Joseph remembered later that "some conversation was had concerning revelation and language." The potential witnesses to the Book were hoping for a special blessing from God to match the testimony statement. They expressed doubts or perhaps even embarrassment about some of the language in the revelations. The conference was deadlocked.
The conference adjourned for the day. And then the trouble began.
"I think they hope for an experience similar to one that the three witnesses experienced: 'We'll bear testimony if we can see an angel or see the presence of God,'" said Steven C. Harper, one of the three volume editors for this Joseph Smith Papers volume. "'Maybe we can have a marvelous experience where God would confirm to us the truthfulness of the Book of Commandments.'"
When the conference reconvened, Joseph said that since the Lord had given the great blessing of so many revelations, the elders should decide what testimony they were willing to attach to the book. After several present arose and said they were willing to testify to the world, Joseph prepared a statement for the witnesses to sign. The contemporaneous minutes described it as a revelation.
Joseph remembered later that "some conversation was had concerning revelation and language." The potential witnesses to the Book were hoping for a special blessing from God to match the testimony statement. They expressed doubts or perhaps even embarrassment about some of the language in the revelations. The conference was deadlocked.
omiolo 2 years ago
The conference adjourned for the day. And then the trouble began.
"I think they hope for an experience similar to one that the three witnesses experienced: 'We'll bear testimony if we can see an angel or see the presence of God,'" said Steven C. Harper, one of the three volume editors for this Joseph Smith Papers volume. "'Maybe we can have a marvelous experience where God would confirm to us the truthfulness of the Book of Commandments.'"
omiolo 2 years ago
When the conference reconvened, Joseph said that since the Lord had given the great blessing of so many revelations, the elders should decide what testimony they were willing to attach to the book. After several present arose and said they were willing to testify to the world, Joseph prepared a statement for the witnesses to sign. The contemporaneous minutes described it as a revelation.
omiolo 2 years ago