{"id":41676,"date":"2021-04-14T17:23:54","date_gmt":"2021-04-14T22:23:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.timesandseasons.org\/?p=41676"},"modified":"2021-04-14T17:23:54","modified_gmt":"2021-04-14T22:23:54","slug":"endowed-with-power-from-on-high","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2021\/04\/endowed-with-power-from-on-high\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cEndowed with power from on high\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

The revelations we are studying this week continue with themes found in revelations from throughout 1830, such as an imminent Second Coming<\/a> and the gathering<\/a>, but also set up an expectation for an endowment of power that would be an important theme for much of the remainder of Joseph Smith\u2019s ministry.<\/p>\n

After the conversion of a significant number of people in Kirtland and the subsequent arrival of Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge in New York to meet Joseph Smith in December 1830, a set of revelations were recorded that indicated that the headquarters of the Church should shift to Ohio for the time being.\u00a0 On 30 December 1830, a revelation stated that: \u201cA commandment I give unto the Church that it is expedient in me that they should assemble together at the Ohio.\u201d[1]<\/a>\u00a0 Three days later, after requests for further information about this command to move to Ohio, another revelation came that drew upon a significant amount of eschatological imagery, stating that: \u201cThe day soon cometh that ye shall see me & know that I am for the chains<\/span>\u00a0<?vails?><\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0vails<\/span>\u00a0of darkness shall soon be rent & he that is not\u00a0purified shall not abide the day,\u201d[2]<\/a> but added that: \u201c\u00a0if ye are\u00a0prepared ye need not fear.\u201d\u00a0 It went on to state that it is in preparation for that time that the commandment to gather to the Ohio was given, \u201cthat ye might escape the power\u00a0of the enemy & be gethered unto me a Righteous people without\u00a0spot & blameless Wherefore for this cause I gave unto you The\u00a0commandment\u00a0that ye should go to the\u00a0Ohio.\u201d\u00a0 This observation was followed with a promise: \u201cThere\u00a0I will give unto you my law\u00a0& there you shall be endowed\u00a0with power from on high.\u201d[3]<\/a>\u00a0 The call to gather to Kirtland, Ohio was put in terms of preparing for the Second Coming, and included promises of important blessings.<\/p>\n

The second of the two promises\u2014to be endowed with power from on high\u2014draws upon the writings of Luke in the New Testament.\u00a0 At the end of the Gospel According to St Luke, the resurrected Lord tells his disciples that: \u201cI send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.\u201d[4]<\/a>\u00a0 Luke continues to draw on this theme in the Acts of the Apostles, where he reminds readers that Jesus statement, with the promise that: “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.\u201d[5]<\/a>\u00a0 The endowment of power that Jesus spoke of seems to be the gift of the Holy Ghost, with an eye towards enabling the disciples to bear witness more powerfully throughout the world.\u00a0 This is portrayed as being fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when \u201cthey were all with one accord in one place.\u00a0 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.\u00a0 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.\u00a0 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.\u201d[6]<\/a>\u00a0 Peter spoke about Jesus, and told those present to \u201crepent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.\u00a0 \u2026 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.\u201d[7]<\/a>\u00a0 Thus, in the New Testament, the promise of an endowment of power from on high was fulfilled with the gift of the Holy Ghost and subsequent success in missionary efforts.<\/p>\n

In drawing on this imagery and phraseology, the revelations of Joseph Smith indicated that God was going to give the Saints another endowment of power that would be helpful in missionary efforts.\u00a0 The 2 January 1831 revelation (Section 38) indicated immediately after announcing the forthcoming endowment of power that: \u201cFrom thence whomsoever I will shall go forth among all Nations & it shall be told them what they shall do for I have a great work laid up in store.\u201d[8]<\/a>\u00a0 This missionary focus may have been influenced by Sidney Rigdon, who had taught \u201cthat a \u2018complete\u2019 restoration of the New Testament church would include such original supernatural gifts as faith healing, miracles, tongues and prophecy\u2014and that these manifestations would validate \u2018authorization.\u2019\u201d[9]<\/a>\u00a0 Although a recent convert, Rigdon had criticized Oliver Cowdery\u2019s band of missionaries for attempting to perform the signs and miracles but failing.\u00a0 As stated in a local newspaper: \u201cMr. Rigdon now blames Cowdery for attempting <\/em>to work miracles, and says it was not intended to be confirmed in that way.\u201d[10]<\/a>\u00a0 This objection may have been part of what led to the promise of an endowment of power that would give missionaries the ability to perform miracles.\u00a0 Ideally, these miracles would then provide proof of the missionaries\u2019 authorization from the Lord to potential converts, allowing them to work more effectively. \u00a0While the revelation\u2019s promise of being given \u201cmy law\u201d was seen as being fulfilled by the February 1831 revelations that are now compiled in Section 42, the endowment of power was something that the Saints looked at several different things as the time at which that promise was fulfilled.<\/p>\n

