Hey it’s the first day of fall, y’all!
Besides that, today is such an important, albeit hidden anniversary! It was 203 years ago on Sept. 21-22, 1823 that Joseph Smith received instructions from an angel of God, Moroni, during the night, spanning those two days, Sept. 21-22. Moroni told Joseph about the golden plates buried in the Hill Cumorah, in upstate New York, close to Palmyra. From these plates, Joseph eventually translated the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ. You can read his words about that whole process here in Joseph Smith History 1:27 to the end of the chapter.
God doesn’t do things randomly. Everything He does has a purpose, design, beauty, and order to it. We can see this in the date when the above event occurred. Did you know it happened to coincide with the Feast of the Trumpets, a feast from the ancient Hebrews? Why is this important? It’s because this annual feast is when the Jews celebrate the beginning of the gathering of Israel. We know from President Nelson, a former president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that the Book of Mormon is central to this work of the gathering of Israel, from this talk here. So how cool is that that the announcement of the plates to Joseph, and his eventual reception of the plates, was on the Feast of the Trumpets!
To learn more, read the article here about it by Lenet Hadley Read. You can also read her book above, from amazon.com or archive.org.
I also invite you to watch the videos above and below. The first one explains what the Feast of Trumpets is. The bottom one explains the connection of the Feast of Trumpets to the reception of the golden plates by Joseph Smith. You will learn how Sept. 21, 1823 fits in with the Hebrew feasts. Then you will learn how each yearly visit of Moroni to Joseph in September from 1824 to 1827, when he finally got to receive the golden plates, fits in with these feasts and God’s covenantal love. It’s a beautiful story of Christ’s kingdom of symbol, beauty, order and glory.
Last but not least, here is an amazing NEW video featuring Don Bradley, below. He explains so many parallels between Joseph Smith and Moses. For example, Moses went up to a mount to receive the stone tablets, the law. Joseph Smith went to a hill to receive the golden plates, a new “law” or testament or covenant. Moses had objects like manna and stone tablets. Joseph had objects like the Liahona and the golden plates. Watch below and prepare to be blown away by the similarities! It is just so lovely and awesome that God works in patterns, involving numbers, symbols, days and so much more.
Want more from Don Bradley? Go here where he tells his story, as well as more about Joseph Smith. It is amazing!