Twenty
years ago, when I was trying to become an LDS seminary teacher, I did some
student teaching, and also some part-time teaching for a few months (till I got
cut). I remember that on one occasion, I asked a class of 35 ninth graders if
they had ever heard of someone named Bruce R. McConkie. This was in Bountiful,
Utah, in the heart of Mormondom. Not one hand went up. He had only been gone
for a little over a decade by then, yet the rising generation was unaware of
him.
That was
one of many reasons I decided to write a book about him: Bruce
R. McConkie: Highlights from His Life & Teachings, issued in 2000 and
in 2nd edition in 2010. I wanted to help preserve memory of him and his
doctrinal insights. I think I helped do that in some small way. As 2 more
decades have passed, I find that few under the age of 50 remember him, and I continue
to feel a desire to keep memory of him alive, and also that of other apostolic spiritual
giants of his generation. Hence, I have now prepared a 300 page work, I Know He Lives: How 13 Apostles came to
know Jesus Christ (published by Cedar Fort), slated to be available in
mid-September. Among other things, the chapters therein review 13 testimonies
of now deceased apostles, with especial and pointed focus on their special
witness of the resurrected Christ. Elder McConkie’s chapter is the longest of
them, the main reason being because I know the most about him of any of the
others and because I have assembled the most precious source material.
Many of the
older generation remember his
final testimony given in General Conference in April of 1985. Those
spiritually historic words have been quoted and requoted by church members who
felt the Holy Spirit witness to them of their truth, in power, at the time they
were uttered. And Elder McConkie was dead 3 weeks later. It is true that Elder
McConkie’s voice cracked with emotion as he bore that final witness, but that
is not the reason they were powerful—anyone can speak emotionally and say most
anything. It was because they were perhaps the best wording that can be
harnessed from the English language to convey his meaning and were conveyed and
enveloped by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Having
referred to that supernal talk, which left the faithful with no doubt as to
Elder McConkie’s witness, we often do not realize or remember that he bore a
similarly powerful testimony in his
first talk as an Apostle. On that occasion his voice also cracked with
emotion and he also bore his witness by the power of the Holy Ghost. At that
time he said that he had heard the voice of the Lord and that he had a perfect
knowledge that God lived. “I know there is revelation in the Church because I
have received revelation,” he said. “I know God speaks in this day because he
has spoken to me.” It is no small thing to have the Lord Jesus Christ speak
directly to you, and tell you what He would have you do, and what lies in your
future. Elder McConkie did not indicate in this talk whether there was a veil
between himself and Jesus or not, on these sacred occasions.
In fact, Elder McConkie had given
more than one powerful talk in the months prior to his apostolic ordination, in
which the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the congregation, preparing the
hearts and minds of the members of the Church to accept and sustain his call as
a special witness.
In his last
talk as a member of the First Council of the Seventy, Elder McConkie said:
“I asked the Lord what he would have me say on this occasion and received the
distinct and affirmative impression that I should bear testimony that Jesus
Christ is the Son of the living God and that he was crucified for the sins of
the world.” And then, “I know by personal revelation from the Holy Spirit to my
soul that Jesus is the Lord.”
In his
first talk to begin his apostolic ministry, in October of 1972, he
explained a gift of the Spirit that he possessed, and its overwhelming effect
upon him: “This gift is elsewhere described as the testimony of Jesus, which is
the spirit of prophecy. This is my gift. I know this work is true. I have a
perfect knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he
was crucified for the sins of the world.”
Earlier,
Elder McConkie had spoken at his father-in-law’s funeral (President Joseph
Fielding Smith), also in great power. He later told family members that he had
seen President Joseph F. Smith in attendance there at the funeral of his son,
thereby manifesting keen interest in his family. As a Seventy, Elder McConkie
had heard these words, spoken into his mind by the Holy Spirit on the occasion
of the sustaining of the First Presidency, and giving him exacting assurance of
whom to line up behind as his leaders and guides: “These are they whom I have
chosen as the First Presidency of my Church. Follow them.” This Elder McConkie
did, with complete faith and fidelity. He, along with others, made some
mistakes in his ministry and in his doctrinal presentations (though I believe
those were few and far between), and he was no diplomat. (His doctrinal
corrections to others could be stinging, though meant for the best of the
recipient.) But he became a pillar of spiritual and doctrinal strength in the
Church and one of the greatest of the Special Witnesses.
It was said
that Elder McConkie’s influence reached well beyond that of most apostles
simply because of his scholarly-doctrinal output; many volumes of scriptural
explanation that have engendered faith and spiritual knowledge in those who
have been wise enough to read them. There are also those who foolishly desire
to diminish his influence any way they can. They have enjoyed some success in
some quarters, but among the faithful they have had little impact. As a certain
General Authority once told me: “Doctrine lasts, and Elder McConkie knew it.”
His books may not remain in hardcopy print on bookshelves, but they are
availaibe in ebook form or olsewhere (such as Gospelink), and are yet teaching
and inspiriting their readers.
Anyone
wanting to know what Elder McConkie knew of the future should read his The Millennial Messiah book, or study
his prophecies in his conference talks (for example, see here
and especially here).
I remember hearing one of the current
apostles mention that they sometimes heard President Packer read from Elder
McConkie’s prophecies in their temple meetings, and review how they were being
fulfilled.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, even into
the early 2000s, when I tried to get from the Church Historical Depaertment (as
it was then called) a videotape or DVD copy of Elder McConkie’s final
testimony, given at that great April 1985 General Conference, I was told that
the First Presidency had restricted copies of his talk from being made. On
asking why, I was told they (the employees working there) didn’t know why, just
that the restriction was in place. I was left to come to my own conclusions,
that perhaps they thought his special declaration too sacred. Such is only my
speculation. However, with the passage of enough time, that restriction has
been lifted and the talk
is now available at the click of a mouse, to enjoy and be edified by.
On that sublime but physically and
mentally strenuous occasion for him, he testified:
And now, as
pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of
God—I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as
pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and
was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King.
This I know of myself independent of any other person.
I am one of his
witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in
his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears.
But I shall not
know any better then than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is
our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning
blood and in no other way.
Amen and
well said.
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