Joseph Smith was born into a culture immersed in the language of early American Protestantism. It was the preaching of those ministers that prompted Joseph to pray and ask which church is right. It was the culture of those churches that the Lord spoke of when he told Joseph that all their creeds were an abomination.
Yet the only language Joseph knew was steeped in the Protestant thought and we see that in his early writings such as in this section of the Doctrine and Covenants.
What is that religious culture? It is the culture of sin and wickedness. It is righteousness versus wickedness. It is Satan at war with God; Satan trying to thwart God's work.
Those who took the translation from Martin Harris are therefore the "servants of Satan". They are "wicked men". Their actions are part of a "cunning plan, that he [Satan] may destroy the work."
"Their hearts are corrupt, full of wickedness and abominations; and they love darkness rather than light." This whole section is filled with this type of language.
I do not negate the reality of the story. Joseph was persecuted from the moment he first shared his story. he was young and innocent and assumed his experience would be as exciting to others as it was to him.
He didn't realize that he was challenging the very foundations of the doctrines that not only represented the teachings of the churches of that day but which upheld the power structures both within the church but also within the community.
Those neighbors and leaders in his community had a lot to worry about as they heard his story. They had good reasons to put a stop to this new religion. They surely thought they were doing what was right.
Yet they were to fail. The Lord's hand was upon Joseph. It was time for pure truth to be restored.
Does their opposition to the work make them evil? Does it make them the servants of Satan? That was the language of Joseph's day. I am free of that language because I live in a totally different time.
In my language I can call them misguided. They were trying to protect what they held dear. And they were willing to use violence and intimidation to do that.
Isn't that what we are seeing white supremacy today in 2021? I don't like it. It is misguided but I must also understand that when times of great change come to any society, there are those who were the originals - those who have always had the power - who made the rules and called the shots - that group will resist change. Any student of world history can tell story after story of how this plays out.
So these people protect all they hold to be true and dear.
Yet the Lord's work of restoration must go forth. It is time. So the Lord shows Joseph a way to move forward. He gives an alternative that Joseph cannot see.
I trust that God will be there for me in my moments of crisis - when doors closed for me - to guide me down alternative paths also. Seeing His hand bring Joseph through this crisis helps me to trust that He will also be there for me.
After all - I am the reason for the restoration - just like you are. Our loving Heavenly Parents wanted us to know who They truly are, who we are. They wanted us to understand their marvelous plan to bring to pass our eternal life.
A word now about those who oppose us - no matter what that may look like. It could be white supremacy fighting against those of us who support immigration. It could be Democrats versus Republicans. Remember the lessons from this section. Outdated language may cause us to label those who think differently. But try to understand them. Don't label them as wicked or as servants of the devil. Walk in their shoes and try to understand. Labeling is a form of judging and we are not to judge.
No comments:
Post a Comment