The Restoration of the GospelWidtsoe, Osborne J. P.
Religion
The Restoration of the Gospel
Widtsoe, Osborne J. P.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
This promise, with commandment, evidently signifies that the Lord
purposed to make clear dark sayings of Scripture, which some of the
saints were questioning. In support of this fact may be cited another
revelation, given only two months later, in which the Lord renews
the promise. "Thou shalt ask," He said to the Prophet Joseph, "and
my scriptures shall be given as I have appointed, and they shall be
preserved in safety."[B]
[Footnote B: Doc. and Cov. 42:56.]
Already, however, six months or so before the promise was made in
revelation, the Lord had prepared for its fulfillment. In June, 1830,
only two months after the organization of the Church, the Prophet had
received the revelation known as the "Words of Moses."[C] It is a
kind of introduction to the book of Genesis; it tells how Moses came
to know the story of the creation, and the relation of man to God. No
finer introductory chapter to the book of beginnings could possibly
be conceived. Again, in the same month in which the revelation with
promise was given, the Lord revealed certain "doings of olden times,
from the prophecy of Enoch. "[D] "Much conjecture and conversation
frequently occurred among the Saints," writes the Prophet, "concerning
the books mentioned, and referred to, in various places in the Old and
New Testaments, which were now nowhere to be found. The common remark
was, 'They are lost books;' but it seems the Apostolic Church had some
of these writings, as Jude mentions or quotes the prophecy of Enoch,
the seventh from Adam."[E] To the joy of the congregation, extracts
from this prophecy of Enoch were revealed to the Prophet Joseph, and
added to the growing treasure-house of scripture. Already, too, the
Prophet had begun to make a revision of the Bible. Before the close of
the year 1830, this revision was well under way.
[Footnote C: Pearl of Great Price.]
[Footnote D: "History of the Church," Vol. I, p. 133.]
[Footnote E: "History of the Church," Vol. I, p. 132.]
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