Joseph Smith’s Commentary on the Bible - Genesis Chapters 4-49

 

Genesis 4:4

"And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering" (Genesis 4:4)

 

Date:                5 October 1840 (Tuesday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County Illinois, USA

Source: Robert B. Thompson manuscript (Words of Joseph Smith, 40) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"How doth [Abel] yet speak? Why he magnified the priesthood which was conferred upon him and died a righteous man and therefore has become an angel of God by receiving his body from the dead. Therefore, holding still the keys of his dispensation, [he] was sent down from heaven unto Paul to minister consoling words and to commit unto him a knowledge of the mysteries of godliness. And if this was not the case, I would ask, how did Paul know so much about Abel, and why should he talk about his speaking after he was dead? How he spoke after he was dead must be by being sent down out of heaven to administer."

 

Original:

"how doth ye yet speak? Why he magnified the Priesthood which was confired upon him and died a righteous man, and therefore has become a righteous man an angel of God by receiving his body form the dead, therefore holding still  the keys of his dispensation and was sent down from heaven unto Paul to minister consoling words & to commit unto him a knowledge of the mysteries of Godliness and if this was not the case I would ask how did Paul know so much about Abel and why should he talk about his speaking after he was dead. How that he spoke after he was dead must be, by being sent down out of heaven, to administer."

 

Genesis 4:5

"But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell" (Genesis 4:5).

 

Date:                5 October 1840 (Tuesday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County Illinois, USA

Source: Robert B. Thompson manuscript (Words of Joseph Smith, 40-41) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"The power, glory, and blessings of the priesthood could not continue with [all] those who received ordination, [but] only as their righteousness continued. For Cain also being authorized to offer sacrifice but not offering it in righteousness, therefore he was cursed. It signifies, then, that the ordinances must be kept in the very way God has appointed; otherwise their priesthood will prove a cursing instead of a blessing. If Cain had fulfilled the law of righteousness as did Enoch, he could have walked with God all the days of his life and never failed of a blessing."

 

Original:

"The power, glory, and blessings of the priesthood could not continue with those who received ordination only as their righteousness continued, for Cain also being authorized to offer sacrifice but not offering it in righteousness, therefore he was cursed. It signifies then, that they ordinances must be kept in the very way God has appointed, otherwise their priesthood will prove a cursing instead of a blessing. If Cain had fulfilled the law or righteousness as did Enoch he could have walked with God all the days of his life and never failed of a blessing."

 

Genesis 5:5, D&C 107:53-57

"And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died" (Genesis 5:5).

"Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing

And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel.

And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever.

And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation.

These things were all written in the book of Enoch, and are to be testified of in due time" (D&C 107:53-57).

 

Date:                1839

Location:         

Source: Willard Richards Pocket Companion (Words of Joseph Smith, 9) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"I saw Adam in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman. He called together his children and blessed them with a patriarchal blessing. The Lord appeared in their midst. And Adam blessed them all and foretold what should befall them to the latest generation." 

 

Original:

"I saw Adam in the valley of Ah-dam-ondi-Ahman—he called together his children & blessed them with a Patriarchal blessing. The Lord appeared in their midst, & he (Adam) blessed them all,  & foretold what should befall them to the latest generation."

 

Moses 7:62

"And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem" (Moses 7:62).

 

Date:                November 1835

Location:          Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio, USA

Source: Messenger and Advocate (November 1835): 209

 

Joseph Smith:

"God clearly manifested to Enoch the redemption which he prepared by offering the Messiah as a Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world, [and] by virtue of the same the glorious resurrection of the Savior and the resurrection of all the human family, even a resurrection of their corporeal bodies, and also righteousness and truth to sweep the earth as with a flood. Now I ask how righteousness and truth are going to sweep the earth as with a flood. I will answer: Men and angels are to be co-workers in bringing to pass this great work, and a Zion is to be prepared—even a new Jerusalem—for the elect that are to be gathered from the four quarters of the earth, and to be established an holy city. For the tabernacle of the Lord shall be with them."

 

Original:

"Now I understand by this quotation, that God clearly manifested to Enoch, the redemption which he prepared, by offering the Messiah as a Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world: by virtue of the same, the glorious resurrection of the Savior, and the resurrection of all the human family,-even a resurrection of their corporeal bodies: and also righteousness and truth are agoing to sweep the earth as with a flood? I will answer:-Men and angels are to be co-workers in bringing to pass this great work: and a Zion is to be prepared; even a New Jerusalem, for the elect that are to be gathered from the four quarters of the earth, and to be established an holy city: for the tabernacle of the Lord shall be with them."

 

Genesis 5:24; Moses 7:69

"And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:24).

"And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion; and it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received it up into his own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, ZION IS FLED (Moses 7:69).

 

Date:                5 October 1840 (Tuesday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County Illinois, USA

Source: Robert B. Thompson manuscript (Words of Joseph Smith, 41) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"Now this Enoch, God reserved unto himself that he should not die at that time and appointed unto him a ministry unto terrestrial bodies, of whom there has been but little revealed. He is reserved also unto the presidency of a dispensation. . . . He is a ministering angel, to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, and [he] appeared unto Jude as Abel did unto Paul. . . .

"Now the doctrine of translation is a power which belongs to this priesthood. There are many things which belong to the powers of the priesthood and the keys thereof that have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world. They are hid from the wise and prudent to be revealed in the last times. Many may have supposed that the doctrine of translation was a doctrine whereby men were taken immediately into the presence of God and into an eternal fulness. But this is a mistaken idea. Their place of habitation is that of the terrestrial order and a place prepared for such characters he held in reserve to be ministering angels unto many planets, and who as yet have not entered into so great a fulness as those who are resurrected from the dead."

