An Imperious Duty

I’ve been reading T&C 139 and read the words imperious duty. What does this mean?

IMPE'RIOUS - 1828 dictionary

1. Commanding; dictatorial; haughty; arrogant; overbearing;

domineering; as an imperious tyrant; an imperious dictator;

an imperious man; an imperious temper.

2. Commanding; indicating an imperious temper;

authoritative; as imperious words.

3. Powerful; overbearing; not to be opposed by obstacles;

as a man of a vast and imperious mind.

4. Commanding; urgent; pressing; as imperious love;

imperious circumstances; imperious appetite.

5. Authoritative; commanding with rightful authority.

The commandment high and imperious in its claims.

Joseph uses the phrase “imperious duty” three times in verses 14-15. I don’t find that phrase anywhere else in scripture. There is an imperious duty we owe to God, angels, our families, widows, the rising generation, and the pure in heart. What duty is so crucial as to be an imperious duty?

. . . we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness wherein we know them and they are truly manifest from Heaven . . . Your humble servant, or servants, intend from henceforth to disapprove of everything that is not in accordance with the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and is not of a bold, and frank, and an upright nature. They will not hold their peace, as in times past, when they see iniquity beginning to rear its head, for fear of traitors, or the consequences that shall follow by reproving those who creep in unawares that they may get something to destroy the flock. We believe that the experience of the saints in times past has been sufficient that they will from henceforth be always ready to obey the truth . .

Joseph and Hyrum Were Murdered by Traitors

Bring it all into the light to be examined. Reprove those who work in the dark. We will not hold our peace when the works of darkness creep in among us. The early church members did not do their imperious duty, and Joseph and Hyrum were murdered by traitors. Our imperious duty is to waste and wear out our lives bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness wherein we know them and they are truly manifest from Heaven. Has our experience been sufficient that we are always ready to obey the truth and invite the light to shine upon all we do? 

We need the protection that comes from being clothed with light for a covering. Seven years ago, my friend Leticia shared intelligence and insight that changed my life. For the last seven years, I have seen the necessity of integrating these principles into my life.

“There are only 2 Economies that function on this earth, in a spiritual sense. One is of light and one is of darkness. Only one or the other can regulate and manage the resources of your spiritual and thus physical life. . . Both have great power that can affect your everyday life. These two spiritual economies are responsible for the flow of your life, and how it is coordinated. 

. . .your choices determine which energy will flow from your life. By your choices it gives one or the other power to coordinate your life and show you these “signs”. That economy then has the power to govern over the course of your life. This is important to know because whatever you touch, the projects you are involved in or things you are trying to accomplish, will be affected by whichever economy is governing over your life.

Here are some things that you can check to see if you are violating [these things] and the explanations. Violation of these things would give the Economy of Darkness power over your life. Doing the opposite gives the Economy of Light power. . .”

In Leticia’s blog post, The 2 Economies That Function on this Earth, she explains these 5 violations

1.  VIOLATION OF AGENCY. INSTEAD HONOR ANOTHER’S AGENCY

2. DECEPTION/DECEIVING. INSTEAD BE YOUR TRUE SELF 

3. BEING IN SECRET. INSTEAD BE TRANSPARENT

4. DOING UNRIGHTEOUS DOMINION AND PRIESTCRAFT. INSTEAD HAVE CHARITY OR PURE LOVE

5. BEING OUT OF DIVINE TIMING AND ORDER. INSTEAD SURRENDER AND SAY: “THY WILL BE DONE”

I continue to think about the power of records. What does this have to do with transparency and bringing everything into the light? After Joseph Smith and the early church members had endured many sufferings and abuses, the action against the injustices was to first gather up all the facts, sufferings, and abuses . . . 

And again, we would suggest for your consideration the propriety of all the saints gathering up a knowledge of all the facts, and sufferings, and abuses put upon them . . .  and also the names of all persons that have had a hand in their oppressions, as far as they can get hold of them and find them out. And perhaps a committee can be appointed to find out these things . . .  that we may not only publish to all the world, but present them to the heads of the government, in all their dark and hellish hue, as the last effort which is enjoined on us by our Heavenly Father before we can fully and completely claim that promise which shall call him forth from his hiding place, and also that the whole nation may be left without excuse before he can send forth the power of his mighty arm . . . And also it is an imperious duty that we owe to all the rising generation and to all the pure in heart . . . therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness wherein we know them and they are truly manifest from Heaven.These should then be attended to with great earnestness. Let no man count them as small things, for there is much which lies in futurity, pertaining to the saint, which depends upon these things. You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm, in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves. Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power, and then may we stand still with the utmost assurance to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed . . . 

Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power. Presenting a faithful transparent record, in a way that is appropriate for the situation, seems to be required before we can claim the Lord’s promised help.