Why I Believe: Evidence Thirty-seven: Joseph Smith’s Confidence In The Revelations He Received

101 Reasons Why I Believe Joseph Smith Is A Prophet

Evidence Thirty-seven:

Joseph Smith’s Confidence in the Revelations He Received© 

A hallmark of Mormonism is its belief in direct revelation from God to the Prophet Joseph Smith. This, of course, is prerequisite to the idea of an open canon of Scripture which is another hallmark of the faith. These companion principles are also perhaps the largest bone of contention between Mormonism and other Christian denominations. Joseph’s revelations and his work as a divinely appointed translator of ancient scriptural writings along with his inspired corrections to the Bible have resulted in the impressive production of approximately nine hundred pages of scripture. This alone is a great evidence of his prophetic calling. However, there is another aspect of this work that must itself not be overlooked as evidence that it came from God.  What is it?  Joseph's great confidence in the revelations he received.

That confidence may be seen in a statement he made in an important sermon delivered on 11 June 1843. He was discussing the gathering of Israel which led him into other subjects, in this case baptism for the dead and the spirit world where the dead await resurrection and judgment. To make a point he was discussing about the origin of the word “hell,” he said, “I will now turn linguist. There are many things in the Bible which do not, as they now stand, accord with the revelations of the Holy Ghost to me.”(1) The reader must admit it is pretty bold to criticize(2) the Bible and say many parts of it do not accord with the revelations he was receiving. Two months before his death, a time when some were considering him a “fallen” prophet, he declared “I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught.”(3)

He really did give those revelations more credence than the biblical scriptures, because he knew of their origin and he knew the Bible was deficient in many ways–but that is another story.  This confidence existed in the Prophet from his earliest days.  Here is what George Q. Cannon, who knew Joseph Smith personally, said on this subject. Here the issue is not differences but simlarities.  He tells of Parley P. Pratt’s discovery within five months of the organization of the Church of the many correlations between Joseph’s revelations and what was in the Bible which surprised Joseph Smith. 

It made no difference to Joseph Smith whether he read and was familiar with every doctrine taught by the Apostles; he was under no necessity of framing his teachings therewith that there should be no difference between that which he taught, and that which had been taught, because the same spirit that revealed to the ancient Apostles and Prophets, and inspired them to teach the people, and leave on record their predictions and doctrines, taught him also and enabled him to teach exactly the same truths.

I remember hearing related brother Parley P. Pratt's first interview with the Saints in Fayette, Seneca County, where the Church was organized. Those of you who remember brother Parley  know his familiarity with the Scriptures, especially with the prophecies. On that occasion he was called upon to speak; the Prophet Joseph was not present at the time. He brought forth from the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and other prophets, abundant proofs concerning the work which the Lord had established through his servant Joseph, a great many of the Latter-day Saints were surprised that there were so many evidences existing in the Bible concerning this work. The Church had then been organized some five months, but the members had never heard from any of the elders these proofs and evidences which existed in the Bible. And, if I remember correctly, he told me that Oliver Cowdery and the Prophet Joseph himself were surprised at the great amount of evidence there was in the Bible concerning these things. The Prophet Joseph was inspired of God to teach the doctrines of life and salvation, and he did so without reference to what the ancient prophets had said. (4)

So, from the very beginning Joseph Smith trusted in the revelations he was receiving and did not attempt to harmonize them with the Bible, but was evidently pleased when such harmony was found. Indeed, he was at some point in this process assigned by the Lord to work on the Bible to bring it into better harmony with the truths which were being revealed through him.

Confidence in what he produced, however, did not leave him content to just lay out three new books of scripture for the world to judge–which they mightily would do. What is one to think when we know that twice he challenged the world to test for themselves the truthfulness of what he brought forth. The first is not really his, but it came through him as a translator. It is the most famous and well known. It comes from inside the Book of Mormon itself. No other book that I know of contains such a challenge and promise:

4) And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.(5)

Missionaries from the day the Book of Mormon came off the press have urged investigators not to accept their word that the book is true, but to apply the test for themselves. For this reason the Book of Mormon is one of, if not the greatest missionary of the Restoration.

What is lesser known, but equally important in my mind, is that the Prophet made a similar statement which covers the scriptural waterfront more broadly. About two and a half years after the publication of the Book of Mormon, the young prophet wrote the following in an article originally published in the August 1832 issue of the church newspaper, Evening and Morning Star.

