Priesthood, Sacrifice and a Temple Accepted by God

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.

Helaman Chapter 5 verses 9-12

The Book of Mormon is a sacred book of scripture translated by the Prophet Joseph through the gift and power of God.  

The Prophet Joseph stated concerning the Book of Mormon, 

                     “…the Book of Mormon was (is) the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would (will) get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

I would like to share what I have learned from a few verses in the Book of Mormon Helaman 5:9 - 12.  

In my opinion, the three verses 9, 10, and 11 are closely related to and supporting of the statement made in verse 12, that Christ our Redeemer is a sure foundation and that whosoever builds upon Him and Him alone will not be dragged down to the gulf of misery and endless wo by the shafts, whirlwinds, and mighty storms of the adversary.

in verse 9 we read, "...remember...the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people;"  

The words king Benjamin spake to his people, as recorded in the book of Mosiah chapters 2 - 5, were given to him the night before by an angel of God.  Therefore, we know of a certainty that the words he spake were God's words. We also know from the record what effect the words of God had on king Benjamin's people.  

It was what we would call negative effect.  Such a sermon today would drive congregations from the buildings because the words were not positive and reassuring.

The initial response was one of exceeding sorrow and possibly fear.  

King Benjamin told his people that they were less than the dust of the earth in spite of his previous statement to his son Mosiah that "...they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord." ( Mosiah 1:11) 

The message caused them all to fall to the ground and cry out for mercy. 

There are a multitude of events in the Book of Mormon where a message from God was negative and caused fear and trembling and sorrow and even anger. (1 Nephi 1:4, 1 Nephi 1:18-20, 1 Nephi 1:14, 1 Nephi 15:1-2, 1 Nephi 16:26-29, 1 Nephi 17:23-55, this is just 1 Nephi) There is a reason for this. We will come back to this.

Continuing in verse 9 of Helaman 5 we also read, "yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come;"

When God commands that a statement be made (ie "...there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved...")  would it be a good thing to find out if that statement or a similar statement has been made in scripture anywhere else?  

That way there might be more information given as to how the atoning blood of Jesus Christ will save an individual because God has declared that it is the only way for a person to receive salvation so, what is the way? 

 How or what must be done for an individual to be saved by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ? 

One place this statement occurs again in the Book of Mormon is in the Book of 2 Nephi chapter 31.  

I would invite a very careful perusal of both 2 Nephi 31, and 2 Nephi 32 with particular attention to verses 1 - 6 of chapter 32.  

These two chapters are talking about the doctrine of Christ; the how for any individual to be redeemed by the atoning blood of Christ. 

Nephi's statement as he is concluding his record of his personal conversation between himself, The Father, and The Son together is, "...this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God." (2 Nephi 31:21) 

I would consider that any recorded conversation held between the Prophet Nephi, God, and Christ together in person ought to have our serious attention; especially when it deals with the only way to be saved.

Continuing in Verse 10 of Helaman 5 the invitation is given to Lehi and Nephi to,"...remember the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom,...that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins."

Alma and Amulek were prophets witnessing of Christ to a wicked people in the land of Ammoniha.  The account of their witness is found in the Book of Mormon in the book of Alma chapters 9 - 14.  

What would be the fate of any individual appearing before God who is not redeemed from their sins? Alma the younger gives us a glimpse. 

 "But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.  Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.  Yea, I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.  Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds."(Alma 36:12-15)  

Another Book of Mormon prophet Moroni also states, 

"Behold, I say unto you that ye would be more miserable to dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness of you filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the damned souls in hell.  For behold, when ye shall see your nakedness before God, and also the glory of God, and the holiness of Jesus Christ, it will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon you." (Mormon 9:4-5) 

When Isaiah was caught up to the heavenly temple and realized he was in the presence of God he declared, 

"Wo is unto me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips; and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts." (2 Nephi 16:5) 

This is the universal reality of all our situation before God.  Our nakedness or shame before Him is so absolute that we would shrink before Him if we are not cleansed by the blood of His only Begotten Son.  

Christ must redeem us from our sins if we are going to be able to stand before God's throne and not shrink. 