 

Original:

"Now this Enoch God reserved unto himself that he soud not die at that time and appointed unto him a ministry unto terrestrial bodies of whom there has been but little revealed, He is reserved also unto the presidency of a dispensation. and more shall be saidof him and terrestrial bodies in another treaties He is a ministering Angel to minister to those who shall be heirs of Salvation and appered unto Jude as Abel did unto Paul. therefore Jude spoke of him 14 & 15 verses inJude. and Enoch the seventh revealed these sayings Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints Paul was also aquainted with this character and received instructions from him. Heb 11 Chap. 5 ver By Faith Enoch was translated that he should ot see death, and was not found because God had translated him for before his translation he head this testimony that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a revealer to those who diligently seek him.

 

Date:                15 July 1842 (Friday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Times and Seasons (15 July 1842): 847

 

Joseph Smith:

"He selected Enoch, whom he directed, and gave his law unto [him] and to the people who were with him. And when the world in general would not obey the commands of God, after walking with God he translated Enoch and his church, and the priesthood or government of heaven was taken away."

 

Date:                1 September 1842 (Thursday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Times and Seasons (1 September 1842): 905

 

Joseph Smith:

"If Enoch was righteous enough to come into the presence of God and walk with him, he must have become so by keeping his commandments—and so of every righteous person."

 

Genesis 5:28-31

"And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:

And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.

And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:

And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died" (Genesis 5: 28-31).

 

Date:                5 October 1840 (Monday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Robert B. Thompson manuscript (Words of Joseph Smith, 42) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"The priesthood continued from Lamech to Noah."

 

Original:
same as above.

 

Genesis 6:6

"And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart" (Genesis 6:6).

 

Date:                15 October 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards (Words of Joseph Smith, 256) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"As it reads, ‘it repented the Lord that he had made man’ ([but] also, ‘God is not a man . . . that he should repent’ [Num. 23:19]), which I do not believe. But, ‘it repented Noah that God made man.’ This I believe, and then the other quotation stands fair."

 

Original:
"as it read it repented the Lord that he had made man. and also God is not a man that he should repent.-which I do not believe.-but it repented Noah that God made man.-this I believe. & then the other quotation stands fair."

 

Genesis 6:9-13

"These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth" (Genesis 6:9-13).

 

Date:                1839

Location:         

Source: Willard Richards Pocket Companion (Words of Joseph Smith, 8) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"The priesthood was first given to Adam. . . . Then to Noah, who is Gabriel; he stands next in authority to Adam in the priesthood. He was called of God to this office and was the father of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion."

 

Original:
"The Priesthood was. first given to Adam: he obtained the first Presidency & held the Keys of it, from generation to Generation; he obtained it in the creation before the world was formed as in Gen. 1, 27:28,-he had dominion given him over every living Creature. He is Michael, the Archangel, spoken of in the Scriptures,-Then to Noah who is Gabriel, he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office & was the Father of all living in his day, & To him was given th Dominion."

 

Date:                5 October 1840 (Monday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Robert B. Thompson manuscript (Words of Joseph Smith, 42) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"The keys of this priesthood consisted in obtaining the voice of Jehovah, that he talked with [Noah] in a familiar and friendly manner, that he continued to him the keys, the covenants, the power, and the glory with which he blessed Adam at the beginning."

 

Original:
"the Keys of this priesthood consisted in obtaining the voice of Jehovah that he talked with him in a familiar and friendly manner, that he continued to him the Keys, the Covenants, the power and the glory with which he blessed Adam at the beginning."

 

Date:                15 August 1842 (Monday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Times and Seasons (15 August 1842): 889-90

 

Joseph Smith:

"Noah was a perfect man, and his knowledge or revelation of what was to take place upon the earth gave him power to prepare and save himself and family from the destruction of the flood. This knowledge, or revelation, was not believed by the inhabitants of the earth. . . . They could not endure the new revelation: ‘The old we believe because our fathers did, but away with new revelations!’—and the flood swept them away."

 

Original:

"Noah was a perfect man, and his knowledge or revelation of what was to take place upon the earth, gave him power to prepare and save himself and family from the destruction of the flood. This knowledge, or revelation, like the preceeding [preceding] one to Abel, was not believed by the inhabitants of the earth. They knew Adam was the first man, made in the image of God; that he was a good man: that Enoch walked with God three hundred and sixty-five years, and was translated to heaven without tasting death: but they could not endnre [endure] the new revelation: the old we believe becauss [because] our fathers did, but away with new revelations-and the flood swept them away."

 

Date:                1 September 1842 (Thursday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Times and Seasons (1 September 1842): 904

 

Joseph Smith:

"Now taking it for granted that the scriptures say what they mean and mean what they say, we have sufficient grounds to go on and prove from the Bible that the gospel has always been the same, the ordinances to fulfil its requirements the same, the officers to officiate the same, and the signs and fruits resulting from the promises the same. Therefore, as Noah was a preacher of righteousness, he must have been baptized and ordained to the priesthood by the laying on of the hands, and so forth."

 

Original:
"Now taking it for granted that the scriptures say what they mean, and mean what they say, we have sufficient grounds to go on and prove from the bible that the gospel has always been the same; the ordinances to fulfil [fulfill] its requirements, the same; and the officers to officiate, the same; and the signs and fruits resulting from the promises, the same: therefore, as Noah was a preacher of righteousness he must have been baptised [baptized] and ordained to the priesthood by the laying on of hands, &c."

 

Genesis 8:21-22

"And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:21-22).

 

Date:                2 April 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Ramus, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: William Clayton Diary (Words of Joseph Smith, 168-69) Go to Full Source; see D&C 130:14-15

 

Joseph Smith:

"I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following: ‘Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man. Therefore, let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter.’ I was left thus without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the Millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face. I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time."

 

Original:
"I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the son of man when I heard a voice repeat the following ‘Joseph my son, if thou livest until thou art 85 years old thou shalt see the face of the son of man, therefore let this suffice and trouble me no more on this matter.’ I was left thus without being able to decide wether this coming referred to the beginning of the Millenium, or to some previous appearing, or wether I should die and thus see his face. I believe the coming of th son of man will not be any sooner than that time."

 

Doctrine and Covenants 130:14-15

"I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:

Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter."

 

Date:                2 April 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Ramus, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards (Words of Joseph Smith, 172) Go to Full Source; see D&C 130:14-15

 

Joseph Smith:

"I earnestly desired to know concerning the coming of the Son of Man and prayed, when a voice said to me, ‘Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man. Therefore, let this suffice and trouble me no more on this matter.’"

 

Original:
"I earnestly desired to know concerning the coming of the Son of man & prayed, when a voice Said to me, Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art 85 years old thou shalt see the face of the son of man. therefore let this suffice & trouble me no more on this matter."

 

Doctrine and Covenants 130:14-15

"I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:

Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter."

 

Date:                6 April 1843 (Thursday)

Location:          Ramus, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards (Words of Joseph Smith, 179) Go to Full Source; see D&C 130:14-16

 

Joseph Smith:

"I was once praying earnestly upon this subject, and a voice said unto me, ‘My son, if thou livest till thou art eighty-five years of age, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man.’ I was left to draw my own conclusions concerning this, and I took the liberty to conclude that if I did live till that time, he would make his appearance. But I do not say whether he will make his appearance or I shall go where he is."

 

Original:
"I was once praying earnestly upon this subject. and a voice said unto me. My son, if thou livest till thou art 85 years of age, thou shalt see the face of the son of man.-I was left to draw my own conclusions concerning this & I took the liberty to conclude that if I did live till that time Jesus he would make his appearance.—but I do not say whether he will make his appearance or I shall go where he is."

 

Doctrine and Covenants 130:14-15

"I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:

Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter."

 

Date:                6 April 1843 (Thursday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: James Burgess Notebook (Words of Joseph Smith, 180-81) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"Christ says, ‘No man knoweth the day or the hour when the Son of Man cometh.’ . . . Did Christ speak this as a general principle throughout all generations? Oh no; he spoke in the present tense. No man that was then living upon the footstool of God knew the day or the hour. But he did not say that there was no man throughout all generations that should know the day or the hour. No, for this would be in flat contradiction with other scripture, for the prophet says that God will do nothing but what he will reveal unto his servants the prophets [Amos 3:7]. Consequently, if it is not made known to the prophets it will not come to pass."

 

Original:
"Christ says no man knoweth the day or the hour when the Son of Man cometh. This is a sweeping argument for sectarianism against Latter day ism. Did Christ speak this as a general principle throughout all generations Oh no he spoke in the present tense no man that was then living upon the footstool of God knew the day or the hour But he did not say that there was no man throughout all generations that should not know the day or the hour. No for this would be in flat contradiction with other scripture for the prophet says that God will do nothing but what he will reveal unto his Servants the prophets consequently if it is not made known to the Prophets it will not come to pass."

 

Date:                10 March 1844 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Thomas Bullock Diary (Words of Joseph Smith, 336) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"The rainbow is not to be seen. It is a sign of the commencement of famine, pestilence, and so forth, and that the coming of the Messiah is not far distant."

 

Original:
"the Rainbow is not to be seen—it is a sign of the commencement of famine & pestilence &c &c and that the coming of the Messiah is not far distant."

 

Date:                10 March 1844 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: James Burgess Notebook (Words of Joseph Smith, 334) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"So long as you see the rainbow stretching across the heavens, there will be seed time and harvest, and the Son of Man will not come that year."

 

Original:
"so long as you se the rainbow strethching across the heavens there will be seed time and harvest and the son of Man will not come that year."

 

Date:                10 March 1844 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: John Solomon Fullmer Papers (Words of Joseph Smith, 336) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"While inquiring of the Lord concerning the end of time, it was made known to me by the Holy Spirit that there should be prosperity, seed time, and harvest every year in which the rainbow was seen. For to that was Noah referred as a surety on this subject. But in the year when the bow was not to be seen would commence desolation, calamity, and distress among the nations, without seed time or harvest."

 

Original:
"While enquiring of the Lord concerning the End of time, it was made known to him by the Holy Spirit, that there should be prosperity, seed time and harvest every year in which the Rainbow was seen, for to that was Noah referred as a surety on this subject,- But in the year when the Bow was not to be seen, would commence desolation, calamity and distress among the Nations, without seed time or harvest."

 

Date:                10 March 1844 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Franklin D. Richards, "Scriptural Items" (Words of Joseph Smith, 335) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"So long as we see the bow in the cloud, seed time and harvest shall continue that year. When the bow shall cease, then shall come famine, wars, and so forth, after which the sign of the Son of Man shall be seen in heaven."

 

Original:
"So long as we see the bow in the cloud seed time & harvest shall continue that year when the bow shall cease then shall come famine wars &c after which the sign of the son of man shall be seen in heaven."

 

Date:                10 March 1844 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards (Words of Joseph Smith, 335) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"The Savior will not come this year, nor forty years to come. The bow has been seen in the cloud, and in that year that the bow is seen, seed time and harvest will be. But when the bow ceases to be seen, look out for a famine."

 

Original:
"The Savior will not come this year. nor 40 yrs to come. The bow has been seen in the cloud & in that year that the bow is seen seed time and harvest will be. but when the bow ceases to be seen look out for a famine."

 

Date:                10 March 1844 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA          

Source: Wilford Woodruff Journal (Words of Joseph Smith, 332) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"I have asked of the Lord concerning his coming, and while asking, the Lord gave me a sign and said: ‘In the days of Noah I set a bow in the heavens as a sign and token that in any year that the bow should be seen, the Lord would not come; but there should be seed time [and] harvest during that year. But whenever you see the bow withdraw, it shall be a token that there shall be famine, pestilence, and great distress among the nations.’ . . . Jesus Christ never did reveal to any man the precise time that he would come. Go and read the scriptures, and you cannot find anything that specified the exact [time] he would come. All that say so are false teachers."

