Fundamental Teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Supported by the Bible
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Table of Contents
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APOSTACY & RESTORATION
INTRODUCTION
There have been times when the Gospel has been taken from off the earth and the people live by their own ways, not God’s. These are times of apostasy.
Acts 14:15-16—[T]he living God…in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
Why would God separate Himself and His Gospel from man, leaving them alone? Isaiah taught:
Isa. 59:1-2—Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Man’s iniquities separate him from God. When God is not saving, or hearing the children of men, or the Gospel is no longer found, it is because the people have turned their hearts from God, not visa versa. The Book of Mormon explains that only the Church members can overthrow the Church:
Mosiah 27:13—Nevertheless he cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God? For the Lord hath said: This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people.
When observing the world, some feel God has left us today, but an ancient prophecy gives us hope:
Deut. 4:30-31—In the latter days...the Lord thy God...will not forsake thee...nor forget the covenant of thy fathers.
Matthew 16:18—And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Many understand this to mean that Christ will build His Church on Peter and His Church will never fall away into apostasy, but the Church will have an unbroken line of authority extending from Peter to all the successive leaders of Christ’s Church.
Question: Could there be an apostasy without Hell prevailing?
Answer: Yes. “Gates of Hell shall not prevail”: prevail means a complete victory over something; prevail reads, “not overcome it” in the NIV Matt. 16:18 with a footnote that reads, “not prove stronger than it.” Hell does not “prevail” or “prove stronger” when an apostasy AND restoration of a fallen Church ultimately overcome Hell’s temporary success, making Christ’s promise true.
DEFINITIONS & EXAMPLES
Apostasy = Knowing the truth, rejecting it, and becoming wicked; loss of the Gospel
Isa. 1:1-6—The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. This is Isaiah’s vision about the House of Israel, God’s people, who apostatized. See their restoration in Isa. 1:16-19,25-27 below.
Restoration = The Lord needs to reestablish and bring back the original teachings, practices, and structures that were lost and forgotten because of wickedness:
Alma 41:13—The meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful.
A restoration of Christ’s Church today would bring back Christ’s Church and Gospel in their original condition before they were distorted; a reformation would be to reshape or modify the existing church, like during the Reformation. As a result of the Reformation, sincere believers created their own, separate churches and gospels that were out of harmony with the one Church and Gospel Christ brought forth. Many of the well-intentioned, reformed churches are the Protestant faiths, supported by those protesting what they believed to be a corrupted church to make it right.
Isa. 1:16-19,25-27—Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land…And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY
Major apostasies occurred before Noah and Moses, at the time of Elisha, and at other times. The example of an apostasy that happened in Elijah’s and Elisha’s day is:
1 Kings 19:13-16—And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
When apostasies occurred before Noah and Moses, the Lord used those prophets to restore what was lost, rather than reform what existed.
OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO APOSTACIES
Noah
APOSTACY:
Gen. 6:11-12—The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
RESTORATION:
Gen. 6:17-18—And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
NEW TESTAMENT CONFIRMATION:
2 Peter 2:4-5—For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly. God restored righteousness, which was lost in the world, by sending Noah to preach it and by removing all those who refused righteousness.
Moses
RESTORATION FROM APOSTASY IN EGYPTIAN BONDAGE:
Exodus 13—And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place…the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey…Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD…And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year…and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage…And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them…God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea…And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF OLD TESTAMENT APOSTASIES AND PROPHECIES OF FUTURE APOSTASIES
Future Apostasy After Christ
Isa. 24:5—The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. (NOTE: The Law of Moses is never called the “everlasting covenant.” It refers to something beyond it. The “everlasting covenant” is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a reference to a future apostasy after Christ).
Future Apostasy After Hosea
Hosea 4:1-6—Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Future Apostasy After Amos
Amos 8:11-12Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
MANY OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES REFER TO GOD’S PEOPLE, THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, APOSTASIZING
They who Lead the Lord’s People Cause Them to Err
Isa. 3:12—As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
Apostate Pastors, Prophets & Priests. Restoration Gathering Through Christ.
Jer. 23:1-40—Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land. Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness. For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right. For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD. Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD. And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD. And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD. And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house. Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken? And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God. Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the LORD answered thee? and, What hath the LORD spoken? But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD; Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence: And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
The Whole Head of the Lord’s Children is Sick and has Forsaken the Lord
Isa. 1:2-6—Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s acrib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
Israel Does Not Call on God
Isa. 43:22-26—But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel. Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
Israel is a Backsliding Harlot and Judah Too
Jer. 3:6-10—The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.
God’s People have a Rebellious Heart and the Prophets Prophesy Falsely
Jer. 5:25-31—But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
The Children of Israel Forsook God’s Covenant and Slew His Prophets
1 Kings 19:9-10—And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
The House of Israel Went Into Captivity Because of Their Iniquity
Ezek. 39:23-24—And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.
The Children of Israel Have Deeply Revolted Against God
Isa. 31:6-7—Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
The Lord’s Flock, Following Corrupt Shepherds, Entirely Fall Away until the Lord Delivers and Feeds Them with His Words at His Coming to Reign on Earth
Ezek. 33:30–34:31—Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment. And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.
NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO THE LOSS OF THE GOSPEL
Acts 20:28-31—Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. The widespread impact of the foretold failure of the Church was of such a shocking and awful magnitude to Paul that he never ceased to tearfully warn the members of it. Grievous wolves would enter in, “not sparing the flock,” the “Church of God” (see vs. 28). Thus, the entire flock will be drawn away shortly after Paul departs mortality, which apostasy all the leaders, or “overseers” will be unable to stop. “Grievous wolves” are false prophets:
Matt. 7:15—Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
The false prophets are those within the Church, or “of your own selves,” who will arise, “speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples.” Acts 20:28-31
Actual Fulfillment of Paul’s Prophecy about Grievous Wolves and Additional Warnings
1 Cor. 15:29—Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? Council of Carthage—In A.D. 379 the council’s sixth canon forbids any longer the administration of baptism for the dead. Thus, this is one ordinance which was done away with—grievous wolves entered in, “speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them,” Acts 20:28-30, changing the ordinances, as Isaiah warns:
Isa 24:5—The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
Rev. 2:2—Thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars. This is an example of false apostles that actually existed in the former-day Church. The false prophets and apostles are immediate fulfillments of the prophecy of “grievous wolves” in Acts 20:28-31, above.
2 Tim. 4:1-5—I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. Here is a specific prophecy of an unconditional falling away of all the members of the whole Church. The Gospel will be lost as the Church members refuse correct doctrines, support their own religious teachers with whom they agree, and turn away from the truth to fables.
2 Tim. 3:1,5,7-8—This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come….Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away….Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. In the last days before Christ comes there will be a falling away because the “believers” deny the authority of the priesthood and never come to know the truth, even though they are constantly learning.
2 Thess. 2:3-4,7-8,14-15—Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God….For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming…. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Here is another, explicit prophecy of a general falling away of Christ’s Church after Christ’s resurrection where the devil will mimic God and deceive all the believers. Furthermore, the prophecy was already coming true in Paul’s day and it will not be until Christ’s second coming that the Wicked One’s deceptions will be eradicated. Verse 4 is significant because it explains that the devil will imitate God: “so that he as God sitteth...shewing himself that he is God.” It’s important to note that for four hundred years before the Council of Trent, the Pope claimed the power to remit all sins. If the Church truly did fall away, then this is an indication because someone assumed to sit in judgment as God. Yet “all judgment” has been “committed...unto the Son” who has the “authority” John 5:22,27. Jesus Christ is the one who forgives and absolves sins, not anyone else, because He alone bled and died for them. See also:
Heb. 10:10-12—By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.
Eph. 1:7—In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
1 John 1:7—For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
SECONDARY SCRIPTURE REFERENCES REFERRING TO APOSTATE CONDITIONS
Isa. 29:10,13-14—For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered….Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. The prophecy here refers to an apostasy and restoration. Verse 10 emphasizes the apostasy by saying the prophets and seers will have been “covered” and God’s people will have removed their hearts from God to trusting in the precepts of particular people—ministers, pastors, and scientists, for example. Another possible example of a restoration, addressed to an apostate people:
Hab. 1:5—Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
Matt. 24:9-15—Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand). After the apostles are killed, according to Christ’s prophecy, much perversion of the gospel will take place. The perversions of Christ’s Gospel by false prophets will happen all the way up until the time when the Gospel is preached to the entire world. After this preaching, the end of the world will come.
Matt. 21:43—Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you” (Compare Dan. 2:44, above). He taught this while in the temple, adding significance to the doctrine that emphasizes the Jews (House of Israel), Christ’s ancient people, will lose God’s kingdom, or Church, because they fail to follow His Church by bringing forth the requisite fruits or works of the Church.
Matt. 24:26—Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. A prophecy of the Gospel being potentially perverted by Gnostic beliefs of self torture which teach about going off into the desert or into a closet alone to deprive yourself of food, water, etc., in order to get closer to God.
Rev. 13:6-8—And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Here is another prophecy about Satan making war with the saints and overcoming them so that except for a few, all who dwell on earth will worship him. This is a striking confirmation of the prophecy in Acts 20:28-31—“Grievous wolves [shall] enter in among you [the church of God], not sparing the flock.”
