The popularized version of Watchmen consists of superheroes in a DC Comics series and a currently released movie. Perhaps not by coincidence, the scriptures are filled with "watchmen," having a similar function – to save humanity. The topic of this essay is the scriptural perspective of "watchmen."
Elder Bruce R. McConkie gave us the following definition of "watchmen."
Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed., "Watchmen"
See PRIESTHOOD OFFICES, WARNING THE WORLD. In their capacity as elders, prophets, ambassadors, and ministers, the Lord's agents are watchmen upon the tower. Their obligation is to raise the warning voice so that the sheepfold of Israel shall stand secure from the dangers and evils of the world.
In other words, watchmen (in most scriptural verses) are chosen members of the priesthood with the assignment to be a warning voice.
Isaiah was an exemplar of a warning voice. The following prophecy of Isaiah is among the most important in Mormon theology:
Isaiah 52:7-10
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.
9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
These verses are found four times in the Book of Mormon with minor variations (Mosiah 12:22, 15:29; 3 Nephi 16:18, 20:32), and they are quoted by such important characters as Jesus and Abinadi.
A partial explanation of Isaiah 52:7 is found in the Dead Sea Scrolls in fragment 11QMelch, also known as 11Q13. This famous ancient fragment explains the Isaiah verse with this interpretation (A New Translation: The Dead Sea Scrolls by M. Wise, M. Abegg, and E. Cook, 2005, p. 592), “The mountains are the prophets, they who were sent to proclaim God's truth and to prophesy to all Israel.” If the feet represent Jesus, then it is almost as if verse 7 is saying Jesus will publish peace based upon the foundation of prophets. Mountains can also represent temples. (For further elaboration, see my essays: "Melchizedek as a Type and a Shadow," and "The Continuing Need for Sacred Temples").
Verse 8 of Isaiah 52 hints at the last days as watchmen lift the voice, a prophesy that has only begun to be fulfilled "when the LORD shall bring again Zion." Elder Bruce R. McConkie reminded us of the following:
Bruce R. McConkie, "Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah," Ensign, Oct. 1973.
It is our habit in the Church—a habit born of slovenly study and a limited perspective—to think of the restoration of the gospel as a past event and of the gathering of Israel as one that, though still in process, is in large measure accomplished. It is true that we have the fulness of the everlasting gospel in the sense that we have those doctrines, priesthoods, and keys which enable us to gain the fulness of reward in our Father’s kingdom. It is also true that a remnant of Israel has been gathered; that a few of Ephraim and Manasseh (and some others) have come into the Church and been restored to the knowledge of their Redeemer.
But the restoration of the wondrous truths known to Adam, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham has scarcely commenced. The sealed portion of the Book of Mormon is yet to be translated. All things are not to be revealed anew until the Lord comes. The greatness of the era of restoration is yet ahead. And as to Israel herself, her destiny is millennial; the glorious day when “the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High” (Dan. 7:27) is yet ahead. We are now making a beginning, but the transcendent glories and wonders to be revealed are for the future. Much of what Isaiah—prophet of the restoration—has to say is yet to be fulfilled.
Elder McConkie was a watchman, and as his words remind us, the significance of the "latter-day" work has only begun. Our Church is merely a starting point for the fulfillment of Isaiah 52:7-10, quoted above.
In latter-day scripture an important use of watchmen is found in a parable from D&C 101. It is as follows (see especially, verses 45-46, 53-54, 57):
D&C 101:44-62
44 A certain nobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said unto his servants: Go ye unto my vineyard … and plant twelve olive-trees;
45 And set watchmen round about them, and build a tower, that one may overlook the land round about, to be a watchman upon the tower, that mine olive-trees may not be broken down when the enemy shall come to spoil … .
46 Now, the servants of the nobleman went and did as their lord commanded them, … and set watchmen, and began to build a tower.
47 And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof, they began to say among themselves: And what need hath my lord of this tower?
48 … What need hath my lord of this tower, seeing this is a time of peace?
49 Might not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need of these things.
50 And while they were at variance … they became very slothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their lord.
51 And the enemy came by night, and … destroyed their works, and broke down the olive-trees.
52 Now, behold, the nobleman, the lord of the vineyard, called upon his servants, and said unto them, Why! what is the cause of this great evil?
53 Ought ye not to have done even as I commanded you, and--after ye had planted the vineyard, and built the hedge round about, and set watchmen upon the walls thereof--built the tower also, and set a watchman upon the tower, and watched for my vineyard, and not have fallen asleep, lest the enemy should come upon you?
