Help Request From The Bloggernacle
A priesthood leader in our ward asked me in an email this morning where to find the account of a vision or dream that Brigham Young had where he was visited by Joseph Smith after his death.
Joseph told Brigham to counsel or teach the Saints to stay close to the Spirit.
I'm not much of a Church historian--though this seems vaguely familiar. Do any of the true Church historians out there in the 'nacle know whether this is a real or mythical account? If real, what is the source?
Thanks for your help!
I'm not much of a Church historian--though this seems vaguely familiar. Do any of the true Church historians out there in the 'nacle know whether this is a real or mythical account? If real, what is the source?
Thanks for your help!
posted by Guy Murray at 9:07 AM
6 Comments:
I confess I've never heard of that.
Doesn't mean it didn't happen of course.
From a conference talk by Elder Faust in 1989, also repeated as a First Presidency message in the April 1996 Ensign:
In the marvelous experience of Brigham Young in February of 1847, when the Prophet Joseph appeared to him in a dream or vision, Brigham pleaded to be reunited with the Prophet. Brigham Young asked the Prophet if he had a message for the Brethren. The Prophet said:
“Tell the people to be humble and faithful, and to be sure to keep the spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the still small voice; it will teach them what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the Brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it.”
The Prophet further directed Brigham Young as follows: “They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other spirits; it will whisper peace and joy to their souls; it will take malice, hatred, strife and all evil from their hearts; and their whole desire will be to do good, bring forth righteousness and build up the kingdom of God.” (Manuscript History of Brigham Young: 1846–47, Historical Dept., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, pp. 528–31.)
May 1989 Ensign
April 1996 Ensign
Clark, and John. Thank you both very much for your comments, and especially John for confirming the event and providing the source. I knew there would be folks who would know the answer to this! Thanks again!
I found the following in Gospelink, from "The Doctrine and Covenants Speaks Volume 1", p. 311-312:
President Wilford Woodruff is on record as saying that, "One morning while we were at Winter Quarters, Brother Brigham Young said to me and the brethren that he had a visitation the night previously from Joseph Smith. I asked him what he said to him. He replied that Joseph had told him to tell the people to labor to obtain the Spirit of God; that they needed that to sustain them and to give them power to go through their work on the earth." In this same sermon, President Woodruff said that while en route to his last mission in England, Joseph Smith visited him and gave him similar instructions. In continuing his discourse on the importance of having the Spirit, President Woodruff said: "Brigham Young also visited me after his death . . . He said, 'I want you to teach the people to get the Spirit of God. You cannot build up the Kingdom of God without that.' That is what I want to say to the brothers and sisters here today." (The Deseret Weekly, Vol. 53, No. 21, Nov. 7, 1896, p. 643.)
Furthermore, from a book titled "Womens Voices", there are some diary entries from Patty Bartlett Sessions, March 21 (Sunday), 1847:
"Went to meeting. Br Brigham told his dream of seeing Joseph the charge he had to this people from him [Joseph] to keep the spirit of the Lord. I then visited the sick."
A footnote at the end of this entry says, "An account of the dream is recorded in the Manuscript History of the Church, 1844-1877, February 23, 1847."
Mark N. Thanks to you as well for this information. It is very helpful. I noticed you found this on Gospel Link. What did you use for your search terms. Or, did you just know where to search?
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