An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
Coptic Egyptian textile, with gammadia in the four corners, & eight-pointed star in the center
How did Joseph know?
Joseph Smith was born on December 23, 1805, the eight day of Hanukkah. Nine stick menorah: one for each night, plus a shammash (servant) at a different height. The celebration continues 8 days 8 is a symbols of rebirth.
Each day one candle is lit (increasing brightness until the eight day when there is full light). The servant candle lights the other lights.
Joseph Smith was born on the darkest day of the year (Winter Solstice), symbolizing the dawning of hope and a new day.
Is it a coincidence that Joseph Smith, likely the servant in Isaiah, was born on the Hebrew holy day when the light of the servant has brought full light to a once dark work?
Zechariah 4
Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
Seven Dispensations 1. Adam 2. Enoch 3. Noah 4. Abraham 5. Moses 6. Twelve Apostles 7. Joseph Smith
And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
"Are the keys here? Yes, the very keys that our Father placed upon His Son Jesus; and He placed that authority upon Peter and his associates; and they have been restored again to this earth through the ministration of the Prophet Joseph. It is written that the first shall be last, and the last first. This is the last kingdom, and the Lord will make it first; for it has got to raise up, and establish, and confer power upon every one of those kingdoms that have been. That is what we have got to do. Why do you not realize this? You could, if you lived your religion and called upon God by day and by night."
Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
What if the parable of the Ten Virgins foreshadowed the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith?
The number 10 symbolizes governmental order Minyan The smallest congregation which is permitted to hold public worship is one made up of ten men... (Jewish Encyclopedia) a congregation of God consists of at least 10 men. (Rabbi Abraham Millgram)
The parable of the ten virgins is intended to represent the second coming of the Son of man, the coming of the Bridegroom to meet the bride, the Church, the Lamb's wife, in the last days; and I expect that the Savior was about right when he said, in reference to the members of the Church, that five of them were wise and five were foolish; for when the Lord of heaven comes in power and great glory to reward every man according to the deeds done in the body, if he finds one-half of those professing to be members of his Church prepared for salvation, it will be as many as can be expected, judging by the course that many are pursuing. (Wilford Woodruff)
Remember, Latter-day Saints, there were five wise and five foolish, an equal division, and yet they were all virgins. The application is a just one and has a direct bearing on us, as Latterday Saints. The wise among us will take heed, will hearken to the instructions and counsels of the servants of God, will pattern after Christ, and thirst after the things of God, and our lamps will be trimmed and burning, and we will be prepared to meet the bridegroom when he comes, (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 19, pp. 1-8, April 29th, 1877.)
Father was involved Covenant Betrothal Meal Contract/Covenant made The Bridal Price Cup of Acceptance
The groom and His father would come to the bride's house on that special prearranged night and knock on the door of their home. The father of the bride would inquire who was there and then ask the bride if he should let them in. When she said, Yes, the open door for the process of covenant had begun.... Revelation 3:10 reflects this beginning of the Hebrew betrothal process when Jesus says, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Paul Jablonowski)
In my Father s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2-3)
Some Jewish tradition states that the groom choses two attendants. One assists the Bride and is a symbol of Moses. Moses is responsible for carrying messages to the bride and watching over her. The other friend assists the Groom and is a symbol of Elijah
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (John 3:27-29)
He arranged the contract, acted for the bridegroom during the betrothal, and arranged for, and presided at, the festivities of the wedding-day itself. It was a position of honour, in proportion to the position of the bridegroom himself, and was given to his chief friend. (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers)
And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him; Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not that he was Elias; but confessed, saying; I am not the Christ. And they asked him, saying; How then art thou Elias? And he said, I am not that Elias who was to restore all things. And they asked him, saying, Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as saith the prophet Esaias. And they who were sent were of the Pharisees.
my father anointed my head, and sealed upon me the blessings of Moses, to lead Israel in the latter days, even as Moses led him in days of old; also the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. All of the Presidency laid their hands upon me, and pronounced upon my head many prophecies and blessings, many of which I shall not notice at this time. But as Paul said, so say I, let us come to visions and revelations. (Joseph Smith)
Who did Moses commit his keys to? Many of the early brethren connected Joseph Smith & the Restoration with Moses and the first Exodus. The lives of Moses and Joseph Smith parallel one another. Joseph of Egypt made the connection in Genesis 50. Doctrine and Covenants 130
Moses type of Elijah type of Carries the word of the Groom [Christ] to the Bride [Church] Assist her in preparation This was commonly the nearest friend, and was a high honor. (Barnes Notes on the Bible)
Permission of the father of the groom required Bride was supposed to be ready at all times Crier gave warning (shofar) Marriage ceremony
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins
which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105) For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: (Proverbs 6:23) Lamp/light = God s law & commandments I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)
And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins. For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day. (D&C 45:56-57)
... ten virgins [Church] which took their lamps [word of God], & went forth to meet the bridegroom [Jesus Christ].