 

Original:
"I have asked of the Lord concerning his coming & while asking, the Lord gave me a sign & said in the days of Noah I set a bow in the heavens as a sign & token that in any year that the bow should be seen the Lord would not come, but their should be seed time-harvest during that year, but when ever you see the bow withdraw, it shall be a token that their shall be famin pestilance & great distress among the nations. But I take the responsibility upon myself to prophesy in the name of the Lord, that Christ will not come this year as [William] Miller has prophecyed, for we have seen the bow. And I also Prophecy in the name of the Lord that Christ will not Come in forty years & if God ever spake by my mouth he will not come in that length of time & Jesus Christ never did reveal to any man the precise time that he would come, go & read the scriptures & you cannot find any thing that specified the exact [time] he would come & all that say so are fals teachers."

 

Genesis 9:9-17

"And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth (Genesis 9:9-17).

 

Date:                2 April 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Ramus, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: William Clayton Diary (Words of Joseph Smith, 168-69) Go to Full Source; D&C 130:14-15

 

Joseph Smith:

"I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following: ‘Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man. Therefore, let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter.’ I was left thus without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the Millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face. I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time."

 

Original:
"I was once praying very ernestly to know the time of the coming of the son of man when I heard a voice repeat the following ‘Joseph my son, if thou livest untill thou art 85 years old thou shalt see the face of the son of man, therefore let this suffice and trouble me no more on this matter." I was left thus without being able to decide wither this coming referred to the beginning of the Millenium, or to some previous appearing, or wether I should die and thus see his face. I believe the coming of the son of man will not be any sooner than that time."

 

Doctrine and Covenants 130:14-15

"I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:

Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter."

 

Date:                2 April 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Ramus, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards (Words of Joseph Smith, 172) Go to Full Source; see D&C 130:14-15

 

Joseph Smith:

 "I earnestly desired to know concerning the coming of the Son of Man and prayed, when a voice said to me, ‘Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man. Therefore, let this suffice and trouble me no more on this matter.’"

 

Original:
"I earnestly desired to know concerning the coming of the Son of Man & prayed, when a voice Said to me, Joseph , my son, if thou livest until thou art 85 years old thou shalt see the face of the son of man. therefore let this suffice & trouble me no more on this matter."

 

Doctrine and Covenants 130:14-15

"I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:

Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter."

 

Date:                6 April 1843 (Thursday)

Location:          Ramus, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards (Words of Joseph Smith, 179) Go to Full Source; see D&C 130:14-16

 

Joseph Smith:

"I was once praying earnestly upon this subject, and a voice said unto me, ‘My son, if thou livest till thou art eighty-five years of age, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man.’ I was left to draw my own conclusions concerning this, and I took the liberty to conclude that if I did live till that time, he would make his appearance. But I do not say whether he will make his appearance or I shall go where he is."

 

Original:
". I was once praying earnestly upon this subject. and a voice said unto me. My son, if thou livest till thou art 85 years of age, thou shalt see the face of the son of man.—I was left to draw my own conclusions concerning this & I took the liberty to conclude that if I did live till that time Jesus he would make his appearance.—but I do not say whether he will make his appearance or I shall go where he is."

 

Doctrine and Covenants 130:14-15

"I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:

Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter."

 

Date:                6 April 1843 (Thursday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: James Burgess Notebook (Words of Joseph Smith, 180-81) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"Christ says, ‘No man knoweth the day or the hour when the Son of Man cometh.’ . . . Did Christ speak this as a general principle throughout all generations? Oh no; he spoke in the present tense. No man that was then living upon the footstool of God knew the day or the hour. But he did not say that there was no man throughout all generations that should know the day or the hour. No, for this would be in flat contradiction with other scripture, for the prophet says that God will do nothing but what he will reveal unto his servants the prophets [Amos 3:7]. Consequently, if it is not made known to the prophets it will not come to pass."

 

Original:
"Christ says no man knoweth the day or the hour when the Son of Man cometh. This is a sweeping argument for sectarianism against Latter day ism. Did Christ speak this as a general principle throughout all generations Oh no he spoke in the present tense no man that was then living upon the footstool of God knew the day or the hour But he did not say that there was no man throughout all generations that should not know the day or the hour. No for this would be in flat contradiction with other scripture for the prophet says that God will do nothing but what he will reveal unto his Servants the prophets consequently if it is not made known to the Prophets it will not come to pass."

 

Date:                10 March 1844 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Thomas Bullock Diary (Words of Joseph Smith, 336) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"The rainbow is not to be seen. It is a sign of the commencement of famine, pestilence, and so forth, and that the coming of the Messiah is not far distant."

 

Original:
"the Rainbow is not to be seen—it is a sign of the commencement of famine & pestilence &c &c and that the coming of the Messiah is not far distant."

 

Date:                10 March 1844 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: James Burgess Notebook (Words of Joseph Smith, 334) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"So long as you see the rainbow stretching across the heavens, there will be seed time and harvest, and the Son of Man will not come that year."

 

Original:
"so long as you se the rainbow strethching across the heavens there will be seed time and harvest and the son of Man will not come that year."

 

Date:                10 March 1844 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: John Solomon Fullmer Papers (Words of Joseph Smith, 336) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"While inquiring of the Lord concerning the end of time, it was made known to me by the Holy Spirit that there should be prosperity, seed time, and harvest every year in which the rainbow was seen. For to that was Noah referred as a surety on this subject. But in the year when the bow was not to be seen would commence desolation, calamity, and distress among the nations, without seed time or harvest."

 

Original:
"While enquiring of the Lord concerning the End of time, it was made known to him by the Holy Spirit, that there should be prosperity, seed time and harvest every year in which the Rainbow was seen, for to that was Noah referred as a surety on this subject,- But in the year when the Bow was not to be seen, would commence desolation, calamity and distress among the Nations, without seed time or harvest."

 

Date:                10 March 1844 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Franklin D. Richards, "Scriptural Items" (Words of Joseph Smith, 335) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"So long as we see the bow in the cloud, seed time and harvest shall continue that year. When the bow shall cease, then shall come famine, wars, and so forth, after which the sign of the Son of Man shall be seen in heaven."

 

Original:
"So long as we see the bow in the cloud seed time & harvest shall continue that year when the bow shall cease then shall come famine wars &c after which the sign of the son of man shall be seen in heaven."

