Intermission: In Response to the Memorial

After writing about the memorial of Hyrum and Joseph's martyrdom on the 27th, I discovered something that happened the day after the memorial:

The Moroni statue at the Nauvoo temple was struck by lightning, with enough force to blacken Moroni's face, trumpet, and right arm (found here).

Now, I realize lightning strikes these statues pretty often, since they're literally designed to catch lightning (as the article points out); however, those strikes either hit the tip of the rod (being the shortest path to ground) or deflect off the rod long enough to leave quarter-sized pockmarks. They don't usually strike the statue itself with enough force to blacken it and leave it smoking. In addition, the temple's dedicatory prayer specifically petitions the Lord to "Preserve this Thy house from the storms of nature and destructive elements of all kinds" (Gordon B. Hinkley, 2002, found here).

Could there be an intended message if (and, in this case, when) God doesn't preserve His temple from the storms of nature?

Just in case there is, I looked a little deeper into this scenario to see if I could find any patterns. I'll explain some things I found here.

*Note: This will get into some number symbolism, just like there is in the Scriptures (such as the Bible and Book of Mormon). It might sound weird at first, but as the disclaimer at the bottom says, don't just take my word for it if this makes sense, and don't just dismiss it out of hand either: Ask God about it.*

First of all, while this happened on the day after the 175th anniversary of the martyrdom, it was still four hours away from being a whole day after, so it technically occurred on the 175th anniversary. 175 is calculated as 7 times 25, or 5 squared.

7 in scripture often refers to perfection and completion (7th day of creation completed the creation, dipping 7 times in the river cured a man's leprosy, 7 wounds completed the Savior's crucifixion, etc.).

5 is often attributed to Christ as the Living Word, or the Holy Ghost as the Spirit of Life, or even Life itself, although that's not as clear from the scriptures themselves. This I've borrowed from this page on Jewish alphabet tradition, and the book A Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe--which discusses how numbers are found in nature and creation. For example, just about every edible, life-giving fruit or plant has a 5-petaled blossom, therefore, it's again a symbol of life. In geometry, squaring a number raises it from one dimension into a higher one: instead of a 1-D line, it becomes a 2-D square. As a symbol, that could refer to being raised to a higher level, in this case from life to Eternal Life. Therefore, the anniversary year itself contains two potential symbols of exaltation and perfection. A mark of the strike's source, perhaps?

This also came on the 28th day of the month. 28 is 7 times 4. That's another 7 in this date, so another indicator of the perfection behind this incident. 4 in scripture usually refers to the Earth, or physical creation (4 corners of the earth, the 4 winds of heaven, the 4 directions of the compass, etc). A mark of Whom this strike comes from, and for whom it is meant (all the earth)?

Then comes the Solstice. As mentioned in my martyrdom post, the actual attack came 6 days after the Summer Solstice, which seems to me like a sign toward the author of the attack (6 often representing imperfection and the adversary). Likewise, this strike happening 7 days after the Solstice seems to be another mark toward the author of this strike. In fact, this is the 3rd 7 visible in this strike's date; 3 is often used to refer to the Godhead and to Divinity. On the other hand, 7 days after the Solstice could also refer to an increase of darkness in the world, more than was present at the time of the martyrdom. That certainly is the case, as anyone who watches the news can attest to.

So far, this is potentially showing 3 marks of divine perfection, a sign of Eternal Life, a notice to the whole world, and a reminder that darkness is still growing. Technically, this may only be the preface to the primary message, or God's signature to prove the message's source. Looking at the rest of the story (the location and circumstances of the strike) might shed more light on the substance of the message.

First of all, it was at the Nauvoo temple, the one which never got completed during Joseph Smith's life (according to Wikipedia). He'd been able to dedicate the Kirtland temple (see D&C 109), but not the Nauvoo one; he hadn't even completed the attic in time. This is also the temple closest to the location of the martyrdom, and the one Joseph had worked on the latest, so that's a tie to him and Hyrum.

Also, the statue was reported as "smoking" soon after the strike. I don't know if it was enough smoke to generate a "pillar of smoke," but it certainly brought that image to my mind. In the Bible, the pillar of smoke symbolized God's approval and guidance (such as for the Israelites in the wilderness). At first, I couldn't see how acceptance fit here, but looking at the occasion, it seems like any approval symbolized here would relate to God's approval of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Any guidance symbolized here would refer to the guidance delivered by these two to all those who heeded their message. And by the way, Hyrum did offer at least one important message that I'm aware of: this talk on marriage and families.

However, the question remains: if this strike symbolizes God's approval of Joseph and Hyrum, why such damage? Moroni statues aren't cheap, after all; replacing one can cost a few thousand dollars (if comparable statue prices online are any indication). So why generate such costly destruction for this occasion?

It occurred to me that, although God certainly honors Joseph and Hyrum, perhaps He's warning us that we're not honoring them properly.