Isa. 24:5—The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Isaiah prophesied of the time when the earth will be defiled because the inhabitants have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, and broken the everlasting covenant, the gospel (i.e., the ordinance of baptisms for the dead was changed, or rather, done away with at the Council of Carthage).
1 Tim. 4:1-3—Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. Paul gives a prophecy about how some will fall away from the true Faith of Christ. They will “depart from the faith” by “giving heed to…doctrines of devils,” which Satanic doctrines include “forbidding to marry” and “abstain[ing] from meats.”
Dan. 9:9-11—To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. All Israel departed from God and were cursed. Their falling away was in disobeying the voice of the Lord, which was given to them by the prophets. Today, the voice of the Lord is no longer heard in any worldwide religion because there are no prophets who claim to have direct revelation from the Lord’s own voice. The only exception to these worldwide religions lacking prophets is The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints.
Hosea 5:6—They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them. Here is a prophecy that the Lord will withdraw Himself from all people so that even those who seek Him will not be able to find Him. When the Lord is not present like this, an apostasy has taken place. The true Church will no longer be on the earth because “he hath withdrawn himself from them.” In order to remedy an apostasy, an actual restoration must take place. A restoration will take place if the people repent and seek God, like verse 15 says (I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.)
Hosea 12:6—Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually. God asks us to turn to Him after we have left Him, keep His laws, then wait for Him to restore His Church. A restoration may take a long time so that sincere believers will have to wait for God to reveal Himself again.
Deut. 31:28-29—Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. Moses spoke to the elders and other officers of the Church and prophesied that in the latter days evil will befall them because they will have utterly corrupted themselves from that which he taught them of the Lord’s will.
Restoration from Old Testament Apostacy
Luke 1:16-17—And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. The angel, who appeared to Zacharias in the temple, referred to many of the Israelites having fallen away or apostatized from God. John the Baptist would help restore them to the correct path in order to prepare an entire “people for the Lord.”
NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO THE CHURCH ALREADY FALLING AWAY
Eph. 4:14—That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Apparently, the saints were being “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” and Paul had to scold them for it.
2 Peter 2:1-3—“There were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies....And many shall follow their pernicious ways...the way of truth shall be evil spoken of….they with feigned hearts make merchandise of you.” Peter prophesied that, as before, there would be false teachers who bring in damning false doctrines which many people would follow. Not only would the people follow those false teachings, but they would also support the teachers with money so that the teachers with feigned hearts would make merchandise of the Church members, as if the members were market goods exchangeable for money. This whole process is also known as priestcraft:
Alma 1:12,16—But Alma said unto him: Behold, this is the first time that priestcraft has been introduced among this people. And behold, thou art not only guilty of priestcraft, but hast endeavored to enforce it by the sword; and were priestcraft to be enforced among this people it would prove their entire destruction…Nevertheless, this did not put an end to the spreading of priestcraft through the land; for there were many who loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching false doctrines; and this they did for the sake of riches and honor.
2 Tim. 2:18—Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Paul had to correct a false teaching about the resurrection. This is an example of the false doctrines that were already creeping into the Church in Paul’s day.
1 John 2:18—As ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many Antichrists.
1 Tim. 1:5-7—“Now the end of the commandment is...faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law; understand neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.”
Gal. 1:6-8—“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel...there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” The next part is significant because it declares that Christ’s church is the only true Church, and that it must always be the same as the one described in the New Testament, or it will not be the correct Church: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
Rev. 14:6-7—And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth. An angel will preach a-seemingly-other Gospel because all who dwell on earth will apparently either (1) not have the Gospel or (2) have a corrupted version of the Gospel.
Jude 1:3-4—Jude exhorts the people of the Church to “earnestly contend for the faith” because “there are certain men crept in unawares...ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 10:2-3—For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Some of us Christians can have too much zeal for Christ’s Gospel, and instead of establishing His righteousness, we establish our own. This is an inevitable effect when pastors or other religious leaders lack direct revelation from Jesus Christ Himself.
Bible Title Page—Speaking of the religious leaders who will malign the translators of the King James Bible, the translators said they will do this “because we are poor instruments to make God’s holy Truth to be yet more and more known unto the people, whom they desire to still keep in ignorance and darkness…who run their own ways, and give liking unto nothing, but what is framed by themselves.” This commentary reveals an apostasy that had clearly occurred before Joseph Smith’s day.
LDS DOCTRINE ABOUT HUMBLE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST
2 Nephi 28:14—They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men. There are some who are still humble followers of Christ. Martin Luther, John Calvin, Roger Williams, John Wycliffe, John Wesley, William Tyndale, Mohammed, Confucius, and Buddha are notable examples.
On February 15, 1978, the First Presidency, consisting of President Spencer W. Kimball and his counselors, President Marion G. Romney and President N. Eldon Tanner, issued an official statement regarding the Church’s position toward religious leaders and their Faiths:
The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals.
God Gives More to Those who Receive
2 Nephi 28:30-31—For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have. Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts.
Alma 12:10—And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.
D&C 50:24—That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
D&C 71:5—Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him understand and receive also. For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power.
Mark 4:23-25—If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
(Footnote) JST Mark 4:20—And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear; for with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you; and unto you that continue to receive, shall more be given; for he that receiveth, to him shall be given; but he that continueth not to receive, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
Luke 8:18—Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
The Lord Teaches People of All Nations
Mos. 3:13—And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them.
2 Nephi 29:7,12—Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also. And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written. For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written. For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it.
Alma 29:8—For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.
Dan. 2:21-22,28—And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these.
2 Nephi 8:7—Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I have written my law, fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
MODERN DAY
We believe an apostasy took place after Christ’s resurrection and a restoration began to occur in 1820 in America. These latter-days are when the final restoration is taking place in preparation for Jesus Christ’s Second Coming.
We further believe that the Bible foretold this apostasy and restoration:
BIBLICAL PROPHECY OF APOSTASY & RESTORATION IN THESE LAST DAYS
God Revealed to Daniel that God will Set Up His Kingdom in the Latter-times, Because It will not be on the Earth at that Time, and It will Eventually Replace All Kingdoms that Already Exist
Daniel 2:31-35, 44-45, 7:27—Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth….And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure….And 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, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. In the last days kingdoms as we know them will be replaced by the Kingdom of God. In other words, a great and final restoration. The stone cut out of the mountain is Christ:
Acts 4:10-12—Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Matt. 21:42-43—Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Christ’s Kingdom will finally replace all other kingdoms, whereas before, Christ’s kingdom had been “destroyed” and “left to other people,” as Dan. 2:44 above promises will not happen again.
WHEN WILL THE PROPHESIED RESTORATION BEGIN TO TAKE PLACE?
In the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times
Eph. 1:2,9-10—Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one call things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. Christianity will not be one in Christ until gathered in the dispensation of the fullness of times.
Before Christ’s Second Coming
Acts 3:19-21—Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. This is the prophecy from the New Testament that there will be a “restitution of all things” before Christ’s second coming.
Christ’s second coming was prophesied of at the time of Christ’s ascension into heaven after His resurrection in Acts 1:10-11:
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. This is the angelic prophecy that Christ will come again by descending out of heaven in the same way He went up.
A restitution is only necessary when truth or the Church is lost so it can be restored to its original condition; therefore, the use of the words “restitution” or “refreshing” indicates things will be lost or spoiled. See the following scriptures that validate the spoiling:
PROMISED RESTORATION
THE RESTORATION TO UNDUE THE GREAT APOSTASY’S EFFECTS
The First Restoration Events
JSH 1:8-19—During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them; but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong. My mind at times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others. In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it? While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible. At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to "ask of God," concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture. So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally. After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” Joseph Smith attended a variety of churches, read the scriptures and prayed about which church was true. God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared in answer to his prayer and told him that none of the churches were true. This started the elimination of the apostasy’s effects.
Scriptural Similarities to and Prophecy about the First Restoration Event
Acts 7:55-56—Compare this vision to Stephen’s—But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God, and also:
Acts 2:17—And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Here is an explicit prophecy foretelling young Joseph’s vision in the general, all encompassing language that young men will have visions in the last days.
Biblical Prophecy of the Restoration and its Modern-day Fulfillment
Rev. 14:6-7—And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. The everlasting Gospel will be restored in the last days by angelic ministry. This was fulfilled in our day. See:
JSH 1:34–While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor….He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants. The angel Moroni told Joseph that the fullness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in the Book of Mormon; thus, an angel did in fact “fly in the midst of heaven” who had the “everlasting gospel” contained in the hidden book of which he told Joseph. It was the pure Gospel every nation and people on the earth needed because it was not on the earth before the angel came.
More Biblical Scripture Supporting the Explicit Prophecies of the Apostasy and Restoration
Rev. 2:1-5,8-9,13-16,20-23—Especially focus on “I…will remove thy candlestick” when the candlestick represents Christ’s Church, letting its light so shine unto the world: Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent…And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan…I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth…Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Hosea 3:5—Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. In the latter days the children of Israel, or those of the covenant, will return, seek the Lord, and receive of His goodness. In other words, they will be restored.
Christ’s Indirect reference to the apostasy of His own Church during His mortal ministry:
Matt. 13:24-30—Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. These verses explain Christ’s parable about tares, or wicked people, filling His kingdom. This intrusion of wicked people into the Church happened during the apostasy of the early Christian Church. After the enemy planted many false priests and leaders into the Church, Christ waited until the Restoration to weed out the wicked from His field and restore His kingdom to its original state of pure wheat and good seed. This restoration of Christ’s Kingdom, the Church of Jesus Christ, began in America in these the latter-days.
