The LDS Faith: The Modern Loss of Joy and Spirituality

In the early days of the LDS church, our gatherings were fervent and joyful.  Visions occurred regularly and healings were also common, the singing was joyful, and the Relief Society women were giving each other blessings and prophesying through the laying on of hands.  The sacrament prayer was always offered with arms upraised to heaven, and there was even speaking in tongues and it also happened at the Temple dedication in Kirtland for example.In the 1840’s had you stumbled into a gathering of Mormons in worship, you’d know that you’d discovered a religion that was alive and kicking. 
For me there's little question in my mind that today Joseph Smith wouldn't recognize the very church he founded on many levels, especially the way in which we conduct our Sunday services.  In an early post on Rock Waterman’s blog, pure Mormonism, he reprinted a short story by Samuel Taylor wherein he imagined what it would be like for Joseph Smith to attend a modern LDS meeting. 
There is such a stark contrast to the way things would’ve looked back then and the way they look now.And that’s on the surface level, what of the deeper levels?The feel of the spirit in their meetings?There is an account of an early Mormon meeting in which a man is lifted up by the spirit to the ceiling, visitations by angels occur regularly, and it is clear to me these people partook of a much more nourishing soul food that we do today.Their souls feasted on the bounty of the spirit.Today it is nothing more than a still small voice.Not “like the rushing of great waves” as Joseph Smith described his encounter with the divine.
Our Hymns are sung at half the speed they were intended for and they sound like funeral dirges because to sound joyful wouldn’t be reverent and would chase the spirit away, just ask the early Mormons who worshiped with Joseph Smith as described above.Reverence meaning to sit quietly and meditate on the spirit, which I appreciate and understand but the level to which it is emphasized now is simply ridiculous.I don’t know who came up with the modern definition of reverence but 10 bucks says it was an old guy.
I feel like I’m getting into the meat of my faith when I read Joseph Smith as a scientist or the scriptures and meditate on them and churn out a written piece on an aspect of them.But when I go to church I feel like it’s a chore, I do not feel inspired often enough.I count the minutes until I no longer have to listen to a chapel of screaming children or of listening to people who seem devoid of any real spiritual substance and instead speak more of following men, whether they be GA’s or Bishops rather than the iron rod which represents the word of God, which has enough substance to last 10 lifetimes.
In my post on the physics and metaphysics of our faith I alluded to the depth of substance to be found in Mormonism, teachings that are easily compatible with Taoism or Buddhism, others comparable to Islam and Judaism.This is virtually unknown amongst modern Mormons and we as a people haven’t just lost the joyful nature of our ancestors but also the deep, deep spirituality we once had as a people.A Spirituality and a joyful nature that are now read in dusty books, faded beyond memory even.
So what happened at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple? If the accounts of the faithful are correct, then many glorious angelic visitations occurred at the temple and were witnessed by hundred of saints. If the critics are correct then the stories are untrue- possibly fueled by the fasting and the wine that was consumed by the saints to commemorate the occasion.
Joseph Smith, Jr.
"Brother George A. Smith arose and began to prophesy, when a noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being moved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues and prophesy; others saw glorious visions; and I beheld the Temple was filled with angels, which fact I declared to the congregation. The people of the neighborhood came running together (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple), and were astonished at what was taking place."(Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932-1951), 2:428).
Oliver Cowdery
"Sunday, the 27th attended on the dedication of the Lord's house. For the particulars of this great event see my account written by myself, and printed in the March No. of The Messenger and Advocate, signed C. In the evening I met with the officers of the church in the Lord's house. The Spirit was poured out--I saw the glory of God, like a great cloud, come down and rest upon the house, and fill the same like a mighty rushing wind. I also saw cloven tongues, like as of fire rest upon many, (for there were 316 present,) while they spake with other tongues and prophesied."(Leonard J. Arrington, "Oliver Cowdery's Kirtland Ohio 'Sketch Book,'" BYU Studies, Volume 12, (Summer 1972), 426.)
