Even as I Will

The Book of Moses comes from Joseph Smith's inspired revision of Genesis. After recounting the Creation and the fall of Adam and Eve, the story is interrupted with a statement directed at Joseph.

And these are the words which I spake unto my servant Moses, and they are true even as I will; and I have spoken them unto you. See thou show them unto no man, until I command you, except to them that believe. Amen. [Moses 4:32]

Although God told Joseph that the words are 'true', I have previously argued that the differences between the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, and the temple endowment suggest that no particular version of the Creation and Fall can be considered the gold standard. But what does it mean when God says, "they are true even as I will"? Is that just a rhetorical flourish, or is there additional meaning?

A couple of years ago, a commenter on one of my posts suggested that it means that the accounts are as true as God wants them to be, which is an interesting interpretation. I decided to see if the rest of the scriptures could shed light on the phrase. It turns out that, except for the verse above, the phrase 'even as I will' occurs exclusively in the Doctrine and Covenants. Below I quote all the additional verses, with the phrase highlighted.

Section 29:48

For it is given unto them even as I will, according to mine own pleasure, that great things may be required at the hand of their fathers.

Section 50:8

But the hypocrites shall be detected and shall be cut off, either in life or in death, even as I will; and wo unto them who are cut off from my church, for the same are overcome of the world.

Section 52:6

And inasmuch as they are not faithful, they shall be cut off, even as I will, as seemeth me good.

Section 55:6

And again, let my servant Joseph Coe also take his journey with them. The residue shall be made known hereafter, even as I will. Amen.

Section 71:1

BEHOLD, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, that the time has verily come that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my gospel, the things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries thereof out of the scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will.

Section 104:20

Let my servant Sidney Rigdon have appointed unto him the place where he now resides, and the lot of the tannery for his stewardship, for his support while he is laboring in my vineyard, even as I will, when I shall command him.

In two instances, the phrase is accompanied by the clarification, "according to mine own pleasure" or "as seemeth me good," and the rest of the instances are in a context that seems to imply as much.

Looking back at the Book of Moses, I see two possible (though not mutually exclusive) interpretations: 1. The Book of Moses is a good enough representation of what God said to Moses. 2. What God said to Moses is a good enough representation of what really happened.

Either way it seems that my commenter was right--that the words are as true as God wants them to be.

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