Search the scriptures–search the revelations which we publish, and ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth unto you, and if you do it with and eye single to His glory nothing doubting, He will answer you by the power of His Holy Spirit. You will then know for yourselves and not for another. You will not then be dependent on man for the knowledge of God; nor will there be any room for speculation.(6)

In an age which seems to consider religious doctrine “relative truth” determined by majority opinion, or at the other end of the spectrum, by the authority of ancient but murky tradition, it is remarkable that Joseph Smith had such confidence in what he was producing that he would leave it in the hands of the Lord to convince readers of its truth. This is another evidence that he had no desire to manipulate or coerce others to his point of view. Would a nave or fraud, names which his enemies often label him with, trust that God would confirm the truth of his writings? Apparently many would answer this question in the affirmative, but I am not among them. To me the promises found in these positive affirmations were beyond his ability to fulfill and he knew it. Yet he trusted that the foundation he was laying was on the firm rock of revelation and not on the sand of the theories and philosophies and theologies of men–which he also knew God would not sustain, support, or confirm. He knew that the church he built on such a foundation would weather the storms that may rage against it and when their energy was expended it would stand. That is confidence indeed, and in it he has not been disappointed.

Thank God for Joseph Smith!

Lets think together again, soon.

Notes:  

1.  Joseph Smith, HC 5:425, or TPJS, 310, emphasis added.

2.  In the next paragraph of this same sermon the Prophet remarked, “I will criticise (sic) a little further.”  Emphasis added.

3.  Joseph Smith, HC 6:366; TPJS, 368, emphasis added.

4.  George Q. Cannon, JD 19:105, emphasis added.  He went on to say something similar about Brigham Young: “I have heard President Young make the same remarks.  He said that he never consulted the Book of Covenants, he never consulted the Bible or Book of Mormon to see whether the doctrines and counsels which he was inspired to give, corresponded with these books or not.  It was a matter that gave him no particular concern, from the fact that he endeavored always to be led by the Spirt of the Lord, to speak in accordance therewith; hence these men have had very little care resting upon their minds as to whether their doctrines and counsels were in harmony with the doctrines and counsels of those who preceded them.  It was for them to seek to know the mind and will of the Lord and comprehend his Spirit as it rested upon them, to speak in accordance therewith; and the doctrine that has been taught will be found to be in perfect harmony with the doctrines which have been taught by men inspired of God in ancient days.”

5.  Moroni 10:4

6.  Joseph Smith, “To the Honorable Men of the World,” Evening and Morning Star, (August 1832); see also HC 1:282; TPJS, 11-12.

And the winner is...

Last week I announced a contest to win any tee shirt in my Redbubble shop, and we had 25 entries. Now it's time to declare a winner. I've numbered the entries 1-25 and will use Random.org to select a winner among those numbers.

Entering in my number range...



Entry number three wins the shirt! That comment was left by Kristofer Ruiz. Kristofer, please write to me at chasmosaurs(at)gmail(dot)com to let me know which tee you'd like and I'll get it sent off to you.

Thanks all for your link shares over the last week, and during the whole span of the campaign. We've been getting great response, and though full funding (and therefore printing the book) is not guaranteed, we're approaching the 50% funded level and I still believe it's possible that we'll make it. To help with that, I've dropped the perk level for illustration commissions a whole $200. It's a steal!



I'll do prehistoric critters, pet portraits, art for kid's rooms... whatever. So head over to the Indiegogo campaign page and check it out. Thanks again for all the support.

Browsing for Brows: Senna Sketch-A-Brow Pencil

*Post originally written by Olivia J on The Unknown Beauty Blog. If you see this post elsewhere, it has been stolen.*

Olivia Sr. recently asked me if I could find her a really good eyebrow pencil.  I looked at her stash and saw a bunch of eyebrow products already.  She noticed my glance and explained, "None of these look like my brows!"

I beg you, click to read more »

Why I Believe: Evidence Thirty-six: The Universal Benefit of Joseph Smith’s Suffering in Liberty Jail

101 Reasons Why I Believe Joseph Smith Is A Prophet

Evidence Thirty-six:

The Universal Benefit of Joseph Smith’s Suffering in Liberty Jail© 

I am reading a new book by Elder M. Russell Ballard.(1) I have had the privilege of being with him once when we presided over the California Roseville Mission, but reading this book has given me an even greater appreciation for his life and ministry as an Apostle of the Lord than even our experience with him in California gave us. The book shows him to be deeply devoted to his ministry as a special witness, as a Church leader, and as a teacher of the Gospel. I find him to be real, personal, and open. His wisdom, judgment, and doctrinal insights make reading his book an enjoyable experience. 

One of his insights concerns the background of Doctrine and Covenants 121 and 122. For me personally, these revelations contain some of the most inspirational ideas expressed in the most lofty and inspiring language.  Let me give you some examples that I love.

