Rod of Aaron

Alright... Anyone know of the Rod of Aaron???



I read D&C 8 of the 1830's edition for the B of M, and it's different from our modern edition. This chapter talks to Oliver Cowdery and a divine power that he can use, according to his faith. Using what's called the Rod of Aaron. He could use a rod, ask God questions, and God will answer through the rod. Apparently Joseph Smith used this to help translate the B of M at times.



Modern scripture changed the wording from "Rod of Aaron" to "gift of Aaron"



Anyone know anything of this, or know where to find out more info on the matter???

Thanks!



I know a person who claims they can do it. Even though he says he's very skeptical about it.



I'm trying to know more about it, cause I am very skeptical about it.



Did you just find this article OR have you any knowledge about this topic?

Stay away from that person.

Ha... Tell me about it.



So tell me this... Is Satan capable of knowing our thoughts? Of course he knows our actions, but does he know our thoughts?



Plus I heard through another grapevine of a certain person in a bishopric who has a "Rod" as well. Not my bishopric, but an author who some of us might have heard of. Not going to give names though...



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BigCougsFan wrote:
Thanks!



I know a person who claims they can do it. Even though he says he's very skeptical about it.



I'm trying to know more about it, cause I am very skeptical about it.



Did you just find this article OR have you any knowledge about this topic?

I read this when it first came out.

Don't believe everything you hear.

hawkwing wrote:
Don't believe everything you hear.

I've heard not to believe everything I hear, but because I heard advice, I'm not sure if I should believe it or not ... :whistle:



Perhaps I should belive everything I hear because I shouldn't belive "don't believe everything you hear".... ;)

BigCougsFan wrote:

So tell me this... Is Satan capable of knowing our thoughts? Of course he knows our actions, but does he know our thoughts?

Nope.



D&C 6:16

Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart.

The Yankees make frequent use of A rod.

This is what I was originally talking about. The Church finally put it out there on their website. Even though it could be found through research.



http://history.lds.org/article/doctrine-and-covenants-oliver-cowdery?lang=eng" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



He did use his gift.

hawkwing wrote:
Stay away from that person.

+1. Yep.



My dad had a "Rod of Aaron." He called it "Daddy's Big Stick." He believed in it and used it liberally - regularly - consistently - with great effect. I'm a better person for it. :lol:

Yndian wrote:

So tell me this... Is Satan capable of knowing our thoughts? Of course he knows our actions, but does he know our thoughts?

Nope.



D&C 6:16

Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart.

+1. Correcto mundo.

Ddawg wrote:

BigCougsFan wrote:

So tell me this... Is Satan capable of knowing our thoughts? Of course he knows our actions, but does he know our thoughts?

Nope.



D&C 6:16

Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart.

+1. Correcto mundo.

I think it may seem like it sometimes because he's been around for a very long time, making him very clever, and he will test you and push your limits until he finds your weaknesses, faults, bad habits, favorite sins, etc. But no, definitely doesn't know exactly what you're thinking.

+1. Agreed. Look at how we can influence our friends, our spouses, and our children. We can't read their minds - but - we know them. We can speak and plant thoughts. We can watch facial expression, body language, listen to what they say and how they say it. We know if we are winning the "influence" battle most of the time.



Now, imagine Lucifer, who remembers us from the Pre-existence. We associated with him for thousands of years. Perhaps 10,000's of years. He remembers those associations and experiences while we do not. Lucifer is formidable. His ability to tempt and influence is powerful - as is evidenced throughout the world.

Someone once told me that some of the early brethren were called rodmen. I don't know much more about it. We are told in the O Testament That Aaron's rod turned into a snake and when pharaoh's wizards did the same it didn't turn out too well for them. If all things are restored in this Dispensation of the Fullness of Times then that power would be available. Good luck finding it though.

From my understanding, from Joseph's youth through the time of the BOM translation the culture in the area was very accepting of the use of physical items as a way to focus spiritual power/intent (as is consistent with the Bible, although not perhaps as common there). So Oliver's use of a rod of some sort, Joseph's use of a seer stone, etc. were an accepted, common part of faith in God. But in later years the popular culture shifted and such things were often denounced as part of the occult. Joseph and others in the church, likely recognizing this shift, shifted the focus of their accounts (like the language change here). It doesn't really matter in the end since in all cases the revelation/inspiration was never thought to come from the object itself anyway, but from God. Whether the items themselves had any intrinsic spiritual value is unclear since we don't talk much about such things in current church doctrine.