Christ’s Reestablishment of His Church or Kingdom in the U.S. fulfills the Abrahamic Covenant:
Gen. 12:2—And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. In reestablishing His kingdom, Christ worked through Abraham’s seed that came to America. It became a great nation of the world, fulfilling in part His ancient covenant to Abraham. Joseph Smith was one of Abraham’s seed, through Israel, because scripture explains that the one through whom the Lord would restore His people, setting up an ensign to the nations and gathering His people, would be from Israel:
D&C 113:3-6—What is the rod spoken of in the first verse of the 11th chapter of Isaiah, that should come of the Stem of Jesse? Behold, thus saith the Lord: It is a servant in the hands of Christ, who is partly a descendant of Jesse as well as of Ephraim, or of the house of Joseph, on whom there is laid much power. What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter? Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a descendant of Jesse, as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood, and the ckeys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days.
CONCLUSION
There was a falling away of Christ’s Church, much of His truth and purity of His Gospel. There was also a restoration, instituted by God. Joseph Smith, one of Abraham’s descendants, became the prophet through whom Jesus Christ restored truth and authority in preparation for the Savior’s Second Coming, even though Joseph had virtually no formal education and was merely a farmer. The Lord’s choice of unlearned Joseph is consistent with His teachings:
1 Cor. 1:27—But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. God uses the weak things of the world to confound the mighty.
Luke 5:37-38—And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. Christ uses “new bottles,” like His disciples or like young Joseph Smith, and not those who are already steeped in the religious dogma of the day, in order to bring about His new doctrine, or “new wine,” for the restoration of His true religion (see also Mark 2:22—And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles).
Despite the Apostasy, Hell did not prevail because there was a restoration.
THIS IS WHAT PETER HAS DONE FOR OUR CHURCH
"Shortly after their ordination to the Lesser or Aaronic Priesthood, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were visited by the presiding Apostles of old, Peter, James and John, who conferred upon them the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordained them to the Holy Apostleship. In a later revelation the Lord Jesus thus specifically acknowledges the respective ordinations as having been done by His will and commandment:
"'Which John I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith Jr., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto this first priesthood which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron....And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry, and of the same things which I have revealed unto them: Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fullness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on the earth.' D&C 27:8,12-13."
James E. Talmage—Jesus the Christ, p. 713
“In June 1829, by divine appointment, Peter, James, and John came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and conferred upon them the Melchizedek Priesthood.”
Bruce R. McConkie—Mormon Doctrine, p. 478
NOTE: We believe that the rock Christ was referring to in Matt. 16:18 is revelation, not Peter. Verses 16 and 17 read: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Jesus is putting emphasis on the Spirit of God the Father revealing to Simon Bar-jona that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and (verse 18) it is upon this rock of revelation that Christ will build His Church.
ONE FAITH, ONE BODY = ONE CHURCH
Christ Organized a Church
Matt. 16:18—Jesus Christ proactively organized a single church: “Upon this rock I will build my church.”
Eph. 5:25,27—Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it…That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Christ loved His church and gave His life for it that He might have a glorious church that is holy and without blemish. Being without blemish is a high standard of consistency for His Church.
Acts 20:28—Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. It is important that the Church of God be well taken care of since Christ has purchased the Church with His own blood. Christ’s Church came into completion when Christ finished His work by dying on the cross.
Eph. 1:17,22—The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory…hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church. Christ is the head of an organized Church in addition to being the Savior of mankind. Being the head, He will direct its affairs personally and will not leave it to be governed by people who try to lead religious services according to their own “inspired” notions. Christ will clearly lead His own Church as its head and it will be clear that He is the One directing it.
Col.1:18-19—And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. Christ is the head of the body, or the church, and it is from Him that believers must receive the word of God. Christ will deliver His word to His servants the prophets and apostles and they will teach the members of the Church and the members of the Church must receive the word as if it came from Christ Himself. Compare: D&C 1:38—“Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”
Eph. 4:4-5,13-14—There is “one body,...one faith, one baptism.” There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism….Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. There is one Church with a striking unity of doctrine that does not conflict in any manner; there are firmly established beliefs, or, in other words, one set Church with one set of teachings that do not change depending on denominations, sects, or religious leaders of particular congregations.
Eph. 2:19-20, 3:5-6,21—Ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone….Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel…. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Saints are built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the corner stone of the true gospel and Church. Christ’s Church will have continuous apostles and prophets who receive direct revelations “for the perfecting of the saints . . . till we all come into the unity of faith....That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.” Eph. 4:11-14.
Consistent Teachings
The Church will not be full of disorder—it will be consistent in its teachings:
1 Cor. 1:10,13—Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment….Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? Christ’s church will speak the same things, have no divisions, and be perfectly joined in the same mind and judgment. Christ was not divided, therefore, the true Christian church will not contradict or oppose itself in any of its doctrines. Not every Christian church today speaks or teaches the same doctrines—so, which doctrine is right, or which one would Jesus teach? If every Christian church or every Protestant denomination is all one body in Christ Jesus, then what does Jesus teach—does He teach Methodist views or Baptist views or Presbyterian views or Nondenominationalist views or Catholic views? They all can’t be one body in Christ. There must be one true Gospel of Christ which only allows for one single denomination in order to speak the same things and be of one mind.
Rom. 16:17-18—Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. The scripture warns the saints to beware of those who cause divisions contrary to the set doctrine they have learned. Avoid them because they serve not Jesus Christ. This would apply to denominations—avoid them because they serve not Jesus Christ when they have their divisions or when their doctrines are contrary to the set doctrines of Christ’s Church (Col. 2:8-9—Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Don’t follow man’s philosophy or traditions or the world’s fundamental principles).
1 Thess. 2:13-14—For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews. The word of God is precisely that: from God, not men. All Church doctrine, teachings, and beliefs must be from God’s mouth and not the mouths of people grouped together in councils trying to decide what the true doctrine, teachings, or beliefs are. People, though, should relay God’s word to others, just as the apostles and seventy did anciently.
Gal. 1:2,6-12, 2:2—And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:…I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ….And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. There is only one gospel of Christ, but still churches, or congregations of the same denomination. In New Testament times they spoke of different congregations, not separate faiths.
Acts 15:22—Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren. Notice that the phrase “with the whole church” is a reference to a single body—thus, there should be one true Church. It may be composed of different congregations, but not different denominations, beliefs or theologies.
2 Cor. 11:3-4,13-15—But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him….For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. Beware of complex theological constructions about the nature of Christ, making Him into “another Jesus” and creating “another gospel.” Religious leaders who create such things are “false apostles” or false witnesses of Christ and His divinity as the literal Son of God. Satan is very deceptive since he can make his ministers be transformed into what appears convincingly to be ministers of righteousness.
Question: How has the simple doctrine of Jesus Christ as God the Father’s literal Son been corrupted by the forcefully engineered theology of the “Trinity” where its mystery and unclear language supposedly make it true since it is impossible to comprehend all of God?
Acts 4:32—And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. Shortly after Christ’s resurrection, His followers became of one heart and of one soul. If Christ’s followers are of one heart and one soul, then any who are not of the same heart and soul are not totally Christ’s followers. It is hard to imagine that with this perfect unity any of Christ’s followers would have had diverging beliefs in Christ or His teachings. (Moses 7:18—And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.).
Rom. 12:4-5,16—For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another….Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. There is and should only be one body in Christ with the same mind, not several bodies of different religious thoughts. Thus, there is no room for contradicting or even different doctrines in His church. Only one true, organized and living church can fulfill the requirement of having the same mind.
1 Cor. 10:17,12:12-14,24-25—For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread….For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. There is only a single religious body of many members (whether Jew [nationality] or Gentile, bond or free) who are baptized into that organized unit which has no schisms whatsoever. Only in a single, organized religious body can the members have the same care one for another, but today, Christians who are of the same denominations will care first about their members than the members of another denomination. Instead, in Jesus Christ’s Church, all the members care for each the same because they are all the same with no differences among them, such as denominations.
Compare: Book of Mormon, Helaman 11:21—And it came to pass that the seventy and sixth year did end in peace. And the seventy and seventh year began in peace; and the church did spread throughout the face of all the land; and the more part of the people, both the Nephites and the Lamanites, did belong to the church; and they did have exceedingly great peace in the land; and thus ended the seventy and seventh year.
Book of Mormon, Mosiah 25:20-22—Now this was done because there were so many people that they could not all be governed by one teacher; neither could they all hear the word of God in one assembly; Therefore they did assemble themselves together in different bodies, being called churches; every church having their priests and their teachers, and every priest preaching the word according as it was delivered to him by the mouth of Alma. And thus, notwithstanding there being many churches they were all one church, yea, even the church of God; for there was nothing preached in all the churches except it were repentance and faith in God. Many churches may all still be one church if the respective priests and teachers preach only those things that the one head leader teaches.
1 Cor.11:17-19,22—Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you….What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. “I praise you not,” Paul declared, because there were divisions and heresies already in Christ’s Church at the time. The church of God will have no doctrinal divisions within itself.
Philip. 1:1,27,3:16—Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:…Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel….Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. All the saints are addressed here to stand fast in one spirit and in one mind for the faith of the gospel. 2:2,14—Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind….Do all things without murmurings and disputings. All Saints must be of one accord and one mind without disputing.
Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11:28—And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize. And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been. Jesus Christ commands that there shall be no disputations concerning any of the points of His doctrine.
Acts 12:5—Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. The “Church” as a single unit, not divided denominations, prayed together for Peter when he was in prison. This is one example that suggests Peter became the acting head of the Church on earth—the head prophet and Apostle.
Section conclusion
Such strong emphasis on steady teachings that do not conflict (Heb. 13:9—Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein) is a testimony in itself that there is a one true church—there won’t be many churches with contradictory doctrines but they will all have an internal consistency, making them one Church.
THE ORGANIZATION OF CHRIST’S CHURCH
Christ’s church is organized with different offices and positions to guide His church under priesthood ordination:
Priesthood Authority
Mark 13:34—For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Apostles and Elders
Acts 15:2,6—When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question….And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. Apostles and Elders were the authority in the Church to turn to for answers to doctrinal questions.
The Twelve Apostles, various assistants to the Twelve, and Elders
Acts 6:1-6,14:23—And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them….And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Apostles Ordained
Mark 3:14-15—And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.
Luke 9:1-6—Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. The Church will have apostles ordained with power from Christ.
Apostles Continuing
Acts 1:25-26—That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Matthias is numbered among the eleven apostles here, thus keeping the number still twelve. The organization of twelve apostles, therefore, is meant to continue, and not end after the original twelve die.
Gal. 1:1,15-17—Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead)… But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
Paul ends up becoming an apostle by Jesus Christ. Paul met Peter and James, but not the other apostles that were apostles before he became an apostle—this is a reference to a continuation of apostles, not an end in twelve original apostles.
Acts 14:4,14—But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles…Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out. The author of Acts termed both Paul and Barnabas apostles (or maybe it included the names of the two along with the apostles? The language is ambiguous).
2 Peter 3:15-16—And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Peter verifies that Paul has written and been given wisdom whereby his words in his epistles are scripture, adding evidence that Paul was an apostle.
Gal. 1:11-12—But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Paul even testifies with the power of an apostle; because of the personal revelation of Jesus Christ to him, he knows Christ as an especial witness and Christ’s true Gospel, which is the mission of an apostle.
Eph. 4:11-14—And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
Paul’s ascension to the apostleship is essential to the working order of Christ’s Church. Without apostles and prophets, the saints cannot be perfected, they cannot come to a unity of faith, and they will be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. We see this happened with the loss of the apostles and prophets by the emergence of doctrinally divided denominations.
Presidency within the Apostles
Gal.2:9—And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. Peter, James, and John “seemed to be pillars” among the apostles in the administration of Church functions.
Consider Luke 8:51—And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. Jesus treated Peter, James, and John separate and differently from the other apostles. The presidency of three main apostles is meant to be.
Prophets
Amos 3:7—Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Acts 11:26-29—And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Prophets are also important in the Lord’s Church.
Bishops & Elders
Titus 1:5,7—For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:…For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre.
Bishops & Deacons
1 Tim. 3:1-10—This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Never in the Old Testament Church were any of these offices; therefore, Christ did in fact organize a church.
Christ’s Church Organziation
Christ organized a Church of leaders when He gave some “pastors” (Eph. 4:11) which are bishops, Elders (James 5:14), and a quorum of seventy (Luke 10:1). Further, Christ will lead his servants the Apostles and Prophets—Mark 16:19-20—So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Christ’s church will have power and authority, or the priesthood. Mark 1:22,27—And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes….And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
The doctrines are more than just teachings, but an essential combination of authority is necessary:
Heb. 5:1,4,6,10—For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins…And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec….Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec; 2 Cor. 10:8, 13:10— For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed….Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
There is an Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthood:
Heb. 6:20, 7:11-12—Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec….If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Mark 13:34—For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
The laying on of hands is characteristic of administering in the priesthood:
Acts 8:16-19—For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
2 Tim. 1:6-11—Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles,
Giving oil blessings by Elders:
James 5:14—Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: In the last days there will be those who have a form of godliness, but will deny the power thereof: 2 Tim. 3:5—Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. thus, the true church will not deny the power or priesthood.
The Church of Christ will also be an evangelical or missionary church:
Christ said (Matt. 24:14—And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come) that the Gospel must be preached (Luke 9:1-6—Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where) in all the world (Mark 13:10, 14:9—And the gospel must first be published among all nations. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.)
The Church of Christ will have certain ordinances essential for our salvation:
Such as baptism (John 3:5—Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God, Luke 12:50—But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!) and the sacrament.
Baptism should be done by immersion like Christ:
Mark 10:38—But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?, Rom. 6:4—Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life, Col. 2:12—Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead, Gal. 3:27-28—For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus, Mormon 7:10-- And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen, Matt. 3:16-- And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him, Romans 6:3-5--Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection, and Acts 2:38—Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The Sacrament:
John 6:53-56—Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him, Both: Matt: 20:22-23—Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father, Acts 2:41-47—Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Christ’s church will have at least one temple because in the last days the house of the Lord will be established in the top of the mountains, and all nations shall flow unto it—Isa. 2:2-3—And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Christ considers the Temple very important: John 2:15-16—And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. See also: Isa. 44:24,28—Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer…That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid; The Lord also had His New Testament followers continue in the temple: Luke 24:53—And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
The true Church will have more revelations from God about His mysteries:
Col. 1:26-27—Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Also, these other scriptures give evidence:
Eph. 1:17—That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.
Eph. 3:3-6—How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.
Matt. 4:4—But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matt. 16:17—And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Acts 1:2-3—Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Rev. 1:14-20—His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Rev. 2:2-11—I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Christ regularly gave personal revelation to His Former-day Churches; why not now to our more numerous churches?
Note: If we are falsely attacked as being a cult, or completely condemned by others, then the accuser should remember that Jesus Christ said to his apostles about a man who cast out devils in His name, but didn’t follow them, to “forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us” (Luke 9:49-50). We are for Christ and definitely not against Him. He is the head of our church, and, most importantly, he is also our Savior who we need to ultimately gain Salvation.
WHAT IS A PROPHET?
Prophets are sent by the Lord, and speak His voice:
• D&C 1:38—Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.
• Ex. 4:16—Thou shalt be…instead of God.
The Lord will manifest Himself to prophets in a vision or dream (and to some of them, He will manifest Himself face to face).
• Numbers 12:6-8—And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
• Amos 3:7—Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The Lord uses prophets to reveal His secrets (Hosea 12:10—I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. He has spoken through prophets)
The prophets do not merely foretell the future, but they teach people God’s ways
• James 5:10—Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
• 2 Kings 17:13—Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
• Ezra 9:10-11—And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments, Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.
• Jeremiah 23:21-22—I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
Examples of Prophets and their roles:
Moses—He was the receiver of God’s laws, the Ten Commandments (Exodus 31:18—And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.)
• Ex. 18:15-26—And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
• As the above scripture indicates, a prophet will interpret the law when people have “a matter” that they have come to inquire of the Lord about and he will “make them know the statutes of God, and his laws,” as well “teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.” He will delegate authority, choosing men to help rule who are “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.” A prophet acting in this responsibility is sometimes called a “seer”: 1 Sam. 9:9—Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.
Jonah—A prophet warns the people and tells them to repent, i.e. Jonah and Nineveh (Jonah 1:1-2—Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. or (Jer. 25:4-5—And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever.) Jeremiah 23:21-22
Isaiah—Prophets foretell the future about significant events relating to salvation, i.e. Isaiah foretold Christ's birth (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6—Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel….For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
• Isa. 30:8-10—Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Rebellious people don’t want prophets to speak “right things.” Speaking correct doctrine is one of a prophet’s main responsibilities.
Joshua—When necessary, prophets can perform great miracles:
Joshua 3:15-17—And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan. Parting the Jordan River
Joshua 6:20—So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. Jericho destroyed
Joshua 10:12-14—Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel. Sun & moon stand still
Abraham—Prophets to establish a covenant people:
Genesis 17:5-7: Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. God establishing a covenant between Abraham and his posterity.
Peter—Prophets witness of Christ
Acts 10:40-43: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
See also Isaiah and His witness of Christ (Isaiah 53) or the other prophets (see Charting the New Testament).
Not all prophets do each of these things, unless it is God's will.
Examples of New Testament prophets:
John the Baptist—Luke 1:(70)76— As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began….And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. Matt. 11:7-11—And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Acts 13:1—Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. Prophets at Antioch
Acts 15:32—And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. Judas and Silas were prophets.
Acts 21:9-10, 11:27-28—And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. Agabus the prophet
Ephesians 4:11-14—And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Christ has given prophets for the church.
Eph. 3:5-6—Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. Paul acknowledged that in the Church there were currently apostles AND prophets who were receiving revelation.
1 Cor. 12:28—And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. God hath set some as prophets
Num. 11:27-29—And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! All should be prophets
Rev. 19:10—And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Acts 3:20-21—And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. God’s pattern of prophets
Acts 3:22—Jesus was a prophet—For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. (Luke 4:24, 7:39, 24:19—And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country….Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. …And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. Matt. 13:57—And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.)
Matt. 16:19—And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Peter became the head of the church and prophet.
