Did you know...

[JojoBag]

Did you know that:

Joseph Smith taught in the doctrine of translation that translated beings are not limited to ministering to people on this earth. They are also used by the Savior to minister to people of other planets.

 

“Many may have supposed that the doctrine of translation was a doctrine whereby men were taken immediately into the presence of God, and into an eternal fulness, but this is a mistaken idea. Their place of habitation is that of the terrestrial order, and a place prepared for such characters He held in reserve to be ministering angels unto many planets, and who as yet have not entered into so great a fulness as those who are resurrected from the dead.”

“The Mediation and Atonement,” John Taylor, Pg. 75

 

Did you know that:

While Joseph Smith was on his knees in the Sacred Grove, that he was tempted sorely when Satan projected inappropriate images into his mind. In other words, Satan projected dirty pictures into Joseph's mind.

 

“On one occasion, he went to a small grove of trees near his father’s home and knelt down before God in solemn prayer. The adversary then made several strenuous efforts to cool his ardent soul. He filled his mind with doubts and brought to mind all manner of inappropriate images to prevent him from obtaining the object of his endeavors; but the overflowing mercy of God came to buoy him up and gave new impetus to his failing strength. However, the dark cloud soon parted and light and peace filled his frightened heart. Once again he called upon the Lord with faith and fervency of spirit.”

Orson Hyde, Ein Ruf aus der Wüste (A Cry out of the Wilderness), 1842, extract, English translation, Page 1

 

Did you know that:

The Urim and Thummim were made of precious stones set in silver bows, which were attached to a breastplate of solid gold.

 

“The Urim and Thummim was as the angel had described it—two precious stones set in an arch of silver which was fastened to an ancient breastplate of pure gold, curiously wrought. The breastplate was concave on one side and convex on the other, and seemed to have been made for a man of greater stature than is ordinary in modern days. Four golden bands were fastened to it, for the purpose of attaching it to the person of its wearer—two of the bands being for the shoulders, the others for the waist or hips.” “Life of Joseph Smith, the Prophet,” by George Q. Cannon, Pg. 22

 

 

Did you know that:

While Martin Harris was acting as Joseph's scribe, Joseph used a seer stone to help him in the translation of the Book of Mormon. In an attempt to prove or disprove Joseph's abilities to translate, Harris substituted another stone for the seer stone.

 

“One of Joseph's aids in searching out the truths of the record was a peculiar pebble or rock, which he called also a seer stone, and which was sometimes used by him in lieu of the Urim and Thummim. This stone had been discovered to himself and his brother Hyrum at the bottom of a well; and under divine guidance they had brought it forth for use in the work of translation. Martin determined to deprive the Prophet of this stone. He obtained a rock resembling a seer-stone in shape and color, and slyly substituted it for the Prophet's real medium of translation. When next they were to begin their labor, Joseph was at first silent; and then he exclaimed: "Martin, what is the matter? All is dark."

Harris with shame confessed what he had attempted. And when the Prophet demanded a reason for such conduct, Martin replied: "I did it to either prove the utterance or stop the mouths of fools who have said to me that you had learned these sentences which you dictate and that you were merely repeating them from memory." “Life of Joseph Smith, the Prophet,” by George Q. Cannon, Pgs. 30-31

 

 

Did you know that:

The stone box containing the Gold Plates was constructed of not only stone, but with a cement of such quality that after 1400 years it kept the box moisture proof. Inside the box were three pillars made up of the same cement. It was upon these pillars that the Gold Plates were placed.

 

