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President Brigham Young
Leads the Saints
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Lesson
33
Summary |
Scripture
Summary: |
Doctrine and Covenants 107:22–24; Revelation on priesthood, given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, dated March 28, 1835. HC 2: 209-217. On the date
named the Twelve met in council, confessing their individual weaknesses and shortcomings, expressing repentance, and seeking the further guidance of the Lord. They were about to separate on
missions to districts assigned. Although portions of this section were received on the date named, the historical records affirm that various parts were received at sundry times, some as early as
November 1831. 21—38, The First Presidency, the Twelve, and the Seventy constitute the presiding quorums, whose decisions are to be made in unity and righteousness. |
| Exodus 16:12–15; Israel murmurs for want of bread, and lusts for the flesh pots of Egypt—The Lord rains bread from heaven, and sends quail for
meat—Israel given manna each day, except the Sabbath, for forty years. |
Supplemental
Holy Land
and Jewish
insights: |
Brigham Young Compared to Joshua: To the mob, the martyrdom of Joseph Smith was thought to be the end of “Mormonism.” However, a perfect system of succession had been
restored. It was the system God gave in ancient times. The similarity of the mission of Joseph Smith can be compared to Moses. The mission of Brigham Young could also be likened to Joshua. “And again,
the duty of the President of the office of the High Priesthood is to preside over the whole church, and to be like unto Moses.” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:91) |
Scriptural Events Seem to Repeat Themselves: “Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly
among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of
them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers. And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other work, save the work which I shall command him. And I
will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work. And he shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel. (2 Nephi
3:7-9.)
“Prophets-in-Waiting:” The selection of Joshua to replace Moses was anticipated by the Israelites. There was (and still is) a system that God established that there would always be a worthy
“Prophet in waiting.” Known examples include Joseph for Jacob, Joshua for Moses, Nephi for Lehi and presently the President of the Quorum of the Twelve. These prophets were and are still led by the
Lord. History sometimes only records the results of their decisions without elaborating on the revelatory decision making process.
Right of Conquest: “The actions of Joshua raise the moral issue of the right to take by conquest a land inhabited by another people. To this, the rabbis of the Talmudic era argue that the
land of Israel was divinely designated for the children of Israel, and that the Canaanites were merely acting as caretakers of the land until the Israelites arrived.” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
Preparing the Next Prophet: In the Book of Mormon, the advice Alma gives his son transcends parental responsibility. It is an instruction to the next prophet. At all times, there was a worthy
prophet-in-waiting, much like Elder Thomas S. Monson is today. “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord,
that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” (Alma
37:37)
God’s Partnership on This Earth: “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7) As Alma taught Helaman to counsel with
the Lord in all his doings, so does God counsel with his prophets in all the doings that pertain to mankind.
Another Pilgrimage: In more recent times a pilgrimage happened as Israel received an influx of tens of thousands of black Jews from Ethiopia. They feel they are descendants of King Solomon
through one of his wives, the Queen of Sheba. “In Ethiopia, members of this group refer to themselves as Beta Israel . . . They practice an early form of Judaism; the chief rabbis of Israel have
recognized them as Jews. Until brought to Israel, they lived in the provinces around Lake Tana. According to their tradition, their ancestors were Jerusalem notables who came with Menelik, the son
of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, when he returned home. “They said that he brought Judaic customs and civil law to Ethiopia. The lion of Judah was the symbol of the emperor of Ethiopia.”
(Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
The Modern Covered Wagons: “Operation Solomon” was the name of a remarkable plan to bring these Jews to Israel. In the early 90’s fifteen thousand Ethiopian Jews were airlifted to Israel in
thirty-one hours. One 747 Jumbo had more than eleven hundred of them on one flight. In order to keep count and due to the basic illiteracy of Hebrew, each had a number stuck to his clothing. When
they landed, there were two, unnumbered, newborn babies! In the modern gathering of Israel, some were born in covered wagons, others in Boeing 747s!
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