Consider:
Revelation
10:7—But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
11:8,10—And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified…. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
16:6,13—For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy…. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
18:20,24—Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her…. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
19:10,20—And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy…. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
20:10—And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
22:3-6,8-9—And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done….And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Even righteous women can be prophetesses:
Ex. 15:20-21—And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Judges 4:4—And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
2 Chron. 34:21-28 (2 Kings 22:14)—Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book. And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect. (Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us. So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her).
Isa. 8:3—And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
Luke 2:36—And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity.
Unnamed Prophets
1 Kings 18:4,13—(Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)….Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? There were one hundred of the Lord’s prophets who went unnamed in the Bible.
2 Chron. 24:19—Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.
2 Kings 24:2—And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.
1 Sam. 10:5-6,10-12—After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man….And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets? Here was a whole company of prophets who went unnamed. Lehi, of The Book of Mormon, was also a prophet in Jerusalem (1 Ne 1:4—For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.) One could reason that if Lehi was truly a prophet in Jerusalem, certainly the Bible should include him, but the previous scriptures give examples of many prophets who were not named or talked much about. See also:
2 Kings 17:13—Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
2 Chr. 36:15-16—And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
Jer. 26:4-7,20—And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened; Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth. So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD….And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath-jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.
Jer. 7:25—Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. Compare with 1 Ne 1:18-19—Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard. And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world. Lehi could very well have been one of these “prophets” the Lord sent, according to Jer. 7:25; Lehi lived in Jeremiah=s day before Jerusalem was destroyed. See 1 Ne 5:13—And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah; and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah; 7:14—For behold, the Spirit of the Lord ceaseth soon to strive with them; for behold, they have rejected the prophets, and Jeremiah have they cast into prison. And they have sought to take away the life of my father, insomuch that they have driven him out of the land; and Jer. 44:1-(4)-6—The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein, Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers. Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods. Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.
Jer. 25:2-5—The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever.
According to the Book of Jeremiah, the Lord sent his servants the prophets who said for everyone to turn from their evil ways and doings. The Book of Mormon similarly testifies in 1 Ne 1:18-19 (See quotation above).
Does a true prophecy indicate a true prophet?
Deut. 13:1-5—If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. Just because prophecies come true doesn’t mean that the prophet was a true prophet sent from God. The prophecy and teachings must be in accordance to God’s ways.
THE FIRST OF THE MODERN-DAY PROPHETS: JOSEPH SMITH
Joseph Smith personally saw God and Jesus Christ in the First Vision
• The story of Joseph Smith includes an account of the first vision when he was fourteen. Some may be skeptical about such a radical idea, but consider Acts 2:17 which states that “In the last days . . . your young men shall see visions.”
• According to Joseph Smith, in his own words in JSH 1:15-17,25—After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!... So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.
Both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph, like in Stephen’s vision
• Joseph’s experience was nearly identical to the martyr Stephen’s experience in Acts 7:55-56—But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Stephen had a vision similar to Joseph’s.
From a Biblical perspective, the appearance of Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith giving him a knowledge of Himself is consistent with the doctrines and teachings of the Lord:
The Lord’s Promise
• Matt. 5:8—Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Taken literally, those who are pure in heart will actually see God, according to what Christ himself taught. As a young boy, Joseph Smith was only seeking to know from Heavenly Father what the truth was. That desire came from a pure heart. As a result of his inquiry, his purity, and his faithfulness, God appeared to Joseph Smith and later restored Christ’s original Church through him.
• John 14:21-23—He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Jesus Christ made an explicit promise hear that declares He will manifest Himself to those that keep His commandments and love Him.
A Promise of the Lord made Anciently
• Lev. 9:3-4,6,22-24—And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering; Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you….And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you. This promise came true that day: And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces. As promised, the Lord appeared to the people. (Note: the Lord was not fire Himself, but fire came from Him, and it’s possible that the people only saw His glory, and not Himself personally).
Paul’s Promise
• Eph. 1:15-17—Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That he God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. Just as Paul prayed for and indirectly promised, God revealed Himself to Joseph Smith, giving him an actual knowledge through that revelation.
• Acts 9:3-8,17,20—And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
• Acts 22:12-19—And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee. Paul himself experienced his own promise and could therefore testify that God would reveal Himself to people, giving them actual knowledge of His reality and truth. Paul thereby became a perfect witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. See:
• 1Cor. 15:3-10—For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am.
The Purpose of an Apostle: A witness of Christ
• Acts 26:15-16—(D&C 107:23—The twelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.)—And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee. Apostles can testify of Christ because they have seen Him. They are His witnesses. And if they have not seen Christ in His mortal ministry, He will appear unto them like He did to Paul so that they may in fact be witnesses of His living reality. This appearance could be a face to face encounter, or it could be a vision where Christ manifests Himself to them in some way that would make them special witness: Numbers 12:6-8—And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. Hearing the voice of the Lord is a powerful witness to His reality, even if the encounter is not face to face.
• Acts 10:40-43—Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Prophets and Apostles, like Peter and others, give witness of Christ’s living, resurrected state.
• Acts 1:2-3—Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God
• JSH 1:15-20—After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof." He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, "Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off." I then said to my mother, "I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true." It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?...It was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise. So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.
• D&C 76:19-24— And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about. And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness; And saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever. And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.
Joseph was a humble, 14-year old farm boy who was uneducated and searching for God’s true Church
• JSH 1:22-23—I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase; and though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sects—all united to persecute me. It caused me serious reflection then, and often has since, how very strange it was that an obscure boy, of a little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily labor, should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of the most bitter persecution and reviling. But strange or not, so it was, and it was often the cause of great sorrow to myself. See next part:
• JSH 1:47-48: Almost immediately after the heavenly messenger had ascended from me for the third time, the cock crowed, and I found that day was approaching, so that our interviews must have occupied the whole of that night. I shortly after arose from my bed, and, as usual, went to the necessary labors of the day; but, in attempting to work as at other times, I found my strength so exhausted as to render me entirely unable. My father, who was laboring along with me, discovered something to be wrong with me, and told me to go home. I started with the intention of going to the house; but, in attempting to cross the fence out of the field where we were, my strength entirely failed me. Joseph Smith was very young and uneducated when he became the Lord’s servant the prophet who translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God and learned new scripture.
• Mark 2:22—And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. The Lord’s words here metaphorically explain why young Joseph was chosen to be the Lord’s servant to restore Christ’s original Church, bring forth the companion volume of scripture to the Bible, and new doctrine. Church leaders of the various denominations would be so steeped in the religious dogma of their own faith that they would not be able to keep the fresh, new scripture, doctrines, and restored Church free from their own old beliefs.
• Isaiah 29:11-12—And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. The Lord even acknowledged Joseph’s lack of education in this prophecy. The Lord is consistent in whom He uses as His instruments, like the ancient apostle Peter who as a scholastically uneducated fisherman (Matt. 4:18-22—And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him).
Opposition to Joseph’s Witness of seeing Christ is not unusual, even for those familiar with Christ
• Mark 16:9-11—Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
• Luke 24:10-11—It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
• Luke 24:13-48—And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. Christ’s appearance to many people after His death was not His Second Coming. Similarly, His appearance to Joseph Smith was not His Second Coming either. But, Christ appeared to Joseph Smith so that he could one of the Lord’s “witnesses of these things.”
• Mark 16:12-13—After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. Many Catholics and Protestants in Joseph Smith’s day and today do not believe Joseph’s testimony of seeing our resurrected Lord just as Christ’s disciples and even apostles did not immediately believe the eye-witnesses of Christ’s resurrection. If Christ had truly appeared to Joseph Smith, then Jesus would probably be similarly disappointed that Christians today do not believe Joseph’s witness that he “had seen him after he was risen”?
CONCLUSION
As prophesied about in the latter days, Joseph Smith saw a vision (Acts 2:17). In that vision, Joseph saw, just as Stephen the martyr saw, both God the Father and His Son, God Jesus Christ standing next to Him (Acts 7:55-56). The Savior Himself preached that those who are pure in heart will see God (Matt. 5:8). Through His servant, the apostle Paul, Christ reemphasized this same promise to give revelation of Himself to others (Eph.1:15-17). True to His promises, the Lord has appeared to many people after His resurrection, including Peter, all the Apostles, Paul and many disciples (1 Cor. 15:3-10, Acts 10:40-43, Acts 1:2-3). Joseph Smith is also a special witness of Christ’s living resurrection because Christ appeared to him and others in these modern days (D&C 76-19-24). As wonderful as these additional witnesses are, there are still many who believe in Christ, but do not believe in His eye-witnesses, just as Christ’s ancient apostles and disciples could not believe initially in Christ’s eye-witnesses (Mark 16:9-13).
