Taught from on
high.
The call to Organize a School
D&C 88
71
And let those whom they have warned in their traveling call on the
Lord, and ponder the warning in their hearts which they have received,
for a little season.
72 Behold, and lo, I will take care of your flocks, and will raise up elders and send unto them.
73 Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.
74 And I give unto you, who are the first laborers in this last
kingdom, a commandment that you assemble yourselves together, and
organize yourselves, and prepare yourselves, and sanctify yourselves;
yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before
me, that I may make you clean;
75 That I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God, that
you are clean from the blood of this wicked generation; that I may
fulfil this promise, this great and last promise, which I have made
unto you, when I will.
76 Also, I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth.
77 And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.
78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be
instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the
law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God,
that are expedient for you to understand;
117 Therefore, verily I say unto you, my friends, call your solemn assembly, as I have commanded you.
118
And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another
words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom;
seek learning, even by study and also by faith.
119
Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a
house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a
house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;
D&C 90
12 And now, verily I say unto you, I give unto you a commandment that you continue in the ministry and presidency.
13
And when you have finished the translation of the prophets, you shall
from thenceforth preside over the affairs of the church and the school;
14
And from time to time, as shall be manifested by the Comforter, receive
revelations to unfold the mysteries of the kingdom;
15
And set in order the churches, and study and learn, and become
acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people.
16
And this shall be your business and mission in all your lives, to
preside in council, and set in order all the affairs of this church and
kingdom.
17
Be not ashamed, neither confounded; but be admonished in all your
high-mindedness and pride, for it bringeth a snare upon your souls.
The curriculum to be taught--
- 79
Of things both in heaven and in the earth,
- and under the earth;
- things
which have been,
- things which are,
- things which must shortly come to
pass;
- things which are at home,
- things which are abroad;
- the wars and
the perplexities of the nations,
- and the judgments which are on the
land;
- and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms--
The Purpose of this Education
- D&C 88
- 80That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you
again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the
mission with which I have commissioned you.
81 Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it
becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor.
Robert J. Matthews
(BYU) said of this process:
“The School of the Prophets called
for a mix of hard intellectual effort and inspiration from the Holy
Ghost, and characterized a very particular kind of educational
process.” ("The Olive Leaf (D&C 88)." In R. L
Millet,. & K. P Jackson (Eds.), Studies
in scripture: Volume one, The Doctrine and Covenants, (pp.
340-357). Sandy, UT: Randall, 1984)
Orson Pratt (1878),
who participated in all sessions of the School of the Prophets,
explained :
What does [the Holy Ghost] do for the
education of the children of men? Far more than our academies
do. Our children have, by hard study, year after year, to acquire
their learning in these human institutions; hard thinking is necessary,
reasoning, gaining little by little, and it frequently requires many
years of close application to become what is termed a learned man--a
man that understands the sciences, that has worked his way through the
various departments of mathematics, and perhaps geology, and
mineralogy, and all the sciences, such as are usually taught in
universities. But the man filled with the Holy Ghost has got the
advantage of students who graduate at our universities.
Why? Because he can learn more in ten minutes, in regard to many
things, than another, not so favored, can in all his life.
Indeed, he can learn some things by the operations of the Holy Ghost,
which no natural man or woman could learn, however gifted they may
be. You may inquire where they could learn these things? I
answer, by the revelations of the Holy Ghost, which brings to light
many things that are past, and shows things that are in the
future. The Lord is just as able to show one of his pupils, who
will take the necessary steps to be taught, what will take place a
year, or ten years, or a hundred, or a thousand or more years hence, as
the principals in our universities are to teach persons concerning
things present. God is not confined to the present, or to things
immediately concerning his pupils, or those who may enter into the
university he has prepared, but he opens the past and future to the
minds of men, just as Jesus promised his disciples, when he was about
to leave them. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he
will guide you into all truth; and he will show you things to come”
[John 16:13]. (Journal
of Discources, 19:284)
School
of the Propehts Commences
Joseph Smith: "On the 23rd of January [1833], we again
assembled in conference [they had met the previous day]; when, after
much speaking, singing praying, and praising God, all in tongues, we
proceeded to the washing of feet (according to the practice recorded in
the 13th chapter of John's Gospel), as commanded of the
Lord. Each Elder washed his own feet first, after which I
girded myself with a towel and washed the feet of all of them, wiping
them with the towel with which I was girded. Among the number, my
father presented himself, but before I washed his feet, I asked of him
a father=s blessing, which he granted by laying his hands upon my head,
in the name of Jesus Christ, and declaring that I should continue in
the Priest=s office until Christ comes. At the close of the
scene, Brother Frederick G. Williams, being moved upon by the Holy
Ghost, washed my feet in token of his fixed determination to be with me
in suffering, or in journeying, in life or in death, and to be
continually on my right hand: in which I accepted him in the name of
the Lord."