Heber C. Kimball
"During the ceremonies of the dedication, an angel appeared and sat near President Joseph Smith, Sen., and Frederick G. Williams, so that they had a fair view of his person. He was a very tall personage, black eyes, white hair, and stoop shouldered; his garment was whole, extending to near his ankles; on his feet he had sandals. He was sent as a messenger to accept of the dedication...While these things were being attended to the beloved disciple John was seen in our midst by the Prophet Joseph, Oliver Cowdery and others."(Journal of Discourses, 26 vols. (London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot, 1854-1886), 9: 376.)
George A. Smith
"There were great manifestations of power, such as speaking in tongues, seeing visions, administration of angels. Many individuals bore testimony that they saw angels, and David Whitmer bore testimony that he saw three angels passing up the south aisle, and there came a shock on the house like the sound of a mighty rushing wind, and almost every man in the house arose, and hundreds of them were speaking in tongues, prophecying or declaring visions, almost with one voice."(Ibid, 11:10.)
Eliza R. Snow
"One striking feature of the ceremonies, was the grand shout of hosanna, which was given by the whole assembly, in standing position, with uplifted hands. The form of the shout is as follows: 'Hosanna-hosanna-hosanna-to God and the Lamb-amen-amen, and amen.' The foregoing was deliberately and emphatically pronounced, and three times repeated, and with such power as seemed almost sufficient to raise the roof from the building.(Edward W. Tullidge, The Women of Mormondom (New York: Tullidge & Crandall, 1877), 95.)
Benjamin Brown
"There the Spirit of the Lord, as on the day of Pentecost, was profusely poured out. Hundreds of Elders spoke in tongues. We had a most glorious and never-to-be-forgotten time. Angels were seen by numbers present. It was also at this time that Elijah the Prophet appeared, and conferred upon Joseph the keys of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, previous to the re-institution of the ordinance of baptism for the dead."(Benjamin Brown, "Testimony for the Truth," Gems for the Young Folks (Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1881), 65.)
Truman Angell
"When about midway during the prayer, there was a glorious sensation passed through the house [Kirtland Temple]; and we, having our heads bowed in prayer, felt a sensation very elevating to the soul. At the close of the prayer, F. [Frederick] G. Williams being in the upper east stand- -Joseph being in the speaking stand next below--rose and testified that midway during the prayer an holy angel came and seated himself in the stand. When the afternoon meeting assembled, Joseph, feeling very much elated, arose the first thing and said the personage who had appeared in the morning was the Angel Peter come to accept the dedication." (Truman Angell, Autobiography, Our Pioneer Heritage, Writings of Early Latter-day Saints, 198.)
This gives you an idea of what early Mormon worship services were like, granted this was a special occasion but these modern occasions of dedications garner no such enthusiasm or visitations.   It was reported that during this dedication those present didn’t just feel the spirit but felt it as if standing next to a roaring fire.This sounds much different than modern interpretations of what it means to feel the spirit.
It’s clear we have both lost our joyfulness and spirituality as a people but maybe also our faith as well.Jesus said if you have faith as tiny as a mustard seed, you could move mountains, raise the dead, feed the multitudes and perhaps walk on water, heal the sick and the afflicted but we do not during these latter days, and why? We do believe the Savior did these things and the Apostles did them as well.And we believe that to a large degree the early saints performed great works too, so then why do we not perform them?If we do not perform acts of faith, then it would be because we have not the faith required.
To reverse the tide of the joyfulness that we have lost would be to change the way our church services are conducted.The way to reverse the tide of the loss of our spirituality would be to read Orson Pratt's Key to the Universe, along with his Brother Parley's Key to the Science of Theology, Joseph Smith as a Scientist and Joseph Smith’s Lectures on Faith.And a new book called science and Mormonism, or W. Cleon Skousen’s talk “My Personal Search for the Meaning of the Atonement” which you can find here on YouTube. Skousen walks you through his early epiphany, providing complete scriptural references to his findings, so have pen and paper handy.
But prayer and a heartfelt searching is the best thing, at least for me, to reinvigorate my faith and help nurture it and encourage its growth. Maybe more of that can help us as a people become more faithful and therefore perform acts of faith, actual real life miracles.
Ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you, seek and ye shall find.The best thing we can do for ourselves is to restore the church as it was restored to humanity.