 

Date:                10 March 1844 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards (Words of Joseph Smith, 335) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"The Savior will not come this year, nor forty years to come. The bow has been seen in the cloud, and in that year that the bow is seen, seed time and harvest will be. But when the bow ceases to be seen, look out for a famine."

 

Original:
"The Savior will not come this year. nor 40 yrs to come. The bow has been seen in the cloud & in that year that the bow is seen seed time and harvest will be. but when the bow ceases to be seen look out for a famine."

 

Date:                10 March 1844 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA          

Source: Wilford Woodruff Journal (Words of Joseph Smith, 332) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"I have asked of the Lord concerning his coming, and while asking, the Lord gave me a sign and said: ‘In the days of Noah I set a bow in the heavens as a sign and token that in any year that the bow should be seen, the Lord would not come; but there should be seed time [and] harvest during that year. But whenever you see the bow withdraw, it shall be a token that there shall be famine, pestilence, and great distress among the nations.’ . . . Jesus Christ never did reveal to any man the precise time that he would come. Go and read the scriptures, and you cannot find anything that specified the exact [time] he would come. All that say so are false teachers."

 

Original:
"I have asked of the Lord concerning his coming & while asking, the Lord gave me a sign & said in the days of Noah I set a bow in the heavens as a sign & token that in any year that the bow should be seen the Lord would not come, but their should be seed time-harvest during that year, but when ever you see the bow withdraw, it shall be a token that their shall be famin pestilance & great distress among the nations. But I take the responsibility upon myself to prophesy in the name of the Lord, that Christ will not come this year as [William] Miller has prophecyed, for we have seen the bow. And I also Prophecy in the name of the Lord that Christ will not Come in forty years & if God ever spake by my mouth he will not come in that length of time & Jesus Christ never did reveal to any man the precise time that he would come, go & read the scriptures & you cannot find any thing that specified the exact [time] he would come & all that say so are fals teachers."

 

Genesis 12:1-5

"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came" (Genesis 12:1-5).

 

Date:                26 September 1833 (Thursday)

Location:          Kirtland Mills, Geauga County, Ohio, USA

Source: Letter to Silas Smith, Church Archives (Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 322)

 

Joseph Smith:

"The word spoken to Noah was not sufficient for Abraham, or it was not required of Abraham to leave the land of his nativity and seek an inheritance in a strange country upon the word spoken to Noah. But for himself he obtained promises at the hand of the Lord and walked in [such] perfection that he was called the friend of God."

 

Original:
"the word spoken to Noah was not sufficient for Abraham or it was not required of Abraham to leave the land of his nativity and seek an Inheritance in a strange land Country upon the word spoken to Noah but for himself he obtained promises at he hand of the Lord and walked in that perfection that he was called the friend of God."

 

Date:                15 July 1843 (Saturday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Times and Seasons (15 July 1842): 857

 

Joseph Smith:

"Abraham was guided in all his family affairs by the Lord, was told where to go and when to stop, was conversed with by angels and by the Lord, and prospered exceedingly in all that he put his hand unto. It was because he and his family obeyed the counsel of the Lord."

 

Original:
"Abraham was guided in all his family affairs by the Lord; was told where to go, and when to stop; was conversed with by angels, and by the Lord; and prospered exceedingly in all that he put his hand unto; it was because he and his family obeyed the counsel of the Lord."

 

Date:                15 August 1843 (Saturday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Times and Seasons (15 August 1842): 890

 

Joseph Smith:

"Abraham [came] with the knowledge, or revelation, and what is the result? Why, he becomes a pilgrim in a strange land; nobody believed in his religion because he had new revelations." 

 

Original:
"Next comes Abraham with knowledge, or revelation, and what is the result? Why he becomes a pilgrim in a strange land; no body believed in his religion because he had new revelations."

 

Genesis 14:18-20

"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all" (Genesis 14:18-20).

 

Date:                5 October 1840 (Monday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Robert B. Thompson manuscript, Church Archives (Words of Joseph Smith, 38-39) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"There are two priesthoods spoken of in the scriptures: the Melchizedek and the Aaronic or Levitical. Although there are two priesthoods, yet the Melchizedek Priesthood comprehends the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood and is the grand head. [It] holds the highest authority which pertains to the priesthood, the keys of the kingdom of God in all ages of the world to the latest posterity on the earth, and is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation, and every important matter is revealed from heaven. Its institution was prior to the foundation of this earth, or ‘the morning stars sang together,’ or ‘the sons of God shouted for joy’ [Job 38:6-7]. And [it] is the highest and holiest priesthood and is after the order of the Son [of] God, and all other priesthoods are only parts, ramifications, powers, and blessings belonging to the same and are held, controlled, and directed by it."

 

Original:
"There are two priesthoods spoken of in the scriptures, viz the Melchisadeck and the Aaronic or Levitical Altho there are two Priesthoods, yet the Melchisadeck Priesthood comprehends the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood and is the Grand head, and holds the highest Authority which pertains to the Priesthood the keys of the Kingdom of God in all ages of the world to the latest posterity on the earth, and is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation, and every important matter is revealed from heaven. Its institution was prior to ‘the foundation of this earth or the morning stars sang together or the Sons of God shouted for joy’ and is the highest and holiest Priesthood and is after the order of the Son [of] God, and all other Priesthoods are only parts, ramifications, powers, and blessings belonging to the same and are held controlled and directed by it."

 

Date:                27 August 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: James Burgess Notebook, Church Archives (Words of Joseph Smith, 245-46) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"Paul is here treating three different priesthoods, namely the priesthoods of Aaron, Abraham, and Melchizedek, Abraham’s priesthood was of greater power than Levi’s, and Melchizedek’s was of greater power than that of Abraham. The priesthood of Levi consisted of cursings and carnal commandments, and not of blessings. And if the priesthood of this generation has no more power than that of Levi or Aaron, or of a bishopric, it administers no blessings but cursings. For it was an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. I ask, was there any sealing power attending this priesthood that would admit a man into the presence of God? Oh no.