Following
the ordinance of the washing of the feet, Joseph Smith “pronounced them all clean from the blood
of this generation.” The
account then reads: “Having
continued all day in fasting, and prayer, and ordinances, we closed by
partaking of the Lord’s supper. I blessed the bread and wine in
the name of the Lord, when we all ate and drank, and were filled; then
we sang a hymn, and the meeting adjourned.” (History of
the Church, 1980, Vol. 1, pp. 323-324)
The
School
Room in the Newel K. Whitney Store
The Daily Routine:
The
first session of the School of the Prophets continued from 23 January
into April. Little is known of the details of the daily
classes. Two interviews with Zebedee Coltrin who participated in
the first session of the School of the Prophets, give us our only real
look into the daily activities of the School. In an interview
held 3 October 1883, the following was reported:
"The salutation, as written in the
Doctrine and Covenants was carried out at that time, and at every
meeting, and the washing of feet was attended to, the Sacrament was
also administered at times when Joseph appointed, after the ancient
order; that is, warm bread to break easy was provided, and broken into
pieces as large as my fist and each person had a glass of wine and sat
and ate the bread and drank the wine; and Joseph said that was the way
that Jesus and his disciples partook of the break [bread] and wine; and
this was the order of the church anciently, and until the church went
into darkness. Every time we were called together to attend any
business, we came together in the morning about sunrise, fasting and
partook of the Sacrament each time; and before going to school we
washed ourselves and put on clean linen." (Salt Lake School of the Prophets Minute
Book 1883, p. 38)
In an interview held on 10 October 1883,
Coltrin stated:
Elder Orson Hyde was the teacher and
saluted the brethren with uplifted hands, and they also answered with
uplifted hands. Spoke of the administration of the sacrament of the
Lord’s Supper. The brethren always went fasting; they went in the
morning, remained until about four o’clock in the afternoon, when each
had a glass of wine and piece of bread, after the ancient
pattern. Joseph was the president and appointed Elder Orson Hyde
teacher, as the school was not only revelations and doctrine, but also
for learning English grammar, etc. The teacher saluted the
brethren (one or more) as they came in. This salutation was given
every morning when they met. Brother Sidney Rigdon lectured on grammar
sometimes. (Salt
Lake School of the Prophets Minute Book 1883, p. 44)
Zebedee Coltrin stated in this
interview:
Once Joseph gave notice to the school for
all to get up before sunrise, then wash temselves and put on clean
clothing and be at the school by sunrise, as it would be a day of
revelation and vision. They opened with prayer. Joseph then
gave instructions to prepare their minds. He told them to kneel
and pray with uplifted hands. (p. 44)
While engaged in silent prayer, kneeling, with hands uplifted each one
praying in silence, no one whispered above his breath, a personage
walked through the room from from East to west, and Joseph asked if we
saw him. I saw him and suppose the others did, and Joseph
answered that is Jesus, the Son of God, our elder brother.
Afterward Joseph told us to resume our former position in prayer, which
we did. Another person came through; He was surrounded as with a
flame of fire. He [Bro Coltrin] experienced a sensation that it
might destroy the tabernacles as it was of consuming fire of great
brightness. The Prophet Joseph said this was the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ. I saw Him.
When
asked about the kind of clothing the Father has on, Bro Coltin said; I
did not discover His clothing for He was surrounded as with a flame of
fire, which was so brilliant that I could not discover anything else
but His person. I saw His hands, His legs, his feet, his eyes,
nose, mouth, head and body in the shape and form of a perfect
man. He sat in a chair as a man would sit in a chair, but This
appearance was so grand and overwhelming that it seems I should melt
down in His presence, and the sensation was so powerful that it
thrilled through my whole system and I felt it in the marow of my
bones. The Prophet Joseph said: Brethren[,] now you are
preapred to be the apostles of Jesus Christ, for you have seen both the
Father and the Son, and know that They exist and that They are two
separate Personages.
This
appearance occured about two or three weeks after the opening of the
school. (p. 38-39)
The
Kirtland Temple and Printing House
The
first session of the School of the Propehts ended in April 1833.
It was intended that the school expand in numbers. A major
concerns facing the expanding educational efforts was to have a place
large enough to meet increased enrollments.