We addressed messages from God causing a negative reaction.  When we finally realize our real condition before God it will cause us to cry out for mercy. Seeing ourselves as we truly are in our fallen state feels negative. God's true messages, if received, will break our hearts and give us the desire to become contrite before Him.  As king Benjamin declared, to become submissive like a child willing to submit to whatsoever the Father seeth fit to inflict upon us.  True faith will always lead to contrition and a broken heart.

Why is this important?

There is no giant scale of good works versus bad works.  None of our actions will have any bearing except our faith in Him and Him alone.    

It will only be His blood that matters. 

 "Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him---  Saying; Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;  Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life."(D&C 45:3-5)

For any individual who will be redeemed, the Father is looking only upon the works of His Son to let them come in to His kingdom.

When the Lord redeems an individual from their sins He is covering them with a robe of righteousness, His righteousness. 

 "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)

As a type, to remember to look to the blood of Christ and what it will do, we learn in the temple that coats of skins (garments) were prepared to cover nakedness (or shame before God). Something had to die, being sacrificed, to supply the coats of skins; emphasizing that the coats of skins (garments) represent the sacrifice and death of Christ to cover the nakedness of an individual. 

What the Father looks upon and sees covering an individual who is redeemed from sin is the righteousness of His Son, the sacrifice and blood of His Son, not the shame or nakedness of the individual.  This is what enables an individual to have confidence in the presence of God. They see that Christ has covered their shame or nakedness.  Christ lends them His righteousness so to speak.

In the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:11-13 we see that each guest is supplied with a wedding garment (ie. robe of righteousness, the righteousness of Christ covers them).  When the King enters he sees one who does not have on a wedding garment (ie. robe of righteousness).  The King has His servants bind the guest and cast him out. The only way to be allowed into the wedding feast is to be wearing the wedding garment (ie. covered with the righteousness of Christ). 

In the verses before we see who the guests are that are invited to the feast. Those invited guests are both bad and good.

Bad or good, they must be covered with the wedding garment. This is how important it is to have Christ redeem us from our sins.

This only happens through real faith which brings contrition and a willingness to submit to Christ.

Verse 11 of Helaman 5 continues "And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls."

Angels sent to declare repentance or tidings and conditions of repentance, ministering angels if you will, is a recurring theme in the Book of Mormon.

Lehi was taught by angels and prepared to be caught up into the heavenly temple (1 Nephi 1).  Nephi was also taught by angels (1 Nephi 11). Jacob was also taught by angels (2 Nephi 10). Amaleki exhorted us to believe in the ministering of angels (Omni 1:25). It was an angel who delivered the words to king Benjamin that king Benjamin should speak to his people (Mosiah 3). An angel came to Alma the Younger multiple times and to Amulek and his household (Alma 10). Alma told the people of Amonihah that angels were appearing unto many at that time (Alma 13:24) Nephi and Lehi as well as an army of nameless individuals (except for the Nephite dissenter Aminidab who was named) sent to kill them were all ministered to by angels (Helaman 5) Nephi son of Nephi had angels minister unto him daily (3 Nephi 7) and on and on.  

 Mormon states.

"Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ,..."(Moroni 7:25)

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father His rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?...And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men." (Moroni 7:27-29)

Mormon declared that the ministry of angels has not ceased and neither has God ceased to work by miracles.  In fact Mormon declared that if the ministry of angels among men and miracles ceases, wo be unto them because of unbelief and they are in a situation as if no atonement had been made. (Moroni 7:35 - 38)

That is a serious statement because remember the Lord would plead unto the Father for those who believe on His name.  If angels have ceased to minister to us then we are in a state of unbelief according to Mormon and we therefore do not believe on the name of Christ.  We are in a state just as if the atonement had not been made for us.

So why do we need ministering angels?

Mormon declared,

"For behold they(the angels) are subject unto him(God), to minister according to the word of his(God's) command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.  And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance..."

Mormon declared that the angels show themselves unto those of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness but, they are sent to call these people to repentance.  

How can that be?  Why would those of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness need to repent?  What is it that these faithful people receive from the angels?  What does this have to do with repentance?

Adam and Eve, after being cast out of the garden, heard the voice of the Lord from the garden but they could not see him. Adam and Eve were obedient to the words of the Lord and offered sacrifice of the firstlings of their flocks and were obedient to the commandments of the Lord.(Moses 5:4-5)

Adam and Eve were seeking to re-enter the presence of God.  

Who came first to these two righteous people? Angels (Moses 5:6-8)

If we go to what we are taught symbolically in the temple we learn that we are to consider ourselves respectively as if we were Adam and Eve. That means we are exhorted to do what they did.

What did they do?  They sought for true messengers from the Father to teach them. (angels)   

They were given signs and tokens to distinguish between true messengers and false ones.

D&C 129: 4-8 states

"When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you ("How shall I know that you are true messengers from the Father?")  If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand.  If he be a spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear-- Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive; but he will still deliver his message.  If it be the devil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, and you will not feel anything; you may therefore detect him.

George A Smith cousin to the Prophet Joseph and member of the quorum of the 12 stated in Provo in 1869, "There was no point upon which the Prophet Joseph dwelt more than the discerning of spirits." ("Minutes of Meetings held in Provo City," 28 November 1869, Church Archives) 

Why would we be taught of the ministering of angels and exhorted to seek after them and given direction to detect false spirits?  

What is to be gained from communication with angels? 

How does that bring us to God? How does that cause us to repent?

How did Adam and Eve or anyone else for that matter gain anything important from communication with angels?

The Prophet Joseph stated, 

"The Hebrew Church "came unto the spirits of just men made perfect, and unto an innumerable company of angels, unto God the Father of all, and to Jesus Christ the mediator of the new covenant."  What did they learn by coming to the spirits of just men made perfect? Is it written? No. What they learned has not been and could not have been written.  What object was gained by this communication with the spirits of the just?  It was the established order of the kingdom of God: The keys of power and knowledge were with them to communicate to the Saints." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.325)

Nephi declared,

"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore they speak the words of Christ.  Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."(2 Nephi 32:3)

Who speaks the words of Christ?  The angels

Who's words are we to feast on because they will tell us all things what ye should do? The angels who speak Christ's words

"And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom.  He who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory." (D&C 88:21-22)

The established order of the kingdom of God (the law of Christ, the law which sanctifies), which any individual must have information about and live according to those principles in order to be saved in that kingdom, cannot be communicated mortal to mortal. The Prophet Joseph said they are not written. They must be communicated to the Saints (revealed) by the angels.  They are the words of Christ we are to feast upon after entering into the way.

How many times in the scriptures do we read that it could not be written and it was unlawful for man to utter nor were they capable of uttering what they have received from heaven?

"But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom (the established order of His kingdom, knowledge and power) which he showed unto us, which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion;  Which He commanded us we should not write while we were yet in the Spirit, and are not lawful for man to utter;  Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him;  To whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves; That through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh (mortal), they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory."(D&C 76:114-118)

Jacob stated

"Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord.  How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways.  And no man knoweth of his ways (the established order of His kingdom, knowledge and power) save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren despise not the revelations of God."(Jacob 4:8)

But how does what the angels have to give to good people of firm faith in Christ relate to those good people repenting?

Abraham speaks a little concerning himself at the beginning of the book of Abraham.

"...having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge...and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir,..."(Abraham 1:2)

The Lord in the D&C states,

"for he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith"(D&C 98:12)

Do you see a pattern between Abraham and how the Lord said He would prove us herewith?

Now let's apply these things to the meaning of repentance.  

The Hebrew word for repentance is "shuv" (I think pronounced shube).  In Hebrew it literally means to turn around or face another direction or used in context to turn around and face God.

When an individual voluntarily submits to the will of the Lord in the scriptures are they repenting and turning to face God? 

Do they become a follower of righteousness and receive knowledge at this point? 

Once God has proven the individual faithful in the line and precept they have received from scripture God will begin to reveal His ways that cannot be written in scripture neither is it lawful for man to utter. 

The ways of God or the order of God's kingdom cannot be written remember. Jacob declared that no man knoweth of the ways of the Lord but by revelation.

 As an individual responds and follows what they are given by revelation from the angels are they repenting more? 

Are they turning even more to face God to follow the established order of His kingdom?  

Are they becoming greater followers of righteousness and desiring greater knowledge? 

Does this line upon line given by the angels to an individual man, woman, or child prepare them to become a rightful heir?  

Aren't they repenting all along the way according to the Hebrew definition because they are ever increasingly facing God until the perfect day when they are allowed in the flesh (mortality), to enter into His presence?

I would invite all to consider the symbolic progression through the endowment.  As the true messengers impart a portion of the order of the Kingdom of heaven, knowledge and power, and as those who receive these portions are declared to be true and faithful to those portions, they receive more, line upon line.  They begin to be clothed with robes and they are introduced into higher orders even the terrestrial kingdom ("we will now introduce you into the terrestrial world") until they arrive at the veil.  The person on the other side represents Christ. Every individual participating in the endowment is given this invitation through symbolism to do what Adam and Eve did.

Now when is this all to be accomplished? Now? Or is this a future expectation after this mortal life?

What article of clothing is put on very first in the endowment?

At what point is that article of clothing put on?  At the point where the fall occurs.

Is that article of clothing ever discarded throughout the endowment even after other articles of clothing are added?  

Is every individual wearing that article of clothing when they pass through the veil after proving themselves true and faithful in all things they have received from the true messengers of the Father?  

That article of clothing symbolizes mortality and that these things are to be accomplished in mortality, a fallen state.

This is what saving faith in this life leads to.

Remember what the Prophet Joseph declared.

"I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on the earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." (Book of Mormon, Introduction page)

The Book of Mormon contains account after account after account of normal everyday people in mortality exercising faith in Christ until they were taught by angels and then having proven faithful entered into the presence of the Lord.  They followed the same pattern taught in the endowment.  And they invite us to follow and do likewise that we may not be cut off at the last day.

The beauty of this process is that it is wholly individual and completely controlled by the Lord who is no respecter of persons and who cannot be deceived.

"O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One.  Remember that His paths are righteous.  Behold the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and He employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name."(2 Nephi 9:41)

The conclusion of verse 11 states concerning the angels,

"...which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls."

What does it mean to be brought unto the power of the Redeemer?  What does that have to do or how is that connected to the salvation of anyone's soul?

Nephi states,

"Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after He (Christ) shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh (mortality).  And when He (Christ) shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh (mortality), the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do."(2 Nephi 32:6)

This process, the doctrine of Christ, the only way and name given under heaven whereby a man can be saved, is calculated to bring us into the presence of Christ who will introduce us to the Father.

Christ declared,

"...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also; and henceforth ye shall know Him."(John 14:6-7)

Joseph taught,

"After a person has faith in Christ, and repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted.  When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord promised the Saints as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses....Now what is the other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; than when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of heaven will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God;..."(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 150-151)

I would also invite you to read D&C 130:3

When the Brother of Jared was brought through the veil and saw the Lord the Lord declared this unto him,

"...Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence;..."(Ether 3:13)

In Ether 3 the Lord defines redemption from the fall (salvation) as being brought back into His presence (bringing them unto the power of the Redeemer).

This whole process pointed to in Helaman 5:9-11 is what brings us to the point where we have built our foundation upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the son of God.

The Lord in Moses declared,

"...I am Messiah, the King of Zion, the Rock of Heaven, which is broad as eternity; whoso cometh in at the gate and climbeth up by me shall never fall;..."(Moses 7:53)

He truly is the rock.

He stands at the gate for each individual who will enter.  

He is the same from all eternity to all eternity.  

His ways change not.  

He loveth His children.  

He inviteth all to come to Him and partake of his goodness; and He denieth none that come unto Him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and He remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God.

Of this I testify in the name of Christ.

Our Partial Witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

In order that anyone may have a context for what is shared in this blog I would like to share part of what I and my wife, by experience, can honestly be witnesses of concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We testify that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God.  He is the way the truth and the light and the only name under heaven whereby man can be saved.

We testify that the Prophet Joseph saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ and through the Prophet Joseph the Lord brought forth the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price as well as restoring many plain and precious things that had been removed from the Bible.  

We witness that the Prophet Joseph was at very least a prophet of God. 

We testify that Joseph was more than a prophet for he truly exhibited the gifts of seership and translation and revealed, by the power of God, knowledge concerning the covenants of God to the House of Israel which had been lost and many many other truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

    

We testify that the Prophet Joseph stood in the presence of the Father and the Son multiple times, that the heavens were open to his view, that God Himself ordained him as head of a dispensation and that God Himself during Joseph’s life vouched for and still vouches for Joseph’s words. 

We testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and contains in perfect clarity much of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We know, as Joseph declared, that,

                 “…the Book of Mormon was (is) the most correct of any book on earth, and the            keystone of our religion, and a man would (will) get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”  

We testify that the Doctrine of Christ, set forth clearly and simply the Father and the Son as recorded by Nephi in 2Nephi 31 and 2Nephi 32: 1 – 7 and by the Lord Himself in 3Nephi 11: 31 – 40, is as Nephi declared,

                 “…the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and       true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without          end. Amen.”

We testify that James 1:5 and Moroni 10:4 - 5 are true statements from our own first hand experiences.  Any who lack wisdom may ask of God and receive an answer from Him on any matter and God will not upbraid them.  By the power of the Holy Ghost anyone may know the truth of all things.  We have asked questions of God and by the power of His Holy Spirit He has answered us in His own voice, enlightening our minds and opening our understandings.  This enlightening has filled our souls with great joy and peace.

             

We testify that the words of Christ in the Joseph Smith Translation of Mark 9:42 – 47 are true. 
            “…And again, if thy foot offend thee, cut it off; for he that is thy standard, by whom thou            walkest, if he become a transgressor, he shall be cut off.  It is better for thee, to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell; into the fire that never shall be quenched.  Therefore, let every man stand or fall by himself, and not for another; or not trusting another.  Seek unto my Father, and it shall be done in that very moment what ye shall ask, if ye ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive.  And if thine eye which seeth for thee, him that is appointed to watch over thee to show thee light, become a transgressor and offend thee, pluck him out.  For it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God, with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”

There was only one who was perfect and that was Christ.  We trust in Him and in His words.  All other things we measure against His words and as they match up we accept them and as they don’t we don’t accept them.  We seem to be in good company with this position:
                D&C 42:59 – 60 Thou shalt take the things which thou hast received, which have been given unto thee in my scriptures for a law, to be my law to govern my church; And he that doeth according to these things shall be saved, and he that doeth them not shall be damned if he so continue.
                
                “If any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the book of Doctrine and Covenants, set him down as an imposter [impostor].(Joseph Smith, “Times and Seasons”, Vol. 5. No. 7 City of Nauvoo, Ill. April 1 1844)

                “We have heard men who hold the priesthood remark that they would do anything they were told to do by those who preside over them—even if they knew it was wrong. But such      obedience as this is worse than folly to us. It is slavery in the extreme. The man who would thus         willingly degrade himself should not claim a rank among intelligent beings until he turns from his     folly. A man of God would despise this idea. Others, in the extreme exercise of their almighty           authority have taught that such obedience was necessary...When Elders of Israel will so far        indulge in these extreme notions of obedience as to teach them to the people, it is generally         because they have it in their hearts to do wrong themselves.” (Joseph Smith, Millennial Star,             14:38, pp. 593-595.)

It would seem that at least the Lord and the Prophet Joseph would agree with this point of view.  We choose to stand with them.  Others may choose as they like.

We testify that Jacob spoke truly when he declared,

                “… O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One, Remember that his paths are righteous.  Behold the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.  And whoso knocketh, to him will he open ;…”(2Nephi 9: 41-42)

We testify of the importance of living a clean and righteous life according to the principles of the Gospel God has revealed.

                “O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-    minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.” (2Nephi 9 : 39)

We testify that God is the same yesterday today and forever.  He works by power and by the gifts.                “And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the       Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.  And ye may know that he is; by the power of the Holy             Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by         power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and                forever.  And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are        many; and they come from the same God…” (Moroni 10: 6 – 8) 

             “And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues,   and the interpretation of tongues; Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them. For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?  And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a god of miracles.   But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.”(Mormon 9: 7 – 11)

We testify of the absolute importance in the Gospel of Jesus Christ of caring for the needs and wants of the poor without judging whether they are worthy to receive help. We testify that the term “worthy poor” describing who is supposedly worthy to receive aid is an abomination before God.                              “Nevertheless, in your temporal things you shall be equal and this not grudgingly, otherwise the abundance of the manifestations of the Spirit shall be withheld.” (D&C 70: 14)

          “And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of  your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up       his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.    Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has   brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of     my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are   just— But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent;   and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.    For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend  upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?   And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.    And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.    And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.   I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.    And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the      beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.   And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.    And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.” (Mosiah 4: 16 – 26)

 We could continue.  This is not by any means an exhaustive list of the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we desire to testify to but it is demonstrative of what we hold dear.