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Blessed Art Thou Simon Barjona: i.e., Seeking Man

Research by Kerry A. Shirts

The essence of Mormonism is revelation from God to man. It is by revelation that God is known. The prophets have consistently taught this throughout the ages. Joseph Smith taught "Jesus in His teachings says, "Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." What rock? Revelation."[1] George Q. Cannon discussed this aspect of the scripture in a significant discourse:

"You recollect that Jesus, on one occasion, asked Peter whom men said he, the Son of Man, was. They said some said one thing and some another. Then said Jesus to them, "But whom say ye that I am?" and Peter said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." That is, he had not received that knowledge from man, but from God; and said Jesus, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church." What rock? "Oh," says the Catholic, "upon Peter, he was a rock, and the Church was built upon him." "No," say the Protestants, "not upon Peter, but upon Jesus." "Now," says Jesus, "upon this rock." What rock? The rock of revelation--the principle upon which he was talking. He had spoken to Peter and told him that flesh and blood had not imparted to him certain knowledge which he possessed, but "my Father which is in heaven; and upon this rock will I build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." They never can prevail against a Church built on the rock of revelation. "Upon this rock will I build my Church, and I will give unto thee, Peter, the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."[2]

Charles W. Penrose discussed the principle that Jesus was teaching Peter which has been so misunderstood these days in Christianity:

"Some people who live in these times say, perhaps, "Oh, but if we had lived in those days we would have received the servants of God, we would have hearkened to the voice of the Prophets, we would have rejoiced to hear the words of men sent of God, men holding authority from the Most High, men who could communicate with the heavens, we would have looked upon them as deliverers from our doubts, from our darkness, from our divisions, from our strife, from our lack of knowledge." Would you? Are you sure of that? If you had lived upon the earth in the days when Jesus Christ came, how would you have told that Jesus was really the Christ? How would you have found it out? The people to whom he came rejected him. There was no special mark set upon Him by which mankind could discern that He was the Christ. There was only one way by which it could be found out whether Jesus was the Christ or not. And what was the way? Why, by revelation from God, and if you and I had lived in those times and did not believe in revelation from God, how should we have found out that Jesus, of Nazareth, was the Christ? We read that the disciples on one occasion were asked by Jesus Christ, "Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am? And they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, of one of the Prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am. And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ,--the Son of the Living God." Now, how did Peter find that out, when those wise men, those Pharisees, those doctors, those lawyers, the expounders of the Mosaic law, the men that were looked up to by the Jews as lights of learning, men who had studied the holy Scriptures and made the teaching of them a profession, men who prayed long prayers on the corners of the street and had passages of scripture sewed upon the hem of their garments--how was it that Peter found out that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and the rest of the people could not find out? "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." What rock? "Peter," somebody will say. The name of Peter--Cephas, signifies a stone, and people think that Christ built his church upon Peter. Well, if he did, he built it on a poor foundation; for it was only a little while after this, in accordance with the prediction of Jesus, that Peter was put under a severe trial which caused him to deny the Lord that bought him. The people declared that Peter was along with those who were with Jesus, and he denied the accusation and swore that he never knew him. Well, it was upon this rock of revelation that the Lord would build his Church. It was by revelation that Peter knew that Jesus was the Christ. No man can find out that Jesus is the Christ except by that same spirit; no man can know that he is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost. Now, there may be a great many people say that Jesus is the Christ. How do you know? "Well," I believe it. Why? Because I have been brought up a Christian, and therefore I believe it. But do you know that Jesus is the Christ? No, you cannot know unless you get a revelation from God to that effect. You may believe that Jesus is the Christ, you may have been trained up in that belief, but you cannot know it unless God shall reveal it to you. It is only by the power of the Holy Ghost, that this knowledge can come to the children of men, neither can knowledge come to any one concerning the things of God, except by the same spirit." [3]

B.H. Roberts in his own spectacular way also demonstrated this principle of revelation and demonstrated the consistency in applying it to Joseph Smith, especially regarding his First Vision:

"Jesus, when among His disciples on one occasion, appeared curious to know what people thought of Him; so He said to His Apostles, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am!" He was answered, that some said He was John the Baptist, others Elias, or one of the prophets. "But whom say ye that I am?" Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona," said Jesus, "for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my father which is in heaven: * * * and upon this rock will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. xvi.) What was that "rock" upon which the Church was to be built? It was upon the principle of God revealing unto men that Jesus was the Christ--the principle of revelation.