"But Abraham’s was a more exalted power or priesthood; he could talk and walk with God. And yet consider how great this man [Melchizedek] was, when even this patriarch Abraham gave a tenth part of all his spoils and then received a blessing under the hands of Melchizedek, even the last law, of a fullness of the law or priesthood, which constituted him a king and priest after the order of Melchizedek, or an endless life. Now if Abraham had been like the sectarian world and would not have received any more revelation, what would have been the consequence? It would have damned him. . . . The Levitical Priesthood was an appendage to the Melchizedek Priesthood, or the whole law of God, when in full force or power in all its parts and bearings on the earth."

 

Original:

"Hebrewes 7 chap. Paul is here treating of three different priesthoods, namely the preisthood of Aron, Abraham, and Melchizedeck, Abraham’s preisthood was of greater power than Levi’s and Melchizedeck’s was of greater power than that of Abraham. The preisthood of Levi consisted of cursings and blessings carnal commandments and not of blessings and if the preishtood of this generation has no more power than that of Levi or Aron or of a bishhoprick it administers no blessings but cursings for it was an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. I ask was there any sealing power attending this preisthood. Oh no that would admit a man into the presence of God. Oh no, but Abraham’s was a more exalted power or preisthood he could talk and walk with God and yet consider how great this man was when even this patriarch Abraham gave a tenth part of al his spoils and then received a blessing under the hands of Melchesideck even the last law or a fulness of the law or preisthood which constituted him a king and preist after the holy order of Melchesideck or an endless life Now is Abraham had been like the sectarian world and would not have received any more revelation, what would have been the consequence it would have damned him. Book of Covenants. The levitical preisthood was an appendage to the Melchesideck preisthood or the whole law of God when in full face or power in all its parts and bearings on the earth."

 

Date:                27 August 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: William Clayton Diary (Words of Joseph Smith, 247) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"The power of the Melchizedek Priesthood is to have the power of ‘endless lives.’"

 

Original:

"the power of the Melchisek P'd was to have the power of an ‘endless lives.’"

 

Date:                27 August 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Franklin D. Richards "Scriptural Items" (Words of Joseph Smith, 245) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"There are three grand principles or orders of priesthood portrayed in this chapter:

"First: Levitical, which was never able to administer a blessing, but only to bind heavy burdens which neither they nor their fathers [were] able to bear.

"Second: Abraham’s patriarchal power, which is the greatest yet experienced in this Church.

"Third: that of Melchizedek, who had still greater power, even power of an endless life, of which was our Lord Jesus Christ, which also Abraham obtained by the offering of his son Isaac. [This] was not the power of a prophet, nor apostle, nor patriarch only, but of [a] king and priest to God, to open the windows of heaven and power out the peace and law of endless life to man. And no man can attain to the joint heirship with Jesus Christ without being administered to by one having the same power and authority of Melchizedek."

 

Original:

"There are 3 grand principles or orders of Priesthood portrayed in this chapter

"1st Levitical which was never able to administer a Blessing but only to bind heavy burdens which neither they nor their father able to bear

"2 Abrahams Patriarchal power which is the greatest yet experienced in this church

"3d That of Melchisedec who had still greater power even power of an endless life of which was our Lord Jesus Christ which also Abraham obtained by the offering of his son Isaac which was not the power of a Prophet nor apostle nor Patriarch only but of King & Priest to God to open the windows of Heaven and pour out the peace & Law of endless Life to man & No man can attain to the Joint heirship with Jesus Christ with out being administered to by also said that the Holy ghost is now in a state of Probation which if he should perform in righteousness he may pass through the same or a similar course of things that the Son has."

 

Date:                27 August 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Joseph Smith Diary by Willard Richards (Words of Joseph Smith, 244-45) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"Three grand orders of priesthood [are] referred to here.

"First: king of Shalom—power and authority over that of Abraham, holding the key and the power of endless life. Angels desire to look into it, but they have set up too many stakes. God cursed the children of Israel because they would not receive the last law from Moses. . . .If a man would attain, he must sacrifice all to attain to the keys of the kingdom of an endless life.

"What was the power of Melchizedek? It was not [the] priesthood of Aaron. [Melchizedek was] a king and a priest to the Most high God. [It was] a perfect law of theocracy, holding keys of power and blessings. [He] stood as God to give laws to the people, administering endless lives to the sons and daughters of Adam [by] kingly powers of anointing….

"Second priesthood: patriarchal authority. . . .

"Third priesthood: Levitical."

 

Original:

"3 grand orders of the priesthood referred to here.

"1st. King of Shiloam—power & authority over that of Abraham holding the key & the power of endless life.—angels desire to look into it, but they have set up to many stakes. god cured the children of Israel because they would not receive the last law from Moses.—

"by the offering of Isaac.—if a man would attain—he must sacrifice all to attain to the keys of the kingdom of an endless life

"What was the power of Melchisedick twas not P. of Aaron &c. a king & a priest to the most high God. a perfect law of Theocracy holding keys of power & blessings. stood as God to give laws to the people. administering endless lives to the sons and daughters of Adam kingly powers. of anointing. . . .

"2d Priesthood, patriarchal authority finish that temple and god will fill it with power.

"3d Priesthood. Levitical."

 

Genesis 14:18

"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God" (Genesis 14:18).

 

Date:                27 August 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: James Burgess Notebook, Church Archives (Words of Joseph Smith, 246) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"It is understood by many . . . that Melchizedek was king of some country or nation on the earth. But it was not so. In the original it reads ‘king of Shalom,’ which signifies king of peace or righteousness, and not of any country or nation."

 

Original:

"It is understood by many by reading this chapter that Melchesedeck was king of some country or nation on the earth, but it was not so, In the original it reads king of Shaloam which signifies king of peace or righteousness and not of any country or nation."

 

Date:                27 August 1843 (Sunday)
Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: William Clayton diary (Words of Joseph Smith, 247) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"The word ‘Salem’ is a wrong translation. It should be ‘Shalom,’ signifying peace."

 

Original:

"the word ‘Salem’ is a wrong translation it should be ‘Shalome’ signifying peace."

