Sealing the Blessing

During High Priest’s Quorum today we reviewed ordinances. Naturally, we pulled out the Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, Section 20 (see here): Calls the person by his or her full name. States that he is sealing the anointing by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Gives words of blessing as the Spirit directs. Closes in > > Read More …

[Council of 12] Minutes and Discourses, 27 February 1835–B

Okay, this one is really interesting. Here I will be providing some extracts, with questions. This is in order of the record, with some of the most interesting concepts nearer the end. (see here) Recording the Quorum of the Twelve Meetings This may be the first such record, as the record begins with an admonition > > Read More …

Blessing [Vision] [of Joseph Smith] from Oliver Cowdery, 22 September 1835

Tomorrow the Gospel Doctrine lesson is on “Priesthood.” While reading through search results in the Joseph Smith Papers on “priesthood,” this blessing given by Oliver Cowdery to Joseph Smith came up. I’ve never heard this before. It is pretty amazing and worth a read.

Peace, Peace, Peace Shalom, Shalom, Shalom

One of my favorite words is shalom, the meaning of which is very different than the word peace. Even if shalom is substituted for peace in The Testimony of St. John, the surrounding text very much changes the depth and the beauty of a number of Christ’s teachings by narrowing the meaning to a more > > Read More …

Throwing Down The Gauntlet

One really can’t be a Mormon who deeply and seriously studies the gospel of Christ without stumbling over Denver. Personally, this has meant (note imperfect verb form) that I could take an impartial look (yeah, like anyone could actually do that) at some portion of his teachings, opinions, and testimonies without having to make an > > Read More …

Oh God (4.1) — Calling on the Name of the Lord

Note: this probably wouldn’t have been posted at this point had it not been for Laura’s comment to Oh God (4) — Praying to Jesus? Calling on the Name of the Lord As we were further discussing this yesterday evening during out study time, it was curious to read the following scriptures: And Adam knew his > > Read More …

One Great Hole — Part First

Note: yes, that is intentional. While slightly off topic, one person I know thought for many years that part of the temple symbolism represented “One Great Hole,” and wondered when that concept would make sense to her. While I knew better than she what it meant, I wasn’t much further ahead (though in my arrogance, > > Read More …