"What do you mean?" you may ask. "We love Joseph Smith! We have the Book of Mormon because of him, and a more accurate translation of the Bible, and other restored scriptures! We have so many truths restored through him which the world doesn't have! We cherish these revelations! And surely Hyrum did great missionary work and supported his brother very well! What do you mean, we're not honoring them?"

This statement is only a theory at this point, going where the evidence currently suggests. An "Act of God" (which is how insurance would view this, at the very least) happening so close in time and location to the martyrdom, seems like a message from God related to Joseph and Hyrum. And if this message comes with a price to pay from the Church--at least a couple thousand dollars--maybe it's given as a reprimand. Taken together, it seems like this message may have to do with something we're not doing, or doing wrong, in relation to what Joseph and Hyrum delivered to us from God.

If that's true, though, there would be something Joseph and Hyrum delivered which we're either not doing correctly, not doing at all, or even completely forgot. What could fit that description?

How about the Lectures on Faith in 1835? How many Latter-day Saints have read that little 70-ish page book (or read it for free here)? How many members remember the high praise Elder McConkie and President Joseph F. Smith offered toward the great teachings in this book? How many members know it embraces "the important doctrine of salvation" (preface to the Lectures on Faith)? How many members know what Joseph taught is required for saving faith? How many members' faith has been weakened because of this loss?

How about Hyrum's general epistle to the church in 1842? How many members know what was once taught by the First Presidency (because Hyrum was co-President with Joseph at this time) about keeping families together despite religious differences? How many members remember it was once taught that keeping families together was more important than even joining the church? How many families, members or not, have unduly struggled because of that loss?

How many members realize Joseph taught it is our privilege "to purify yourselves and come up to the same glory" as the prophets in the scriptures, "and see for yourselves, and know for yourselves"? (Evening and Morning Star, August 1832) And out of those members, how many realize it's okay to talk about this, since Joseph literally put it in a newspaper to spread among the new converts?

How many members realize how important it is that, "if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, [thy mind] must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity--thou must commune with God"? (Letter from Liberty Jail--source of sections 121, 122, & 123--emphasis added)

How many members know Joseph's warning to the Relief Society (and the church in general), after reading Ezekiel 14, "that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves"? (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 238)

How many members know Joseph wished the Saints of his day would finish the temple so they could  baptize for their dead, making use of these seals "while they are on the earth," because they "have not too much time to save and redeem their dead"? (Documentary History of the Church, 6: 183-185)

How many members remember Joseph's comment that "it does not prove that a man is not a good man because he errs in doctrine," and how bringing someone to a High Council just for that didn't make sense to him, because he wanted "the liberty of thinking and believing as I please"? (TPJS, p. 288)

How many members know Joseph Smith's Last Vision, the night before his martyrdom, of a barn under a curse of desolation, where men armed with knives threatened to kill Joseph in order to possess the property? (TPJS, pg. 393-394) And out of those members, how many have any idea what it means?

Basically, like Joseph once said, "How vain and trifling have been our spirits, our conferences, our councils, our meetings, our private as well as public conversations--too low, too mean, too vulgar, too condescending for the dignified characters of the called and chosen of God, according to the purposes of His will, from before the foundation of the world!" (Also from the Liberty Jail Letter)

Outside of the Book of Mormon (which the church is still under condemnation for, for not taking seriously enough), the Inspired Version of the Bible (which we don't even have the full version of in our Standard Works, and most of what we have is largely ignored in the appendix), and Joseph's other revelations (which the Joseph Smith Papers now and then admit have been "adjusted" by others, like D&C 27), what do we remember of Joseph's teachings? What do we remember about Hyrum's teachings (Hyrum being the co-president with Joseph, a prophet in his own right, and the Patriarch--a position like Adam's, as the Head of God's Family on Earth--according to D&C 124)?

Given the above evidence, and seeing how little we the church have looked into or remembered these things, it would appear that the shoe fits: we haven't really honored them like we ought.

By "the church," though, I don't necessarily mean the institution, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I mean "church" in the way the Lord defined in the scriptures: "Whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church" (D&C 10: 67). We the members, literally, are the Church. And we the members (at least in general, not necessarily every individual) have poorly remembered what the founder of our religion gave his life in teaching. We can't build a very tall or stable building if we ignore our foundation, as Nephi points out in his first vision, and Joseph laid an excellent one (even if he could hardly get anything into the minds of the Saints in his day; TPJS, p. 331).

Now, having said all that: What should we do? What will you do? I've got some ideas for what I ought to do, but I want to hear your suggestions as well. This seems like a serious warning, and I'd rather stay on the safe side and work to remember and honor Joseph and Hyrum better after that.

(P.S. I've also found more by looking into ancient calendars and seeing what date this landed on in those calendars, but that's a lot more writing, and this post already became long. For that, I'd refer you to John Pratt's calendar calculator and his numerous articles on religious chronology. They show how many important times in religious history have correlated wonderfully with ancient calendars and planetary cycles [which are given for "times and seasons" in Genesis, after all]. They are a fascinating read for anyone interested in seeing the foreknowledge of God in a new way.)