Sabbath Devotional :: Literary Piano

Samuel W. Francis Writing Machine | Source: Smithsonian National Museum of American History

An early typewriter, patented by Dr. Samuel Ward Francis in 1857, was nicknamed a literary piano. When I think about what could be created on a literary piano, it is certainly different from the document made by the monotone tapping of the word processors I know.

Under the direction of Orson Pratt, my great-great-grandfather, John Davis, translated the Book of Mormon into Welsh. At that time, Dan Jones had done a great missionary work in Wales and there were thousands of converts, who were anxious to read the Book of Mormon in their native tongue. John Davis knew the urgency of getting the translation completed. Although his translation was accurate, he later said his only regret was that he didn’t have time to give his translation the beautiful language scripture deserves.

I love that. Scripture deserves beautiful language, as if written with a literary piano. Sometimes the intentionally formal language makes scripture more difficult to understand. We have probably all turned to more modern versions of the Bible to help us understand difficult passages. But this idea that scripture deserves beautiful language has taken hold with me and I have identified three ways it benefits me.

The first benefit is simply the fact that it’s beautiful. Why do we build beautiful temples and churches? Why do we hang beautiful artwork? Why do we listen to and sing beautiful music? Because beauty, true beauty, brings us closer to our Father in Heaven.

Beautiful things are ennobling. They are sacred. When we are in the presence of beauty, we are lifted from the mundane world to a higher place. When I hear reverent music, my mind is calmed. When I see beautiful artwork, my spirit is lifted. I believe that things of beauty prepare our hearts and minds to partake of the things of God.

This is also true with language. The language of scripture lifts me from the mundane and profane world to a sacred place. It is calming and ennobling. I find I need to prepare myself before I read scriptures. I cannot properly engage with the scriptures if I jump into reading right after being on social media or watching television. The language of scripture requires more concentration and thought to appreciate, and sometimes to understand.

That additional concentration that is required is the second benefit: scriptural language gives us an opportunity to contemplate. When I read something that is straightforward and easy to understand, I am more likely to pass over it without much thought. I believe one of the reasons that scripture deserves beautiful language is that it naturally leads us to ponder, to think, and to reflect. Many times, I have read a passage of scripture with phrasing that I am unaccustomed to hearing. It is because the language is unfamiliar to me that it stays with me.

In an article defending the accreditation of religious colleges, David Coleman wrote that religious students learn to read and study well, and that ability transfers from religious subjects to secular ones. He said, “I knew how much my own Jewish upbringing had contributed to my sense that reading carefully can open up worlds of thought and spirit.”

He continued: “C.S. Lewis’s beautiful short book An Experiment in Criticism presents reading well as an achievement not only of the mind but of character: of discipline and self-restraint. . . . Reading well is at once a powerful and a fragile practice. In our time, the technology of interruption has outpaced the technology of concentration. It takes a certain reverent respect for what an artist has made to give the work sufficient attention (and love) to allow its full depth to emerge.”

The language of scripture is beautiful, causing us to slow down and give reverent respect to the words. It is also sometimes difficult to understand, leading to further pondering and study so we can learn what the Lord wants us to know.

Which leads me to the third benefit: scriptural language gives us more opportunity to employ our own agency to understanding. In His mortal ministry, Christ said, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9). I have wondered why the Lord would say that. Didn’t he want everyone to hear and understand His message? But I have realized that even in understanding the scriptures, we use agency. Because it takes effort and work to understand various passages of scripture, it becomes my choice as to whether I will make that effort. It is also my choice to be patient if the understanding is slow in coming.

There are passages of scripture that I love and appreciate because of the way the words used enhance the doctrine contained therein. I’ll include some passages here and I hope you’ll add a favorite passage in the comments.

“That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him, for he is thy life, and the length of thy days.” (Deuteronomy 30:20)

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:17)

“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; . . . Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.” (Hebrews 10:32, 35)

“And now behold, I say unto you, . . . if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26)

“Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament — the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.” (Doctrine and Covenants 98:2)

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Image: Samuel W. Francis Writing Machine | Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Am erican History

David Coleman quote: https://www.nationalreview.com/…/no-wheaton-colleges…/