Sammich wrote:
From my understanding, from Joseph's youth through the time of the BOM translation the culture in the area was very accepting of the use of physical items as a way to focus spiritual power/intent (as is consistent with the Bible, although not perhaps as common there). So Oliver's use of a rod of some sort, Joseph's use of a seer stone, etc. were an accepted, common part of faith in God. But in later years the popular culture shifted and such things were often denounced as part of the occult. Joseph and others in the church, likely recognizing this shift, shifted the focus of their accounts (like the language change here). It doesn't really matter in the end since in all cases the revelation/inspiration was never thought to come from the object itself anyway, but from God. Whether the items themselves had any intrinsic spiritual value is unclear since we don't talk much about such things in current church doctrine.

Agreed Sammich. You have some good insights on this. There is not much on this but one way or the other I've heard of these things from time to time. When the early brethren used them they did it with prayer. Was the ball that Lehi and Nephi used bad, no. Did it work all the time, only through prayer and righteousness. That is an essential ingredient in this discussion.

nuk13 wrote:

From my understanding, from Joseph's youth through the time of the BOM translation the culture in the area was very accepting of the use of physical items as a way to focus spiritual power/intent (as is consistent with the Bible, although not perhaps as common there). So Oliver's use of a rod of some sort, Joseph's use of a seer stone, etc. were an accepted, common part of faith in God. But in later years the popular culture shifted and such things were often denounced as part of the occult. Joseph and others in the church, likely recognizing this shift, shifted the focus of their accounts (like the language change here). It doesn't really matter in the end since in all cases the revelation/inspiration was never thought to come from the object itself anyway, but from God. Whether the items themselves had any intrinsic spiritual value is unclear since we don't talk much about such things in current church doctrine.

Agreed Sammich. You have some good insights on this. There is not much on this but one way or the other I've heard of these things from time to time. When the early brethren used them they did it with prayer. Was the ball that Lehi and Nephi used bad, no. Did it work all the time, only through prayer and righteousness. That is an essential ingredient in this discussion.

This is very perceptive and important to understand. Today we often bow our head and close our eyes to pray and perhaps kneel too. Why? They help us hear God. Not that there is anything intrinsic in folding our arms. But they are today's objects perhaps to assist in communion with our Father. In times past seer stones and rods might have been that generation's folding arms and bowed heads. They were much more accepted and symbolic in communication. A seer stone is just a rock but if it helps a prophet focus and listen and reveal the will of God, then it is a tool to be used. In our family at dinner we sometimes all hold hands. Another way today to hear the still small voice....just my thoughts

BoiseBYU wrote:

Sammich wrote:
From my understanding, from Joseph's youth through the time of the BOM translation the culture in the area was very accepting of the use of physical items as a way to focus spiritual power/intent (as is consistent with the Bible, although not perhaps as common there). So Oliver's use of a rod of some sort, Joseph's use of a seer stone, etc. were an accepted, common part of faith in God. But in later years the popular culture shifted and such things were often denounced as part of the occult. Joseph and others in the church, likely recognizing this shift, shifted the focus of their accounts (like the language change here). It doesn't really matter in the end since in all cases the revelation/inspiration was never thought to come from the object itself anyway, but from God. Whether the items themselves had any intrinsic spiritual value is unclear since we don't talk much about such things in current church doctrine.

Agreed Sammich. You have some good insights on this. There is not much on this but one way or the other I've heard of these things from time to time. When the early brethren used them they did it with prayer. Was the ball that Lehi and Nephi used bad, no. Did it work all the time, only through prayer and righteousness. That is an essential ingredient in this discussion.

This is very perceptive and important to understand. Today we often bow our head and close our eyes to pray and perhaps kneel too. Why? They help us hear God. Not that there is anything intrinsic in folding our arms. But they are today's objects perhaps to assist in communion with our Father. In times past seer stones and rods might have been that generation's folding arms and bowed heads. They were much more accepted and symbolic in communication. A seer stone is just a rock but if it helps a prophet focus and listen and reveal the will of God, then it is a tool to be used. In our family at dinner we sometimes all hold hands. Another way today to hear the still small voice....just my thoughts

It is also important to note that the more in tune Joseph became with the spirit, the less he used seer stones or any other helps to receive revelation. There is a quote somewhere about that. I believe it was Martin Harris who asked him why he didn't use them anymore and he said he didn't need to--after baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood, he did not need those helps to hear and understand the spirit as much. I imagine there was some transition period, but eventually he stopped using his seer stones altogether. In fact, he gave one of them to Oliver Cowdery, and Brigham Young's brother later got it back from him. I find that fairlds.org is a good source for this kind of information.