The Joseph Smith Papers

Larry and I have recently been watching episodes of the TV series that was produced by KSL5 in Utah about the Joseph Smith Papers project and have been exploring the website that gives access to the documents that are being cataloged.

Here is some basic info about the project from the FAQ page at the website:

What is the Joseph Smith Papers Project?

The Joseph Smith Papers Project is an effort to gather together all extant Joseph Smith documents and to publish complete and accurate transcripts of those documents with both textual and contextual annotation. All such documents will be published electronically on this website, and a large number of the documents will also be published in print. The print and electronic publications constitute an essential resource for scholars and students of the life and work of Joseph Smith, the early church, and nineteenth-century American religion. For the first time, all of Joseph Smith’s known surviving papers, which include many of the foundational documents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will be easily accessible in one place.

Why was the project undertaken?

Producing a definitive, scholarly edition of Joseph Smith’s papers will allow increased and better scholarship on Joseph Smith and the early church. Scattered documents will be gathered into one source with both print and electronic components, and manuscripts of varying legibility will be carefully transcribed and verified. In addition to making the content of these documents more accessible, transcription and publication will help preserve these delicate documents, which are subject to the ravages of age and handling and to potential damage or loss.

What kinds of documents will be included?

Included among Joseph Smith’s papers are the earliest handwritten texts of the foundational documents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, such as his revelations and translations. The Papers will provide insights into Smith’s life and times through his correspondence, journals, discourses, court cases, and business dealings. The edition will also include minutes of important church councils, reproductions of the Latter-day Saints’ scriptural canon as it existed during Smith’s lifetime, official histories, and records pertaining to church institutions that were under Smith’s direction or that reflect his personal instruction or involvement.

Have any documents been excluded?

This comprehensive project will publish all known, accessible documents that meet the project’s criteria as Joseph Smith documents. The project has complete access to the library and archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and of the Community of Christ (formerly The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). Some documents are in the possession of families or individual collectors, and to the extent that permission and access can be obtained, these will be published. All documents will be published electronically on this website, and a significant number of the documents will also be published in print.

When did work on the Joseph Smith Papers Project begin?

The project can trace its roots to Joseph Smith himself, and collecting Smith’s papers continued after his death. In February 1846, the documents—then in possession of Brigham Young and other church leaders—were packed into two boxes for the westward trek from Nauvoo, Illinois, to the Salt Lake Valley. Over the following one hundred years, numerous volumes and articles were published that drew on these and other early historical documents.

The current effort to publish Smith’s papers began in the late 1960s—and continued in subsequent decades—with the work of Dean C. Jessee. He published one volume of Smith’s personal writings and two volumes of an earlier series, The Papers of Joseph Smith. The effort to expand resources and move beyond a one-man initiative eventually resulted in the comprehensive plan that is now being carried out. In April 2001, the Joseph Smith Papers Project was officially established as a collaboration between the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History at Brigham Young University and the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That relationship continued until 2005 when the institute closed and those working on the project became employees of the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and transferred to the Church History Library in Salt Lake City—the main repository holding Joseph Smith’s papers. This change consolidated resources and streamlined organization so that the papers could be published more quickly. Today, the project continues with several dozen researchers, historians, writers, archivists, editors, volunteers, and other staff.

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From a scholarly standpoint, this is a huge and very impressive undertaking that will provide a tremendous insight into American history during the 1800's.    As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it is even more significant, as it will give people all over the world easy access to rich information about our founding prophet and the history of the church.

However, all evidence aside, building a testimony of the reality of the First Vision and the validity of the Book of Mormon as an actual ancient record that was translated by the spirit of God is something that can never be "proven" by even the most thorough research.   Each person must discover this knowledge themselves through spiritual seeking..

When I first became active in the church after Larry and I were married I did not have a testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet and I wasn't sure what I believed about God, eternal life, or any of the rest of the things the LDS faith professes.  Coming to accept this faith as strongly as I have did not come easily or quickly for me.

But it DID come.  It came by study.  It came by prayer.  It came through fasting.  It came through personal revelation.
Larry and I are now on our fourth read of the Book of Mormon since this mission started.  Each time we read it, I come to love that book more.  It truly was preserved for our day.