Section 121: Most people I would guess, if asked to cite their favorite portions of Section 121 would include the teachings in verses 1-11 about Joseph’s adversity and afflictions being “but a small moment;” and the “rights of the priesthood” being “inseparably connected with the powers of heaven” in verses 34-46.  I agree whole heartedly; there is nothing like them in all the world so far as I know. First, consider the popular verses 7-8:

7) My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; 8)And then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

These follow a plea from Joseph, amidst the difficulties and hardships of the Liberty Jail experience which led the him to cry out: “O God, where art thou? ... How long shall thy hand be stayed...?” (Vss. 1-2) In the midst of his extremity, like Job, he received great spiritual insight and the greatest promise he could receive, that of exaltation.

But there is also a sleeper in Section 121, rarely cited or discussed, which I wish to call attention to here. The negative of the first few verses has quickly turned not only positive, but positively exhilarating. It is a statement about the things which will come about in this dispensation which Joseph Smith inaugurated and presides over. The entire statement is in verses 26-33. I reproduce two brief excerpts which are profound, challenging, and beautiful.

26) God shall give unto you [Joseph Smith] knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now; 27) Which our forefathers have awaited with anxious expectation to be revealed in the last times, which their minds were pointed to by the angels, as held in reserve for the fulness of their glory; 28) A time to come in which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods, they shall be manifest.  29) All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  30) And if there be bounds set to the heavens or to the seas, or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon, or stars– 31) All the times of their revolutions, all the appointed days, months, and years, and all the days of their days, months, and years, and all their glories, laws, and set times, shall be revealed in the days of the dispensation of the fulness of times. (Emphasis added.)

What a prophetic view of the times in which we live. An analysis of all the various things found in this statement could go on for pages. On one matter only, I think of the amazing things we have seen and learned from the Hubble Telescope in the quarter century of its service. And, we are on the threshold of sending up a bigger, better one even farther out in space to reveal yet more of the glories and mysteries of the universe. Did not Joseph Smith predict such a thing?  

The second excerpt is the oft cited verse 33:

33) How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it upstream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.

Indeed Joseph’s trials are “but a small moment” when compared to what is to come, much due in fact, to his enduring them well and becoming a more worthy and receptive vessel. Now lets consider something in Section 122.

Section 122: This section returns again to the matter of Joseph’s trials. Who cannot find inspiration and encouragement in these words of the Lord which offer something of a brief biographical sketch of Joseph’s life up to this point?

7) And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. 8)The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?  9)Therefore, hold on thy way....

Well, here is the point of this recital.  Here is Elder Ballard’s insight:

I don’t know that the 121st section or the 122nd section of the Doctrine and Covenants could have come to the Prophet in any other way than his preparation through suffering. ... When we are pressed up against the most difficult moments in our lives, that is when we have a spiritual insight, when we see things in the big picture, the eternal scheme of things, that we have never before been able to see.(2)

I thank God for Joseph Smith, for his willingness and dedication to his Father’s will, even if it meant languishing in a forsaken jail on the frontier’s edge among a semi-civilized people for five months. I am thankful for that, because of the breakthrough it brought him to, and the phenomenal insight, comfort, and hope it not only brought to him, but which it has brought to countless members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world, me included! We have a clearer view of the purpose of life because Joseph lived ... and suffered ... and endured ... and recorded.

Thank God for Joseph Smith!

Lets think together again, soon.

Notes:

1.  The book is Today, Yesterday, and Forever: Timeless Gospel Messages with Insights from His Grandfathers Melvin J. Ballard and Hyrum Mack Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2015.

2.  Ibid., p. 153, emphasis added.

A sneak peek at what I've been up to

In between writing scripts for TetZoo Time, grading weekly quizzes, and wondering why there aren't more phylogenetic analyses of xenarthrans with more than craniodental characters, I've been busy. Most importantly, I have been busy co-authoring a revolutionary new paper... or what would be a revolutionary new paper if, in acts of blatant scientific censorship, all the legitimate scientific journals we submitted to had not rejected the manuscript.

Thus, for the time being, I have chosen to reveal some of the most important results of our study on my blog. This is at the tremendous risk of having this information scooped by other researchers, but I believe it is more important to publicize it as soon as possible, in hopes of misleading illuminating passing readers.

Results of phylogenetic analysis of Volantia, with identified synapomorphies labeled.

It's another phylogenetic analysis of Volantia, but in addition to being the largest analysis of this group to date, we also used this opportunity to test dogmatically popular hypotheses such as the theropod origin of birds. We were able to falsify these hypotheses by a priori reasoning, a truly devastating blow to textbook wisdom. However, mainstream science is loath to update textbooks, a primarily motivator behind the organized movement to bar our study from publication. The joke's on you, ivory tower suckers! Ha ha!