CONTINUING REVELATION TO THE CHURCH
Support by Reason
“Adam’s revelation did not instruct Noah to build his ark; nor did Noah’s revelation tell Lot to forsake Sodom; nor did either of these speak of the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt [nor did Isaiah’s revelation inform Peter that the Gospel should be preached to the Gentiles]…. Whoever heard of true religion without communication with God? To me the thing is the most absurd that the human mind could conceive….Without revelation religion is a mockery and a farce. If I cannot have a religion that will lead me to God, and place me en rapport with him, and unfold to my mind the principles of immortality and eternal life, I want nothing to do with it.” —President John Taylor. Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, pp.158-159
Support by Scripture
Christ’s Revelations to the Early Church
For a vivid illustration of the importance of continuing revelation in Christ’s Church, we can look to the earthly ministry of the Lord and His succeeding instructions to His Apostles. During His lifetime the Lord instructed the Twelve Apostles not to preach to the Gentiles but “rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:6; see also Matt. 10:5; Matt. 15:22-26). Then, at the appropriate time, this instruction was reversed in a great revelation to the Apostle Peter. Only then, at the precise time dictated by the Lord, was the gospel taken to the Gentiles (see Acts 10-11). The Lord was consistent in His revelations and gave Paul the same one:
Eph. 3:2-6—If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. The Lord gave Paul new revelation for the benefit of Church members that the Gentiles could also enjoy the promises of Christ’s gospel. This is an example of continuing revelation that is necessary for the growth of Christ’s Church among all the nations.
Ephesians 3:
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which [mystery of Christ] in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
As these examples show, continuing revelation is the means by which the Lord administers His timing and guides His Church. We need that revelatory direction in the functions of Christ’s Church in order to handle the ever-changing situations of the saints and the world.
Particular, personal, necessary, and individual revelations to the separate congregations:
To the Congregations collectively:
Rev. 1:1,4-5—The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John….JOHN to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood
Ephesus
Rev. 2:1-2,4-5—Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars….Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Smyrna
Rev. 2:8-10—And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Pergamos
Rev. 2:12-16—And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Thyatira
Rev. 2:18-25—And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Sardis
Rev. 3:1-5—And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Philadelphia
Rev. 3:7-12—And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Laodiceans
Rev. 3:14-21—And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Congregations collectively
Rev. 2:7,11,17,29, 3:6,13,22—He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God….He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death….He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it….He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches….He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches….He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches….He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Why do our congregations today not need the personalized guidance and direct revelations from Jesus Christ through an inspired Apostle or Prophet? Actually, they do. Consider:
Gal. 1:2,6-12, 2:2—And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:…I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ….And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. Without direct revelation from Jesus Christ Himself, every single believer will be soon removed from Christ’s Gospel to another gospel and to other teachings which are perversions of Christ’s Gospel. Revelation is essential in the Church of Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 14:6—Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? Only speaking by revelation will Apostles and special servants of the Lord be of any benefit to believers.
1 Sam. 3:1-14—And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. Here, the Lord gave very particular revelations to Samuel about Eli and Eli’s particular situation, as well as a general prophecy about what He would do in Israel. This revelatory event gives no evidence that God would ever discontinue such revelations since all of the Lord’s servants throughout the ages, and in whatever circumstances they are in, they will still need the specific revelations from the Lord to guide them in correct paths, the paths the Lord has given.
2 Cor. 12:1-4,7-9—It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter…. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Amos 3:7—Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Dan. 2:28-30,45—But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart….Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. Because God gives revelations about the future to kings, it would be consistent for Him to give revelations about the future to His children today.
Deut. 29:29—The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. Here is an explicit indication that God’s revelations will continue forever, and not end with Christ and the New Testament.
Deut. 8:3—And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Living is a continual process that requires a replenishment of food; similarly, for our spirits to live, we need a replenishment of new revelations because consumed bread is not sufficient to sustain life. See: Matt. 4:4—But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
John 10:4—And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. Christ’s voice must be heard on a continuing basis through revelation or else the sheep will be unable to follow Him and be scattered.
John 17:8—For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. God gave revelations to His Son Jesus Christ. If Christ was directed by God the Father on a continuing basis by revelation, then certainly apostles, prophets, bishops, ministers and other Church leaders also need continuing revelation today.
Lam. 2:9—Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD. The poor spiritual condition is the same in Catholicism, Protestantism, nondenominationalism, and all the world’s religions who claim no visions from the Lord like the one the Lord gave to Joseph Smith in 1820 and the visions he continues to give His prophets.
Prov. 29:18—Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Christ reconfirmed this truth when he spoke to Peter: Matt. 16:16-19—And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Revelation is the solid rock upon which Christ will build His Church because only then will hell be unable to prevail against the Church; but when revelation ceases, hell will prevail and conditions like the Dark Ages will inevitably occur.
Rev. 4:1—After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. Since there will be more hereafter, it’s reasonable to understand that Christ will continue to give revelations and visions to those of His Church like He did here with John, the great Apostle and leader of Christ’s Church.
MODERN REVELATION’S REALITY TO MANY OTHERS
(To be filled in later)
WHY THE BIBLE ISN’T ENOUGH WITHOUT DIRECT REVELATION
(1) MULTIPLE DENOMINATIONS: There are over 700 (seven hundred) different Christian Faiths that are using the Bible to support conflicting doctrines:
• Baptism—Is it necessary or not?
• If so, at what age?
• And is special divine authority (Priesthood) needed?
• By sprinkling or immersion?
• What or who is God?
• And what is our relationship to God?
• Saved by grace or works or both?
(2) MISSING SCRIPTURE REFERRED TO IN THE BIBLE: 1 Nephi 13:20-41—And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they did prosper in the land; and I beheld a book, and it was carried forth among them. And the angel said unto me: Knowest thou the meaning of the book? And I said unto him: I know not. And he said: Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles. And the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God. Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God. And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away. And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men. Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God. And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, thou seest—because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God—because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them. Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands, which is the land that the Lord God hath covenanted with thy father that his seed should have for the land of their inheritance; wherefore, thou seest that the Lord God will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren. Neither will he suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy the seed of thy brethren. Neither will the Lord God suffer that the Gentiles shall forever remain in that awful state of blindness, which thou beholdest they are in, because of the plain and most precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, whose formation thou hast seen. Wherefore saith the Lamb of God: I will be merciful unto the Gentiles, unto the visiting of the remnant of the house of Israel in great judgment. And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord spake unto me, saying: Behold, saith the Lamb of God, after I have visited the remnant of the house of Israel—and this remnant of whom I speak is the seed of thy father—wherefore, after I have visited them in judgment, and smitten them by the hand of the Gentiles, and after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly, because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb—I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb. For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto thy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren, behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb. And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation. And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be. And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the book of the Lamb of God, which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren. And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true. And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved. And they must come according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore they both shall be established in one; for there is one God and one Shepherd over all the earth. Explains that the Bible does have lost parts.
LOST SCRIPTURE:
Actual Missing Scripture by Name
• Joshua 10:13, 2 Sam. 1:18—“The Book of Jasher,”
• 2 Chron. 9:29—“The Book of Nathan the prophet,” “Prophecy of Ahijah,” and “Visions of Iddo the seer,”
• 2 Chron. 13:22—“The Acts of Abijah…written in the Story of the Prophet Iddo,”
• 1 Sam. 10:25—Samuel wrote in another book called 1 Chron. 29:29—“The Book of Samuel the Seer,” and “The Book of Nathan the Prophet,” “The Book of Gad the Seer,”
• Num. 21:14—“The Book of the Wars of the Lord,”
• 2 Chron. 12:15—“The Book of Shemaiah the Prophet,”
• 2 Chron. 20:34—“The Book of Jehu,”
• 2 Chron. 33:19—“The Sayings of the Seers,”
• Exodus 24:4, 7—“Book of the Covenant,”
• 1 Cor. 5:9, Eph. 3:3, Col. 4:16—Writings or missing epistles of Paul
• Jude 1:3—A missing epistle of Jude.
Old Testament Imperfections
• Matt. 2:23—And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. A prophecy about Christ as a Nazarene found no where explicitly in our Bibles.
• Matt. 1:1-16—Matthew had a superior Old Testament record because it included names and people not found in our Old Testament.
• Jude 1:14—And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints. Jude knew about a prophecy of Enoch that is not in our Bibles Scholars say there are 126 references to the lost Book of Enoch in our New Testament—The New Testament writers all had this book as a part of their canon, they say.
• 2 Tim. 3:8—Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. This is an example of an account nowhere explicitly mentioned in the Old Testament; and even if it is one of the accounts of Moses with the wicked priests, the writer of Timothy had a superior record of the Old Testament since nowhere in ours can we find the actual names “Jannes” and “Jambres.”
New Testament Imperfections
• Acts 1:2-3—Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Reference to forty days of information the resurrected Christ gave to his apostles concerning the Kingdom of God.
• Luke 1:1—Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. Here, Luke makes reference to not just a couple other Gospels, not just a few other Gospels, or even several other Gospels, but many other Gospels which would denote that there were at least five other Gospels in some form already written by other eyewitnesses. Luke saw no perversion (“It seemed good to me also”) in adding another Gospel, or book of scripture, by writing his testimony for the purpose of helping others come to a “certainty” of Jesus Christ and His teachings.
• 2 Tim. 4:11-13—Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.…The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. Paul requested that Timothy bring with him “books” (in the plural) and “parchments” (in the plural), probably for the ministry. If these books and parchments were for the ministry, then it’s reasonable to think that the books and parchments were additional scriptures since Paul certainly already had his own copies of the Old Testament scriptures with him. But, whether or not these books and parchments were actual scripture that we don’t have, the record is incomplete in its description of those documents because our record in Timothy leaves it up to our imagination to know what these multiple records were.
