Scriptural analysis – Data Bureau

In the original plat, the buildings numbered 16, 17 and 18 are entitled “House of the Lord for the Teachers of Zion, Messenger to the Church.” The teachers re expected to be messengers to the church, in which position they are therefore expected to provide it with the information required to advise, guide and guard the community. As teachers, the three buildings are to ensure that the effects of misinformation – conflict, backbiting, fraud and other ills do not affect the community.

In this section, the scriptural references for the roles described in the plat are analyzed, as well as why the three agencies in the bureau –Accounting, Data & Publishing, and QHSE are included here.

As with all the other agencies, the influence of Early Modern English on the language used to describe these buildings in the plat cannot be overestimated. This paper includes a scriptural analysis of the role of teachers in the Old and New Testament, as well as other LDS scripture. At the same time, the influence of language on the meaning of teachers will be briefly examined, later forming the basis of analysis on the roles of the three institutions in the community. The verb “teach” comes from Old English Old English “tǣcan”, which meant show, present, or point out. Teaching refers to the imparting of knowledge, as well as guiding, showing and bringing to the attention of. The term “teacher” may not appear in all instances where these roles are included.

Scriptural References

Besides his role as a leader of the Israelites, Moses was a teacher, who constantly informed the people of God’s will and statutes, and urged them to follow them. In Deuteronomy 4:1, Moses says, “Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you.” It is only through the sharing such information that the community was to succeed, both through the generations, and in comparison to neighbors. Deuteronomy 4: 6 highlights this, “Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

Disregarding the instruction of teachers is dangerous, as Proverbs notes. Their duty is to instruct, and Solomon regrets not being able to listen to their advice in Proverbs 5:12-13, “And say, how I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!” The people of Israel suffer greatly for going against God’s law. Among them are the teachers elected by God to instruct the people. Isaiah 43:27-28 “thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me. Therefore, I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.”

In the New Testament, the definition of a teacher does not significantly change. However, the term rabbi refers to “teacher” and is often given to Jesus, for instance in the Gospel of John, 3:2. St Paul describes himself as a teacher of the Gentiles. This is because he is the one appointed by God to present the faith to them, proclaiming in 2 Timothy 1:10-11 that, “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

Jesus’ evangelical mission was also described as teaching, as stated in Mathew 9:35-36, “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, preaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” This verse helps explain that the teacher also has a duty of care towards the people, a role that is played through each of the three institutions.

Teachers’ counsel and other roles make the people better and stronger, and therefore better able to respond to the things that face them. This is aptly captured in St Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews 5:12: For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. This theme is continued in the Book of Mormon, notably in 2 Nephi 9:48, where the teacher is seen as a defender of the community, and its counsel. “Behold, if ye were holy I would speak unto you of holiness; but as ye are not holy, and ye look upon me as a teacher, it must needs be expedient that I teach you the consequences of sin.”

Alma is a possessor of information, who shares it with the people as he is baptized, and organizes the Church of Christ. Mosiah 18:1-2 highlights this, saying, “And now, it came to pass that Alma, who had fled from the servants of king Noah, repented of his sins and iniquities, and went about privately among the people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi—Yea, concerning that which was to come, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and the redemption of the people, which was to be brought to pass through the power, and sufferings, and death of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven.”

Doctrines and Covenants has several relevant references to the role of teachers in the community. D&C 20:53 describes the roles a teacher plays in the community,” The teacher’s duty is to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them.” The teachers have no recruiting authority in the form of baptizing new members into the community, but they are to “They are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ” (20:59). D&C 20:54-57 describes the roles further, as well as the consequences of these roles, “And see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking; And see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty.” Alongside the elders and the priests, the teachers are to “…teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel.”

The teacher is a “Messenger to the Church.” Among other instances, the messenger is sent to bring people back into the fold, as seen in Isaiah 42:19-21 “Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant?”