 

Date:                27 August 1843 (Sunday)
Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards (Words of Joseph Smith, 244) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"‘Salem’ is designed for a Hebrew term. It should be ‘Shalom,’ which signifies righteousness and peace. As it is, it is nothing—neither Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, or any other."

 

Original:

"Salem is designed for a hebrew term. it should be Shiloam—which signifies Righteousness & peace. as it is, it is nothing, neither Hebrew, Greek, Latin french or any other."

 

Genesis 15:12, JST

"And it came to pass, that Abram looked forth and saw the days of the Son of Man, and was glad, and his soul found rest, and he believed in the Lord; and the Lord counted it unto him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:12, JST).

 

Date:                March 1834

Location:          Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio, USA

Source: Evening and Morning Star (March 1834): 143

 

Joseph Smith:

"It will be noticed that according to Paul, the gospel was preached to Abraham. We would like to be informed in what name the gospel was then preached, whether it was in the name of Christ or some other name. If in any other name, was it the gospel? And if it was the gospel, and that preached in the name of Christ, had it any ordinances? If not, was it the gospel? And if it had, what were they? Our friends may say, perhaps, that there were never any ordinances except those of offering sacrifices, before the coming of Christ, and that it could not be possible for the gospel to have been administered while the sacrifices of blood were. But we will recollect that Abraham offered sacrifice and notwithstanding this had the gospel preached to him. That the offering of sacrifice was only to point the mind forward to Christ we infer from these remarkable words of his to the Jews: "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad" [John 8:56]. So, then, because the ancients offered sacrifice it did not hinder their hearing the gospel but served, as we said before, to open their eyes and enable them to look forward to the time of the coming of the Savior, and to rejoice in his redemption."

 

Original:
"It will be noticed that according to Paul, [see Gal. III 8] the gospel was preached to Abraham. We would like to be informed in what name the gospel was then preached, whether it was in the name of Christ or some other name? If in any other name, was it the gospel? And if it was the gospel, and that preached in the name of Christ, had it any ordinances? If not, was it the gospel? And if it had, what were they? Our friends may say, perhaps, that there were never any ordinances except those of offering sacrifices, before the coming of Christ, and that it could not be possible for the gospel to have been administered while the sacrifices of blood were. But we will recollect, that Abraham offered sacrifice, and notwithstanding this, had the gospel preached to him. That the offering of sacrifice was only to point the mind forward to Christ, we infer from these remarkable words of his to the Jews, Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it and was glad. [See John VIII 56] So, then, because the ancients offered sacrifice it did not hinder their hearing the gospel; but served, as we said before, to open their eyes, and enabled them to look forward to the time of the coming of the Savior, and to rejoice in his redemption."

 

Genesis 17:9-14

"And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant" (Genesis 17:9-14).

 

Date:                1 September 1842 (Thursday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Times and Seasons (1 September 1842): 904

 

Joseph Smith:

"Circumcision was merely a sign of the priesthood, given to Abraham."

 

Original:
"Circumcision was merely a sign of the priesthood, given to Abraham."

 

Genesis 19:1-25

"And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:

For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:

Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground" (Genesis 19:1-25).

 

Date:                31 July 1832 (Tuesday)

Location:          Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, USA

Source: Joseph Smith Letter to W. W. Phelps (Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 273)

 

Joseph Smith:

"God sent angels to gather [Lot] and his family out of Sodom, while the wicked were destroyed by a devouring fire."

 

Original:
"God sent angels to gather him & his family out of Sodom while the wicked were destroyed by a devouring fire."

 

Genesis 19:24-25

"Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground" (Genesis 19:24-25).

 

Date:                22 January 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Wilford Woodruff Journal (Words of Joseph Smith, 156) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"In consequence of rejecting the gospel of Jesus Christ and the prophets whom God has sent, the judgments of God have rested upon people, cities, and nations in various ages of the world, which was the case with the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, who were destroyed for rejecting the prophets."

 

Original:
"in Consequence of rejecting the gospel of Jesus Christ & the Prophets whom God hath sent, the judgments of God hath rested upon people Cities & nations in various ages of the world, which was the Case with the Cities of Sodom & gomoroah who were destroyed for rejecting the Prophets."

 

Genesis 22:1-12

"And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me" (Genesis 22:1-12).

 

 

Date:                27 August 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: James Burgess Notebook (Words of Joseph Smith, 246) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"Men will set up stakes and say, ‘Thus far will we go and no farther.’ Did Abraham, when called upon to offer his son?"

 

Original:
"Men will set up stakes and say thus far will we go and no farther, did Abraham when called upon to offer his son."

 

Genesis 22:15-18

"And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice" (Genesis 22:15-18).

 

Date:                27 August 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Franklin D. Richards, "Scriptural Items" (Words of Joseph Smith, 245) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"[Abraham obtained] power, even power of an endless life, . . . by the offering of his son Isaac, which was not the power of a prophet, nor apostle, nor patriarch only, but of [a] king and priest to God—to open the windows of heaven and pour out the peace and law of endless life to man."

 

Original:
"3d That of Melchisedec who had still greater power even power of an endless life which also Abraham obtained by the offering of his son Isaac which was not the power of a Prophet nor apostle nor Patriarch only but of King &Priest to God to open the windows of Heaven and pour out the peace & Law of endless Life to man . . ."

 

Date:                27 August 1843 (Sunday)

Location:          Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Source: Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards (Words of Joseph Smith, 244) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"If a man would attain, he must sacrifice all to attain to the keys of the kingdom of an endless life."

 

Original:
"if a man would attain—he must sacrifice all to attain to the keys of the kingdom of an endless life."

 

Genesis 26:3-5

"Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws" (Genesis 26:3-5).