• 2 Peter 3:15-16—And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Peter testifies that what Paul had written was scripture, but because some of it was hard to understand, “unlearned and unstable” people had “wrest” or twisted and distorted (Greek for “wrest”) what Paul had wrote as well as distorting what “the other scriptures” have taught. Peter and Paul saw no perversion in adding scripture to their canon. (see Deut. 4:2—Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you, and Rev. 22:18-19—For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book, for similar warnings against changing or twisting scripture). Consider this question:
If this distorting was taking place then, how much distortion of the scriptures has taken place since that time?
(3) APPARENT BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS:
NO MAN CAN SEE GOD MAN CAN SEE GOD
Exodus 33:20—And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
(No man can see God and live)
John 1:18—No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
1 John 4:12—No man hath seen God at any time.
But See: Gen. 32:30—And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. (Jacob saw God)
Ex. 24:9-11—Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink. (70 Elders, Moses, etc.)
Num. 12:5-8—And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? (Moses will see and speak to God one on one)
Ex. 33:11—And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. (Moses saw and spoke with God face to face)
Isaiah 6:5—Then said I, Woe is 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. (Isaiah saw God)
Heb. 12:14–Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (Holy people can see the Lord)
Acts 7: 55-56—But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. (Stephen saw God and Christ together as separate Individuals)
John 6:46—Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. (Those who are of God see the Father)
PAUL’S COMPANY HEARD THE VOICE BUT SAW NOTHING PAUL’S COMPANY SAW THE LIGHT BUT HEARD NOTHING
Acts 9:7—And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Acts 22:9—And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
EVIL SPIRITS THAT TEMPT CAN COME FROM GOD GOD DOES NOT TEMPT ANYONE WITH EVIL
1 Sam. 16:14,16,23, 18:10—But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him, Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well….And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him….And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
But See: James 1:13—Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.
THE LORD SOMETIMES REPENTS OF HIS EVIL THE LORD NEVER REPENTS
Gen. 6:6—And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Ex. 32:14—And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
Jer. 18:8, 10—If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
Judges 2:18—And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. 1 Sam. 15:29—And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
JUDAS HUNG HIMSELF JUDAS FELL AND BURST TO DEATH IN A GORY MANNER
Matt. 27:5—And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Acts 1:18—Concerning Judas….For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
GOD WILL NOT GIVE HIS GLORY TO ANOTHER CHRIST RECEIVED GOD’S GLORY GIVES GLORY TO OTHERS
Isa. 42:8—I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Heb. 2:9—But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
John 17:22—And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.
(4) More Contradictions:
ADDING TO GOD’S WORDS IS EVIL JEREMIAH ADDS MANY MORE WORDS TO THE EXISTING WORD OF GOD
Proverbs 30:5-6—E very word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Jer. 36:32—Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.
Rev. 22:18-19—For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book, and Deut. 4:2— Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Because of this, do we just get rid of the rest of the Bible beginning at Deuteronomy? (1 Nephi 14:20-27—And the angel said unto me: Behold one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Behold, he shall see and write the remainder of these things; yea, and also many things which have been. And he shall also write concerning the end of the world. Wherefore, the things which he shall write are just and true; and behold they are written in the book which thou beheld proceeding out of the mouth of the Jew; and at the time they proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, or, at the time the book proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, the things which were written were plain and pure, and most precious and easy to the understanding of all men. And behold, the things which this apostle of the Lamb shall write are many things which thou hast seen; and behold, the remainder shalt thou see. But the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou shalt not write; for the Lord God hath ordained the apostle of the Lamb of God that he should write them. And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all things, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, unto the house of Israel. And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel. The Book of Mormon makes it unmistakably clear that John had a special calling and responsibility for writing the special revelation that he received, known as the Book of Revelation, and that it wasn’t appropriate for even Nephi to write the things John was to write. It’s therefore not a surprise to see this substantiated by John himself with the strong warning he gives at the end of his book).
CONCLUSION
The Holy Bible is God’s word, but without direct revelations from the Spirit of God, people can misinterpret its words in a number of ways (and, as shown above, there are some minor flaws within its pages). From the direct revelations and acceptance of the Holy Ghost’s revelations, people will understand, comprehend, and interpret God’s truths in the Bible, which will eventually lead them to all of God’s truths. Paul was able to know that his understanding and teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ were true because—and only because—of divine revelation: Gal. 1:11-12—But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. As Paul implicitly acknowledged, the understanding of man, however well-intentioned, cannot interpret Christ’s Gospel correctly without direct revelation. Christ also proclaimed in clear and certain words that the only reason Peter, the Apostle, knew that Jesus was the Son of the living God was because of revelation from God: Matt. 16:16-17—And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Without the powerful, revelatory intervention of the Holy Ghost, interpreting the Bible by one’s self leads to the multiple denominations that we see today. If, however, another Book of scripture from God existed, then many of the misinterpretations would disappear and leave very few remaining, if any at all. The two scriptures would work together to confirm the proper interpretations of each other by the consistent language in both Books. The Spirit’s direct and powerful revelations would not need to be as necessary for eliminating false interpretations, although ideally the three would operate together. The problem is that sometimes people do not receive the Holy Ghost when He comes to help them understand, leaving only the Bible. But, at least, if there were two Books of scripture, then the combination would be better than the Bible alone since so many misinterpretations can be multiplied by the one book.
For example, the Jews have interpreted the prophecies about the Messiah and other doctrines from the Old Testament in multiple ways that lead them away from Jesus Christ—if they were to accept the New Testament, however, they would be unable to misinterpret the Old Testament in the number of ways that they do. This elimination of many misinterpretations would happen even without the direct intervention from the Spirit of God because the consistent language in the two would rule out inconsistent interpretations. Ideally, though, in order to come to an understanding of perfect truth, the three, the Holy Ghost, the Bible, and the other Book of scripture, would work together in perfect unison and harmony so that the Jews and many Christians today would embrace both Jesus Christ and all of His Gospel.
In saying that the Jews or many of the Christians are mislead, however, does not mean that the Jews or those Christians are incorrect in all of their interpretations of the Torah and the other books of the Bible. Jews believe in, accept, and interpret many truths correctly which were revealed to Moses and the other ancient prophets. Many Christians believe in a number of Christ’s doctrines. The Lord works with His people line upon line, precept upon precept (Isa. 28:12-13—To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little), and the Jews, as well as many Christians and all of us, are in varying degrees of acceptance of Christ’s truths in the journey and progression toward our God and His righteousness.
Interpretation of Revelation 22:18-19
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Many people understand these words to mean that there will never be any additional scripture to the Bible which God would authorize. This scripture, however, refers specifically to John’s own book of Revelation. We learn this internally from the wording of the scripture and from other information.
What prophecy is John speaking about—“the words of the book of this prophecy?”
• In the first verse of the book of Revelation, John tells us what his record is: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass” (Rev. 1:1). John will thus give us a revelation on the future—this is prophecy: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy” (Rev. 1:3).
What book is the “this book” referring to—“The words of the prophecy of this book?”
• Christ’s voice spoke to John and gave him a specific commandment: “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches” (Rev. 1:11). John had direct orders from the Lord Jesus Christ to author a book that would have prophecy and significant worth for the Church members.
• Consider Rev. 22:10. An angel commanded John, “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” Again, the free-reading value of the book is reiterated, and the fact that it is a book in and of itself is emphasized. Following these instructions for John’s own words that he was writing in his book comes the famous scripture where we are warned not to manipulate the record. It would seem, then, that the “book” referred to is John’s own written account of the future, not necessarily the whole Bible.
What are the “plagues that are written in this book?”
• Look at the ninth chapter in Revelation which speaks of specific plagues: “And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should . . . hurt . . . only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. . . . And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not” (Rev. 9:3-5, 15-18, 20).
• Again in the 15th and 16th chapters, it says, “AND I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. . . . And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. AND I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. . . . And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. . . . And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. . . . And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great” (Rev. 15:1,6-16:5,8-12,17-18,21) Thus, there are definitely certain plagues which John speaks of in his book.
• And in the chapter immediately preceding twenty-two which has the warning scripture, the idea of certain plagues comes out again, “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me” (Rev. 21:9) It seems clear, then, that the “plagues” written in the “book” has direct reference to the ones which John speaks of in his book of Revelation, which play a significant role. This is internal evidence which suggests that John was not speaking of the Bible as a whole.
What Holy City is John speaking about? And does this language give evidence that John is making reference to his own book since the particular language, “Holy City,” tends to appear more often and in closer connection than in other books of the Bible?—God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city.
Consider
• Revelation 11:2—But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
• Revelation 21:2—And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
• Revelation 21:10—And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.
• Revelation 22:18-19—For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
NOTE: The reference to “holy city” appears three times within the same chapter, and four times in John’s own book. It only occurs twice within the same chapter in Nehemiah 11 and no where else in his book, only twice in all of Isaiah (chapters 48 and 52), once in Daniel 9, and twice in Matthew (chapters 4 and 27), making a grand total of seven times outside of Revelation. It seems reasonable to suspect that John’s reference to the holy city in Rev. 22:19 should be an indication to us that John is using this particular language, “holy city,” to refer back to his own book, showing that he is only talking about his own book that should not be added to, and not the Bible’s cannon.
When was the actual Bible compiled?