"How far below the surface these records were (anciently) placed, I am unable to say : but from the fact that they have been some fourteen hundred years buried, and that, too, on the side of a hill so steep, one is ready to conclude, that they were some feet below, as the earth would naturally wear, more or less, in that length of time. But they, being placed towards the top of the hill, the ground would not remove as much as at two-thirds, perhaps. Another circumstance would prevent a wearing of the earth ; in all probability, as soon as timber had time to grow, the hill was covered, and the roots of the same would hold the surface. However, on this point, I shall leave every man to draw his own conclusion, and form his own speculation." But suffice to say, a hole of sufficient depth was dug. At the bottom of this was laid a stone of suitable size, the upper surface being smooth. At each edge was placed a large quantity of cement, and into this cement, at the four edges of the stone, were placed erect four others; their bottom edges resting in the cement, at the outer edges of the first stone. The four last named, when placed erect, formed a box; the corners, or where the edges of the four came in contact, were also cemented so firmly that the moisture from without was prevented from entering. It is to be observed, also, that the inner surfaces of the four erect or side stones, were smooth. This box was sufficiently large to admit a breastplate, such as was used by the ancients, to defend the chest, etc., from the arrows and weapons of their enemy. From the bottom of the box, or from the breastplate, arose three small pillars, composed of the same description of cement used on the edges; and "upon these three pillars were placed the records." — "This box, containing the records, was covered with another stone, the bottom surface being flat, and the upper crowning." An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions, Orson Pratt, Pgs. 9-10

 

Did you know that:

Joseph Smith taught that the Constitution had one flaw in that it did not adequately protect religious liberty. He stated that it should have contained a death penalty provision for any officer of the government who failed to extend the protections guaranteed in the Constitution.

 

“The Constitution should contain a provision that every officer of the Government who should neglect or refuse to extend the protection guaranteed in the Constitution should be subject to capital punishment....” Joseph Smith's Teachings, Pgs. 24-25, HC 6:57

 

Did you know that:

Joseph Smith taught that any person who seeks for a sign has committed adultery.

 

“When I was preaching in Philadelphia, a Quaker called out for a sign. I told him to be still. After the sermon, he again asked for a sign. I told the congregation the man was an adulterer; that a wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and that the Lord had said to me in a revelation, that any man who wanted a sign was an adulterous person. "It is true," cried one, "for I caught him in the very act," which the man afterwards confessed, when he was baptized.” HC 5:268

 

 

Did you know that:

Until 1922 the Church allowed “baptisms for health” to be performed in temples. The practice of healing by immersion probably started because of biblical precedent. “The story of Elisha instructing Namaan to 'wash in the Jordan seven times' and the miraculous New Testament waters of Bethesda appear to have informed Latter-day Saint practice.” Formal baptismal rites for health were formulated by the Church and eventually a person was dipped seven times in the font. Initially, the rite was limited to being performed in the temple, but that was soon eliminated as a requirement.

 

Over the years, many thousands of these baptisms were performed. Many faithful saints, including Emma Smith at the hands of Joseph, received this ritual. Healings were quite common as a result of being re-baptized. The practice was not limited to those who had been previously baptized. The future prophet, George Albert Smith was baptized for health when only three months old. Eventually, there were purpose built fonts that were dedicated specifically for this rite.

 

Over time, this practice was called into question by the First Presidency and was finally stopped in 1922.

“They Shall be Made Whole”: A History of Baptism for Health, The Journal of Mormon History, Fall 2008

 

 

Did you know that:

In February 1909, the future prophet, Elder George Albert Smith had a nervous breakdown. The forty-year-old apostle “was almost totally incapacitated, physically and emotionally.” George suffered from many health problems, one of which was a lazy eye. In the famous Church archive photo that appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, the lazy eye was retouched to look normal. His wife, Lucy often had to read for him.

 

George continued to suffer with many health problems, which took a fierce toll on his mental health. In spite of his poor health and against medical advice, he continued to push himself at a feverish pace.  There also was evidence that he suffered from clinical depression and was high strung as told by his children and grandchildren. Once the breakdown occurred, George was prescribed a year of bed rest, but his mental condition deteriorated. Eventually, through fervent prayer, he began exercising faith and slowly let go of his stressors. He changed his perspective and finally accepted the limitations of his body and his life.

 

Eventually, he was diagnosed with “lupus erythematosus, a rare disease that affects all the tissues of the body and produces chronic weakness.” This diagnosis more than likely was his eventual cause of death.

“Cheat the Asylum of a Victim”: George Albert Smith's 1909-12 Breakdown, The Journal of Mormon History, Fall 2008

 

 

 

[AnnieCarvalho]

I knew some of those, but not all.

Pretty cool stuff.

Thanks!

[Blackmarch]

thanks for sharing