Brother Joseph, the
Prophet:
by Lynn Ridenhour
posted 5/19/00
"…So You Want the Old Restoration Back…"
I have always had a great admiration for the man, Joseph. He accomplished
so much with so little. His resources were limited. His time was limited. His
education was limited. His freedom was limited, yet in his 38 short years he
managed to squeeze in a city, a book, a university, a new religion, and a run
at the Presidency.
I present no dogma here, just reflections. I’ve heard it said, "…we
want the old restoration back…" What a good thing to say; at least,
what an interesting thing to say. Some would say, searching for the past is a
waste of time, and not meant to be. Others would say, truth is one eternal
round, and that we learn from the past. Perhaps there’s a grain of truth in
both statements. I tend to lean toward the latter. The cliché "…back
to the future…" might be good theology.
Some might argue, to want the old restoration back is futile, for
revelation of the gospel is progressive. This is the 21st century.
Religion evolves. I would say, just because I grew from a lad in to a man does
not mean I am no longer a male. That which was there from the beginning still
remains, though I evolved into manhood. There are some things that never
change.
Let’s examine firsthand testimonies of those who knew Joseph. There’s
something about…being there. By the way, Christianity’s
fountainhead is based upon firsthand testimony, primary sources:
"…That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you…" said
John (I Jn.1:3).
Hear Levi Hancock. He was there.
"…We Believed Joseph…"
Levi W. Hancock was born in Hampten County, Massachusetts, April 7, 1803;
baptized at Kirtland, Ohio, November 16, 1830, and became a member of the
First Council of the Seventy in 1835. He also served as a police officer in
Nauvoo.
"…On the 4th of June, 1831, we all met in Kirtland, in a
school house built of logs. Here the Elders were seated on slab benches, and
the meeting was opened as usual. Joseph Smith began to speak. He said that the
kingdom that Christ spoke of, that was like a grain of mustard seed, was now
before him, and some should see it put forth its branches, just as the Savior
had said.
He looked at Lyman Wight and said, ‘You shall see the Lord and meet
him near the corner of the house.’ The Prophet laid his hands upon him
and blessed him with the visions of heaven. Joseph Smith then stepped out on
the floor and said, "I now see God, and Jesus Christ at his right
hand. Let them kill me; I should not feel death as I am now."
Joseph put his hands upon Harvey Whitlock and ordained him to the office of
high priest in the High Priesthood. He turned as black as Lyman was white. His
fingers were set like claws. He went around the room and showed his hands and
tried to speak. His eyes were in the shape of oval O’s.
Hyrum Smith said, "Joseph, that is not of God."
Joseph said, "Do not speak against this."
"I will not believe," said Hyrum, "unless you inquire
of God and he owns it."
Joseph bowed his head, and in a short time got up and commanded Satan to
leave Harvey, laying his hands upon his head at the same time. At that very
instant an old man said to weigh two hundred and fourteen pounds, sitting in
the window, turned a complete summersault in the house and came down with his
back across the bench, and lay helpless. Joseph told Lyman to cast Satan out.
He did. The man’s name was Leman Copley, formerly a Quaker. The evil spirit
left him, and as quick as lightning Harvey Green fell bound and screamed like
a panther. Satan was cast out of him, but immediately entered someone else.
This continued all day and the greater part of the night.
But to return to the meeting, Joseph said, "Now if you elders have
sinned, it will do you no good to preach, if you have not repented. Heman
Basset, you sit still. The devil wants to sift you." He then ordained
Jacob Scott and some others to the High Priesthood. He came to Zebedee Coltrin
and myself, and told us that we had another calling as high as any man in the
house. [They were made members of the First Council of Seventy in 1835.] I was
glad for that, for I was so scared I would not stir without his liberty, for
all the world. I knew the things I had seen were not made [up]…
…On the first of May, 1834, I started for Carthage County, some forty
miles from Kirtland, to go with Zion’s Camp. I was appointed cook for
Sylvester Smith’s mess. I this way we traveled, being directed by the
Prophet in peace, until Sylvester lost the spirit of peace and became
dissatisfied with John Carter, and called him an old jackass and many other
names, which soon brought dissatisfaction in our tent. Some dared to express
their feelings, until Joseph rebuked them and told them that Sylvester was
guilty of sowing the seeds of discord.
Sylvester said, if Joseph was a prophet he was not afraid, and would
contradict him in the face of all present. Joseph said, "If I have not
told the truth, then God never spoke by me," and walked off. We all
said, "that is enough." We believed Joseph. Sylvester became more
calm and acted like a saint, and for some time we had peace. We did not stop,
but continued on our march westward until we got in Illinois.
Joseph then said, "I want you to remember what I say to you. The
Lord is going to give us dry weather now until we get through. He has given
rains that there might be water of the prairies. You will see the movings of
the Lord in our favor all the way through."