We also discovered that it's easy to recover the clades you want if you count a single character as 23 out of a total of 131. Likely this has been the case for analyses purporting to support birds as theropods, but almost no one else has ever caught this because phylogenetic matrices are well designed to blur the vision of anyone trying to evaluate what data was input into them.

Emily, Scott Reid, and Adam Schmoetzer provided helpful discussion that greatly improved this manuscript, though evidently not enough to get it published in a high-profile journal.

USU And Local Leadership Development

USU AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT©

Utah State University is, of course, not a local community college. Unlike many Junior Colleges, it draws students from all over the nation and around the world. Therefore, its objectives are considerably different from the Community College. However, USU also has a heavy component of state and local students and therefore shares some things in common with a Junior College. Among them, I suggest, is the development of local leadership.

I read this morning an interesting article by John Gardner about the role of the JC in developing leadership. Though it was written in 1988, almost 30 years ago, Gardner makes some points that may be useful for USU leadership to review for possible new ideas to consider. Here are some of the things he said:

• Finding solutions to some local problems can be facilitated by a school that will serve as a “convening function” where representatives of various factions and interests come together for serious discussion of community problems. It can be a “valuable forum, a meeting ground where the common good is discussed."

• A recommended program for leadership development for community colleges.

“First, a broad liberal arts education. It is useful for young potential leaders to gain–starting in high school–understanding of their own society and the world, to know their own history and the history of the species, to understand the promise of science and technology. And it helps if they have command of their own language, both speaking and writing. ...

Next, young potential leaders benefit by early exposure to various forums of group activities–team sports, student government, and off-campus activities, such as social service programs, and perhaps even participation in political campaigns. ... Young people interested in leadership need arenas in which they can test their judgment in action. They should get to know many constituencies, preferably some that are not entirely familiar. Young people need to know something about the untidy world in which real life takes place. ...

Third, they need opportunities to lead.  Leadership is a performing art. They need role models and mentors, and they need to have the opportunity to associate with other young leaders.”

• In our society leadership is dispersed down through various levels of society. “Our system can be made to work only if leadership at those levels is effective, and prepared to do its share.” Community colleges can train those leaders.

• It is useful and necessary for potential young leaders to know how the local community works, what its problems are, and how the state and community levels function. They need to know how the local political system works and how the city council does its work.

Finally, Gardner offers this important thought:

“When you help young persons discover their own capacity to lead or to be members of a leadership team or to share leadership tasks, you are engaged in the quintessentially American task of releasing human potential, the old and ever-new drama that we have been committed to since colonial days.”(1)

I realize that a number of these things take place at USU and other institutions of higher learning around the state. For that they should be praised and encouraged. Perhaps the above review might stimulate someone to consider some avenues which have not been, but could be explored further. Certainly wise students can benefit from Gardner's ideas and facilitate their own leadership growth by becoming involved in activities and programs USU currently offers and informing themselves about state and local government and get involved through opportunities that may be available on these levels.

Lets think together again, soon.

Notes:

John W. Gardner, “Developing Leadership in Community Colleges,” The Education Digest, 53, no. 5 (January 1988): 56-58, emphasis added.

Help a Mammoth, Win a Shirt!

Just about every crowdfunding campaign I've seen has included some form of this refrain: Even if you can't afford to donate, helping spread the word is a great form of support. It's true. You may have seen my post last week about my funding campaign to publish the children's book Mammoth is Mopey, a collaboration with my wife, Jennie. And if you follow me on Twitter, you've most certainly seen me mention it a few (dozen) times. So, if you're sympathetic with the mission of the book - to put cool, whimsical, modern versions of prehistoric animals in the hands of young potential scientists and artists, I hope you'll consider sending out a tweet, pin, Facebook link, or any other form of social media post to help us hit our goal.

To sweeten the deal beyond words of appreciation, we've decided to hold a contest. If you post about Mammoth is Mopey on social media, you have the chance win any tee shirt of your choice from my Redbubble shop. The rules are simple: Between now and Sunday, April 5, make a public post on a social media network. In the comments below, include a link to your post. Next Monday, I'll use the random number generator at Random.org to choose a winner and make the announcement. If you've already shared a link to Mammoth is Mopey, that's okay - share it again over the next week, and comment below!

If we keep up at the rate we've been going, we should fund fully during the last week of the campaign. But that's not guaranteed, and I'd love to wrap up before that. Every time we hit a 10% milestone, I reveal another character from the book. I'd love to knock five or six this week, and your shares can help. Here's the progress so far.

