Sunday School lesson 32: To Seal the Testimony

Suggested Reading: D&C 135

This is one of Benj's favorite sections.

v.1 For a long time, I wondered why Joseph would have jumped to the window when he knew there was an angry mob outside the jail. Then I visited the jail. The window is probably 7 or 8 feet off the ground, and if people with guns were definitely firing into the room from the door, I would probably have tried to escape through the window as well.

I'm also surprised that an armed mob of 150 -200 people would only shoot them each 4 times. Seems like you have a strong element in the mob and a following element as well.

v.3 In life they were not divided and in death they were not separated! He ends that statement with an exclamation point. It's a shout.

v.5 The testators are now dead and their testament is in force, implies that their witness against men would not be admissible until after they had lived their life unspotted, but hasn't the Lord said that the cries of the women and children have come up to him in heaven? Or am I thinking of places where they had killed all the women and children? In 3 Nephi 9:5, he's definitely talking about dead people crying to him against the destroyed cities.

v.6. They lived for Glory and they died for glory; and glory is their eternal reward. What is glory, scripturally speaking? Alma 22:14, that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory. Is glory the same as exaltation? Moses 1:39, this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Could it be that literal? God's exaltation is to make ours happen? Sam 4:21 - Eli's daughter-in-law said, "the glory is departed from Israel for the Ark of God is taken. Granted, she doesn't really have any more authority to make that statement than any random relative of the prophet has to give revelation to the church, but it could be a reflection of teachings from her father, who at one point did have the authority. Psalms 8:5 - Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels , and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Exaltation again?