeed,theuseoftheUrimandThummimtrainedJosephfortheworkinvolvedinthe revelatoryprocess.InBookofMormonAuthorship,B.H.Robertsisquotedasexplaining:
AlthoughJosephSmithaffirmedheusedaUrimandThummim,theinstrumentdidnotdo everythingandtheProphetnothing.Robertsinsistedthatthetranslationprocesswasneitherso simplenorsoeasyashasbeensupposedbybothadvocatedandcriticsoftheProphet.Onthe contrary,brainsweatwasrequired,andpreparation,andlabor(Reynolds1,1314).

Itwasindeedwork,andJosephhadtobecomeaccustomedtoit.Whilehewasinitiallyexhaustedafter revelationandspiritualmanifestations(forexample,afterhisfirstvisionandthevisitationsofMoroni, JSH1:20)Josephgrewcapableofbearingsustainedrevelatoryexperienceswhereotherscouldnot.In RoughStoneRolling,BushmancitestheaftermathofthereceptionofwhatisnowfoundinD&C76: [Sidney]RigdonwasdroopingbytheendwhileJosephwasstillfresh.BrotherSidneyisnotasused toitasIam,Josephisreputedtohavesaid(197). AnotherresultofJosephsapprenticeshipwiththeUrimandThummimwasthepainfullessonhe learnedafterthelossofthefirst116pagesofthemanuscript,afterwhichtheplatesandtheseerstones weretakenfromhimforatime.Heimmediatelyfeltthegravityoftheresultofhismistake,whichhad comebecausehehadfearedmanmorethanGod(D&C3:7)andhadanearly,hardlessononthe responsibilityinvolvedinhisholycalling.ThisismirroredinancientIsraelitehistory,whereoracular activitybytheUrimandThummimceased,accordingtoJosephus,becauseofGodsdispleasureat thetransgressionofthelaws(VanDam,20). ThoughtheChurchandJosephssuccessorsnolongerhavetheUrimandThummimhe received(andreturned)toMoroni,Josephtaughtthattheirsignificanceisnotdiminishedbytimeand theyarenotobsoleteintheGospelplan.Indeed,therearetwoteachingsbytheProphetindicatingthe

worthofsuchspiritualtoolstotheSaintsofthepresentandfuture. ThefirstisreportedbyBrighamYoung,accordingtowhomJosephsaidthateverymanwho livedontheearthwasentitledtoaseerstoneandshouldhaveone,buttheyarekeptfromthemin consequenceoftheirwickedness(citedinBushman,49).Ifthisisindeedthecase,itisoneofmany instancesofthemembersoftheChurchlivingbeneaththeirprivileges,whichgrievedJoseph.Bushman summarizeshisoptimisticapproachbysayingthatheheldouttheexpectationthroughouthislifethathis followerscouldreceiverevelationsorseethefaceofGodashedid(73). Finally,JosephtaughtthatthedwellingplaceofGodisagreatUrimandThummimandthe earth,oncesanctifiedandrenewed,wouldbemadelikeuntocrystalandwouldbelikeaUrimand Thummimtotheinhabitantswhodwellthereon,wherebyallthings[...]willbemanifesttothosewho dwellonitfurthermore,thatthewhitestonementionedinRevelation2:17wouldbegiventoinheritors ofCelestialgloryandwouldrevealthingspertainingtoahigherkingdomandcontaintheirnewname (D&C130:811). TheUrimandThummimandothersacreddevicesandtoolsplayedatremendousroleinthe restorationoftheGospelofJesusChristandinthepreparationofJosephSmithtoleadanddirectHis Church.ThesetoolsservedtopreparetheProphetandeachofustoreceivegreaterlightsand perfectionsasweprogressindiscipleshipofChrist,justastheydidforHisdisciplesintimespast.

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Cowen,RichardO.DoctrineandCovenants:OurModernScripture.2nd.YoungHouse,1978. Knight,JosephSr.JosephKnightsRecollectionofEarlyMormonHistory.EditedbyDeanC.Jesse. BYUStudies17,no.1(1976):2939. McConkie,Bruce.MormonDoctrine.2nd.SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1966. Reynolds,Noel,ed.BookofMormonAuthorship:NewLightonAncientOrigins.Provo:FARMS, 1982.731. Reynolds,Noel,ed.BookofMormonAuthorshipRevisited:TheEvidenceforAncientOrigins. Provo:FARMS,1997.21386193391521. Shirts,Kerry."TheUrimandThummim:AMeansofRevelationinAncientIsrael."ShirtailReview. FAIR,n.d.Web.26Nov2011.<http://www.ida.net/graphics/shirtail/cornelis.htm>. Smith,JosephFielding.TeachingsoftheProphetJosephSmith.AmericanFork:Covenant,2005. Smith,LucyMack.BiographicalSketchesofJosephSmiththeProphetandhisProgenitorsfor ManyGenerations.Liverpool,S.W.Richards:1853. Smith,LucyMack.PreliminaryManuscript[184445].ChurchArchives.TheChurchofJesusChristof LatterDaySaints.SaltLakeCity,Utah. VanDam,Cornelius.TheUrimandThummim:ameansofrevelationinancientIsrael. Eisenbrauns,1997. Widtsoe,JohnA.EvidencesandReconciliations.SaltLakeCity:Bookcraft,1960.Arr.Durham, HomerG.