Paul—"I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds."
LESSON V.
SCRIPTURE READING EXERCISE.
THE MODERN SCRIPTURES—[1] THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.
| ANALYSIS. | REFERENCES. |
| I. Origin of the Pearl of Great Price.
1. Date and Circumstances of Publication. 2. Contents of the First Edition. | Millennial Star, Vol. XIII (1851), pp. 216, 217; also Vol. XLIX, p. 396 et seq. New Witness for God, Vol. I, p. 316. Note 1. |
| II. The Chief Original Documents.
1. The Writings of Moses. 2. The Book of Abraham. 3. The Writings of Joseph Smith. | Pearl of Great Price, pp. 1-49. History of the Church, Vol. I, p. 98. Pearl of Great Price, pp. 50-74. History of the Church, Vol. II, pp. 236, 286, 349, 350. Times and Seasons, Vol. III, Nos. 9 and 10. New Witness for God, Vol. I, pp. 443-453. (1842). Divine Authenticity of the Book of Abraham (Reynolds). Pearl of Great Price, pp. 75-103. History of the Church, Vol. I, Chaps. i-v. |
SPECIAL TEXT: "And it came to pass as the voice was still speaking, Moses cast his eyes and beheld the earth, yea, even all of it, and there was not a particle of it which he did not behold, discerning it by the Spirit of God, and he beheld also the inhabitants thereof, and there was not a soul which he beheld not, and he discerned them by the Spirit of God. And their numbers were great, even numberless as the sand upon the sea-shore. And he beheld many lands, and each land was called earth, and there were inhabitants on the face thereof. And it came to pass that Moses called upon God, saying, tell me I pray thee, why these things are so. * * * * And the Lord God said unto Moses, for mine own purpose have I made these things Here is wisdom and it remaineth with me. * * * * And worlds without number have I created, and I also created them for mine own purpose, and by the Son I created them, which is mine only begotten. * * * * FOR BEHOLD THIS IS MY WORK AND MY GLORY TO BRING TO PASS THE IMMORTALITY AND ETERNAL LIFE OF MAN."—BOOK OF MOSES.
NOTES.
1. Compilation and Contents: The Pearl of Great Price was compiled and published by the late Elder Franklin D. Richards, of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, in Liverpool, England, 1851. Elder Richards at the time was presiding over the British mission. Its title page ran as follows:
The PEARL OF GREAT PRICE Being a Choice Selection from the Revelations, Translations, and Narrations of JOSEPH SMITH, First Prophet, Seer, and Revelator to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In addition to the Articles now published in the current and authorized version of the tract, it also contained a number of extracts from the Revelations of the Doctrine and Covenants, including a key to the revelations of St. John (Doc. and Cov. Sec. 77); commandments to the Church concerning baptism (Doc. & Cov., Sec. 20); on the method of administering the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (Doc. & Cov., Sec. 20); the duties of the Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons and members of the Church (Doc. & Cov., Sec. 20); on Priesthood (Doc. & Cov., Sec. 84); the calling and duties of the Twelve Apostles (Doc. & Cov. Sec. 107); an extract from the revelation given July, 1830, (Doc.. & Cov., Sec. 27); extract from the revelation on the rise of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Doc. & Cov., Sec. 1); John Jaques' splendid hymn, entitled "Truth," (Hymn-book, p. 71), and last but not least, the revelation and prophecy on war, (Doc. & Cov., Sec. 87). From this enumeration of articles omitted from this choice collection in the later editions of the work, it is seen that nothing is omitted but what is now published in the Doctrine and Covenants or Hymn-book; and the eliminations were made to avoid duplicating the publication of the articles in several books.