Thanks again to the on-line palaeontology community for the support - we've received so many kind words since we began the campaign that it's made us more confident that this book has a place in the world. The latest has been Chris DiPiazza, who totally gets what we're aiming to do with the book. Now, go spread the word and pick your prize! Some of the designs available are the official Love in the Time of Chasmosaurs tee, Palaeontology Fanciers, the pixel art Dinosprites, I Left My Heart in a Prehistoric Age, the Dinosaur Hearts, the Dinosaur Family Crests,the "You Complete Me" toon, or the new Honest To Goodness Dinosaur series.

Why I Believe: Evidence Thirty-five: Joseph Smith, the Law of Tithing, and Church Prosperity

101 Reasons Why I Believe Joseph Smith Is A Prophet

Evidence Thirty-five:

Joseph Smith, the Law of Tithing, and Church Prosperity© 

It is not uncommon for opponents of Mormonism to point to the wealth of the Church as a reason for criticism. I believe, however, that when viewed in its true light, the prosperity of the Church and many of its members is an evidence of the inspiration and revelation which rested upon Joseph Smith in the early days of the Church, and of his successors in subsequent decades. Basically two simple directives from the Lord through the Prophet guide the revenue collecting and disbursement of the Church. Neither is long and involved. Indeed, the very opposite is true.  They are among the simplest and briefest of the revelations which were given to him.

The first is Section 119 of the Doctrine and Covenants, given on 8 July 1838, in Far West, Missouri. It is divided into seven verses and occupies less than half a page in that sacred book. It came in answer to the question, how much of their property the Lord required of his saints for sacred purposes. The answer was “one-tenth of all their interest annually.” This has been interpreted to mean 10% of one’s income. In those early days in which the Saints were poor, the demands for Church revenue were high, and it was being driven from place to place. The Church and its people struggled greatly with poverty. Nevertheless, the Lord blessed his people. In Utah the persecutions by the Federal Government during the so-called “Americanization of Utah” brought the Church to its financial knees, at which time Lorenzo Snow was inspired to reemphasize the law of tithing. Gradually over the decades as the faith of the people increased and more tithing was paid the Church began to prosper more and more.

In the same revelation the Lord specified that tithing was to be used for “the building of mine house, and for the laying of the foundation of Zion and for the priesthood, and for the debts of the Presidency of my Church.” (Verse 2) Section 120, also given on 8 July 1838, was one simple verse of direction regarding the disbursement of the funds. Tithing is to be “disposed of by a council, composed of the First Presidency of my Church, and of the bishop and his council, and by my high council; and by mine own voice unto them.” The last phrase is the key, of which Church critics are totally unaware.

In the fall of 2013, Elder David A. Bednar, of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, spoke to the Church about these two directives and told of attending his first meeting of this council in 2004 after his call to the Quorum of the Twelve, and the feelings he experienced in that meeting. He said:

I marvel at the clarity and brevity of these two revelations in comparison to the complicated financial guidelines and administrative procedures used in so many organizations and governments around the world. How can the temporal affairs of an organization as large as the restored Church of Jesus Christ possibly operate throughout the entire world using such succinct instructions?  To me the answer is quite straightforward: this is the Lord’s work, He is able to do His own work (see 2 Nephi 27:20), and the Savior inspires and directs His servants as they apply His directions and labor in His cause. (1)

He went on to speak of the “simplicity of the principles that guided our deliberations and decisions.” Two “basic and fixed principles” are observed, he said. “First, the Church lives within its means and does not spend more than it receives. Second, a portion of the annual income is set aside as a reserve for contingencies and unanticipated needs.” (2)

Much could be said about the great faith of the Mormon people to pay ten percent of their income to the Church to provide this revenue base, but this is not usually the focus of the Church’s critics. They concentrate on the amount of money the Church has, the businesses from which it makes money as they suppose, and they attribute the Church’s financial success to the business acumen of its leaders. They also ascribe the “power” of Mormonism in the United States to this wealth and influence and miss the real point–the faith and commitment of the Lord’s people to a simple commandment.  

They also miss another important issue, these simple revelations were received by the founding Prophet. He was content to leave less than eight verses to govern the method of financing the Church(3)–the Lord’s Church! The outcome is the present prosperity it enjoys and the blessings it is to people throughout the world. It is truly a marvelous work and a wonder, and the wonder for this author is, how this young unlettered Vermonter came up with this simple system that when properly implemented has produced the astounding “fruit” which it has?

Thank God for Joseph Smith!

Lets think together again, soon.

