Well this was an exciting week around the Joseph Smith Papers Project. On Tuesday morning we had a staff meeting at 9:00 am to talk about the release of Revelations and Translations Volume 3: The Printer's Manuscript of the Book of Mormon. In the meeting, the head of our department announced that the new volumes contained pictures of one of the Prophet's seer stones, which the First Presidency had graciously allowed to be photographed for the volume.
This was a special moment for me, as I had known of the stone and its significance for many years, but obviously had never seen what it looked like. I never, in my life, expected to see one of the implements that the Prophet Joseph had used during the translation of the Book of Mormon. At the same time, the picture obviously raised some questions for some members of the Church. It looked different than some had thought. It was was smaller than others had imagined. And of course it raised questions about how it worked and feelings that a stone of revelation seemed a little strange to some.
By no means am I an expert. I don't know how it worked. I don't know why the Lord chose to help the Prophet translate the Book of Mormon in this way. There are probably dozens of questions that could be asked, each of them valid, for which my honest answer would have to be, "I don't know." But as I pondered these things, I came to one certain conclusion. No matter how many questions I do not have answers for, I nevertheless know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it was indeed translated by the gift and power of God through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know it from hundreds of different experiences throughout my life, each one witnessing to me the truth of that book, the truth of the Prophet's sacred calling, and the truth of the gospel contained within its pages.
Do I have the slightest clue how the seer stone and the urim and thummim worked? I do not. Nor do I suspect did anyone other than Joseph--and to a lesser degree Oliver. Everyone else was merely a spectator, witnessing with their eyes but not understanding with their hearts what was occurring. But what matters is not the way or the means by which the translation came. I do not understand how Jesus turned water into wine, used spittle and clay to give sight to a blind man, etc. I do not understand how Jesus suffered for the pains and sins of all mankind, working out a perfect atonement in the process. I do not understand how He laid down His own life; and much less how He took it up again the third day. But my finite and limited understanding does not preclude God's infinite power to do His own work.
What matters is that through those sacred means and on those "days never to be forgotten," there came forth a book whose witness of Christ and teachings of His doctrine, has changed my life forever. Day after day for 20 years now I have partaken of the truths contained on its pages and have been blessed and lifted to a higher plain. In the most trying moments of my life, I have turned to its pages in search of answers, and without fail they have come. Through the pages of this book, I have heard the voice of the Lord. What matter the questions for which I presently do not have perfect answers?
And so I count myself blessed, grateful, and honored of heaven to have been able to see a picture of this means by which our Father in Heaven wrought the Restoration, and changed my life forever.
Brett
Thank you for this post, Brett. I really loved the poignant reminder of the significant blessings that have come from these seemingly insignificant objects.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about other folks, but I must admit I was a little surprised to read about these photos being published. I guess I'd never really put too much thought into exactly what the seer stones looked like -- I knew they existed and that they were somehow instrumental in the translation of the Book of Mormon, but was never too concerned with the "whys," "whats" and "hows" surrounding the process. Maybe that's just indicative of me being "raised in the faith."
It's been interesting to see the controversy and questions that have come forth after these images were published. In a response to some of this, Robert Kirby published what I thought was a very interesting column in the Salt Lake Tribune (http://www.sltrib.com/news/2808836-155/kirby-ive-got-my-own-version). Keeping in mind that Kirby is an LDS satirist, I really appreciated the focus he took in this column, reminding readers that "Whatever else it might be, Joseph Smith's seer stone can [also] represent a more human side of spiritual matters."
While I do not doubt the inherent spiritual nature of Joseph's seer stones, I definitely appreciated Kirby's assertion that every one of us has some sort of talisman, a symbol that connects us to something larger than ourselves. Who am I to say that someone else's talisman isn't significant, that it can't serve as a reminder of/connection to a higher power? Whatever else the world might say and/or believe about Joseph's seer stones, I hope they will respect them as a personal symbol of his faith.
Thanks Steph! Sorry for the slow response. I think you are right. The product is more important than the method. And that God was able to work miracles through ordinary means should be a means of bringing hope to us, not confusion.
ReplyDelete