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Show Page 40 admission into the school, Orson washed his hands and feet "as a testimony unto the Lord that I had warned this wicked generation, and that my garments were clean of their blood." In addition, members, upon entering the class, would raise their hands and repeat a salutation prescribed by the revelation now known as Doctrine and Covenants Section 88, the "Olive Leaf." This exalted document, longer and less earthbound than many of the revelations, prescribed the search for truth as the highest purpose of man. The universe in its order comprises a grand lesson, a "school" of inspiration unto accession to godhood, and Orson, with pure passion, adopted this dogma as his own. But the quorums which met in earthly counterpart to this grand school had first to cleanse themselves. In February, the council of high priests, which now included Orson, received instructions to purify themselves through abstinence from wine, strong drink,tobacco, and hot drinks. The revelation subsequently known as the "Word of Wisdom" constituted a latter-day equivalent to the Mosaic purification offering; those who remembered this commandment would be passed over by the "destroying angel." This prohibition appealed to a growing sense of exclusiveness among the Mormons, of enlightened and 27 sanctified anticipation. After this brief retreat in Kirtland, where Orson received "much good instruction" from the Prophet, he resumed his calling as missionary to the Eastern States; Lyman E. Johnson again served as his companion. On March 26, they re-joined the corps of missionaries who were then scouring the East for adherents, by June back in their old field of labor, near Bath Township on the Connecticut River. Orson Pratt's preaching was most concerned with the concept of resumed revelation from heaven and the miracles which attended the Restoration - these sermons contrasted with the fire of the Adventists and the allegorizing of the Universalists who were |