Who reveals the word of God in this dispensation?
D&C 21:4-5 Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.
D&C 21:6 For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name s glory.
D&C 28:2 But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses. D&C 5:10... this generation shall have my word through you;
Is Joseph Smith the light bearer?
It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Jeremiah 8:8-9 How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them? Proverbs 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee; While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy [Joseph Smith s] hand. (D&C 122:1-2)
And five of them were wise, [accepted and kept the commandments] and five were foolish. [they heard, but would not keep the law]
And five of them were wise, [followed all the words of Joseph Smith] and five were foolish. [they heard, but would not obey]
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
1. Extra virgin - this is the first pressing from the olives and considered the best quality. 2. Virgin - this oil is produced by the second pressing. 3. Pure - olive oil marked pure has undergone some form of processing and filtering. 4. Extra light (Perry Stone, Breaking the Jewish Code, p. 156)
Pure olive oil, known in Hebrew as sheman zayit zach, is the first drop of oil when the olive is first squeezed or pressed.... the menorah required the purest shemen zayit zachfrom the first pressing.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:18)... God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power... (Acts 10:38) The oil with which the priests were anointed was understood by the ancients to represent the necessity of those on the Lord's errand being filled with his Spirit. More directly, the idea of anointing and the concept of sanctification are consistently associated in the scriptures with the reception of the Holy Ghost (Alma 13:12; 3 Nephi 27:20). The Holy Ghost is the Sanctifier. (Joseph Fielding McConkie, Gospel Symbolism [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1999], 115.)
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
D&C 45: 26 And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men s hearts shall fail them, and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth. 3 Nephi 1:5-6 But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite. And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying: Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled; therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing hath been vain.
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Arrives at midnight Awakes the brides Alerts the brides that the Bridegroom is coming
Middle of the night, darkest time Joseph Smith was born December 23, 1805 The evening of 23 Dec 1805 began the Hebrew day 1 Tebeth, the precise day of the winter solstice on that calendar. (John P. Pratt) On the Hebrew calendar, the first day of every month is considered a holy day, so Joseph Smith was not only born on a holy day, but apparently was the standard bearer for the day of the winter solstice throughout all time. (John P. Pratt)
Vrs 6... there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Repent ye of your sins and prepare the way for the coming of the Son of Man; for the kingdom of God has come unto you, and henceforth the ax is laid unto the root of the tree; and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, God Almighty (and not Joe Smith) shall hew it down and cast it into the fire. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church 6:273-74)
It is the eleventh hour, and the LAST time that I shall call laborers into my vineyard. (D&C 33:3.)
Send forth the elders of my church... Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord. Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour. (D&C 133:10-11)
For behold, the Lord God hath sent forth the angel crying through the midst of heaven, saying: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight, for the hour of his coming is nigh 18 When the Lamb shall stand upon Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having his Father s name written on their foreheads. 19 Wherefore, prepare ye for the coming of the Bridegroom; go ye, go ye out to meet him. (D&C 133:17-19)
The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth. 3 Yea, a voice crying Prepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the Bridegroom. (D&C 65:2-3)
And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people. And angels shall fly through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice, sounding the trump of God, saying: Prepare ye, prepare ye, O inhabitants of the earth; for the judgment of our God is come. Behold, and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (D&C 88:91-93)
Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor. (D&C 88:81)
At present the Prophet Joseph's boys lay apparently in a state of slumber, everything seems to be perfectly calm with them, but by and by God will wake them up, and they will roar like the thunders of Mount Sinai. There is much work to be done...
God is not asleep, and He will wake up our children and they will bear off this kingdom to the nations of the earth, and will bear testimony to the truth of this work, and of the integrity and true character of Joseph, and Hyrum, and Brigham, of Heber, and Jedediah, and the Twelve, and of thousands of others. There are trying times ahead of you, do you not begin to feel and see them? If you do not, I say you are asleep. (Heber C. Kimball)
Learn and live the law of God Study & give heed unto all [Joseph Smith s] words and commandments Defend the integrity and true character of Joseph [Smith], and Hyrum [Smith], and Brigham [Young]...... Bear testimony to the truth of this work...
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Lest there be not enough for us and you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
President Kimball opened by stating that there were many within hearing who had often wished that they had been associated with the Prophet Joseph. 'You imagine,' said he, 'that you would have stood by him when persecution raged and he was assailed by foes within and without. You would have defended him and been true to him in the midst of every trial. You think you would have been delighted to have shown your integrity in the days of mobs and traitors. Let me say to you, that many of you will see the time when you will have all the trouble, trial and persecution that you can stand, and plenty of opportunities to show that you are true to God and his work.
This Church has before it many close places through which it will have to pass before the work of God is crowned with victory. To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall.
If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it. If you do not you will not stand.... The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. (Heber C. Kimball)
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us.
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, Ye know me not. (JST)
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh