On the night of September 21-22, 1823 the
angel Moroni first appeared to Joseph Smith,
telling him that there was a sacred record
buried not far from his family’s cabin.
Then, on September 22, Joseph went to uncover
that ancient book.
There he met Moroni again, who told him it
was not yet time to retrieve the record,
but that he would need to come back on that same
exact date, each year, for the next four years.
Clearly, September 22 was no arbitrary day
in the eyes of God.
Each year it coincided with an important part
of the Jewish High Holy days, which historically
celebrated the involvement of God in the lives
of His covenant children on earth.
The first year, 1823, September 21 and 22
were the first two days of the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles.
In 1824, September 22 was the eve of Rosh
Hashanah, the Israelite New Year.
In 1825, September 22 was Yom Kippur, the
very Day of Atonement.
Then, in 1827, when Joseph was finally allowed
to retrieve the plates, it fell exactly on
the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah.
Each of these holidays herald God’s covenantal
love for his people.
No bolder statement could be made on Rosh
Hashanah about God’s everlasting kingship
and covenant with his people than that of
His holy angel delivering another testament
of His divine dealings with His children,
through his risen Son, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who had ministered personally, as promised,
to the posterity of Lehi.
And now you know why.
