A Collaborative Parent, pt 2

I'm in the process of editing volume 1 of the Hyrum Smith Project. We were going to publish it on Sunday, until we received some feedback from a very competent researcher and proofreader telling us it was not at all ready. On Saturday, I received a proof copy to mark up and make notes in, and the proofreader was right: we have a ways to go.

I view this feedback as a Godsend. Something a loving Parent provided to give experience in patience and a chance to improve. 

While the quality of the book is, in many respects, lacking, the content is remarkable. I have an easier time comprehending and retaining information on the printed page, as opposed to on a screen. I don't know why that is, but there's probably some scientific, and more importantly, spiritual reason behind it. I've enjoyed getting to know Hyrum better in print.

One entry I'm working on right now is a revelation we believe Hyrum was present for. The source is Revelation Book 1, Commandment 65. You can find that on the Joseph Smith Papers website or the Church History Library catalog. It's in our T&C as section 49. It's short enough that I'll copy the whole thing below. The context of the revelation is fascinating. The young church has had some remarkable experiences. The Book of Mormon is in print, missionaries are out, gatherings and spiritual outpourings are occurring, the adversary is hard at work attempting to destroy it all, and God is skillfully combating old Scratch through his servants.

Well, we arrive at August 13, 1831, and in a meeting of the elders on the bank of the Missouri River the Lord says through Joseph,

Behold & hearken oh ye Elders of my Church saith the Lord your God even Jesus Christ your advocate who knoweth the weakness of man & how to sucour they that are tempted & verily mine eyes are upon you those who have not as yet gone up unto the Land of Zion wherefore your mission is not yet full nevertheless ye are blessed for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the Angels to look upon & they rejoice over you & your sins are forgiven you & now continue your Journey assemble yourselves upon the land of Zion & hold a meeting & rejoice together & offer a sacrament unto the most high & then you may return to bear record yea even all together or two by two as seemeth you good it mattereth not unto me only be faithfull & declare glad tidings unto the inhabitants of the Earth or among the Congregations of the wicked Behold I the Lord have brought you together that the promise might be fulfilled that the faithfull among you should be preserved & rejoice together in the Land of Missorie I the Lord promised the faithfull, & cannot lie I the Lord am willing if any among you desireth to ride upon horses or upon mules or in chariots shall receive this blessing if he receive it from the hand of the Lord with ​a​ thankfullness hearts in all things these things remain with you to do according to Judgement & the directions of the spirit Behold the kingdom is yours And Behold & lo I am with the faithfull always even so Amen——

What a joyful little revelation. And, what's more, the Lord seems to be in a mood of collaboration. He gives some guidance, but then says "...as seemeth you good it mattereth not unto me", and later gives them a few options about how they might travel, ultimately leaving it up to them. It's a great example, I think, of how little He wants to command us in every particular. He would rather give us material, some parameters, and see how and what we create with it. There isn't a "right" way in the traditional sense, as long as they are "faithful". What is "right" in this instance is higher than the kind of "right" we tend to think of. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. It's more of a principle; an underlying spirit that we act within that is "right".

We get the same collaborative spirit in T&C 157:44-45,

I, the Lord, say to you, with these additions, what you have gathered as scriptures are acceptable to me for this time and contain many plain and precious things. Nevertheless, whoso is enlightened by the spirit shall obtain the greater benefit, because you need not think they contain all my words nor that more will not be given, for there are many things yet to be restored unto my people. It is ordained that some things are only to be given to people who are mine and cannot otherwise be given to mankind on earth. You do not yet understand the glory to be revealed unto my covenant people.

And now I will accept what you have produced and you need not labor further to recover my words, but to complete your labors as you have agreed. You have inquired about the details, including punctuation, and what I say unto one I say unto all: I have given to you my doctrine, and have also revealed teachings, commandments, precepts, and principles to guide you, and it is not meet that I command you in all things — reason together and apply what I have given you, and it will be enough.

So, we were to "complete [our] labors as [we had] agreed", but we're told essentially, "Hey, I've given you some really good tools and materials to accomplish this, go ahead and use those as best as you know how, and that'll be just fine." 

Craaaaaazy, isn't it? God trusted us enough to have *ahem* agency. There are some guidelines, expectations, etc. But I no longer view agency as black and white choices of "right" and "wrong"; there are things that are "right" and "wrong", of course, but those weightier matters often go ignored while we strain at gnats. 

Ok, so we've been told to write a statement of principles, but everyone I've surveyed at this point thinks that was a flop. The women have had the opportunity to work together to decide how to implement the Lord's guidance, and that's been a trainwreck (until recently...). 

There are varying views on what is meant by the spirit of the law vs. the letter of the law. I think we can see a clear example in the above scriptures:

God does not want to command us in every particular, but He does give us bounds to work within that He expects us not to go outside of. Within those bounds, we are given tools and materials, as well as some guidance on what kind of project we are to labor on together. 

And that's kind of it. He wants us to build a House. He's given us teachings, commandments, precepts, and principles to guide us. 

Let's reason together, apply what He's given us, and it will be enough. It certainly seems to have been enough this last weekend among men and women alike, and I think we have every reason to rejoice.