The earliest fulfilment of the endowment of power was tied to ordination to the high priesthood and a meeting of elders held in the summer of 1831.\u00a0 Expectations were set up fairly early\u2014a revelation given in February 1831 mandated a conference of the elders and promised that: \u201cIt shall come to pass that I will pour out my Spirit upon them in the day that they assemble themselves together.\u201d[11]<\/a>\u00a0 Another revelation, given to Ezra Thayer in May 1831, revealed more about the form that this endowment of power would take: \u201cLet my servant Ezra humble himself and at the conference meeting he shall be ordained unto power from on high and he shall go from thence (if he be obedient unto my commandments) and proclaim my Gospel.\u201d[12]<\/a>\u00a0 Thus, both an outpouring of the Spirit and an ordination prior to proclaiming the Gospel were to be a part of the endowment of power.<\/p>\n

The conference of elders was opened on 3 June 1831 in a schoolhouse in Kirtland.\u00a0 On the second day, the meeting experienced some miraculous proceedings.\u00a0 Participants who wrote about the events as a Pentecostal experience that included revelation, prophesy, vision, healing, casting out evil spirits, and speaking in unknown tongues.\u00a0 The high priesthood was also conferred upon Church members for the first time, constituting the ordination part of the endowment of power.[13]<\/a> \u00a0(I will note in passing that there are ongoing debates about whether or not this high priesthood is equivalent to what we currently call the Melchizedek priesthood or something else, but that\u2019s a discussion beyond the scope of this post.) \u00a0One participant indicated that those who attended the conference left claiming \u201cto be endowed with the same power as the ancient apostles were.\u201d[14]<\/a><\/p>\n

Although the conference, with its outpouring of spiritual gifts and ordinations, was an initial endowment of power, Joseph Smith indicated that more preparation was necessary for missionaries to be successful. \u00a0In a revelation given at the end of 1832, the Saints were commanded to organize and sanctify themselves, \u201cteach one another,\u201d and to build a \u201chouse of God\u201d so that they could be \u201cperfected, in your ministry to go forth among the gentiles, for the last time . . . and to prepare the saints, for the hour of judgments, which is to come.\u201d[15]<\/a> \u00a0Joseph Smith summarized the commands of this revelation when he wrote: \u201cThe Lord commanded us in Kirtland to build an house of God, & establish a school for the Prophets.\u201d[16]<\/a> \u00a0The school was organized in January 1833 and met intermittently during the years 1833-1836 in both Kirtland and in Missouri. \u00a0Men ordained to the priesthood participated, and the curriculum ranged from language to history and current events to theology. \u00a0In addition, rituals designed to help the Saints draw closer to God and to each other were included in the proceedings. \u00a0Elements from these rituals became incorporated into temple rituals in preparation for a great endowment of power.<\/p>\n

Initially, the house of the Lord was conceived by the Saints as a meeting place for the School of the Prophets.\u00a0 After the school convened in April 1833, Church leaders purchased land and began to organize for construction of a meeting house.\u00a0 In May 1833, a council of high priests discussed \u201cthe necessity of building a school house for the purpose of accommodating the Elders who should come in to receive their education for the ministry,\u201d and appointed a committee to raise money for the building.[17]<\/a> \u00a0Soon, though, the Prophet suggested something grander than what they initially had in mind. \u00a0A June 1833 revelation stated that they should build \u201can house in the which\u201d God planned \u201cto endow those whom I [the Lord] have chosen with power from on high.\u201d \u00a0Rather than a log house, as was initially suggested, the building was to be a\u00a0large stone building, with at least two levels. \u00a0The lower level would be \u201cdedicated unto me for your sacrament offerings and for your preaching and your fasting and your praying\u201d while the upper level would be \u201cdedicated unto me for the school of mine Apostles.\u201d[18]<\/a> \u00a0The house of God had evolved from a schoolhouse into a sacred meetinghouse where an endowment of power would be received.<\/p>\n

The exact nature of the endowment of power that would be received in the house of God had several elements but was largely expected to be a Pentecostal outpouring of spiritual gifts that would help the elders in preaching the gospel. \u00a0One element of the endowment was the practical function of gaining an education before embarking on missionary work, since the house was to be \u201ca place of instruction for all those who are called to the work of the ministry.\u201d[19]<\/a><\/p>\n

