December 2007 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

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34 The Joseph Smith Journals The Prophet Joseph’s seven journals are among the most important records that help us understand him and the development of the Church during his life. BY MARK ASHURST-McGEE AND ALEX SMITH Editors of volumes in the Journals Series in the forthcoming Joseph Smith Papers, a multivolume work in progress at the Family and Church History Department. Over the next several years, the department will publish all of Joseph Smith’s letters, journals, histories, revelations, and other documents. The Prophet Joseph Smith purchased his first journal on November 27, 1832—possibly in response to a revelation he received the same day concerning the necessity of Church record keeping (see D&C 85:1–5). It was a small pocketbook of 104 pages that he called a “Book for Record.” The first words he wrote express his sincere intention “to keep a minute account of all things that [came] under [his] observation.” Joseph Smith, however, was more comfortable with the spoken word and expressed his frustration with the limitations of writing. 1 As a result, there were periods of effective journal keeping, but there were also gaps when months and even years went by in silence. Still, he returned again and again to journal keeping, or he arranged for others to carry on in his stead. Eventually, with the help of the faithful and dependable scribe Elder Willard Richards, the Prophet succeeded in establishing a method of steady journal keeping. The journals produced by and for the Prophet contain several of the earliest existing copies of his revelations, and they provide the only detailed accounts of several of his sermons. They are some of the most important records for understanding Joseph Smith and the development of the Church during his lifetime. Following is a brief description of each of the Prophet’s seven journals and information about several of the scribes who helped him keep them. First Ohio Journal: 1832–34 The Prophet Joseph faithfully kept this first journal every day for nine days and then stopped for almost 10 months. He resumed in October 1833, when he left home on a proselytizing mission to Upper Canada. The entries during this mission are a rich source of insight into his sincerity and the spiritual and emotional dimensions of his personality. For example, Joseph recorded for October 12: “I feel very well in my mind. The Lord is with us, but [I] have much anxiety about my family.” Later that day he received a revelation assuring Sidney Rigdon and him of their families’ well-being (see D&C 100:1). On his return to Kirtland, Ohio, on November 4, 1833, Joseph dictated a journal entry to Oliver Cowdery, the second elder of the Church: “Found my family all well according to the promise of the Lord, for which blessings I feel to thank his holy name.” Before long, he turned to other scribes for help. In addition to using Oliver Cowdery as a scribe, the Prophet called upon Elders Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams, his counselors in the First Presidency. In March 1834, while on another mission, Joseph Smith asked his traveling companion, Elder Parley P. Pratt, to help him keep the journal. PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARK ASHURST-McGEE AND ALEX SMITH, EXCEPT AS NOTED; RIGHT: PHOTOGRAPHS BY WELDEN C. ANDERSEN; MAP BY ROBERT T. BARRETT
Far West MISSOURI Nauvoo ILLINOIS Not all of the entries appear in chronological order. On several occasions, Joseph backtracked to record an earlier event. He also used the journal to keep financial records and other miscellaneous notes, which are interspersed throughout the book. The journal’s most consistent entries are between late February and April of 1834, when the Prophet was recruiting help and raising funds for the expedition to relieve the Latter-day Saints who had been driven from their homes in Jackson County, Missouri. Kirtland OHIO Above: The first page of Joseph Smith’s first Ohio journal. Inset: The front cover of this journal, bearing the Prophet’s signature. Map: The Prophet’s first and second journals were written in Kirtland, Ohio. His third and fourth were written in Far West, Missouri. His fifth, sixth, and seventh journals were written in Nauvoo, Illinois. ENSIGN DECEMBER 2007 35
Page 1 and 2: T H E C H U R C H O F J E S U S C H
Page 3 and 4: T H E C H U R C H O F J E S U S C H
Page 5: 34 USING THIS ISSUE Celebrating Chr
Page 8 and 9: 6 the baby’s mind. And then God w
Page 10 and 11: 8 The noble Roman mother responded,
Page 12 and 13: 10 Not only is the story of the Sav
Page 14 and 15: The angel Gabriel was sent to Zacha
Page 16 and 17: 14 Ushering In a New Dispensation T
Page 18 and 19: 16 & QUESTIONS ANSWERS The holidays
Page 20 and 21: 18 works through others. He knows w
Page 22 and 23: 20 As I enjoyed my other children,
Page 24 and 25: 22 THE TRUTH TRUTH FOUND FOUND ME I
Page 26 and 27: 24 “How about one more door?” s
Page 28 and 29: PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT CASEY, POSED B
Page 30 and 31: 28 There Shall Be a Record Kept amo
Page 32 and 33: 30 LEARN MORE ABOUT CHURCH HISTORY
Page 34 and 35: 32 As today, ancient prophets like
Page 38 and 39: 36 The Prophet’s second Ohio jour
Page 40 and 41: 38 Below: The Prophet’s first Ill
Page 42 and 43: A Mother AND AN OVERFLOWING HEART 4
Page 44 and 45: Elizabeth Teaching John, by Ardith
Page 46 and 47: I testify that Jesus is the perfect
Page 48 and 49: 46 I testify that Jesus was, in fac
Page 50 and 51: 48 LESSONS FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT F
Page 52 and 53: 50 from the power of a fallen and d
Page 54 and 55: 52 BY STEFFANI R. PACKER For most c
Page 56 and 57: Below, from left to right: Purevsur
Page 58 and 59: Above: Odgerel (left), Ulaanbaatar
Page 60 and 61: 58 manages the one-room distributio
Page 62 and 63: INSET: PHOTOGRAPH BY HENRIK ALS, PO
Page 64 and 65: 62 Mother’s Christmas Mouse By Be
Page 66 and 67: 64 Did Heavenly Father Really Love
Page 68 and 69: Our Christmas Experiment When our c
Page 70 and 71: 68 INDEX for 2007 V OLUME 37 A AARO
Page 72 and 73: 70 Foundation for the Future in San
Page 74 and 75: 72 Mother’s Christmas Mouse, Bett
Page 76 and 77: 74 Meals and Memorization, Chantell
Page 78 and 79: 76 Elder Oaks Bolsters Members in A
Page 80 and 81: 78 Months of effort help make Templ
Page 82 and 83: 80 education program offered their
Page 84: 4 02006 12000 1 00612 Dec 07 Madonn

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