There was a time in Joseph’s life when happiness outweighed the sorrows. Those were the Kirtland years. Joseph wrote that the saints 'patronised all the institutions of heaven' as they participated in weddings and such like joyful festivities (Donna Hill, "Joseph Smith, The First Mormon", p 194). The apex of their content was the dedication of the Kirtland Temple in March of 1836. It was the time when the angels came.
“A noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being moved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues and prophesy….and the Temple was filled with angels….The people of the neighbourhood came running together (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple) and were astonished at what was taking place.
“The Saviour made his appearance to some, while angels ministered to others, and it was a Pentacost and an endowment indeed, long to be remembered, for the sound shall go forth from this place into all the world, and occurrences of this day shall be handed down upon the pages of sacred history, to all generations.” (“History of the Church”, 2:427-33)
Less than ten years later, the Church was under a cloud of darkness, dissension and apostasy with the dark spirit of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum hovering over Nauvoo while the saints were frantically attempting to finish the building of the Nauvoo temple. At the same time they were preparing their wagons for their trek into the westward unknown. They were poverty stricken, sick and desperate for the exodus. Despite the conditions of that period of darkness, the saints built a beautiful white sandstone edifice, towering over the countryside and visible for miles up and down the Mississippi.
“Part of the Nauvoo Temple was dedicated in October 1845, even before it was finished; and in December of that year, Brigham Young began to administer the temple ordinances day and night. Within a mere two months, the first company of wagons started across the frozen Mississippi, never to return.
"Within three years, the temple was burned by an arsonist, and two years later a tornado demolished what was left of it.” (Bruce C. Hafen, “The Believing Heart”, p 110-1). No angels came to the Nauvoo temple.
When the Saviour faced the moment of His crucible in the Garden of Gethsemane, an angel came to strengthen Him (Luke 22:43). And when He hung on the cross during the last three hours of that agonizing ordeal, all the pains and suffering of Gethsemane returned (see Bruce R. McConkie, “A New Witness for the Articles of Faith”, p 109). And no angel came.
Sometimes the angels will not come and you will have to go it alone. The heavens will be silent even though God is still watching and hoping this moment will be the making of you.
I am still unraveling the mystery of endurance….
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Artist Unknown)