The revelation recorded in D&C 88 commanded the construction of
such a house. On 23 March 1833, a council was convened to appoint
a committee to purchase land in Kirtland where the Temple was to be
built (see History of the
Church, 1980, Vol. 1, p. 334).
After the land was purchased, a city plat was surveyed. Further
revelations gave the “manner” and “pattern” of
construction and design of the Temple.
8 Yea, verily I say unto you, I gave unto you a commandment that you
should build a house, in the
which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from
on high;
11
Verily I say unto you, it is my will that you should build a house. If
you keep my commandments you shall have power to build it.
12
If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not
continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness.
13
Now here is wisdom, and the mind of the Lord--let the house be built, not after the manner of the world,
for I give not unto you that ye shall live after the manner of the
world;
14
Therefore, let it be built
after the manner which I shall show unto three of you, whom ye
shall appoint and ordain unto this power.
15
And the size thereof shall be fifty and five feet in width, and let it
be sixty-five feet in length, in the inner court thereof.
16
And let the lower part
of the inner court be dedicated unto me for your sacrament offering,
and for your preaching, and your fasting, and your praying, and the
offering up of your most holy desires unto me, saith your Lord.
17
And let the higher part of
the inner court be dedicated unto me for the school of mine apostles,
saith Son Ahman; or, in other words, Alphus; or, in other words,
Omegus; even Jesus Christ your Lord. Amen.
From these it was obvious
that the Temple was not to be an ordinary school house.
The school house was to be a sacred edifice with the title, “House of
the
Lord.” That is, it would be a temple!! Befitting such a title,
the building would be more
exquisite and costly, taking more time than a simple school
house. On 1 June, a circular was sent to the various branches of
the Church explaining the urgency of the construction of the Temple:
And unless we fulfil this command, viz:
establish an house, and prepare all things necessary whereby the elders
may gather into a school, called the School of the Prophets, and
receive that instruction which the Lord designs they should receive, we
may all despair of obtaining the great blessing that God has promised
to the faithful of the Church of Christ; therefore it is as important,
as our salvation, that we obey this above-mentioned command, as well as
all the commandments of the Lord.
The circular asked for financial donations
that not only would help pay for the construction of the building but
also to “aid the Elders to attend this school”:
We have met in conference,
and agreed to form a subscription, and circulate it through the
churches. The conference also appointed Hyrum Smith, Reynolds
Cahoon, and Jared Carter, a committee to superintend this business,
viz; that of circulating subscriptions to establish a fund to build a
house, and to aid the Elders to attend this school. (History of the Church, 1980, Vol.1, p.350)
With financial donations coming in,
construction of the Temple began in July of 1833. It was
evident, however, that the building would take some time to complete.
Joseph Smith and the other leaders had to
grapple with the question of where to house the School while the Temple
was being built. In the fall of 1833, a council of the leaders
was held concerning “the subject of building.” In a letter to the
members of the Church in Missouri dated October 10, Frederick G.
Williams reported:
It was
decided by the council that we should discontinue the building of the
Temple during the winter, for want of materials; and to prepare and get
all things in readiness to recommence it early in the spring. It was also agreed that we should
set the hands immediately to erect a house for the printing office,
which is to be thirty by thirty-eight feet on the ground; the first story to be occupied for
the School of the Prophets this winter, and the upper story for
the printing press. (History of the Church, 1980, Vol. 1,
p. 418)
1834-35 Session of School of Prophets
During
this time period, the School of the Prophets divided in two
schools:
- A
school for scular learning
- Elder's School for
theological learning. It was in this school that the Lectures of Faith was first used.
1835-36 Session of School of the Prophets
From the fall of 1835 through the summer of 1837, the School of the
Prophets in Kirtland expanded in remarkable ways. The two
preceding seasons intensified the growing hunger for education among
the leaders and missionaries of the Church. In fact, the craving
for learning became contagious among many if not most adult members of
the Church. John Corrill, who had been appointed a Church
historian in 1838 (History of
the Church, Vol.3, p.13), recalled: “They had been
previously commanded to seek learning and study the best books, and get
a knowledge of countries, kingdoms, languages, etc., which inspired
them with an extravagant thirst after knowledge”.
Returning missionaries were eager to be taught the doctrines of the
restored Church as well as to improve their minds in secular
ways. As more and more members were craving opportunities for
education, further schools were established to meet their growing wants
and needs. There were further sessions of the Elder’s
School. A Hebrew school was established. Further, a variety
of evening schools were offered. The combined curricula offered
during this time period included theology, English grammar, writing,
reading, common arithmetic, mathematics, geography, history, debating,
singing and foreign languages including Hebrew, Latin, and
Greek.