The History of Mormonism: Where did the Pearl of Great Price come from?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints follows four volumes of holy scripture. In no particular order, they are: The King James Version of the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. It is this last book of scripture I wish to discuss today. In the history of Mormonism (more at http://www.mormontopics.org/eng/christ), this piece of scripture has a unique history of its own, and has a story worth telling. The book itself is split into a few different parts.
The Pearl of Great Price begins with:
Joseph Smith- History
This section chronicles some important events in the life of Joseph Smith Jr, the founder and first prophet of the LDS Church). Thee events include the "First Vision"--Smith's first encounter with God the Father and Jesus Christ--Smith's visitation from Angel Moroni, and the translation of the Book of Mormon. This autobiographical work is a great primary source for anyone researching Joseph Smith, or anyone wanting to know more about the Prophet.
The Articles of Faith
In 1842, "Long" John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat contacted Joseph Smith to ask him about his religion. Wentworth's questions were for the benefit of a friend who was writing a work on the history of New Hampshire. Smith happily replied with what is now referred to as the "Wentworth Letter". Within, the Prophet recounted the history of the Church up until that point and detailed some basic tenets of the beliefs of Mormonism. Part of the "Wentworth Letter" gave thirteen succinct bullet-point paragraphs which briefly described the core doctrines of the Church. These thirteen paragraphs would come to be known as the Articles of Faith and were included in the Pearl of Great Price. Being only about 400 words, they are an easy way to glean the basics of the LDS Church's beliefs and many members even try to memorize them.
Joseph Smith-Matthew
This excerpt from Joseph Smith's re-translation of the Gospel of Matthew contains many revelations pertaining to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Book of Moses
The Book of Moses are some selections of Joseph Smith's re-translation of the Old Testament. The book expounds on some key visions of Moses, and explains many doctrines concerning the meaning of life, our purpose on Earth, where we came from and where we're going, etc.
The Book of Abraham
The early nineteenth century saw a meteoric rise of interest in ancient Egypt, due in large part to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799. Scads of explorers and excavators flocked to the historic desert ruins in search of ancient Egyptian artifacts. One of these was an Italian-born excavator named Antonio Lebolo.
Lebolo led a team of archaeologists in a dig near Thebes, which would yield several mummies. Some time before Lebolo's death in 1830, the mummies would be sold, and eventually find their way to New York and into the hands of a man named Michael Chandler. Found within the wrappings were several papyri, inscribed with Egyptian hieroglyphics, which Chandler was told, no one could translate. Chandler displayed the sarcophagi and the mummies within in many venues throughout the area. Many people would tell Chandler, often jokingly, that he ought to take the papyri to the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith, as Smith had a reputation for being able to translate ancient writings.
In 1835, Chandler decided to make contact with Joseph Smith, who was then with a large body of the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio. Traveling to Kirtland that summer, Chandler showed Smith the mummies and supposedly undecipherable writings. As Smith began to translate, he felt prompted by the Lord that he should purchase the mummies, sarcophagi, and papyri from Michael Chandler, although the Prophet was not yet entirely sure what these inscriptions said. Chandler agreed to Smith's terms, and the Church raised money and purchased the lot, gaining ownership of the finds. As the Prophet continued translating, he was ecstatic to learn that the inscriptions came from the hand of the Old Testament Prophet Abraham. The resultant manuscript was published as a serial in the Church's magazine at the time, Times and Seasons, in 1842, and officially canonized by the Church and included in the Pearl of Great Price in 1880

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Defending Mormonism Means Defending Others

We all have our own beliefs. That's a self-evident fact of life. It's one of the most beautiful examples of free will, or "agency", that two different people can observe the same things and draw different conclusions. While inherently, not every conclusion can be correct, it's still wonderful that we are allowed to draw them. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("Mormonism"), I cherish this sacred right every day. Like a person of any viewpoint, there are naturally people who hold the opposite viewpoints of myself, and some (not all) of them mock me for it. While a good number of people are willing to talk civilly about it, should the matter come up, a small but loud faction of them can get downright hurtful sometimes. While I understand their points, that paradigms I have accepted are not compatible with their way of thinking, I still cringe a little whenever these discussions cross the line. I am equally disturbed when I see others in the same (or worse) situations.

