THE OPENING OF HEAVENS

 

In my 50 years of Church membership, I have never read the account of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood by Oliver Cowdery. It was a text in small print at the end of Joseph Smith History that I didn’t bother with….until yesterday…when it created such a flutter in my heart I wanted the ends of the earth to read it…….

The date was May 15, 1829. Joseph and Oliver had just prayed to inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins that they found mentioned in the translation of the Book of Mormon. What unfolded had an impact on Oliver such as he had never had before:

“The Lord, who is rich in mercy, and ever willing to answer the consistent prayer of the humble, after we had called upon Him in fervent manner….condescended to manifest to us His will. On a sudden, as from the midst of eternity, the voice of the Redeemer spake peace to us, while the veil was parted and the angel of God came down clothed with glory, and delivered the anxiously looked for message, and the keys of the Gospel of repentance.

“What joy! What wonder! What amazement! While the world was racked and distracted….and while all men were resting upon uncertainty…our eyes beheld, our ears heard…. his voice, though mild, pierced to the center, and his words, ‘I am thy fellow-servant’, dispelled every fear. We listened, we gazed, we admired! ‘Twas the voice of an angel from glory, ‘twas a message from the Most High! And as we heard we rejoiced, while His love enkindled upon our souls, and we were wrapped in the vision of the Almighty!

“….what joy filled our hearts, and with what surprise we must have bowed….when we received under his hand the Holy Priesthood as he said, ‘Upon you my fellow-servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood and this authority, which shall remain upon earth, that the Sons of Levi may yet offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness!

“The assurance that we were in the presence of an angel, the certainty that we heard the voice of Jesus, and the truth unsullied as it flowed from a pure personage, dictated by the will of God, is to me past description, and I shall ever look upon this expression of the Saviour’s goodness with wonder and thanksgiving while I am permitted to tarry; and in those mansions where perfection dwells and sin never comes, I hope to adore in that day which shall never cease.”

-          Oliver Cowdery, “Messenger and Advocate” vol 1 (October 1834), pp 14-16

 

How can I contain You

In the chambers of my overflowing heart?

Your greatness, Your mercy, Your love,

Are far too vast.

 

All that I am, I give to You:

My heart, my soul, my all,

I lay at Your feet forever more.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Knock and It Shall Be Opened by B. Laura Wilson)