Class 11 – Section 89, 93 Word of Wisdom, Obtaining a Fulness

1. Class 11 – Section 89, 93 Word of Wisdom, Obtaining a Fulness

2. Section 89 • Not a commandment to the Church as a whole. v. 1-2. • Leaders were expected to live it – Hyrum Smith. • However, many, including Joseph Smith, did not live it strictly.

3. Section 89 • Brigham Young encouraged Saints to live it, but it was not taken very seriously. – Coffee was accepted and distributed as fast offerings in Brigham Young’s ward. • Sustained as a commandment in 1851.

4. Section 89 • Compliance with the Word of Wisdom was not a condition for temple recommends, etc. • Began to be considered binding on the Saints in the time of Pres. Heber J. Grant – 1920s and 1930s.

5. Section 89 The Saints continued to use wine at times for the sacrament until after they were in Utah.

6. Section 89 • To whom was it given? v. 1 • Why was it given? v. 2-4 • What are the promises? V. 18-21

7. Section 89 • Is it against the Word of Wisdom to drink Coke?

8. Section 89 • Where does it say we should use ‘moderation in all things”?

9. Section 89 • v. 11: Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving

10. Section 89 • D&C 59: 19-20. Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.

11. Section 89 • We may make evil of all amusements, but the Saints should not be unwise, but rather understand what the will of the Lord is, and practice moderation in all things. • - Joseph F. Smith, Sept. 1903 Improvement Era

12. Section 89 • What mild drinks were made of barley in 1833?

13. Section 89 • Is it against the Word of Wisdom to eat meat?

14. Section 89 • v.12. Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;

15. Section 89 • v.13. And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.

16. Section 89 • v.13. And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine. • This comma first appeared in 1921 – without authorization, according to Joseph Fielding Smith. • But the comma remained after the latest editing – so now it is authorized.

17. What does it say elsewhere? • D&C 49: 18-19,21 • D&C 59: 16-20

18. Section 89 14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;   15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.

19. Section 89 14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;   15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger. To what does “these” refer?

20. Good Things: • v. 10-11. Herbs, fruits. • v. 14, 16-17. grain, especially wheat.

21. Section 93 • Kirtland was peaceful, growing, and relatively prosperous. • Joseph Smith was occupied with truth, light, endowment… • Conflict in Jackson County was just beginning to arise.

22. Messages of Section 93 – Obtaining a Fulness Lectures on Faith: "All those who keep his [the Father's] commandments shall grow up from grace to grace, and become heirs of the heavenly kingdom, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ; possessing the same mind, being transformed into the same image or likeness, even the express image of him who fills all in all; being filled with the fulness of his glory, and become one in him, even as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one.

23. Messages of Section 93 – Obtaining a Fulness As the Son partakes of the fulness of the Father through the Spirit, so the saints are, by the same Spirit, to be partakers of the same fulness, to enjoy the same glory; for as the Father and the Son are one, so, in like manner, the saints are to be one in them. Through the love of the Father, the mediation of Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, they are to be heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ." (pp. 50-52)

24. Messages of Section 93 – Obtaining a Fulness Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am;

25. Messages of Section 93 – Obtaining a Fulness Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am;

26. In what ways do we “see the face” of the Lord and know that he is?

27. How are the Father and Son one?

28. How are the Father and Son one? v. 3-4. And that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one — The Father because he gave me of his fulness, and the Son because I was in the world and made flesh my tabernacle, and dwelt among the sons of men.

29. How are the Father and Son one? One way: Christ is both the Father and the Son, so the Father and Son are one.

30. Who is the John of v. 6-18?

31. Who is the John of v. 6-18? And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son.

32. What is grace? What does it men to grow from grace to grace?

33. What is grace? What does it men to grow from grace to grace? • Grace is “gifts and power from God.” • Brigham Young taught about moving from “perfection to perfection.” When we obtain proficiency at one level, we are given more and more is expected of us. – The bar is always raising.

34. What is grace? What does it men to grow from grace to grace? • Grace is “gifts and power from God.” • Brigham Young taught about moving from “perfection to perfection.” When we obtain proficiency at one level, we are given more and more is expected of us. – The bar is always raising.

35. What is truth?

36. What is truth? • Truth is “the knowledge…” • Is truth then inside us rather than outside us?

37. More about fulness… v. 27-28. And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments. He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.

38. What are intelligences?

39. What are intelligences? • Entities without beginning. They are formed into spirits and then given bodies. • 1) substance without individuality or personal characteristics which is a requisite part of a sprit body? • 2) a primordial individual, a pre-spirit that has individual characteristics?

40. What is intelligence?

41. One meaning of intelligence… • Light and truth… • Light comes from God, truth comes from within. • Intelligence is when God reveals things to us and we internalize his revelations so they become part of us.

42. Concretely, how we obtain a fulness? When do we obtain a fulness?

43. Who was Joseph Smith? http://www.physics.byu.edu/faculty/rees/325

44. Joseph Smith’s life was well documented. • journals, letters, church history, scribes, interviews… • Documentary History of the Church • Collection of many documents, put in first person when edited. • Dean Jesse’s work...

45. Histories: 1834 -- 1960 • written either to defend or defame Joseph Smith

46. Joseph Smith’s life was complex • We don’t know what he knew or what he thought. • He can’t be explained in terms of simple ideas: • product of his time and place • impoverished liar trying to get rich through religion

47. He can’t be explained in terms of simple ideas: • a mouthpiece merely repeating what the Lord told him to say. • From every indication, Joseph Smith actually believed his own prophetic calling. – He didn’t have a public persona and a private persona that differed.

48. Even his critics had to concede some things: • Amos Hayden: Ezra Booth, of Mantua, a Methodist preacher of much more than ordinary culture, and with strong natural abilities, in company with his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, and some other citizens of this place [Hiram], visited Smith at his home in Kirtland, in 1831. Mrs. Johnson had been afflicted for some time with a lame arm, and was not at the time of the visit able to lift her hand to her head. The party visited Smith partly out of curiosity, and partly to see for themselves what there might be in the new doctrine. During the interview the conversation fumed on the subject of supernatural gifts, such as were conferred in the days of the apostles. Some one said, 'Here is Mrs. Johnson with a lame arm; has God given any power to man now on the earth to cure her?

49. A few moments later, when the conversation had turned in another direction, Smith rose, and walking across the room, taking Mrs. Johnson by the hand, said in the most solemn and impressive manner: 'Woman, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I command thee to be whole,' and immediately left the room. The company were awe-stricken at the infinite presumption of the man, and the calm assurance with which he spoke. The sudden mental and moral shock-I know not how better to explain the well-attested fact-electrified the rheumatic arm-Mrs. Johnson at once lifted it up with ease, and on her return home the next day she was able to do her washing without difficulty or pain.

50. Joseph Smith You don't know me; you never knew my heart. No man knows my history. I cannot tell it: I shall never undertake it. I don't blame anyone for not believing my history. If I had not experienced what I have, I would not have believed it myself. -- April 1844