Thirty-Two (1837)Covenants^53 —which, ironically, by then included Oliver Cowdery’s “eyes of our
understanding” vision^54 mentioned above.
Failing to See the Lord Face-to-Face
The Kirtland Temple became the center of learning for many of the early Saints.
They were anxiously waiting their own “day of Pentecost,”^55 when they would be
“endowed from on high.”^56 They wanted to see the face of God as the revelations on the
priesthood had promised they would once the temple was built. Joseph encouraged the
Saints to wait for that day, knowing full well it would never come because of where the
people’s hearts and desires were centered. They had their temple; but Joseph knew that they
would never have both the temple and be left in peace as long as they continued to
perpetuate a religion that placed them above others, which resulted in continual
controversy among the non-members in the community. Furthermore, by 1837, he began to
sense the inner struggles of many prominent leaders who would soon become apostates,
critics, rivals, and enemies.^57
Some of the first ordinances that the leaders of the Church established to be
administered in the Kirtland Temple came from the book of Exodus.^58 Again, although he
supported the people’s desires and ideas, Joseph had almost nothing to say about the
ordinances, except that they were given “according to the mind of God.” “And because they
desired it, [it became God’s will] that they may stumble.”^59
Each priesthood council had its own place to worship, its own altar, and its own
designated platform within the temple walls. But, regardless of how long they waited, and
regardless of how hard they fasted and prayed with uplifted hands,^60 calling on their God
asking, “Oh God, Hear the words of my mouth,”^61 they were never answered by Christ’s
own voice, nor did any of them ever meet him face-to-face. They never received the
endowment they had been promised. The only thing they received in answer to their many
prayers was a religion, given to them by the “God of this world.”^62
More Turmoil and Suffering for Joseph
The desires and prayers of the Saints in allowing missionaries to travel overseas
overwhelmed Joseph. He was finally forced to relent. Joseph allowed Heber C. Kimball to
take some elders and travel to Europe to spread the gospel invented and desired by the
members of the Church of Christ at the time. Little did Heber Kimball and the other Church
Elders realize, but the two “Injuns” who traveled with them on the same ship to England
knew their “prophet, seer, and revelator” better than they did.
Mathoni’s and Mathonihah’s presence was no longer needed in America with
Joseph. They were needed more in Europe, where they would concentrate the balance of
their mortal existence, traveling elsewhere only when needed to support a work that they
would one day help to organize—the Marvelous Work and a Wonder®. The Lamanite
brothers had said some very emotional goodbyes to their student of over a decade of
“interviews and instruction.”^63 They knew Joseph only had a few more years before his life
would be taken.
They did not need to tell Joseph he was going to be killed; Joseph knew his demise
came with the role. And although the Brothers knew that they would one day meet again with
Joseph when Hyrum would return to the earth to finish the work that Joseph had started, the