In the Spring of 1820, Joseph Smith, in obedience to the instruction given in James--"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him"--was praying in the woods to the Father, when he was suddenly enwrapped in a glorious vision. He saw a pillar of light descending from heaven--it rested upon him--its brightness exceeded the brightness of the sun at noon-day. In the midst of this glorious light stood two personages: each resembling the other. One standing a little above the other, pointing to the one below him said: "This is my beloved son; hear ye him."--"Blessed art thou, Peter, for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven." The same could be said to Joseph Smith now, for the Father had revealed the Son to him. "And upon this rock will I build my Church." Hence we say Joseph Smith started upon the very principle upon which Jesus said He would build His Church." [4] (my emphasis)

John Taylor asked the question "What rock?" in discussing the famous passage of Jesus' words, and continues with an interesting note: "The kind of evidence he had that Jesus was the Christ,--the principles of revelation; flesh and blood had not revealed it unto him, but his Father in heaven, and upon this rock Jesus built his church. Upon the same principle that we know that Jesus is the Christ and that God is his Father is the church of Christ built in this and has been in all ages." [5]

Lorenzo Snow indicated that "Peter had obtained a revelation which Jesus called a Rock, which every man might receive individually for himself to build upon, with perfect assurance and safety--on which he could anchor his hopes and prospects of salvation. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, promised the Holy Ghost to those who would repent and receive baptism. That principle imparts the knowledge or the rock of revelation upon which the Savior declared His people should be established..."[6]

In a rather common sense little discourse, George Albert Smith noted what principles we find in Jesus' words to Peter:

"Where was the necessity of Waldo beginning a new church in his day? The power of the devil, the great adversary, had entirely overcome the church; and, hence, it was necessary to begin anew. Now suppose we were to read the passage, and see what it was that the Savior did say upon the subject. The Savior said, on a certain occasion, addressing his Apostles, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" His disciples say, "They have different opinions about you--some say thou art John the Baptist, some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the old Prophets has risen from the dead." "But," says the Savior, "whom do ye say that I am?" "Why," says Peter, "thou art Christ the Son of the living God." The Savior replied, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven; I say unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This argument would be introduced by those who believe that Christ built his Church upon St. Peter, and you then come to read the passage, and what do you learn by it? You simply learn that Peter had made the discovery, by revelation, that Jesus was the Son of the living God, and that upon the rock (revelation) he (Christ) would build his Church, and upon nothing else, and that the gates of hell should not prevail against it. Not being a linguist, like my brother behind me, I shall say that the common accepted meaning of the word "hell," is a place of miserable departed spirits, and hence the Savior told Peter that the gates of departed miserable spirits should never prevail against his Church. This is the principle here illustrated, and consequently whenever a reformation becomes necessary in the Church of God, it must be founded upon the rock--revelation; and whenever the Church left the principles of revelation they ceased to be the Church of God; and nothing could bring them back again, or re-establish them, but being replaced upon the same foundation, and by the same authority.[7] (my emphasis)

Orson Hyde discussed the significance of the stone in ancient religious thought:

"Jesus says, "Whosoever falleth upon this stone shall be broken." what stone does he refer to? The Lord says to his disciples, "Whom say ye that I am?" Peter answers--"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus indicated to Peter that he had spoken truly by saying unto him, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This stone or rock was the word of God revealed unto Peter. Present revelation from God, then, is the stone or rock which our Saviour spoke of. Any church or any people built upon this foundation cannot be prevailed against by any power, for one obvious reason: whenever a people are built upon this foundation and they get into trouble and difficulty, they will ask the Lord to show them they way out; and being built upon present revelation and in communion with God, he will tell them what to do. His wisdom is greater than the cunning of the Devil, and consequently the gates of hell cannot prevail against them. Any people built upon this foundation are hard to head, though their numbers may be small. The ancient church was never overcome until they lost this principle of present revelation. Then they were prevailed against and fell away, because they ceased to build upon this foundation--the stone or rock of present revelation. Solomon says--"Where no vision is, the people perish."[8]

Erastus Snow demonstrated how this principle of revelation from God can work in our own lives:

