Joseph Smith Biography

(Grace) #1
Twenty-Five (1830)

(^30) “Chronology of Church History,” in Church History Maps (The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints) says “1830, March 26. First printed copies of Book of Mormon available, Palmyra,
New York.” 2011, Intellectual Reserve, Inc., 22 May 2011 http://lds.org/scriptures/history-
maps/chronology?lang=eng
.
(^31) D&C, 20:1.
(^32) Oliver Cowdery, “Articles of the Church of Christ,” SaintsWithoutHalos.com, 2011,
Saints Without Halos, 23 May 2011 http://www.saintswithouthalos.com/w/oc_arts.phtml;
Compare D&C, 28:1; 18:37.
(^33) Cowdery, “Articles of the Church of Christ.” Compare D&C, 20:27, 60; See also BOM, Moroni
3:4; D&C, 18:32.
(^34) Compare Cowdery’s “Articles” to D&C, section 20.
(^35) D&C, 20:1.
(^36) See Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ.
(^37) BOM, 1 Nephi 14:10;
See also “Commencement of Father’s Work,” Marvelous Work and a Wonder®, 2011,
Marvelous Work and a Wonder Purpose Trust, 23 May 2011
http://www.marvelousworkandawonder.org/q_a/contents/1gen/q05/5gen001.htm. “The
meaning of ‘church’ has nothing to do with an organized religion. A more appropriate
definition is ‘ideology.’ In the correct sense, the word ‘church’ used in the scriptures means a
closely organized system of beliefs, values, and ideas forming the basis of a social, economic,
or political philosophy or program. It consists of a set of beliefs, values, and opinions that
shapes the way a person or a group such as a social class thinks, acts, and understands the
world. In our world there are only two basic ideologies:
“One is based on the accumulation of money and investments, checking and savings
accounts, expensive clothing and name-brand linen, and all manner of precious clothing; cars and
houses, and all manner of material goods; education, degrees, and pride in succeeding in the world:
“And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of an
ideology. And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of an ideology which is most
abominable above all other ideologies, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them
and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into
captivity. And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable ideology; and I saw the
lusts of the flesh were the foundation thereof. And I also saw money and investments, checking
and savings accounts, expensive clothing and name-brand linen, and all manner of precious
clothing; cars and houses, and all manner of material goods; and I saw many who desired these
things. And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the money and investments, checking and
savings accounts, expensive clothing and name-brand linen, and all manner of precious clothing,
cars and houses, and all manner of material goods are the desires of those who hold this
ideology. And also for the praise of the world do they who hold this ideology destroy the
righteousness of the children of God, and bring them down into captivity. (Compare BOM, 1
Nephi 13:4–9.)
“The other ideology is based on the attitude of having a stress-free life of peace and
happiness, i.e. ‘heaven on earth,’ thus fulfilling the measure of our creation in experiencing joy. Thus
the ideology of the Lamb of God is described by ‘the Lamb of God’:
“Lay not up for yourselves an ideology of money and investments, checking and savings
accounts, expensive clothing and name-brand linen, and all manner of precious clothing, cars and
houses, and all manner of material good, even all the treasures upon earth, where moth and rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves an ideology of
equality, peace, and happiness, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do
not break through nor steal: For where your ideology is, there will your heart be also. (Compare
Matthew 6:19–21.)”
(^38) Compare BOM, 3 Nephi 17:14.

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