[Teachldsseminary] TEACH: Using Water for Baptism

Mon Jan 8 23:42:37 MST 2007

B.H. Roberts
This prediction concerning the destruction upon the waters, and more especially upon the waters upon which these men were then traveling, was uttered seventy-two years ago, and from time to time there has been great destruction wrought by the Missouri and its tributaries; but more especially in the events of the present year of 1903 has the truth of this remarkable prediction of the ?Mormon? prophet and the vision of Elder W. W. Phelps been vindicated. For weeks, during the last days of May and the early days of June, the press of the country teemed with reports of the destruction wrought in the localities especially referred to in the prediction just quoted. High water trouble began on the Lower Mississippi as early as the month of March?A few weeks later, points in Kansas and Missouri became the flooded region, and the disasters are thus described by an eastern journal:

The floods that wrought so much havoc along the Kansas and Missouri rivers have now subsided, so that their direful results can be calmly calculated by the authorities of the many cities and towns relieved from the awful strain of the three days of death and devastation.

Minds unclouded by the fear of pending disaster look upon wretched homes and hopes, fearful loss of life, blotting out of families, irreparable wrenching apart of parents and children, brother and sister, sweetheart and betrothed, and finally, upon the terrible commercial loss that is represented in figures that climb close to the quarter of a billion mark.

Kansas City and Topeka suffered the most serious losses in lives and property, although all along the course of the Kansas, or, as it is locally called, the Kaw river, the damage was great, and in many of the riverside towns there was a loss of life from the sudden encroachment of the angry waters.

The physical conditions against which the submerged cities had to battle during the height of the flood are thus briefly summarized:

Train service annulled.
Waterworks shut down.
Street cars stopped.
Fire companies paralyzed.
Electric light plants out of business.
Not a manufacturing plant in operation.
Wholesale mercantile district submerged under fifteen feet of water.
Water rushing through streets like mill races.
Fires breaking out in spots in the flooded district.

Kansas City, Kan., and the nearby towns, suffered most. The towns of Armourdale, Argentine and Harlem have been completely wiped off the map, and are now lying submerged by the widening river. No living human being remains in the unfortunate towns.

Kansas City, Kan., was cut off for three days from communication with the outside world except by trolley to Leavenworth, from which point relief was rushed to the stricken city. The population of 20,000 was starving, and fought like wild beasts for the 100,000 rations that were hurried to them from the fort.

?Families caught by the floods in their homes fled to the roofs of houses and cried for help. Their destitute situation was apparent from the highlands, but there was no way to reach them? Some daring rescues were made, but hundreds were perforce left to the. mercy of the flood. Men and women could be seen clinging to the roofs of houses until hunger and exhaustion drove them into frenzy, when one by one they slipped off into the raging flood, which whirled away their bodies to cast them up on the shores below.? (The Fulfilment of a Prophecy., Improvement Era, 1903, Vol. Vi. August, 1903. No. 10)