It's a big, big world out there, full to the brim with people, over 7 billion of them in fact. Odds are that a great deal of those people don't share the same views and opinions as me. Can that be frustrating? Oh yeah! Borderline infuriating on occasion? You bet! But the way I see it, these people are all practicing their own agency, just like myself. They are obviously making different decisions with it, but its the same beautiful principle at work in my own life. When we cross paths, we can both exercise agency by sharing ideas, and maybe even convince each other to different viewpoints. This is wonderful; the movement of ideas is a vital part of keeping culture from stagnating.

I've come to learn that, even though I might disagree with another person's beliefs on a fundamental level, I still owe that person respect. I'm not perfect, and I'm not trying to pat myself on the back, but I've had a realization: What kind of man would I be if I told someone to stop undermining Mormonism, but then turned around and said, "Ew, X religion is so weird! Those people are crazy!" I would be a hypocrite! That's why, when discussing religion, I now try to avoid broad generalizations, statements calculated to draw on my sense of fear, and pretty much any criticisms made about a religion on the internet (unless it was written by that church itself).

As fellow human beings, its imperative that we learn to love one another. It's a perfectly sound argument that others might be wrong in their assumptions, or misguided in their beliefs. It's perfectly fine to change one's assumptions or beliefs, or to reasonably convince another to do so. But a person should never be viewed as inferior because of their faith.

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History of Mormonism: Lifestyle of the Pioneers

Early on in the history of Mormonism, a group of people known as the pioneers sacrificed everything. They gave up their property, their comfort, and their way of life in order to head westward in search of a new life, and more tolerant conditions to practice their religious beliefs. But what was the average day like for one of these intrepid go-getters?
Dress
The men generally wore pants made from duck, if not denim. Shirts were also fashioned from denim, and shoes usually took the form of moccasins.
The women would handcraft their own calico dresses, with long sleeves and high necklines. Due to scarcity of materials, and for the sake of efficiency, they usually only wore two dresses a year while on the trail. Women would also typically wear a sunbonnet, which to modern eyes looks as though it would be unbearable to wear in the heat, but was actually a great way to fight the heat. The material of the bonnet would shield a woman's head from the sunlight, but was also quite breathable, allowing for a breeze to help cool off.
Travel
Most of the pioneers pulled handcarts across the plains and the rocky mountains, though some advance scouts would pave the way on horses to check for potential hazards. These two-wheeled carts were moved by simply pulling a yoke-like bar at the front and others pushing on the back. Since they moved completely on human power, the pioneers had to pack only the essentials. Some attempted to lug large possessions like pianos or armoires across the plains, but quickly learned after a short distance that it was not practical. One account tells of a family who actually left their family piano in Iowa, burying it deep in the ground, wrapped tightly in animal skins. A later group uncovered it and brought it to Salt Lake City when it was easier to do so.
The pioneers would travel in large convoys of wagons, called "wagon trains". On a good day, a wagon train would likely travel 10-15 miles, though in inclement weather, or other bad conditions, they could only travel a mile or two. As a rule, they did not travel on Sundays, in an effort to keep the Sabbath. On Sundays they would hold worship services and praise God.
Food
Most of what the pioneers ate was rather simple fare. They brought with them some rations of cornmeal and other staple crops, though these did not always last the whole trip. They would often make due with what they were able to hunt, trap, or gather from the land.
Entertainment
The pioneers got very creative with their entertainment. Some of the ways children would play were quite simple. Many would chase frogs or play with simple toys, like a hoop and stick. They also devised many games to pass the time, ranging from wrestling, tag, "hide-the-thimble", and even spelling bees. The travelers enjoyed making crafts, whittling, knitting, and the like.

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Timeline of Mormon History

Since the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830, members of the LDS Church have seen and participated in a rich and ever-growing history. From its early days to its most recent hours, the events surrounding Mormonism are most certainly grand. In chronological order, here is a timeline of major events in the history of Mormonism.

December 23, 1805- Joseph Smith Jr. is born in Sharon, Vermont.

Spring 1820- Joseph Smith Jr. is visited by God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

September 21, 1823- The Angel Moroni appears to Joseph Smith Jr. and informs him of the Golden Plates.

September 22, 1827- Joseph Smith Jr. obtains the Golden Plates from the Hill Cumorah.

May 15, 1829- Joseph Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery are given the Aaronic Priesthood by John the Baptist.

May-June 1829- Josehp Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery are give the Melchizedek Priesthood by Peter, James, and John.