 

Date:                26 September 1833 (Thursday)

Location:          Kirtland Mills, Geauga County, Ohio, USA

Source: Letter to Silas Smith, Church Archives (Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 322-323)

 

Joseph Smith:

"Isaac, the promised seed, was not required to rest his hope upon the promises made to his father, Abraham, but was privileged with the assurance of his approbation in the sight of heaven by the direct voice of the Lord to him. If one man can live upon the revelations given to another, might not I, with propriety, ask why the necessity then of the Lord speaking to Isaac as he did, as is recorded in the 26th chapter of Genesis. For the Lord there repeats, or rather promises again, to perform the oath which he had previously sworn unto Abraham. And why this repetition to Isaac? Why was not the first promise as sure for Isaac as it was for Abraham? Was not Isaac Abraham's son, and could he not place implicit confidence in the word of his father as being a man of God?

"Perhaps you may say that he was a very peculiar man and different from men in these last days, consequently the Lord favored him with blessings peculiar and different, as he was different from men in this age. I admit that he was a peculiar man and was not only peculiarly blessed but greatly blessed. But all the peculiarity that I can discover in the man, or all the difference between him and men in this age, is that he was more holy and more perfect before God and came to him with a purer heart and more faith than men in this day. . . .

"Isaac obtained a renewal of the covenant made to Abraham by the direct voice of the Lord."

 

Original:

"Isaac the promised seed was not required his hope upon the promises made to his father Abraham but was priviledged with the assurance of his approbation in the sight of Heaven by the direct voice of the Lord to him If one man can live upon the revelation given to another might not I with propriety ask why the necessity then of the Lord speaking to Isaac as he did as is recorded in the 26 chapter of Genesis for the Lord there had previously sworn unto Abraham and why this repet[it]ion to Isaac Why was not the first promise as sure for Isaac as it was for Abraham. Was not Isaac Abraham’s son And could he not place implicit confidence in the word of his father as being a man of God.

"Perhaps you may say that he was a very peculiar man and different from men in these last days consequently the Lord favored him with blessings peculiar and different as he was different from men in this age I admit that he was a peculiar man and was not only peculiarly blessed but greatly blessed. But all the peculiarity that I can discover in the man or all th difference between him an men in this age is that he was more holy and more perfect before God and came to him with a purer heart and more faith than men in this day.

"The same might be said on the subject of Jacobs history Why was it that the Lord spake to him concerning the same promise after he had made it once to Abraham and renewed it to Isaac why could not Jacob rest contented upon the word spoken to his fathers When the time of the promise drew nigh for the deliverance of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt why was it necessary that the Lord should begin to speak to them The promise or word to Abraham was that his seed should serve in bondage and be afflicted four hundred years and after that they should come out with great substance Why did they not rely upon this promise and when they had remained in Egypt in bondage four hundred [years] come out without waiting for further revelation but act entirely upon the promise given to Abraham that they should come out.

"Paul said to his Hebrew brethren that God b[e]ieng more abundantly willingly to show unto the heirs of his promises the immutability of this council ["]confirmed it by and oath." He also exhorts them who through[h] faith and patience inherit the promises.

["]Notwithstanding we (said Paul) have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us which hope we have as an anchor of the would both sure and steadfast and which entereth into that within the vail." Yet he was careful to press upon them the necessity of continuing on until they as well as those who inherited the promises might have the assurance of their salvation confirmed to them by an oath from the mouth of him who cannot could not lie for that seemed to be the example anciently and Paul holds it out to his brethren as an object attainable in his day and why not I admit that by reading the scripture of truth saints in the days of Paul cold learn beyond<d> the power of contradiction that Abraham Isaac and Jacob had the promise of eternal life confirmed to them by an oath of the Lord but that promise or oath was no assurance to them of their salvation but they could by walking in the footsteps <and> continuing in the faith of their fathers obtain for themselves and oath for confirmation that they were meet to be partker[r]s of the inheritance with the saints in light."

 

Genesis 28:20-22

"And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God:

And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee" (Genesis 28:20-22).

 

Date:                29 November 1834 (Monday)

Location:          Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio, USA

Source: Joseph Smith Papers, Ohio Journal 1835-1836, Church Archives (Papers of Joseph Smith, 2:35)

 

Joseph Smith:

"And now, O Father, as thou didst prosper our father Jacob and bless him with protection and prosperity wherever he went, from the time he made a like covenant before and with thee; and as thou didst, even the same night, open the heavens unto him and manifest great mercy and favor and give him promises—so wilt thou do by us his sons. And as his blessings prevailed above the blessings of his progenitors unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, even so may our blessings prevail like his. And may thy servants be preserved from the power and influence of wicked and unrighteous men. May every weapon formed against us fall upon the head of him who shall form it. May we be blessed with a name and a place among thy Saints here, and thy sanctified when they shall rest."

 

Original:

"And now, O Father, as thou didst prosper our father Jacob and bless him with protection and prosperity wherever he went from the time he made a like covenant before and with thee; and as thou didst, even the same night, open the heavens unto him and manifest great mercy and favor, and give him promises, so wilt thou do by us his sons; and as his blessings prevailed above the blessings of his Progenitors unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, even so may our blessings prevail above <like> his; and may thy servants be preserved from the power and influence of wicked and unrighteous men; may every weapon formed against us fall upon the head of him who shall form it; may we be blessed with a name and a place among thy saints here, and thy sanctified when they shall rest."

 

Genesis 49

"And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.

O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.

Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.

Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:

His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.

Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:

And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.

Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.

Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:

But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.

There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.

And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people" (Genesis 49).

 

Date:                27 June 1839 (Thursday)

Location:         

Source: Willard Richards Pocket Companion (Words of Joseph Smith, 6) Go to Full Source

 

Joseph Smith:

"An evangelist is a patriarch, even the oldest man of the blood of Joseph or of the seed of Abraham. Wherever the Church of Christ is established in the earth, there should be a patriarch for the benefit of the posterity of the Saints, as it was with Jacob in giving his patriarchal blessing unto his sons."

 

Original:
"An Evangelist Is a patriarch even the oldest man of the Blood of Joseph or of the seed of Abraham, wherever the Church of Christ is established in the earth, there should be a patriarch for the benefit of the posterity of the Saints as it was with Jacob. in giving his patriarchal blessing unto his Sons &c."