Seer Stones

Dear Josten,

Today my scripture study led me someplace really unique, and some big words are sticking out at me.

Last week in the mail, you saw how I received a big box of stones.  They were a graduation gift, and WaWa let me open them up early.  They were a set of 57 massage stones, to be used in a "hot stone" massage.  We were all overjoyed, even though you and your siblings really didn't know what we all so excited about.

Yesterday, when doing some blog exploring, I can across a really interesting site called One Climbs.  The author created an image of what s/he believes the interpreters used by Joseph Smith looked like, when he translated the Book of Mormon.  (If s/he gives me permission, I'll update this post and include the artwork.)  They included "seer stones", and the depiction is quite fascinating.  Made me want to explore the topic some more.

(When I took this pic, I had no idea this post would be written a few days later... or that this would have such a fun connotation to this post!)

So this morning, as I opened up my scriptures, I knew it was time again to do my time tested method of deciding where to read: close my eyes and ask "where should I read today?"  It's been a few weeks since I had the time to just sit and listen to the answer, even though it usually pops in my head before I get to finish asking the question.  D&C 32.

This section is quite short actually.  And some words and phrases impressed me.  It's a revelation given to Parley P. Pratt.  Love him.  (Read The Key to the Science of Theology on my bookshelf, or for free on the Kindle App by clicking that link.  He has some marvelous thoughts on angels, spirits, and dreams, which few contemporary authors have expounded upon.  Love that book.)  Anyways, using the footnotes next to Parley's name, I went to D&C 50:37 and started skimming what was going on there for him.  A few verses down, verse 44 says

Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall.

Did somebody just say stone?  Last night after thinking about the seer stones used for translation, I remember learning somewhere along the way about two of the stones used by the brother of Jared.  When preparing to cross the ocean, the brother of Jared was perplexed as to how there would be light within the barges which the Lord instructed him to build.  The brother of Jared asked the Lord to touch 16 stones so that they would give light within the barges.  After the Nephite civilization was destroyed (whether it be their structure, or their lives in general), Moroni deposited the plates he inscribed upon, along with a breatsplate, the sword of Laban, and the Urim and Thummim.  My understanding is that there were two of these stones, touched by the finger of the Lord, which made up the U&T.

(Not quite like the Urim & Thummim... but close?:)

Back to the verse, the Lord is the good shepherd, the stone of Israel.  It was His light, his finger touching stones, that gave literal light within the barges.  It was these stones, touched by his finger, that allowed for the Book of Mormon to be translated.  If we build upon Him, we shall never fall.

I flipped back to D&C 32, and skimmed the page.  On the right side, I found D&C 33:13.

And upon this rock I will build my church; yea, upon this rock ye are built, and if ye continue, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.

We used to refer to this idea on my mission, when teaching the 3rd discussion.  We would say that Christ was the foundation, Peter the chief cornerstone, and then start building a makeshift church with Dixie cups.  We would end up focusing the remainder of the discussion on the church as a whole, and less on the idea that Christ is the rock.  But for this post, I want to re-focus back on the rock.  What does that mean, really?  If we build on Him?  Feel free to let that sit with you for awhile.  There are lots of references to Him being the rock EVERYwhere.

In some of the random classes I've been to over the years, I've learned some fun properties about rocks.  This year in school you learned all about the rock cycles.  How rocks are forms, how long they take to form, and different things they can/can't do.  In my classes, I've learned how some rocks like quartz are actually some of the best conductors of electricity on the planet.  How interesting that the Source of Light would touch His finger on 16 rocks, at the request of Jared's brother, and those stones would hold the energy from his touch for months while they crossed the ocean(s).

Another thought I saw someone present on another blog's comment thread is that we need to depend more upon God Himself, rather than people, an institution, or even our own intuition.  That last one struck me.  So very true.  I should not be trusting my intuition so wholly as I should be trusting God Himself.  I do not know of any source in the scriptures where I am told to trust myself, but only the Spirit of God within me.  Perhaps that's what I'm getting at, when I say or am told to "trust your/my gut".  Perhaps my intuition is based upon my connection to God, but even my intuition has been known to make mistakes.

Anyways, very long post.  I hope you get the idea.  Run with it!

Love you!
~Mom<3 

The Brother of Jared

This week I've been studying the Book of Ether, located within the Book of Mormon.  It's been fascinating.  This little book was recorded on 24 plates, which were found by the people of King Limhi when he was trying to find the land of Zarahemla.  When King Limhi's people finally did make it to Zarahelma, they asked King Mosiah (leader of that land) if he could read it.  He was able to do so, not just because he was a prophet, but also because he was a "seer" and a "revelator". 

Moroni, who is now abridging the plates which were passed down from his father, Mormon, now gets to compile what he can.  He includes part of the record from those 24 plates, but also includes much of his own thoughts as he goes.  I never noticed before how predominant his words are in this little book, and it never seemed quite so apparent how much he had to cut out to abridge it.

It begins with two brothers.  One named Jared, and then "the brother of Jared".  They are at the tower of Babel, when the people's language is confused.  Jared asks his brother to pray to God so that they are able to keep the same language, which He grants them.  He also allows their families and close friends to keep the same language, and from there, they are guided and led by the brother of Jared, who is led by God, through the wilderness, and eventually to a "land of promise" (Ether 2:7).  

We learn the ins and outs of their journey, but what is most amazing is the powerful experience that the brother of Jared has.  It is one of the most astounding experiences recorded in scripture, in my opinion.  It begins with the brother of Jared preparing a set of barges for his people to cross the waters, as the Lord had commanded him.  He then realizes that according to the design of the barges, there will be no light from windows.  So he goes to the mount Shelem, and moltens out of a rock, sixteen small stones.  I used to imagine these being about the size of my computer's mouse, but now I think they're small enough to carry within his two hands.  (After all, it says "and he did carry them in his hands"... Ether 3:1)

(photo source - thanks, In the Realm of Home!)

The brother of Jared works hard to create these stones, and then goes to the top of the mount, and begins crying to the Lord.  A few things I notice about his prayer (see Ether 3:2-6).

• He repeats what the Lord has told him already.
• He recognizes his own personal weakness, and asks the Lord not to be angry with him.
• He acknowledges God's holiness, and his own personal unholiness.
• He expresses understanding of the commandment to call upon God to receive.
• He recognizes the Lord's mercy and patience, and power, all the while asking Him for mercy and to look upon him in pity for his present state and challenge ahead. 
• Then he makes his request: that the Lord touch the stones so that they may permanently shine while they embark to cross the oceans.  

And guess what happens?  The Lord touches the stones, and a glorious experience unfolds for the brother of Jared.

The Lord later tells him that "never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger.  Sawest thou more than this?" (Ether 3:9).

Never?  Never has man come before God with such exceeding faith.  Wow!!!  Perhaps by Moroni choosing this experience from these 24 plates to share with us, we were just shown a marvelous example of how to demonstrate faith to achieve a most wonderful encounter with God.  And this is just the beginning of what this man experiences!

I love it.  It's worth reevaluating some more, that's for sure.