I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I believe that studying the words of the Book of Mormon with faith and prayer can bring peace, can provide answers to many of life's questions, and can help us grow closer to God than any other means.

I look forward to learning more about the life and times of Joseph Smith.  But I don't need "proof".   I have faith that has been confirmed by the witness of the Holy Ghost.  That counts for a lot to me.

Pacifica

This weekend we got together with our good friends, Elder and Sister Henderson, to take in the Pacifica festival.  It is an annual event here in Auckland which has been going on over 20 years.   The Island people come together to create "Villages" from each nation.  There are dances, handicrafts, music, food booths, and more to celebrate the culture of all the Polynesian people of the islands.  The weather was perfect. It was a lovely day.   We enjoyed walking around the park where the festival was held, taking in the sights and sounds and smells and tastes.  (Gotta love those pork buns!)

We went early and left early before the crowds got to be too much.   Also that gave us time to still do some catch up errands at the apartment - laundry and scrubbing,  plus writing a few letters home.   Summerr here is winding down.   Our days will begin getting noticably shorter soon and before we know it, the weather will turn off cold and rainy for the somewhat dreary Auckland winter.   So we were glad to be able to spend part of the day out getting fresh air and walking time in the company of such good friends.  

One performer that took us by surprise was the "Samoan Elvis".   He actually did pretty well!

Long drive home

We covered LOTS of territory on our drive back from Wellington to Auckland. Not all of New Zealand is the lush green tropical bush that we have become so familiar with.

We were on the road for about 11 hours.   It was a LONG day.   We did stop at one familiar place along the way to get out and stretch our legs - the Tongariro National Trout Center.   We had been there last March when we went down to Tauranga with Sister Winters and her family that time Elder Winters had to go to Vanuatu at the last minute.  Larry was driver for the group and got to take Gary's spot on the long planned fishing trip.

However, that time when we stopped at the trout center even though we very much enjoyed the walking trails (and found a couple geocache there), the museum and aquarium had been closed.  This time everything was open for business so it was fun to walk around and see the displays.

Soon enough, however, it was time to get back on the road!

We caught glimpses of Lake Taupo through the windshield, but there was no more stopping for us.   We were ready to get home.

 There were LONG, LONG, LONG stretches between towns where we saw a lot of open country...mile after mile (or kilometers as they would say here) of windy road with pastures or bush on either side.   I know I've mentioned this before, but there are a WHOLE lot of sheep in this country!  (More sheep than people, they say.)   New Zealand does not do rest stops so we have learned to carry plenty of water, fruit and crackers with us where ever we go, and fortunately were able to make it  between pit stops for our other needs.  (Whew!).   We were road weary indeed by the time we reached our apartment in Takapuna.  Still, we were glad we got a chance to see more of the country and gain an even better appreciation for this remarkable Land of the Great White Cloud.  

Family History with Papakowhai Ward

We had a great night working with members in the Papakowhai Ward, Porirua Stake on Tuesday night.  The energy in the room was electric as people searched for info about the ancestors.  Sometimes the veil between this world and the next feels very thin indeed and we are certain that the spirits of the generations that went before are among us, guiding us in where to look.

Te Papa Museum

One of our favorite things in Wellington was visiting the Te Papa Museum.  It was a remarkable experience!

We enjoyed the displays throughout the museum - the giant squid, the Maori history, and so much more.   But one of the most powerful exhibits was the Gallipoli Scale of War exhibit. that has been created by Sir Peter Jackson and his team.

From the Exhibit Website:

"This ground-breaking exhibition tells the story of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I through the eyes and words of eight ordinary New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances.   Each is captured frozen in a moment of time on a monumental scale – 2.4 times human size. The large-scale sculptures took a staggering 24,000 hours to create, and countless hours were spent researching their rich histories.  Cutting-edge technology was used to create 3-D maps, projections, miniatures, models, dioramas, and interactive experiences to bring this story to life.  In total, 2,779 Kiwis lost their lives on Gallipoli, and many others were scarred for ever.

 Gallipoli: The scale of our war takes you to the core of this defining event."