"How can a man know for himself that Joseph Smith was truly called to be a Prophet, seer and revelator to this generation? That God did reveal to him the fullness of the Gospel? That the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the Gospel--the same that was taught and revealed by the Savior and his disciples, as recorded in the New Testament? How can a man know that Angels administered to him? That God opened the visions of heaven to the Prophet Joseph Smith? I answer, They may know it precisely as the Apostle Peter knew that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. It is in this manner that Elder Rich knows that Joseph Smith was a Prophet; it is in this manner that I know he was a Prophet and a servant of God raised up to commence this work in the earth, and to lay the foundation of the Church and kingdom of God on the earth. When Jesus asked Peter and the rest of the Apostles, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man am?" They answered, "Some think thou art Elias; others that thou art John the Baptist risen from the dead; others that thou art Jeremiah or one of the Prophets." "But whom say ye that I am?" Peter answered--"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." "Blessed art thou Simon Barjonah, flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven; and verily I say unto thee, upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Not upon Peter, not his person, for he was flesh, and must pass away like the flower of the field. It was not on Peter, or his successors in office, as is taught by the Romish church. Then who and what was this rock Christ referred to? It was the rock of revelation, revelation from the living God. "On this rock," said the Savior, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." And I repeat that I know the truth of the Gospel, as Peter knew that Jesus was the Christ, by revelation unto me from the Father who is in heaven, and I bear this testimony unto you."[9]

Moses Thatcher turned the tables on the Christians of his day with this challenge:

"Ask the members of the so-called Christian sects if their ministers come to them offering such a test of their authority to speak in the name of Him who descended beneath all things that he might arise above all things--ask them for the testimony of Him who led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men, what gifts they have to offer, what promises of godly knowledge they have to make? Ask them for the testimony of Jesus and to show the plan of salvation built upon the rock of revelation against which the gates of hell cannot prevail, and you will be made painfully to feel that they have none of these things. A form of godliness they may exhibit, but the power, they do not have."[10]

Lorenzo Snow indicated the serious personal effect that this principle had on the early Mormons as they waded through their persecutions:

"On this point permit me again to quote what Jesus promised, viz.: "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjonah, flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father in Heaven, and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Peter had obtained a revelation which Jesus called a rock, which every man might receive individually to himself and build upon with perfect assurance and safety, upon which he could found all his hopes and prospects of salvation. Peter, at Pentecost, promised the Holy Ghost to all who would be baptized, or in other words, obey the Gospel. The Holy Ghost would impart the knowledge which would constitute the rock of revelation upon which the Savior said his people should be established. This people have their hopes and prospects of peace and happiness in this life and in the life to come, resting and grounded upon this rock of revelation, and we are the only religious community which dares profess to occupy such a Scriptural position, and our claims upon the Savior's promise, that hell shall not prevail against a people so established, give us peace, tranquility, unshaken confidence, and a pleasing and happy assurance of security in the midst of all kinds of display of threatened ruin and overthrow."[11]

John Taylor unflinchingly laid it on the line with this powerful reminder of just what the true issue involving these words of Christ to Peter is:

"Being placed in communication with God, the sophistry, nonsense and dogmas of men have no influence upon us. We are built upon the rock of revelation, as Peter was, and on the same principle. Said Jesus to him, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" The answer was: "Some say thou art one of the Prophets; some say thou art the Elias who was to come," etc. "But whom say you that I am?" Peter answered and said: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven; and I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." What rock? The rock of revelation--upon the intelligence communicated by the Holy Ghost to those who obey the Gospel of the Son of God; by this, men shall know for themselves, and stand as the rock of ages, invulnerable, immovable and unchangeable. That is the position which we the Latter-day Saints occupy."[12]

Endnotes

1. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Five 1842–43, p.273.

2. Journal of Discourses, Vol.14, p.171, George Q. Cannon, June 11, 1871.

3. Journal of Discourses, Vol.22, p.88 - p.89, Charles W. Penrose, May 1st, 1880.

4. Journal of Discourses, Vol.25, p.136 - p.137, B. H. Roberts, January 28th, 1884.

5. Journal of Discourses, Vol.10, p.114 - p.119, John Taylor, February 22, 1863, for the full treatment. Cf. Journal of Discourses, Vol.20, p.332f, Lorenzo Snow, October 6th, 1879.

6. Journal of Discourses, Vol.26, p.376, Lorenzo Snow, March 6, 1886.

7. Journal of Discourses, Vol.2, p.327 - p.328, George Albert Smith, June 24, 1855.

8. Journal of Discourses, Vol.8, p.235, Orson Hyde, October 7, 1860.

9. Journal of Discourses, Vol.15, p.202, Erastus Snow, October 7, 1872.

10. Journal of Discourses, Vol.23, p.198, Moses Thatcher, April 8th, 1882.

11. Journal of Discourses, Vol.13, p.291, Lorenzo Snow, January 23, 1870.

12. Journal of Discourses, Vol.23, p.52, John Taylor, April 9th, 1882.