Friday, August 29, 2008

#17 My servant Joseph still holds the keys of my kingdom... and he shall stand in due time on the earth... and fulfill that to which he is appointed.

After 16 posts it should be apparent from the evidence presented that the Marvelous Work and a Wonder is intricately interwoven with and dependent upon the literal return of Joseph Smith to the earth to fulfill the second part of his mission.

We have referred to when the Lord told Joseph Smith and the First Elders of the Last Kingdom that he would send them again:

"when I send you again... to warn the people" (section 88:80) Joseph Smith referred to this second work as the "second commission".

It is very difficult for many people to believe that God would really return someone from the dead after nearly 170 years. For this reason, many of my posts will address evidences of the return of Joseph Smith.

Today's entry deals with the revelation given to Parley P Pratt who was returning home from a mission after hearing about the martyrdom. Here is his account:

"How shall I meet an entire community bowed down with grief and sorrow unutterable? What shall I say? . . . I walked onward, weighed down as it were unto death. When I could endure it no longer, I cried out aloud, saying: O Lord! in the name of Jesus Christ I pray Thee, show me what these things mean, and what I shall say to Thy people? On a sudden the Spirit of God came upon me, and filled my heart with joy and gladness indescribable. . . . The Spirit said unto me: "Lift up your head and rejoice; for behold! it is well with my servants Joseph and Hyrum. My servant Joseph still holds the keys of my kingdom in this dispensation, and he shall stand in due time on the earth, in the flesh, and fulfil that to which he is appointed."

Not long after the revelation of brother Pratts, the mother of the Prophet Joseph Smith had a vision or dream in which Joseph appeared to her and made the following statement:

"That day is coming when I shall wave the scepter of power over my enemies. Be patient my brothers and sisters, the day is coming when you shall have eternal life and be rewarded for all your troubles.


These two revelations of Apostle Pratts and Mother Smiths are powerful testimonies that Joseph Smith holds the keys of the last dispensation and will return to to hold the scepter of power and to fulfill that which he was appointed, which includes bringing forth the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon, gathering the elect, sealing up the wicked, etc.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

The LDS people put a lot of faith into patriarchal blessings. When did any of this ever happen to Joseph during his lifetime? Surely Joseph will come back to fulfill these and many other promises so the people on the earth will not have any further reason to doubt the word of God.

His feet shall stand upon the neck of his enemies, and he shall walk upon the ashes of those who seek his destruction: with wine and oil shall he be sustained, and he shall feed upon the heritage of Jacob his father: the just shall desire his society, and the upright in heart shall be his companions: No weapon formed against him shall prosper, and though the wicked mar him for a little season, he shall be like one rising up in the heat of wine - he shall roar in his strength, and the Lord shall put to flight his persecutors: he shall be blessed like the fruitful olive, and his memory shall be as sweet as the choice cluster of the first ripe grapes. Like a shief fully ripe, gathered into the garner, so shall he stand before the Lord, having produced a hundred fold. Thus spake my father Joseph. Therefore, my son, I know for a surety that those things will be fulfilled, and I confirm upon thee all these blessings.

In the next verse Joseph is told that he will come back and fulfill the measure of his days.

Thou shalt like to do the work which the Lord shall command thee: Thou shalt hold the Keys of this ministry, even the presidency of this church, both in time and in eternity. Thy heart shall be enlarged, and thou shalt be able to fill up the measure of thy days according to the will of the Lord.

Joseph's blessing contains many unfulfilled promises which shall be fulfilled.

Actually there are many members of the LDS church that I talk to that are open to the idea that Joseph will come back.

Someone who is watching said...

Malachi, thank you for sharing that portion of one of Joseph Smiths patriarchal blessings.

I am aware of two different ones he got... one from his father and one from Oliver Cowdery.

Both of them make reference to the second part of his ministry that he refers to as has second commission.

I will be devoting an entry to each of those patriarchal blessings

Thank you for providing that quote and reminding me that his patriarchal blessings provide additional evidence that the Marvelous Work

Anonymous said...

I am watching! But I want so much more than to be watching! How I pray for that day when I am no longer watching!

Someone who is watching said...

Amen.. and Praise God