June 1829- Translation of the Golden Plates into what would become the Book of Mormon is finished.

March 26, 1830- The Book of Mormon is officially published by E. B. Grandin's Bookstore in Palmyra, New York.

April 6, 1830- The Church is officially founded.

December 1830- The Church gathers in Ohio.

June 1831- Church members begin to gather in Jackson County Missouri.

February 27, 1833- The Word of Wisdom is introduced.

July 23, 1833- Cornerstone is laid on the Kirland, Ohio Temple.

October 27, 1838- Due to mounting tensions between Mormons and disgruntled neighbors, Governor Lilburn Boggs of Missouri orders an "Extermination Order" on the Mormons. Though long forgotten and obviously not in effect any time in the 20th Century, the order was rediscovered in the records and officially rescinded in 1976.

October 30, 1838- Saints are attacked by an angry mob at Haun's Mill, Missouri.

April 6, 1841- The Nauvoo, Illinois Temple is completed.

June 27, 1844- Joseph Smith Jr. and brother Hyrum Smith are martyred by an angry mob.

July 24, 1847- Under the direction of Brigham Young, the first Mormons enter the Salt Lake Valley, settling what is now the state of Utah.

December 27, 1847- Brigham Young officially named Prophet of the Church.

April 6, 1853- Construction begins on the Salt Lake Temple.

September 1890- The Church issues a moratorium on the practice of polygamy.

April 6, 1893- Construction on the Salt Lake Temple is finished.

1913- The Church supports the Boy Scouts of America program. The program becomes the official activity of the Church's young men.

1918-1938- LDS Seminary buildings begin to be built adjacent to many public high schools in Utah.

Late 1940's- The Church sends relief supplies to Europe at the end of World War II.
January 1971- The Church's official magazines are retooled, giving rise to the publication of the Ensign, the New Era, and the Friend.

1978- All worthy men are allowed to receive the priesthood.

February 7, 1993- A man named Cody Judy threatened Howard W. Hunter and an audience of 15,000-17,000 at a Fireside with a suitcase he claimed held an explosive. He threatened to detonate it unless Hunter would read a paper supposedly declaring Judy the new President of the Church. Howard W. Hunter refused, and Judy was detained by security.

Spring 2000- Construction of the LDS Conference Center is completed, and the building becomes the main meeting place for General Church meetings. Biannually, the General Conference of the Church is held in and broadcast from this engineering marvel.

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For more church timelines, check out this series about the Latter-day prophets.

Mormonism and the Sacrament

The Sacrament is a key element of worship practiced in Mormonism. Each Sunday, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will eat a small piece of bread, and drink a sip of water in a manner similar, yet not identical, to the "Communion" or "Eucharist" rites practiced by many other Christian faiths. What is the significance of this ceremony, and why do Mormons do it every week?

How the Sacrament is Performed
The LDS Church generally holds Sunday meetings in a three-hour block. The Sacrament most often takes place during a special one-hour meeting known informally as "Sacrament Meeting". The other two hours are set aside for Sunday School classes. Each Sunday in before the Sacrament Meeting, the men of the congregation who hold the Priesthood will break bread into bite-size pieces and place them on handled trays. They will then fill up many thimble-sized cups with water and place these also on handled trays. These trays are then covered with a white cloth on a table until it is time for the Sacrament. When the time comes, one Priesthood holder will uncover the bread and bless it. Other men will then take the trays and pass them around to the whole congregation. When the trays are returned, they are recovered with the cloth and the water is then uncovered. The water is blessed and passed to the congregation in a similar manner. The trays are returned and both the bread and water are recovered.

Why water instead of wine?

The early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actually did use wine to signify the blood of Christ in the Sacrament. So why the change? In 1833, Joseph Smith received a revelation known as the "Word of Wisdom". The Word of Wisdom details how members can be freed from addiction and habit by obeying a simple health code. This is the reason that Mormons are asked to not smoke, drink coffee or tea, drink alcohol, or partake of any addictive substance or activity. For many years however, when the Word of Wisdom was introduced, it was seen more as a guideline than a rule, and many members partook every now and then anyway, and wine was still used in the Sacrament. The Saints were cautioned  not to by alcohol from their enemies however, to avoid the threat of poisoning. This was remedied for a while by the Church producing its own wine. Over time, the Word of Wisdom became more emphasized, and review of the scripture Doctrine and Covenants 27:2 ("It mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins.") prompted the substitution of water in the ordinance of the Sacrament, becoming the standard in 1912.