Notes:

1.  David A. Bednar, “The Windows of Heaven,” Ensign (November 2013): 19.

2.  Ibid, pp. 19-20.

3.  I am aware there are other revelations about the Law of Consecration and Stewardship, but the revenue of the Church is provided largely through the tithing of the membership of the Church, which is the topic under discussion here.

Why I Believe: Evidence Thirty-four: Joseph Smith and Cain's Offering

101 Reasons Why I Believe Joseph Smith Is A Prophet

Evidence Thirty four:

Joseph Smith and Cain's Offering©
(Updated 30 March 2015)

There are those who do not think Mormons are Christians. One of the things which I love about the Prophet Joseph Smith is his great testimony of Jesus Christ.(1) One manifestation of it is reflected in his near single minded view of the Christ-centeredness of the scriptures.(2) An example of this phenomenon is what he taught about why the Lord rejected Cain’s offering in the story found in Genesis 4. Verse 3 says “in process of time ... that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.” Abel, his brother, offered the firstlings of the flock. “But unto Cain and to his offering,” the scripture reads, the Lord “had not respect.  And Cain was very wroth.” Cain was so wrathful that he ended up killing Abel.

A typical Christian interpretation of the difference between the two offerings is found in the popular NIV Study Bible, which gives this commentary:

The contrast is not between an offering of plant life and an offering of animal life, but between a careless, thoughtless offering and a choice, generous offering (cf. Lev 3:16).  Motivation and heart attitude are all-important, and God looked with favor on Abel and his offering because of Abel’s faith (Heb 11:4).(3)

I set this beside what Joseph Smith had to say on the subject.  His remarks are found in a lengthy epistle to the Church dated 22 January 1834.(4)  He was twenty-nine years old.

By faith in this atonement or plan of redemption, Abel offered to God a sacrifice that was accepted, which was the firstlings of the flock. Cain offered of the fruit of the ground, and was not accepted, because he could not do it in faith, he could have no faith, or could not exercise faith contrary to the plan of heaven. It must be shedding the blood of the Only Begotten to atone for man; for this was the plan of redemption; and without the shedding of blood was no remission; and as the sacrifice was instituted for a type, by which man was to discern the great Sacrifice which God had prepared; to offer a sacrifice contrary to that, no faith could be exercised, because redemption was not purchased in that way, nor the power of atonement instituted after that order; consequently Cain could have no faith; and whatsoever is not of faith, is sin. But Abel offered an acceptable sacrifice, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God Himself testifying of his gifts. Certainly, the shedding of the blood of a beast could be beneficial to no man, except it was done in imitation, or as a type, or explanation of what was to be offered through the gift of God Himself; and this performance done with an eye looking forward in faith on the power of that great Sacrifice for a remission of sins. But however various may have been, and may be at the present time, the opinions of men respecting the conduct of Abel, and the knowledge which he had on the subject of atonement, it is evident in our minds, that he was instructed more fully in the plan than what the Bible speaks of, for how could he offer a sacrifice in faith, looking to God for a remission of his sins in the power of the great atonement, without having been previously instructed in that plan? And further, if he was accepted of God, what were the ordinances performed further than the offering of the firstlings of the flock?(5) 

Two things are important to highlight in this interesting analysis. First, Joseph does see a considerable difference between an offering of plant life and animal life. Second, this entire paragraph is surfeited with Jesus Christ, the atonement, and faith.  Consider the following:

1. Abel had faith in the atonement and offered an acceptable animal sacrifice, one that typified or properly symbolized the Savior’s sacrifice. 

2. Cain did not offer the correct type of sacrifice and could not do so in faith because the fruits of the field do not typify the sacrifice of Christ.

3. Animal sacrifice was to point toward Christ, because the atonement was “instituted after that order.” However, the shedding of an animal’s blood “could be beneficial to no man, except it was done in imitation, or as a type ... of what was to be offered through the gift of God Himself....”  That gift was Christ.

4. This was all done looking forward to a remission of sins, through the atonement.

5.   To exercise faith through such a system, Able must have known about Christ, the atonement,  and the plan.

Quite a different view than that of the NIV Study Bible. This is typical of Joseph Smith, it is not unusual or exceptional. He understood the mission and purpose of Jesus Christ. He understood the atonement and how the Old Testament law of sacrifice pointed toward the atoning sacrifice of Christ. He understood the necessity of having faith in Christ in order to please God, to live righteously, and to gain salvation. This is the message he drew from the story of the two sacrifices of Abel and Cain. Interesting is it not, how his critics never call attention to this most obvious and consistent focus of his teachings and ministry. I wonder why not?

Thank God for Joseph Smith!

Lets think together again, soon.

