Sidney Rigdon

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Sidney Rigdon was a prominent figure in the Doctrine and Covenants and also in the time of the early Church. So prominent, in fact, that he was involved with 13 revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants as well as being in the actual text of 44 sections. These sections involving Rigdon range from instruction to promises to rebuke. He led a fantastic life and did many wonderful things for the church. Perhaps the biggest lesson to be learned from his life, though, is that even the great can fall from their privelages.

Sidney Rigdon was born in February of 1793, which would have made him the age of 37 when the church was officially organized and he joined it. He was taught the gospel by Parley P. Pratt. He became and accomplished orator, a Baptist Minister, and later one of the founders of the Campbellite movement (a protestant movement shortly before the Restoration). (Doctrine & Covenants: Who’s Who, Ed J. Pinegar, Richard J. Allen, pp. 121-125) As explained by the mentioned book:

“His service to the church included participating in the dedication of Independence, Missouri, as the chosen land of Zion (see D&C 58:57), serving as as a scribe for the Prophet Joseph for the inspired translation of the Bible, participating with Joseph Smith in a number of revelations (including section 76 on the degrees of glory), and generally being a spokesman and defender for the cause of Zion. He became a member of the First Presidency on March 18, 1833. He suffered greatly during the Missouri persecutions.(122)”

It is clear from the actual text of the scriptures that the Lord had great confidence in the abilities of Brother Rigdon:

“Behold, verily, verily, I say unto my servant Sidney, I have looked upon thee and thy works. I have heard they prayers, and prepared thee for a greater work. Thou art blessed, for thou shalt do great things.” (D&C 35:3-4)

Conversely, the Lord also gave warnings to Sidney Rigdon about his problem with Pride. It is best shown in this verse:

“I, the Lord, am not pleased with my servant Sidney Rigdon; he exalted himself in his heart, and received not counsel, but grieved the Spirit; Wherefore his writing is not acceptable unto the Lord, and he shall make another; and if the Lord receive it not, behold he standeth no longer in the office to which I have appointed him.” (D&C 63:55-56)

At one point, Rigdon had a dispute with the prophet Joseph Smith and was severed from the church (August 13, 1843). He was later reinstated. Later, in 1844, After the Prophet Jospeh had been killed, Sidney Rigdon claimed to have had a vision that he should become the guardian of the Church. The experience is best explained in the Journal of Discourse (as refreneced in The Presidents of the Church: Teacher’s Manual; Found online on www.LDS.org).

“After the Prophet Joseph Smith was killed, the Twelve Apostles presided over the Church. Many members of the Church did not know how a new President of the Church would be chosen.

Sidney Rigdon had been a counselor to President Joseph Smith for eleven years and had helped Joseph in many ways. Sidney Rigdon thought he should be the next President of the Church. He did not agree that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles should preside over the Church and wanted to be chosen by the people to be the President.

Sidney Rigdon called for a meeting so the people could decide who would preside over the Church. When Brigham Young, the senior Apostle, and other Apostles returned from their missions later in August 1844, six weeks after the Prophet Joseph Smith had been killed, the meeting was held in Nauvoo. Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young both spoke in the meeting.

Another meeting was called for 10:00 a.m. the next day. A marvelous thing happened in that meeting. When Brigham Young stood up to speak, for a short time he looked and sounded like Joseph Smith.

…The question might be asked, why was the appearance of Joseph Smith given to Brigham Young? Because here was Sidney Rigdon and other men rising up and claiming to be the leaders of the Church, and men stood, as it were, on a pivot, not knowing which way to turn. But just as quick as Brigham Young rose in that assembly, his face was that of Joseph Smith—the mantle of Joseph had fallen upon him, the power of God that was upon Joseph Smith was upon him, he had the voice of Joseph, and it was the voice of the shepherd. There was not a person in that assembly, Rigdon, himself,[bold added] not excepted, but was satisfied in his own mind that Brigham was the proper leader of the people, for he would not have his name presented, by his own consent, after that sermon was delivered. There was a reason for this in the mind of God; it convinced the people. They saw and heard for themselves, and it was by the power of God” (in Journal of Discourses, 15:81).”

Unfortunately, after this experience, Sidney Rigdon was disfellowshipped for attempting to take over leadership outside the framework set up by the Lord. He “fell into a state of disgrace and never recovered. (p. 125)”

As mentioned, the most impotatnt lesson I take from this is that pride is the universal sin. Even in a man who has had some incredible experiences like Sidney Rigdon, pride can still overcome the person in feeling they are due some sort of reward. For me, this is a reminder that the things I have been blessed with in mylife are conditional on my faithfulness until the very end.

I know that we each have divine gifts and opportunities in this life. The most crucial thing we can do is to beware of the creeping sin of pride.

Revelation in the Latter-day Saint Church

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I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, AKA: Mormons. I served a mission for the church for two years and spent my time teaching about the doctrines, blessings, and importance of a “Restored Gospel.” One of the most powerful testimonies of the work that I was involved with is the receipt of Personal revelation.

It is up to each individual person to develop a relationship with God, yet as Mormons, we give heed to the counsel of those we consider modern day Prophets. This pattern of living may seem contrary to the idea that one develops his/her own relationship with God. The truth is, that a person will draw much closer to God by following the counsel of the living prophets than by trying to “find their own way.”

Early in the history of the Mormon Church was a misunderstanding of this doctrine. There was one man who was “receiving revelation” for the church as a whole which was contrary to what the Prophet Joseph Smith was teaching. This matter was clarified in the revelation given to Joseph Smith in section 28. The historical background as explained in the D&C Institute manual is thus:

“After arranging my affairs at home, I again set out for Fayette, to attend our second conference, which had been appointed to be held at Father Whitmer’s where Joseph then resided. On my arrival I found Brother Joseph in great distress of mind on account of Hyrum Page, who had managed to get up some dissension of feeling among the brethren by giving revelations concerning the government of the Church and other matters, which he claimed to have received through the medium of a stone he possessed. He had quite a roll of papers full of these revelations, and many in the Church were led astray by them. Even Oliver Cowdery and the Whitmer family had given heed to them, although they were in contradiction to the New Testament and the revelations of these last days. Here was a chance for Satan to work among the little flock, and he sought by this means to accomplish what persecution failed to do. Joseph was perplexed and scarcely knew how to meet this new exigency. That night I occupied the same room that he did and the greater part of the night was spent in prayer and supplication. After much labor with these brethren they were convinced of their error, and confessed the same, renouncing the revelations as not being of God, but acknowledged that Satan had conspired to overthrow their belief in the true plan of salvation. In consequence of these things Joseph enquired of the Lord before conference commenced and received the revelation published on page 140 of the Doctrine and Covenants [section 28], wherein God explicitly states His mind and will concerning the receiving of revelations.”

The Lesson to take from this is that as often as the Lord will use his proper ways of conveying revelation (through his modern day prophets); Satan will try to confuse it with false revelation through similar mediums.

I know that God communicates with his children. I know that I can pray and receive personal answers to my prayers, fitted for my individual circumstance. Yet, these answers usually come through the doctrines taught by the living and modern prophets in the church I love, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is Jesus Christ’s church. The leaders in it have been authorized by Him. I am grateful God speaks in an ordered way to us, his children.