54 And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the enemy while he was yet afar off; and then ye could have made ready … , and saved my vineyard from the hands of the destroyer.
55 And the lord of the vineyard said unto one of his servants: Go and gather together the residue of my servants … , which are my warriors, my young men, and they that are of middle age also among all my servants, who are the strength of mine house … ;
56 And go ye straightway unto the land of my vineyard, and redeem my vineyard; for it is mine … .
57 Therefore, get ye straightway unto my land; break down the walls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their watchmen.
58 And inasmuch as they gather together against you, avenge me of mine enemies, that by and by I may … possess the land.
59 And the servant said unto his lord: When shall these things be?
60 And he said unto his servant: When I will; go ye straightway, and do all things whatsoever I have commanded you;
61 And this shall be my seal and blessing upon you--a faithful and wise steward in the midst of mine house, a ruler in my kingdom.
62 And his servant went straightway, and did all things whatsoever his lord commanded him; and after many days all things were fulfilled.
The verses above were given in December of 1833 when Latter-day Saints were being driven from their homes in Jackson Country, Missouri by angry mobs. While the Saints always have wished to live in peace, there was a general understanding that one must be watchful to maintain that peace, but, if necessary, some fights are necessary. Are the watchmen in this parable Church leaders or soldiers? Both interpretations are possible, perhaps simultaneously.
The words watchman or watchmen appear numerous times in the King James Old Testament. The primary words (roots) for watchman are tsaphah (Strong's #H6822), natsar (Strong's #H5341), or shamar (Strong's #H8104).
Sample verses using the root tsaphah (Strong's #H6822) are:
1 Samuel 14:16
16 ¶ And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down [one another].
Isaiah 52:8
8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.
Isaiah 56:10
10 His watchmen [are] blind: they are all ignorant, they [are] all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
Jeremiah 6:17
17 Also I set watchmen over you, [saying], Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
Micah 7:4
4 The best of them [is] as a brier: the most upright [is sharper] than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen [and] thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.
2 Samuel 18:24 [see also v. 25-27]
24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
2 Kings 9:17 [see also v. 18, 20]
17 And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, [Is it] peace?
Isaiah 21:6
6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
Ezekiel 3:17
17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
Ezekiel 33:7 [see also verses 2 and 6)
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
Hosea 9:8
8 The watchman of Ephraim [was] with my God: [but] the prophet [is] a snare of a fowler in all his ways, [and] hatred in the house of his God.
Tsaphah implies to look out and be vigilant. It is this term that is most closely associated with prophets.
Sample verses using the root natsar (Strong's #H5341) are:
2 Kings 17:9
9 And the children of Israel did secretly [those] things that [were] not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
2 Kings 18:8
8 He smote the Philistines, [even] unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
Jeremiah 31:6
6 For there shall be a day, [that] the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.
Natsar implies to watch over, guard, and defend.
Sample verses using the root shamar (Strong's #H8104) are:
Song of Solomon 3:3
3 The watchmen that go about the city found me: [to whom I said], Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
Song of Solomon 5:7
7 The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
Isaiah 62:6
6 ¶ I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, [which] shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
Jeremiah 51:12
12 Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.
Psalms 127:1
1 ¶ Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain.
Isaiah 21:12 [see also the preceding verse]
12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
Shamar implies preserving and making safe, as if keeping the peace.
In a religious sense, a watchman is someone who must account for souls. The rules for a religious watchman are very clearly defined as those who blow the trumpet:
Ezekiel 33:4-7
4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
Consequently, members of the Church have a religious obligation to the watchmen. Those obligations are spelled out by the Apostle Paul:
Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.
Such obedience does NOT make us mindless. Rather, such obedience simply makes us good citizens in the making and preserving of Zion. Actually, it takes a good mind to understand and heed the warning voice of the watchmen.
One can listen to modern-day watchmen during the 179th Annual LDS Conference in Salt Lake City on Saturday and Sunday, April 4-5, 2009. The Saturday general sessions will be held at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. (Mountain Day Light Savings Time), and the Sunday sessions will be held at 9:30 a.m. (which includes Music and the Spoken Word) and 2:00 p.m. (Mountain Day Light Savings Time).
The sessions will be available on television in most areas of the United States, and can be found on the internet on BYU-TV.
Copyright 2008 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.
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