Notes:

1.   I like and share the view of my friend Jeff Marsh who wrote, "...Joseph Smith was one of the most powerful testifiers of the resurrected Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the world has ever known."  See, W. Jeffrey Marsh, Joseph Smith the Prophet of the Restoration, (Springville, UT: Cedar Fort Inc., 2005), p. 14.

2.  This is consistent with Jesus' teaching, "Search the scriptures; for ... they are they which testify of me."  (John 5:39.)  It is not always remembered that the "scriptures" he speaks of were the Old Testament.  Perhaps a few things may have been circulating from his teachings.  There are a number of ways one can approach this idea.  An interesting one is found in an article in the Ensign asserting that the Book of Mormon mentions the Savior more times per verse than even the New Testament.  See, Susan Ward Easton, "Discovery," Ensign, (July 1978), p. 60.

3.  Kenneth Barker, ed, The NIV Study Bible: New International Version, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1985), p. 11, note at Gen. 4:3-4.

4.  Joseph Smith, “The Elders of The Church in Kirtland, To Their Brethren Abroad,” HC 2:15-16.  See also TPJS, pp. 58-59, emphasis added.  The original was in the Evening and Morning Star, vol. 2, no. 18 (March 1834), 142-144; no. 19 (April 1834), p. 152.  Respecting Joseph's argument that Abel knew the gospel and the law of sacrifice relative to the death of Christ, Moses 5:7 teaches us that an angel taught Adam that animal sacrifice “is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father....”  Surely Adam taught this to his children. Moses 5:12 says Adam and Eve "made all things known unto their sons and their daughters."  Concerning Moses 5:7, Elder M. Russell Ballard has written, much as Joseph argued about Abel, “This teaches us that originally, ancient Israel understood the relationship between the sacrifice of their offerings and the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.” He refers the reader to D&C 138:12-13, which says: “And there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality; and who had offered sacrifice in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of God, and had suffered tribulation in their Redeemer’s name.” See M. Russell Ballard, Yesterday, Today, and Forever: Timeless Gospel Messages with Insights from his Grandfathers Melvin J. Ballard and Hyrum Mack Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2015, p. 118.

5.  Joseph Smith had more to say in this same epistle about blood sacrifice and their knowledge of Christ. He wrote:  "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 before the Gospel to have been administered while the law of sacrifices of blood was in force. 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 Jesus 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 rejoice in His redemption. We find also, that when the Israelites came out of Egypt they had the Gospel preached to them, according to Paul in his letter to the Hebrews, which says: "For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" (see Heb. 4:2). It is said again, in Gal. 3:19, that the law (of Moses, or the Levitical law) was "added" because of transgression. What, we ask, was this law added to, if it was not added to the Gospel? It must be plain that it was added to the Gospel, since we learn that they had the Gospel preached to them. From these few facts, we conclude that whenever the Lord revealed Himself to men in ancient days, and commanded them to offer sacrifice to Him, that it was done that they might look forward in faith to the time of His coming, and rely upon the power of that atonement for a remission of their sins. And this they have done, thousands who have gone before us, whose garments are spotless, and who are, like Job, waiting with an assurance like his, that they will see Him in the latter day upon the earth, even in their flesh."  HC 2:16-17, TPJS, 60-61, emphasis added.

Vintage Dinosaur Art: I Can Read About Dinosaurs

Late update: David covered this one before! Be sure to read his take. I try not to go over the same ground, but mistakes happen.

The 1970s are a particularly rich source of popular/children's dinosaur books, fuelled no doubt by the Dinosaur Renaissance, the fantastically cheesy B-movies of the time (the seminal example When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth appeared in 1970), or some combination thereupon. I Can Read About Dinosaurs (1972, illustrated by Judith Fringuello) is very typical of kids' books of the era; although the restorations are still old-fashioned in outlook, they're a lot more lively than they might have been back in the Zallinger days. It also features a very cool, nicely composed cover. Just check out those heroically posed Sexy Rexies, nonplussed by angry mountains and demonic, wraith-like pterosaurs. Aw yeah.




Sauropods are still depicted as being water-borne, albeit to various degrees. Diplodocus opts merely to wade in up to its knees in order to eat the mushy water plants that it surely had to feed on (just ignore all the hard evidence to the contrary, please), although it looks particularly smug about it. It's probably having a good laugh at some hydrophobic theropods on the shore, waving their arms around in frustration, thrashing their tails about on the ground and curling their lips (because it distracts from any mistakes in the animation, see).

Meanwhile, other sauropods - like these presumed brachiosaurs (below) - would rather go a little further, and have presumably swallowed huge quantities of rocks (or Brian J Ford manuscripts) before completely submerging themselves in the nearest deep lake with a sheer drop for a shoreline. As Matt Martyniuk noted over on our Facebook page,

"As a kid reading books like this, I was always impressed by how there were so many lakes that were basically steep 40ft vertical pits in the ground...lots of flooded mining operations back then I guess."

