I would like to express my point of view on part of section 84 and section 128 in the Doctrine and covenants.
In my opinion these two sections received by the Prophet Joseph have great import for the future.
Beginning with section 84 verse 31:
"Therefore, as I said concerning the sons of Moses- for the sons of Moses and also the sons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the house of the Lord, which house shall be built unto the Lord in this generation, upon the consecrated spot as I have appointed."
This statement was made by the Lord through the Prophet Joseph in September 1832 and it referred to the desire the Lord had for the saints to sanctify themselves to be able to accomplish an acceptable offering and sacrifice in a temple accepted by Him in Missouri.
They did not accomplish this because they polluted their inheritance.
The Lord declared in December 1833 as recorded in D&C 101:6-7
"Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances. They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers to answer them in the day of their trouble. In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me."
We know of the sad history of Missouri and how the saints were eventually totally driven out of the state.
We know it is because of their disobedience to the word of the Lord that this occurred.
How do we know this?
The Lord stated through the Prophet Joseph in February of 1834 as recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 103:1-8
"Verily I say unto you, my friends, behold, I will give a revelation and commandment, that you may know how to act in the discharge of your duties concerning the salvation and redemption of your brethren, who have been scattered on the land Zion; Being driven and smitten by the hand of mine enemies, on whom I will pour out my wrath without measure in mine own due time. for I have suffered them thus far, that they might fill up the measure of their iniquities, that their cup might be full; And that those who call themselves after my name might be chastened for a little season with a sore and greivous chastisement, because they did not hearken altogether unto the precepts and commandments which I gave unto them. But verily I say unto you, that I have decreed a decree which my people shall realize, inasmuch as they hearken form this very hour unto the counsel which I , the Lord their God, shall give unto them. Behold they shall, for I have decreed it, begin to prevail against mine enemies from this very hour. And by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet, and the earth is given unto the saints, to possess it forever and ever. But inasmuch as they keep not my commandments, and hearken not to observe all my words, the kingdoms of the world shall prevail against them."
The Lord Himself declared that if they would listen to Him and observe to keep all His words they would prevail against all their enemies from that very hour. Did that happen?
By their failure to listen to and observe the Lord's words the Lord allowed their enemies to prevail against them and they were cast out of Missouri.
They regrouped in Commerce Illinois.
Again the Lord gave them the opportunity to build a temple where He hoped for the saints to sanctify themselves in order for the sons of Moses and Aaron to be able to offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice to Him.
The Lord declared through the Prophet Joseph in January 1841 as recorded in section 124 of the Doctrine and Covenants
"And again, verily I say unto you, let all my saints come from afar. And send ye swift messengers, yea, chosen messengers, and say unto them: Come ye, with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all your antiquities; and with all who have knowledge of antiquities, that will come, may come, and bring the boxtree, ;and the fir-tree, and the pine-tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth; And with iron, with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and with all your precious things of the earth ; and build a house to my name, for the Most High to dwell therein." (verses 25 - 27)
Then the Lord declares something very important concerning the Church and its claim on Priesthood.
"For there is not a place found on earth that he may come to and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood." (verse 28)
According to the Lord, His own words, he had taken the fulness of the priesthood from the church.
They had lost it and it required them to complete a temple to His name that He would come to and accept as His house in order to restore this fulness.
Further on the Lord declared,
"But I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me; and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me. But behold, at the end of this appointment your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if you do not these things a the end of the appointment ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord you God." (verses 31 - 32)
Those are pretty serious and strong words. The Lord Himself declared that there was an appointed time to accomplish the work of finishing the Nauvoo temple in order that the church might have the privilege of Him coming to the temple, accepting it and restoring what He had taken from them, even the fulness of priesthood.
He told them if they did not complete this task in the appointed time they would be rejected as a church with their dead. He wasn't kidding around.
What was included in the restoration of the fulness of priesthood the Lord was talking about?
How would an individual know that the fulness of priesthood had been restored?
The Prophet Joseph in October of 1840 prepared a text for a discourse given to the saints in Nauvoo concerning priesthood. In this discourse the Prophet Joseph gave some wonderful insight into what would need to occur for fulness of priesthood to be present.
This discourse is also directly related to the statements of the Prophet Joseph in his letter to the saints September 1842 which is now D&C 128
In verse 24 of section 128 the Prophet states,
"Behold the great day of the Lord is at hand; and who can abide the day of His coming, and who can stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap; and he shal sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord and offering in righteousness. Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation."
The Prophet Joseph was expressing his desire in that letter (section 128) that the saints be faithful and complete the work of building the Nauvoo temple in the allotted time so that they would be able to receive the fulness of priesthood they had lost.
The following is part of the discourse from the Prophet Joseph given 05 October 1840 that is related to section 84, section 124 and section 128. It is recorded in History of the Church, 4:207-212 and Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pp. 166 - 173. I would invite everyone to read the entire discourse and study it.
Andrew F Ehat and Lyndon W Cook editors of the book The Words of Joseph Smith, with a foreward by Truman G Madsen, comment as follows concerning this discourse on page 50 of The Words of Joseph Smith.
"This discourse is apparently the only discourse for which the Prophet ever prepared a text. He did not personally deliver this "Treatise on Priesthood," but had his scribe, Robert B. Thompson, read it to the Saints assembled in general conference....In this important address the Prophet makes many important statements on Temple Priesthood the day after announcing plans for the construction of the Nauvoo Temple."
What is here is not someone else's notes of what they understood the Prophet to be saying in a discourse. These are Joseph's words written down right as Joseph was dictating them. Therefore we know that these words are true and they are totally and completely from Joseph himself.
The following is from The Words of Joseph Smith. All spelling, capitalization and grammatical errors are preserved from the written discourse. Sections are bolded and emphasised by me.
starting in the discourse on page 42 and reading to page 44 of The Words of Joseph Smith we read "And God said unto Noah the end of all flesh is before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them, and behold I will destroy them with the earth," thus we behold the Keys of this priesthood consisted in obtaining the voice of Jehovah that he talked with him in a familiar and friendly manner, that he continued to him the Keys, the Covenants, the power and glory with which he blessed Adam at the beginning and the offring of Sacrifice which also shall be continued at the last time, for all ordinances and duties that ever have been required by the priesthood under the direction and commandments of the Almighty in any of the dispensations, shall all be had in the last dispensation. Therefore all things had under the Authority of the Priesthood at any former period shall be had again - bringing to pass the restoration spoken of by the mouth of all the Holy Prophets. "then shall the sons of Levi offer an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord Se[e] Malichi 3 Chap. 3&4 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of Silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord
It will be necessary here to make a few observations on the doctrine, set forth in the above quotation, As it is generally supposed that Sacrifice was entirely done away when the great sacrifice was offered up- and that there will be no necessity for the ordinance of Sacrifice in the future, but those who assert this, are certainly not acquainted with the duties, privileges and authority of the priesthood. or with the prophets The offering of sacrifice has ever been connected and forms a part of the duties of the priesthood. It began with the priesthood and will be continued until after the coming of Christ from generation to generation-We free-quently have mention made of offering of Sacrifice by the servants of the most high in ancient days prior to the law of moses, See which ordinances will be continued when the priesthood is restored with all its authority power and blessings."
This next part of the the discourse, which talks about the coming of Elijah to restore all these things necessary for the ordinances of the temple to be attended to in righteousness, is also very interesting. The Kirtland temple was dedicated in 1836 and this discourse was given October 5 1840 fully more than four years following the Kirtland temple. Tradition dictates that Elijah restored a fulness of all priesthood power and authority in the Kirtland temple. Joseph is teaching that that is not the case. The Prophet Joseph made references to the mission of Elijah also in 1842, 1843, and as late a January and March 1844, just a few months before his death, as a future event. In his January 1844 discourse Joseph also stated, "...I would to God that this temple was now done that we might go into it & go to work & improve our time & make use of the seals while they are on earth the Saints have none to much time to save & redeem their dead, & gather together their living relatives that they may be saved also, before the earth will be smitten..." (The Words of Joseph Smith p.318.) Joseph knew that the time was short for the seals to be on the earth before he would be taken. He desperately encouraged the saints to complete the temple before that time.
The discourse continues,
"Elijah was the last prophet that held the keys of this priesthood, and who will, (a reference to a yet future event) before the last dispensation, restore the authority and delive[r] the Keys of this priesthood in order that all the ordinances may be attended to in righteousness.
It is true that the Savior had authority and power to bestow this blessing but the Sons of Levi were too predjudi[ced]
And I will send Elijah the Prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord &c &c.
Why send Elijah because he holds the Keys of Authority to administer in all the ordinances of the priesthood and without the authority is given the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness.