One morning, many went to see a big mound about a mile below the crossing.
I did not go on it, but saw some bones that were brought back with a broken
arrow. They were laid down by our camp. Joseph said, "This land was
called the land of desolation, and Onedagus was the king, and a good man was
he. There in that mound did he bury his dead, and did not dig holes as the
people do now, but they brought their diart and covered them until you see
they have raised it to be about one hundred feet high. The last man buried was
Zelf. He was a white Lamanite who fought with the people of Onedagus for
freedom. When he was young, he was a great warrior and had his thigh broken,
and it never was set. It knitted together as you see on the side. He fought
after he got strength, until he lost every tooth in his head save one, when
the Lord said he had done enough and suffered him to be killed by that arrow
you took from his breast."
We continued our march westward…"
--Life Story of Levi W. Hancock, P.P. 47-49-79,80
My Reflections:
Things were so alive during Joseph’s day.
Joseph stopped in the middle of his sermon and began speaking specifically
to those in the congregation, "…Lyman Wight, you shall see the
Lord and meet him near the corner of the house…"
Don’t know about you, but today I would love such specifics to flow from
the pulpit. I would love for the minister to stop in the middle of his sermon
and say, "…Lynn Ridenhour, you shall see the Lord and meet him near
the corner of the house…"
I would also love for the minister to step down out of the pulpit and say, "…I
now see God and Jesus Christ at his right hand…"
What faith and excitement that would bring.
What about members of our congregation turning summersaults over our
benches? And demons manifesting themselves in our midst? Well, I must say, I
don’t think that would be much fun to watch. I do think, however, it would
be interesting. Sure can’t fault Joseph on the side of boredom. Joseph laid
his hands upon people’s heads and verbally rebuked Satan. Members screamed
"…like a panther…" and "…this continued all day and the
greater part of the night?!…" Joseph also pointed out the weather
forecast, and stopped along the roadside to describe in astonishing details
who's buried here, giving names and dates. Remarkable.
I have seen a little of that, and I must say—it is remarkable to watch. I
have sat in Paul Cain’s services (my friend, Mark Thomase, will know who I
am referring to)--an old white-haired Prophet, and watched him minister under
such inspiration. I have heard him give names, dates and addresses.
"Sister, your name is Mildred Turner. You were born on April 3rd.,
1948. You live at 317 Cherry Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And you came here today
because you have a lump on your left breast."
I must say, in an atmosphere like that, even the children pay attention.
Joseph operated under the inspiration of the gifts of the Spirit and today
those same gifts of the Holy Spirit are still functioning.
I long to be under their influence. It’s part of the old restoration.
"…The Prophet Then Took Me By the Right Hand…"
by Heber C. Kimball
Heber C. Kimball was born at Sheldon, Franklin County, Vermont, June 14,
1801; baptized in April 182, and became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles in 1835
Hear another firsthand witness tell of Joseph and his day.
"…While I was in the Kirtland Temple, June 4, 1837, the Prophet
Joseph came to me and said, "Brother Heber, the Spirit of the Lord has
whispered to me, saying, ‘Let my servant, Heber, go to England and proclaim
my gospel, and open the door of salvation to that nation…"
A short time previous to starting, I was laid prostrate on my bed from a
stitch in my back, which suddenly seized me while chopping and drawing for my
family. I could not stir a limb without calling out from the severeness of the
pain. Joseph, hearing of it, came to see me, bringing Oliver Cowdery and
Bishop Partridge with him. They prayed for and blessed me, Joseph being mouth,
beseeching God to raise me up.
The Prophet then took me by the right hand and said, "…Brother
Heber, I take you by the right hand in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
and by the virtue of the Holy Priesthood vested in me I command you in the
name of Jesus Christ to arise, and be thou made whole."
I arose from my bed, put on my clothes and felt no more of the pain
afterwards."
--Woman’s Exponent, IX (August 1, 1880).
My Reflections:
What do we have here?
A priesthood member operating under the authority and anointing of a
believer. Joseph understands the difference between ministering to the sick
under the authority and anointing of the believer and performing
administration as a priesthood member. Joseph ministered "…by virtue of
the Holy Priesthood…" but he frequently ministered as a priesthood
member under the power and authority of a believer. On this occasion, he wasn’t
performing an administration. He was, as a believer, moving under the power of
the Spirit.
I think it would be so refreshing to see the priesthood (and ladies alike)
to start commanding sickness to leave, ministering to the Body of Christ, to
move under the anointing of the Spirit simply as believers.
Allowing the priesthood member to operate under the anointed power and
authority that every believer possesses (as well as the ordinance of
administration) is part of wanting the old restoration back.
Heber C. Kimball and others saw Joseph do it all the time.
To be continued . . .
