President John Taylor in 1882 knew
that the instrument known as the Urim and Thummim was lost; he also knew that
the Seerstone was available if he were able to use it. He had stated that the
Church had lost the power of translation. The mere fact that the Church had
possession of one of the media which God had sanctified for the translation of
unknown languages—the Seerstone—did not give it the power or gift to use this
instrument unless God so sanctified such use—and permitted it to do so. Oliver
Cowdery had been permitted the gift to use the Seerstone and translate ancient
records, if he remained faithful. This promise did not hold, since he did not
understand the method, so the gift was withdrawn from him.
The mere fact that a person may
have possession of an instrument that God has sanctified for a certain use does
not necessarily given him power or right to exercise that gift. According to
Brother B. H. Roberts, the Church at the late-date of 1930 had the Seerstone
that Joseph used. (Comprehensive History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 230)
Please not that President John Taylor did not say that the Church had lost the
power of receiving translations through the Seerstone; but rather that the
Church had lost the power to translate ancient languages. It is our belief that
President John Taylor used the Seerstone to receive revelations in 1882 and
1886. We also believe that Wilford Woodruff used it to receive the visions and
revelations which he received, as recorded in his daily journal. (Arch S.
Reynolds, The Urim and Thummim And Other Media Used by the Prophet Joseph
Smith to Translate the Scriptures [2d ed.; Springville, Utah:
Self-published, 1953], 19)