 So little about this idea makes any sense, it's a wonder that it persisted as long as it did, even as other completely silly notions were consigned to the dustbin of hilarious palaeoart retrospectives. But persist it did. Particularly enjoyable in this scene - quite apart from the sheer convenience of that 'mining pit' - is the depiction of a rubbish pig-nosed allosaur squatting on the bank, cursing his luck that he doesn't have a pair of strong legs and some kind of organ that could be used for sculling. "Isn't it about time Greg Paul showed up!?!"

Speaking of allosaurs...the name never suited them more than here. Allosaurus pops up twice, but looks completely different on each occasion. First time around, it's in a pot-bellied, spiky-crested Zallingerian guise, having somehow caught up with an unfortunate (but probably very careless) ornithopod. While clearly taking inspiration from the Peabody mural, this restoration has ended up more of a Godzilla-like fantasy creature than a theropod dinosaur. There's a nice sense of chaos and panic created by the use of harsh parallel lines around the animals, but it's definitely an illustration on the weirdo end of the scale; it's completely out of proportion, with all the horrifying rotundity of an oblivious middle-aged male tourist from northern Europe sunning himself on a Spanish beach.

Then, directly afterwards, we have this - an entirely different-looking, still very old school but notably better-proportioned beastie, depicted threatening Stegosaurus with a lascivious stare and toothy grin worthy of a sinister drunken aristocrat (so that's where Darwin came from). Steggy, of course, is having none of it, and offers the leering old git a face full of spikes by return. There's a bit of a perspective fudge going on here, where Stegosaurus is somehow both level with and in front of Allosaurus at the same time. Either that, or Steggy's tail tip is growing out if its knee. It could do with one on the other side, in which case it could spin them both around at the same time and take on two enemies at once, like some kind of walking war chariot. (Come to think of it, some stegosaurs - with their shoulder- or hip-mounted spiky bits - actually came quite close to that.)

While Allosaurus gets in on plenty of predatory action, he is - as ever - merely the warm-up act for the Greatest Predator the World has Ever Known (except those other ones we don't talk about), Sexy McRexy. Happily, Rexy's depiction in this book is rather more consistent and better researched - why, he even has distinct shoulders and a muscular neck. First on Rexy's menu is a hadrosaur gaily dancing the cancan. Crashing through the wall of the Parisian club in which La Troupe de Trachodon is performing, Rexy makes for the nearest web-footed dancer, who sadly has nowhere to run...and thus, the inevitable happens.

Quelle horreur! Alas, hadrosaurs have always been easy meat. Although this is a rather bloodless encounter, the text makes it clear that 'a terrible battle' is about to ensue, which at least implies that the herbivore won't go down without a fight (no matter how futile).

As ever, things don't always go Rexy's way. The below illustration is Fringuello's take on the classic Tyrannosaurus v Triceratops encounter. The latter's frill looks a bit odd, but I love the stylised billowing dust clouds being kicked up by its feet. Rexy, while looking a little unimpressed, has sensibly chosen not to try and nibble the raging ceratopsian...

...Unfortunately, he isn't so wise in his approach to tackling ankylosaurs, incurring an eye-watering dentist's bill by trying to chew on the armoured carapace of an adorably dinky '70s-style Ankylosaurus. Which, by the way, is pronounced An-KILL-o-sawr-us. KILL. KILL. KILL. Like many contemporary depictions of Ankylosaurus, which were based on scanty remains, misinterpreted fossils from other ankylosaurs, and older palaeoart, this one resembles some sort of angry, mutant exotic fruit. A kind of Killer Pineapple from the Kretaceous.

And finally...because you've probably had enough of theropod dinosaurs doing what Internet folk would probably describe as 'nomming' things, here's a marine sauropsid. Specifically, it's the elasmosaurid plesiosauroid plesiosaur, Elasmosaurus platyurus. Sadly, the work of utter killjoy plesiosaur researchers* now means that we know that animals such as this could not adopt the snaking neck positions that the artists of yesteryear were so fond of. It means that, except in the cases where books are extremely sloppily researched (as if that ever happens), we'll no longer see cocky-looking oceangoing reptiles adopting heraldic poses and poking their heads out of the waves just 'cos they can. Even though they can't. Alas, alas.

Oh, there is one more thing - many thanks to Niroot for letting me borrow this very precious book, and for braving the potential beer stains, torn pages and laboured jokes that would result. Au revoir!

 

*I'm joking, of course. It's just 'cos I happen to know one.