On Monday, January 08, 2007, at 10:22PM, "Brien Hamrick" <ttloflib at san.rr.com> wrote:
>Also there is an often overlooked meaning of "waters" in these verses
>meaning the rivers, seas, and oceans.
>
>Also 61: 5 For I, the Lord, have decreed in mine anger many destructions
>upon the waters; yea, and especially upon these waters. 
>
>Notice the part about "especially upon these waters" is being specific about
>the Missouri and Mississippi rivers that they were using to travel about. 
>
>Brien Hamrick
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: teachldsseminary-bounces at latter-dayvillage.com
>[mailto:teachldsseminary-bounces at latter-dayvillage.com] On Behalf Of
>sjagnana at mac.com
>Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 10:54 AM
>To: terisab56 at yahoo.com; Free Email list for LDS Seminary Teachers
>Subject: Re: [Teachldsseminary] TEACH: Using Water for Baptism
>
>I don't think the Lord is concerned with using water to baptize at all.
>k
>
>
>DC 61:17 I, the Lord, in the beginning cursed the land
>
>Joseph Fielding Smith
>In the beginning the Lord blessed the waters and cursed the land, but  
>in these last days this was reversed, the land was to be blessed and  
>the waters to be cursed. A little reflection will bear witness to the  
>truth of this declaration. In the early millenniums of this earth's  
>history, men did not understand the composition of the soils, and how  
>they needed building up when crops were taken from them. The  
>facilities at the command of the people were primitive and limited,  
>acreage under cultivation was limited, famines were prevalent and the  
>luxuries which we have today were not obtainable. Some one may rise  
>up and say that the soil in those days was just as productive as now,  
>and this may be the case. It is not a matter of dispute, but the  
>manner of cultivation did not lend itself to the abundant production  
>which we are receiving today. It matters not what the causes were, in  
>those early days of world history, there could not be the production,  
>nor the varieties of fruits coming from the earth and the Lord can  
>very properly speak of this as a curse, or the lack of blessing, upon  
>the land. (Church History and Modern Revelation, 4 vols. [Salt Lake  
>City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1946-1949], 1:  
>206 - 207.)
>
>DC 61:19 the destroyer rideth upon the face thereof
>
>Joseph Fielding Smith
>These brethren while encamped at McIlwaine's Bend on the Missouri,  
>beheld the power of the destroyer as he rode upon the storm. One of  
>that number saw him in all his fearful majesty, and the Lord revealed  
>to the entire group something of the power of this evil personage. It  
>may seem strange to us, but it is the fact that Satan exercises  
>dominion and has some control over the elements . . . Paul speaks of  
>Satan as the "prince of the power of the air." (Eph.2:2) The Lord  
>revealed to these brethren some of the power of the adversary of  
>mankind and how he rides upon the storm, as a means of affording them  
>protection. They were commanded to use judgment as they traveled upon  
>these waters, and the saints coming to Zion were instructed to travel  
>by land on their way up to Zion. Moreover, notwithstanding the great  
>power of Satan upon the waters, the Lord still held command and he  
>could protect his people whether on land or by water as they  
>journeyed. (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:207)
>
>DC 61:20 I, the Lord, was angry with you yesterday, but today mine  
>anger is turned away
>
>B. H. Roberts
>During the three days upon the river some disagreements and ill  
>feeling had developed among the brethren and explanations and  
>reconciliations had become necessary; it had also been discovered  
>that progress on their journey by the river in canoes was slow, and  
>hence it became necessary for those who had been appointed to  
>purchase the printing press, Sidney Gilbert and William W. Phelps;  
>and the Prophet, Sidney Rigdon, and Oliver Cowdery, who had been  
>commanded to hasten their return to Kirtland, found it imperative to  
>find a more expeditious means of travel than by the canoes. The  
>greater part of the night at McIlwaine's Bend was devoted to these  
>matters. The brethren became reconciled to each other, and those  
>whose affairs more especially cried haste started overland the next  
>morning for St. Louis, and the rest of the company continued the  
>journey via the river. (A Comprehensive History of The Church of  
>Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret  
>News Press, 1930], 1: 262 - 263.)
>
>DC 61:22 it mattereth not unto me, after a little.whether they go by  
>water or by land
>
>"As the language here clearly illustrates, Doctrine and Covenants 61  
>must not be understood as a strict prohibition against travel by  
>water. The elders had become vulnerable to Satan's power over the  
>waters only because of their murmuring, hard feelings, and lack of  
>faith. Now that they had repented they were no longer vulnerable and  
>could travel by water if necessary, as long as their missionary  
>responsibilities were not neglected." (Stephen E. Robinson, H. Dean  
>Garrett, A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants, [Salt Lake City:  
>Deseret Book Co., 2001] 2:180)
>
>DC 61:23 the canal
>
>"The Ohio canal, running north and south about thirty miles west of  
>Kirtland, connected Lake Erie with Columbus, Ohio, and the Ohio  
>River." (Stephen E. Robinson, H. Dean Garrett, A Commentary on the  
>Doctrine and Covenants, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 2001] 2:180)
>
>DC 61:27-28 power to command the waters
>
>Power over the elements and the spirit of discernment, or the power  
>"by the Spirit to know all" Satan's ways are both available through  
>the Melchizedek Priesthood, "For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto  
>his seed with an oath by himself; that every one being ordained after  
>this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break  
>mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of  
>their course." (JST Gen 15:30)  Had it been necessary, Joseph Smith  
>could have dispensed with the destroyer binding him so that water  
>travel was completely safe, but instead the Lord's intent was to  
>instruct the brethren to be careful of Satan's traps and that they  
>"might bear record" (v. 4) of destructions to come.
>
>Bruce R. McConkie
>Moses stretched forth his rod and the waters of the Red Sea parted.  
>Whatever turbulence throbbed through their restless waves ceased at  
>his word; the laws of gravity ceased to triumph and the very waters  
>congealed, forming a wall on the right hand and on the left, between  
>which the chosen seed then trod on dry ground. Enoch moved mountains  
>and changed rivers from their courses. Elijah and Elisha smote the  
>waters of Jordan with a holy mantle, and they divided hither and  
>thither, leaving dry ground for their path. Unto the servants of the  
>Lord "is given power to command the waters." ("D&C61:27D&C 61:27.)  
>(The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary, 4 vols. [Salt Lake  
>City: Deseret Book Co., 1979-1981], 2: 277.)
>
>
>On Jan 8, 2007, at 10:31 AM, terisa wrote:
>
>A student from the Jr/Sr Seminary class asked her teacher this  
>morning the question of why if Satan has power over the water, water  
>is used for baptism? If someone has an answer I will forward to the  
>teacher.
>   Thanks...
>   Terisa in Wyoming
>   EMS
>   (20 Awesome Freshmen and Sophomores!)
>
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