What does it all mean? Purposes and Origins of the Sacrament
The night before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ met with His disciples in the upper room for what was known as "The Last Supper". It was at this time that Christ instituted a very sacred tradition. Breaking some bread, He passed it around to each of His disciples and told them to eat in remembrance of His body. He then passed wine to His disciples, telling them to drink in remembrance of His blood which would later be shed on their behalf.
After this, the Savior went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He offered a prayer to God, His Father. In the Garden, Christ suffered immensely, experiencing the weight of every sin, every pain, every illness, and every affliction that mankind had ever, did ever, and would ever experience. The pain caused Him to bleed from every pore. He was then betrayed, beaten, wrongly sentenced, and crucified by a mob of wicked angry men. This great sacrifice which the Lord Jesus performed on our behalf is known as the "Atonement". He did so that He might more fully understand our pain, and that He could cleanse us of our sins if we repent and use the Atonement in our lives. We activate the Atonement by following the model laid down by Jesus Christ  in the Last Supper.
If you'll notice, the events of the Last Supper are similar in many ways to the Mormon Sacrament.
Baptism in the LDS Church serves multiple purposes. One of these purposes is gain membership into the Church, signifying the convert's willingness to emulate Christ. Baptism also serves to wash clean the sins of the penitent. But everyone sins. When a person makes a mistake after baptism, it is necessary to renew the covenants they made with the Lord at baptism. This is done by sincerely repenting of the mistakes that we make, and activating the power of the Atonement in our lives once more through the sacrament. In the Sacrament, as well as in baptism, we acknowledge the Savior and the sacrifices He made for us. We humble ourselves to the point of understanding our total dependence on the power of Jesus Christ, and our personal duty to obey His commandments.

For other sacred ordinances of the Mormon Church, read here about the temple and its importance.

History of Mormonism: Latter-day Prophets, Part IV (final)

The history of Mormonism is a unique and interesting one, and one that has been touched by the hands of many amazing men and women. Since the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially organized in 1830, there has been a total sixteen Prophets who have led the Church. Below is a the fourth and final installment of a chronology of these great men, along with a brief bio and some major accomplishments they made during their ministry as President of the Church.

13. Ezra Taft Benson Growing up as the oldest of 11 children, Ezra Taft Benson learned at a young age how to be a good leader, and the value of hard work from chores on the family farm. In his youth and adulthood he was very involved with his family and community. He was also involved with his nation, serving as Secretary of Agriculture during both of Dwight D. Eisenhower's terms. During his service as Prophet of the Church, President Benson urged the members to renew their vigor in the Book of Mormon, reiterating and emphasizing its importance as the "keystone of the church." Any Mormons who were alive to experience his 1989 address to the Church in General Conference on the subject of "pride" were surely blessed. It has become an iconic speech, a moment in his ministry that many Church members remember him for to this day.

14. Howard W. Hunter Hunter was a man of many talents and played several musical instruments, including the piano, drums, violin, clarinet, and others. As a young man, he formed a band called "Hunter's Croonaders", and the group performed at local events and even booked a gig on an Asian cruise line. Though his professional career eventually settled on law, he held various jobs over the course of his life, among them were bridge painter, and laundry detergent salesman. President Hunter is notable for having shortest run as Prophet in the history of the Church, dying only nine months after being ordained in June 1994. A famous event in the life of president Hunter occurred just a couple years before he became the Prophet of the Church. In February 1993, when Hunter was still an apostle, he was delivering a speech to a group of young single adults at Brigham Young University. As he was preparing for his talk, a man named Cody Judy walked up to Hunter with a briefcase, which he said contained a bomb. Judy ordered Hunter to read a three page paper he had written, declaring Judy the President of the Church. Hunter outright refused. At that moment, the audience spontaneously started singing "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet", a famous Mormon him. During the song, a few men from the congregation and campus security overpowered Judy and detained him. Hunter then got up and calmly delivered his speech, as if nothing had happened.

15. Gordon B. Hinckley President Hinckley was known by the Church as well as by many others as a spiritual giant and a wonderful leader. As President, he oversaw some major increases for the Church. His presidency saw the building of 77 new temples throughout the world bringing the number from 47 when he started to 124 when he died early 2008. The Church also grew significantly in membership under President Hinckley. By the time of his death it was calculated that a third of the Church's membership had joined while he was the Prophet.

16. Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson is the current President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, being ordained to the post after the death of President Hinckley in 2008. Throughout the course of his life he has had a great focus on charity, doing whatever is necessary to help his fellow man. As a boy in the heat of the Great Depression, a friend of his let him know that his family had nothing to eat but cold cereal for their Christmas dinner. In a display of sacrifice and kindness beyond his years, he gladly gave his friend his pet rabbit, so that they would have something eat. As a young man, he became the bishop of a Salt Lake City ward of approximately 1000 members. Eighty-five of these members were widows, and as their bishop, Monson visited each one regularly, bringing them wonderful home-cooked meals and good company. Even after he was released as bishop, he kept in contact with these women, and continued to visit them and bring them happiness. As the years went on, he would speak at each and every one of their funerals. As Prophet, he continually reminds the Mormons to strive to generous and charitable to their fellow man, and to "come to the rescue" of anyone in need.
  If you want to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can click here to chat live with real Mormon missionaries.

Other parts of this series:
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV

History of Mormonism- Latter-day Prophets, Part III

The history of Mormonism is a long and storied one, and one that has been moved forward and guided by the hands of many amazing men and women. Since the inception of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830, all told, there have been sixteen Prophets who have led the Church. Below is a handy list of each of these great men, along with a brief bio and some major accomplishments they made during their ministry as President of the Church.

9. David O. McKay Throughout his life, David O. McKay was devoted to education. When his grandmother died, she bequeathed $5000 to his mother, with the explicit instructions that it be used solely for the education of David and his brother. These funds got David through his time at the University of Utah, where he graduated as valedictorian and class president. In his professional career, McKay performed as an educator at both the high school and college levels, eventually becoming the principal of what would become Weber State University. At the age of 32, McKay was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. As an apostle, McKay's passion for education did not wane, He became the superintendent of the Church's Sunday school. In this capacity, he spearheaded the establishment of LDS seminaries being built near many high schools in Utah, allowing Mormon high school students in the state the option to take a religion class in conjunction with their academic classes. During President McKay's ministry as Prophet the membership of the LDS Church nearly tripled, jumping from 1.1 million in 1951 to 2.8 million when he died in 1970. Being a general authority for almost 64 years, David O. McKay served in this capacity longer than anyone else besides Eldred G. Smith.

10. Joseph Fielding Smith Joseph Fielding Smith was the son of Joseph F. Smith, the sixth President of the Church. He also served as apostle longer than anyone else in Church history, spanning from 1910 to 1972. Though his ministry as Prophet was markedly short (two and half years), he got a lot done in that short amount of time. Among his accomplishments were the restructuring of the Church Sunday School system and the Church Department of Social Services. President Smith also retooled the Church's official magazines, introducing the Ensign (for adults), the New Era (for teens), and the Friend (for Children). He oversaw a constant growth in the number of missionaries serving.

11. Harold B. Lee As a child, Lee was a bit accident prone, but his life was saved on a handful of occasions by his mother. At age eight, he accidentally spilled lye all over himself, and his mother poured vinegar on him to neutralize the dangerous chemicals. Later as a teen, Lee punctured an artery on a broken bottle, which was cleaned, but became severely infected. His mother, once again thinking fast, burned a wool sock and rubbed the ashes in Harold's open wound which over time, fixed the problem. Lee helped spearhead the standardization of Sunday School curriculum, meaning that on any given week, Mormons across the world are learning the same principles and lessons regardless of which ward or stake they are in. President Harold B. Lee had one of the shortest ministries as the President of the Church, having been ordained in July 1972, and dying just a year and a half later in December 1973 from a sudden pulmonary embolism.

12. Spencer W. Kimball Spencer W. Kimball was very shocked to receive a call to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1943. He felt so inadequate for the job, that he asked J. Reuben Clark, who had informed him of the matter, if he could pray about it for a few days. Kimball took to praying and fasting heavily about the matter, and obtained peace about the matter when dreamed about the life of his grandfather, Heber C. Kimball. Spencer W. Kimball says that in that moment his doubts were washed away, and that "I felt nearer [to] my Lord than ever at any time in my life." As Prophet, President Kimball continually implored members to "lengthen their stride", and saw a growth in the building of Temples at a faster pace than in any time previous in the history of Mormonism.

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Other Parts of this Series:
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV