The Crandall Printing Museum

I really enjoyed my visit to the Crandall Printing Museum. I went 3 years ago when I took H240 from Dr. Holzapfel and I enjoyed it just as much this time around. I don't think I would have taken the time to go again if it hadn't been for the class requirement, but I'm very glad I did.

It's fascinating how the brethren at the museum are able to tie everything into the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It's truly miraculous to be able to see the hand of God in things that we completely take for granted. I like how there are three different segments to the presentation, one to help you appreciate Gutenberg and the invention of the printing press, another to help you recognize the role of the printing press in the American Revolution, and lastly a room in which you learn about the printing and binding of the Book of Mormon. The brethren at the museum shared with us the designs for the museums expansion. I think it's an exciting idea that the museum will be able to hold many more visitors and that every missionary who goes through the Provo MTC will have the opportunity to visit.

I couldn't help but get goosebumps as they talked about the miraculous printing of the Book of Mormon, even though I had heard it before. I think I often focus on the First Vision and the coming forth of the brass plates and their translation, while spending very little time thinking about the actual printing. Printing a book now a days is such a non-event. We're constantly surrounded by books and it seems to be a very normal process for one to get printed. It's hard to imagine the vast undertaking that was in the mid-1800s. Not to mention, for a young adult living in a smaller settlement, with little funds. The fact that there was even a printer nearby with the knowledge and technology to complete the job was incredible. Then, that they completed the printing in so short of time becomes even more miraculous after seeing first-hand what went into the printing process at the Crandall Museum.

Something that hit me during this visit was how often I take for granted books in my life. I love to read. I always have. When I was younger my mom would have to take my book away from me before I went to bed, because otherwise I would stay up late reading...even in elementary school. I'm surrounded by books and it is so simple for me to go to a library or bookstore and pick from dozens of books on the shelf and take one home with me. I rarely, if ever, think about all of the steps that go into a book and all the hundreds of years in which the process has been refined and simplified. The printing press is something I don't think about on a regular basis, but I should...it should be my favorite invention.

I'm grateful for this museum visit that reminded me of the miraculous printing of many influential documents, including the Book of Mormon, and of the experience involved in making a book as we do today. It is easy to take for granted many things and I think we need reminders in our lives to stop back and remember. I'm grateful for the Lord and how the hand of God is evident in every aspect of life here on earth. I know it's impossible for me at this time to fully understand the consequence of any event or invention, just as I'm sure Gutenberg had no idea to what extent he had influenced the future.

The Gathering

In class this past Thursday we discussed how D&C 37 includes the first call for the saints to gather. This discussion really made me ponder how gathering was a fundamental aspect of 19th century Mormonism and how it is still an aspect today, only in different ways. The Lord no longer calls us to gather together in one geographical location, but at the same time he calls us to gather for meetings and worship all throughout the world. I take great comfort in knowing that no matter where I am in the world I will always have a support network and safety net in the church. I will always have a ward family and irrespective of language or location, the church is the same everywhere.

This past summer I traveled to Brazil on a study abroad trip for 7 weeks. While in Brazil we traveled to many different areas, and every Sunday we went to church. I reflected on this a lot last week, as it's my most recent personal experience with finding the church in a place far from my home. I loved attending church in Brazil and the comfort I found there, but particularly interesting for me was my last Sunday in Brazil.

My last Sunday, I spent with an American family who were in Brazil for 18 months in relation with the father's work. The members of the family did not know Portuguese, and yet they attended a ward every Sunday that included both Portuguese and English speaking members. The individuals in this family were able to find a support system in a foreign country, simply by finding the local church meeting house. I'm so grateful to know that no matter where I live throughout my life, I will always be able to find a home at church. I'm grateful that the Lord still calls us to gather, but that he allows us to gather in our own individual locations, rather than asking all members of the church to live in one geographical location.

D&C 25

As we discussed Doctrine and Covenants 25 in class today, my mind was open to meanings and implications I had never thought of before. Most fundamental to the significance of this revelation is that it was given to a woman. I think the reason why I haven't thought too deeply about this simple fact is because it feels natural to me. I live in a day when women are treated fairly equally with men, at least in the United States. There are laws, customs, movements, etc. which all seek to represent what is in the best interest for women. Even within the church, women hold prominent and important positions, they are valued, respected, listened to. It is not unusual to hear women speaking in church, women serving missions, or women getting a higher education. I have also understood since I was young that Heavenly Father loves his daughters just as much as his sons. I have every right to personal revelation and a patriarchal blessing that men in the church do. Of course roles and responsibilities are different, but that doesn't mean one gender is necessarily more important than the other. This was not the case in the time of Emma Smith.

From verse 1, Emma is called "daughter" and based on original manuscripts, we know that her last name wasn't added until later for clarification. The Lord was on intimate, personal terms with Emma. He knew her just as he knew Joseph. Just as he knows each of us today. In this revelation the Lord establishes a principle of equality in the church. Every line of this revelation sends a subtle message concerning the role of women in the Church, and most importantly, in the eyes of the Lord. It also enforces the notion that Emma has a role to play. She has choices to make. She is not just a bystander.

I love verse 5 and the reminders it gives, to comfort and console our spouse. Here, the Lord so simply emphasizes the importance of the marriage relationship. In verse 7 Emma is told that she will expound scriptures and exhort the church. Once again, she plays an important role! Verse 8 certainly contains a radical idea for her time, when Emma is told that her time shall be given to writing and to learning much. And once again in verse 9 is the role of the marriage relationship. Just as Emma is told to comfort and console Joseph, Joseph is reminded to support Emma.

I love the hymns of the church, I always have. Some of my first memories of church are of singing time in Primary when I was younger. The hymns have taken on new meaning to me since I was given a hymnal in Portuguese and I've begun to sing in that language as well. There are certain hymns, such as "Lead Kindly Light" and "O, My Father" that ring so true to me, they do feel like scriptures and/or prayers. There's no question how the Lord values hymns after reading verses 11 and 12, and looking at the importance of hymns within the Church today.

Truly for many reasons I barely summarized, this was a significant revelation and still is today. Just like Emma, every woman has a place in the Kingdom. We are each actors, with our own choices to make. We each should "lift up our heart and rejoice" (verse 13) for the truths we know! I am so grateful for the blessing of the hymns. And I am so grateful for the blessing of knowing with a surety that I am a daughter of God and that I am of infinite worth to him.

The Articles and Covenants of the Church of Christ (D&C 20)

I have enjoyed reading the Doctrine and Covenants since I was younger, I attended seminary in high school, and I have always loved church history stories. But, it really is true that the more you know, the more you know you don't know. For example, I never realized that so many sections of the Doctrine and Covenants had official names, such as Section 20 being the "Articles and Covenants." I had no idea that Section 20 was the most copied of any revelation in the history of the Church. I also did not know that Section 20 was read at every session of General Conference until it was printed in 1835. Even these three facts alone, point to the significance of this section.

We discussed in class that Section 20 is roughly organized into three categories: a historical overview of the church, doctrine/articles of faith, and a handbook of instruction related to church policy. With this knowledge it is easy to see why the Lord instructed so many missionaries to take Section 20 with them on their missions, along with the Bible and Book of Mormon. This section would arm a missionary with what information he needed to organize a branch or replicate the church anywhere.

What I have mentioned so far is all information that was discussed in my class, and they go far in illustrating the significance of this section, but now I want to add what this section means to me...or rather what would be missing in my life if not for information contained in this section. I would be missing a brief overview of the history of the church from 1820-1830. I would be missing an outline of the plan of Salvation, containing some of the most important truths to be found in the Gospel, for example the creation and the atonement of Christ. The priesthood holders in my ward would not have a description of their duties. I would be missing the principle of baptism, the importance of blessing children, and the sacramental prayers. Of course some of this information is recorded in other places as well, but that does not undermine the value of them being here in the Doctrine and Covenants.

The Doctrine and Covenants has a value and worth that I am only beginning to appreciate. I am so grateful for the opportunity to study this section and reflect on its significance. I know that the principle it espouses were given by God through revelation and that this information continues to be pertinent to the Church today. When you next have the opportunity, read through this section, which can be found at http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/20, and reflect on its personal significance to you.