It is a very prevalent opinion that the sacrifices which were offered were entirely consumed, this was not the case if you read Leviticus [2] Chap [2-3] verses you will observe that the priests took a part as a memorial and offered it up before the Lord, while the remainder was kept for the maintenance of the priests. So that the offerings and sacrifices are not all consumed upon the Alter, but the blood is sprinkled and the fat and certain other portions are consumed These sacrifices as well as every ordinance belonging to the priesthood will when the temple of the Lord shall be built and the Sons of Levi be purified be fully restored and attended to then all their powers ramifications ramifications and blessings- this ever was and will exist when the powers of the Melchisid Priesthood are sufficiently manifest. Else how can the restitution of all things spoken by all the Holy Prophets be brought to pass It is not to be understood that, the law of moses will be established again with all it rights and variety of ceremonies, this has never been spoken of by the prophets but those things which existed prior to Mose's day viz Sacrifice will be continued- It may be asked by some what necessity for Sacrifice since the great Sacrifice was offered? In answer to which if Repentance Baptism and faith existed prior to the days of Christ what necessity for them since that time-"
Joseph understood, from heaven, that the powers of the Melchizedek priesthood are not sufficiently manifest until Elijah returns to a temple the Lord has accepted and restores the keys of sacrifice as well as all other ordinances belonging to the priesthood and then sacrifice as well as all the other ordinances belonging to the priesthood are fully restored in that temple with the sons of Levi being purified in order to offer sacrifice to the Lord in righteousness; which type of sacrifice was had in the days of Adam.
According to the Prophet Joseph the ordinances of the priesthood cannot be administered in righteousness unless this happens.
He also states that a restoration of all things cannot happen until this event.
I would ask. Where is a record of these events taking place?
Something of such momentous importance would be recorded. God does not work in the dark.
The Lord declared in section 124:42
"And I will show unto my servant Joseph all things pertaining to this house, and the priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built."
When Joseph, who was the only one the Lord declared who He would show all things pertaining to the temple and the priesthood thereof, was taken the Nauvoo temple was far from completion.
The exterior walls were not even completed to the second story as I understand.
Joseph was not there to order and direct how the temple should be finished and set up by revelation from God.
God never declared in any revelation that He would show all things pertaining to His house and the priesthood thereof to anyone else after Joseph.
In section 124 the Lord further stated in verses 44 - 48
"If ye labor with all your might, I will consecrate that spot that it shall be made holy. And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, (Joseph and Hyrum) behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place. But if they will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of these men whom I have appointed, (Joseph and Hyrum) they shall not be blest, because they pollute mine holy ordinances and charters, and my holy words which I give unto them. And it shall come to pass that if you build a house unto my name, and do not the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfill the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord. For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your heads, by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practise before me, saith the Lord."
The Nauvoo temple was not completed before the Prophet Joseph was taken and the seals Joseph spoke of were taken from the earth with his departure.
The saints were moved out of their place. They were forced in the dead of winter to leave Nauvoo; just like the cursings of Missouri where they were forced to flee.
The Lord did not make the ground holy or defend the temple. The Temple was set ablaze (an act of arson) not long after the saints left Nauvoo and it was later completely destroyed by a tornado (an act of God).
We have no record of Elijah coming to the Nauvoo temple and restoring fullness of priesthood as Joseph described in his October 1840 discourse with all of the attendant rights and sacrifices that are had when a temple is accepted of the Lord and the powers of the Melchizedek priesthood are sufficiently manifest as the Prophet Joseph stated.
Now what does this all have to do with the sons of Moses and Aaron offering an offering in righteousness to the Lord as described in section 84 and in section 128?
It has to do with the fact that these events are still a future expectation.
I submit that the purposes of the Lord are to return a people who are humble, penitent and meek before Him to the same situation that existed at the time of Adam; having all of the ordinances and rights and privileges of priesthood that Adam and Eve had so that Jeremiah 31:34 will be fulfilled.
"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least to the greatest of them, saith the Lord:..."
Adam and Eve were in the presence of God before the fall and came back into His presence after the fall. They were familiar and friendly with Him.
God desires that to be the case with a people He can call His people; that they are able to be in His presence here in mortality and converse with him in a familiar and friendly way just as He did with all of the Fathers from Adam down to Noah and from Noah to Abraham etc.
That requires, as I understand, a temple where the Lord is there in His glory and Elijah comes and restores the ordinances, including sacrifice, necessary for those participating to in actual fact enter the presence of God here in mortality and receive power from Him face to face to redeem their dead. There must be a restoration of all things as spoken by all the Holy Prophets.
I hope that anyone who is persuaded or anyone who is not persuaded by my views will look into the matter seriously and search the scriptures and the teachings of the Prophet Joseph and ask God in prayer for light and knowledge on this subject to find the truth for themselves.
There is only good to be had by serious study of the word of God in His scriptures and in the teachings of the Prophet Joseph.
There is only good to be had by seeking revelation from God for yourself to find truth.
Joseph stated,
"...the things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity- thou must commune with God." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.137)
Gods ways are higher than our ways. God's ways require careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts to find them out. God will only reveal His ways to the penitent, the humble and the meek.
Our traditions can and do blind us to the glorious invitations God extends. We see things through the lense of what others have told us all our lives instead of seeing them fresh from God without the influence of commentary from others.
Please study seriously His words as if you were seeing them for the first time without any commentary from anyone including me. Please don't let anyone but God determine the meaning of His words for you.