The larger-than-life statues of the eight different people were remarkable in detail.  But it was the other parts of the exhibit - the letters, quotes, and every-day artifacts such as dental tools that were used to treat soldiers who had teeth break off when biting into the hard tack crackers they were given to eat....all the minutia that was a part of the lives of the people involved in that war that really touched my heart.

I am so grateful that neither my husband nor my sons ever had to be in a combat situation.   Larry was born in 1945 so he was in the prime age group to go to Viet Nam.  However, since he was married and had a family and also a college student, he was never drafted.    Both of my sons served in the Marine Corps, one in active duty for 9 years and the other as a reservist.  For them, Desert Storm could have taken them into some very ugly situations.  There were two or three times that  our younger son had orders to go, but each time something was changed at the last minute to keep him stateside.  I am convinced it was influenced at least in part by the fasting and prayers in his behalf to keep him safe.

We live in troubled times when indeed there are "wars and rumours of war" in many places throughout the world.   We know from prophecies in both the Bible and Book of Mormon that the last days will be filled with much conflict and strife.   But war is nothing new.  As we read of all the battles between the Nephites and the Lamanites or the terrible destruction caused by the Gadianton Robbers from Book of Mormon days our hearts are grieved for what those people had to go through.

As we hear more and more about conflicts throughout the world it is easy to feel frightened or overwhelmed.  At those times I cling to scriptures such as “Fear not, little flock. … Look [to Christ] in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:34, 36).
In 2004, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave a wonderful talk for a church educational system fireside that was later printed in Ensign magazine titled "This, the Greatest of All Dispensations."  Having made these remarks not that long after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the USA, Elder Holland addressed the fear that many people experienced about living in troubled times..   He said:

"So, in a world of tribulation, let’s remember our faith. Let’s recall the other promises and prophecies that have been given, all the reassuring ones, and let’s live life more fully, with more boldness and courage than at any other time.

Christ has overcome the world and made a path for us. He has said to us in our day: “Gird up your loins and be prepared. Behold, the kingdom is yours, and the enemy shall not overcome” (D&C 38:9).

Seeing the museum exhibits about the Gallipoli battles was a grim reminder of the ugly reality of war that seems to spreading throughout the corners of our world today.   It was humbling to think of all the millions of men and women - both soldiers and civilians - who have either lost their lives or come home maimed in fights to maintain freedom.  However, through our testimonies in the Gospel of Christ, we really can hold on to hope and remain confident, even though we live in troubled times.  

This mission experience has taught me more than ever before that I truly can trust in a loving Heavenly Father to give us strength to face whatever adversity may come our way.  

P-Day in Wellington

Senior Missionaries work hard, but we also enjoy chances to relax and do a bit of sight seeing where ever our assignments may take us.   On Monday we had the day off, so we went into Wellington to explore.   Having being at the tippy top of our North Island when we visited Cape Reinga, it was fun to now be seeing the extreme bottom part of the island.

"Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, sits near the North Island’s southernmost point on the Cook Strait. A compact city, it encompasses a waterfront promenade, sandy beaches, a working harbour and colourful timber houses on surrounding hills. Though sunny and mild most of the year, strong winter winds through the Cook Strait give it the nickname "Windy Wellington." "  (Wikipedia)

We drove up to the top of Mt. Victoria to take in the panoramic views of the city (and also found a geocache there!). We walked around the city a bit and spent some time in the museum. I was grateful for my sweet husband's sense of direction because more than once I got turned around not knowing how to find our way from where we were back to our car, but he always manages to find our spot.

 In the afternoon I did a bit of hiking along a lovely forest trail while Larry laid back and took a snooze.  (Since January I have been working hard to get at least 10,000 steps in every day so every chance I get I go for a walk).

That evening we had a training meeting with FHC director Sister Mary Edwards in Wellington Stake.   Normally we don't do any meetings on Monday nights since that is reserved for Family Home Evening.  However that was the time that worked best for her, and as a single sister with no other family at home she was available then.

We were disappointed that we were not ever able to get an appointment with the Stake Presidency in Wellington but our time with Sister Edwards was very worthwhile.

All in all we felt our trip to region was being well spent.  We felt grateful for the experiences we were having.