Another element of the endowment was to behold the face of God. \u00a0As stated in an August 1833 revelation (written in the voice of God) about the temple in Zion: \u201cMy glory shall rest upon it yea and my presence shall be therefor I will come into it and all the pure in heart that shall come into shall see God.\u201d[20]<\/a> \u00a0Likewise, Joseph Smith indicated that Saints in Kirtland were promised \u201ca visit from the heavens to honor us with his [the Lord\u2019s] own presence\u201d if they built a house of God and established a school.[21]<\/a> \u00a0He also taught that they might behold other things, but that \u201cif God gives you a manifestation, keep it to yourselves . . . and you shall have a prelude of those joys that God will pour out on that day.\u201d[22]<\/a><\/p>\n

A third element of the endowment was a closer association with the Spirit of God and the power of God. \u00a0For example, a blessing given in January 1836 told Lorenzo Barnes that he would be \u201cendowed with power from on high\u201d if he was faithful, and that through this endowment: \u201cThe spirit of the highest shall rest upon thee\u201d and enable him to preach the Gospel.[23]<\/a> \u00a0Joseph Smith also taught that those who were endowed would \u201cbe able to overcome all things, and those that reject your testimony shall be damned[,] the sick will be healed the lame made to walk the deaf to hear the blind to see through your instrumentality.\u201d[24]<\/a> \u00a0Thus, like the earlier endowment of the high priesthood, this endowment was expected to grant the elders an increased ability to work miracles.<\/p>\n

The events of the Kirtland Temple dedication and meetings held in the house of the Lord around that time fulfilled some of these expectations.\u00a0 Records of meetings held throughout the first few months of 1836 are filled with descriptions of visions of angels or God, an outpouring of the Holy Ghost, and other spiritual experiences that met the expectation of a Pentecostal outpouring of God\u2019s presence in the participants\u2019 lives.\u00a0 Afterwards, Joseph Smith told that the men who attended the solemn assembly meeting at the temple that he \u201chad now completed the organization of the church, and we had passed through all the necessary ceremonies; that I had given them all the instruction they needed, and\u00a0 that they now were at liberty, after obtaining their licences, to go forth and build up the kingdom of God.\u201d[25]<\/a><\/p>\n

The endowment ceremony administered in the Nauvoo Temple was, in many ways, an attempt to encapsulate the endowment spoken of in Kirtland in a ritualized format. \u00a0Joseph Smith presented the endowment in the Red Brick Store that served as headquarters of the Church prior to the temple\u2019s construction, and then Brigham Young expanded on and organized the endowment after Joseph Smith\u2019s death. \u00a0Most of the ceremonies took place in the attic level of the temple, which was partitioned into a series of rooms by canvass. \u00a0After being washed and anointed (rituals initially associated with the Kirtland Temple and the School of the Prophets), participants took part in instructions in the form of a ritual drama summarizing Latter-day Saint beliefs about the creation of the earth, the Fall of Adam and Eve, trials and temptations faced during mortal life, etc.[26]<\/a>\u00a0 At the end of the endowment ceremony, participants entered into the Celestial Room\u2014a beautifully decorated room representing the place where God dwells, capturing the idea of experiencing the presence of God.\u00a0 To this day, the endowment ceremony that is practiced in the temples descends from this Nauvoo endowment and is generally considered as being prerequisite to serving a full-time mission in the Church, maintaining the connection to missionary work that was a part of the endowment of power from the initial announcement in early 1831.<\/p>\n

Thus, when the January 1831 revelation promised the Saints that when they gathered to the Ohio they would \u201cbe endowed with power from on high,\u201d it set up years of efforts to prepare for and seek out that endowment of power.\u00a0 Initially, ordination to the high priesthood, which began in summer of 1831, was understood to be the endowment.\u00a0 The school of the prophets or school of the elders that was held off and on through subsequent years served as endowment in some ways and led to the construction of the house of the Lord in Kirtland.\u00a0 The Pentecostal experiences associated with that house of the Lord are also understood as a fulfillment of the promised endowment of power.\u00a0 And, as the name implies, the endowment ceremony that was initially performed in the Nauvoo Temple\u2014and which continues to be performed in an altered form in temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints\u2014is a continuation of our seeking the endowment of power in our own time.<\/p>\n

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A note: While I have touched on the ceremonies related to the temple, including descriptions of ceremonies in the Nauvoo temple that go as far as the Church is willing to share at temple open houses and in publications, I will remind commenters that aspects of the temple not for public discussion are not up for discussion here.<\/p>\n

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Further Reading:<\/strong><\/p>\n