• John wrote his book of Revelation in about 95 AD, yet it wasn’t until over two centuries later that the Bible was put together as one whole book. According to Life in Christ, a Catholic book of doctrines and practices, “It was not until the end of the fourth century that the Church concluded definitively which books belonged to the New Testament” (Life in Christ, revised in accordance with the NEW CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, pg. 30). It further explained the Bible’s origin, saying, “Over the years, there were many books presented to the Church, all claiming to be divinely inspired: But were they? Who could decide? Only a council of Church leaders could answer such a question. A local council in Carthage in 397 AD compiled a list, accepting 73 books of the Bible and rejecting others. They sent the list to Pope Siricius, who in turn approved it. Thus we have an authentic list (or canon) of divinely inspired books” (Life in Christ, pg. 21). Since it had been four hundred years since the birth of Christ and 300 years after John had written his book that the Bible was put together, it is more likely that John was in fact speaking of his own book and not of the collected works by the others.
Is adding or taking away from the Bible really that uncommon?
• No. It is fairly common. The Protestants who broke off from Catholicism rejected many books of the Bible and only regarded 66 as the true Bible. They took away from the original Bible Catholics had put together. Today, however, the Protestants are adding to their 66 book Bible: “Some of the older editions of the so-called Protestant Bible omit some of the books from both the Old and the New Testament. The books which Protestant Bibles sometimes omit today include 1 and 2 Maccabees, Tobit, Judith, Sirach, Wisdom, Baruch, plus parts of Daniel and Esther. Most recent Protestant editions, however, now contain all 73 books” (Life in Christ, pg. 22). It seems clear that the Protestants have taken away and are now adding to the Bible.
• There is evidence which indicates that even the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Epistles of John, and possibly even the Gospel of John, were written after the book of Revelation. If this is the case, then there is no support for the interpretation of the last scripture in Revelation supposedly meaning that no other words of revelation from God can be added after that last record.
Do any other prophets or authors of the Bible warn about changing their words?
• Moses declared in the name of God, “NOW therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you. . . . Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you” (Deut. 4:2). In addition to Moses’ words which the Lord God of Israel gave them, the children of Israel have added Isaiah’s prophesies, Jeremiah’s words, Daniel’s teachings, and all of the New Testament’s to name a few. Is this wrong? No. They have not added to Moses’ words nor taken away from them, but God has given more revelations to guide His people to all righteousness and holiness. But, He hasn’t changed what Moses wrote—his words are still intact.
Consider
• Jer. 36: 32—Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words. Did Jeremiah of the Old Testament break the commandment spoken by God to Moses? Did John the Revelator break the commandment given to Moses also?
How do we know John’s book of Revelation is important?
• John was not the only one privileged to behold the vision of the Last Days. He was, however, the only one authorized by God to write it in a book not to be sealed. An ancient prophet Nephi wrote of the vision shown to him about the Last Days: “And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars among all the nations which belonged to the mother of abominations, the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold, the wrath of God is upon the mother of harlots; and behold, thou seest all these things. And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church [possibly Hebrew for organization, not necessarily a certain religious “church”] of all the earth, whose founder is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants, which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe. And the angel said unto me: Behold one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Behold, he shall see and write the remainder of these things; yea, and also many things which have been. And he shall also write concerning the end of the world. Wherefore, the things which he shall write are just and true; and behold they are written in the book which thou beheld proceeding out of the mouth of the Jew; and at the time they proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, or, at the time the book proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, the things which were written were plain and pure, and most precious and easy to the understanding of all men. And behold, the things which this apostle of the Lamb shall write are many things which thou hast seen; and behold, the remainder shalt thou see. But the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou shalt not write; for the Lord God hath ordained the apostle of the Lamb of God that he should write them. And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all things, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, unto the house of Israel. And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel. And behold, I, Nephi, am forbidden that I should write the remainder of the things which I saw and heard; wherefore the things which I have written sufficeth me; and I have written but a small part of the things which I saw” (1 Nephi 14:16-28).
• The prophet Nephi was strictly commanded not to write all the things in the vision of the Last Days which he viewed. The reason why was because John, the Apostle of Jesus Christ, had the specific mission and calling from God to write the vision in a book. Knowing this, it’s more easy to understand why the Lord gives such a strong warning at the end of John’s book of Revelation. It was John’s duty to write that specific book of prophecy. It was so important he do it that other prophets were directly forbidden to write it for us. Furthermore, the Lord testifies through the angel that John’s record is true. Thus, the Lord is consistent in the additional scripture He has given that John’s words must not be tampered with—this commandment comes out in the Bible and The Book of Mormon. It also comes out in modern revelation: “There is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God; Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation. . . . And we know that these things are true and according to the revelations of John, neither adding to, nor diminishing from the prophecy of his book” (D&C 20:32-33,35).
CONCLUSION
The Lord God of Israel does not cease to speak to His children. He continues to instruct them and to teach them gradually and according to how much they obey His word. Additional scripture, therefore, is not an abomination. It is necessary, and it is vital that we don’t change what has been spoken. If we change what God has already spoken to his prophets, then we are in danger of His displeasure, and we are guilty of sin. God alone has the right to modify His word for our benefit.
References to The Book of Mormon in the Bible
God follows an important pattern of revealing truth to us:
2 Cor. 13:1—This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. Paul explained to the people of the Church in Corinth that as a third witness of the truth, he was coming to establish the true doctrines of the Church. God works by multiple witnesses in order to establish His truths, verifying His own words.
Compare:
• 2 Nephi 27:14, 11:2-3—Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word; and wo be unto him that rejecteth the word of God! And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him. And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words. The truth will be established in at least the mouth of two or even three witnesses.
• Deut. 19:15, 17:6—One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. One witness is not enough in God’s ways.
• Matt. 18:16—But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established: Three witnesses are important.
• Acts 11:5-10—I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven, God’s revelations, especially the very important ones like the one here, are given more than once to verify the truthfulness.
• John 21:14—This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. Christ showed Himself three separate times to His disciples after He was resurrected, proving that He had conquered death.
• Gen. 41:32—And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. God gave Joseph two dreams to establish the truth of what He was going to do.
• Job 33:14-15—For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. Part of the reason why God speaks more than once is for the benefit of man who sometimes does not perceive God’s first message.
• Heb. 6:17-18—Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.
• Heb. 10:28—He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: It is by two or three witnesses that things are done in God=s laws.
• Acts 1:22BBeginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. Similar concept: multiple witnesses are necessary to testify of Christ’s resurrection.
The purpose of the Book of Mormon:
Convince the Jews of Christ
• Morm. 5:14 –And behold, they [these words of the Book of Mormon] shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for this intent shall they go—that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that the Father may bring about, through his most Beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant.
• 2 Nephi 25:11-18—Wherefore, he shall bring forth his words unto them, which words shall judge them at the last day, for they shall be given them for the purpose of convincing them of the true Messiah, who was rejected by them; and unto the convincing of them that they need not look forward any more for a Messiah to come, for there should not any come, save it should be a false Messiah which should deceive the people; for there is save one Messiah spoken of by the prophets, and that Messiah is he who should be rejected of the Jews.
To give testimony of God’s words and truths to the Gentiles and Christians
• 1 Nephi 6:4-5—For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved. Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.
• 2 Nephi 29:6-12—Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews? Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also. And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written. For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written. For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it. A testimony of more than one nation—a second witness (verses 1-14: But behold, there shall be many—at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel; And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel; And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible. But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles? O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people. Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews? Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also. And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written. For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written. For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it. And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews. And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever).
Biblical Prophecy of the Nephites, a group of the Book of Mormon people
• John 10:16—I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. There are other sheep (besides the lost sheep in Jerusalem) that are not of “this fold” in Jerusalem where Christ was at. Are they sheep in another nation, maybe?
According to the Savior’s prophecy in the Bible, these people will “hear” His voice
• 3 Nephi 11:8-11—And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them. And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying: Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.
• 3 Nephi 15:15-24—Neither at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell unto them concerning the other tribes of the house of Israel, whom the Father hath led away out of the land. This much did the Father command me, that I should tell unto them: That other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. And now, because of stiffneckedness and unbelief they understood not my word; therefore I was commanded to say no more of the Father concerning this thing unto them. But, verily, I say unto you that the Father hath commanded me, and I tell it unto you, that ye were separated from among them because of their iniquity; therefore it is because of their iniquity that they know not of you. And verily, I say unto you again that the other tribes hath the Father separated from them; and it is because of their iniquity that they know not of them. And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they understood not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching. And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice—that I should not manifest myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost. But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me; and ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me.
The other sheep are not the Gentiles
• Acts 15:7—And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. The Gentiles aren’t the other sheep—they’ll hear the gospel from the apostles.
• Rom. 11:13—Paul is “the apostle of the Gentiles.” Acts 22:21, 26:17-18—Jesus sends Paul to the Gentiles to “open their eyes, and to turn [them] from darkness to light” and to the power of God. See also “Gentile” in Bible dictionary, last paragraph. Jesus himself taught that he was sent only to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 15:24).
• Matt. 15:24—But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
More Biblical prophecy about the Nephites
• 1 Nephi 5:14—And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine. Lehi is a descendant of Joseph and so is the rest of the Book of Mormon people who came through Lehi’s seed.
• Gen. 49:22,26— Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall…The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. Jacob, or Israel, blessed each of his sons. He spoke of Joseph being “by a well; whose branches run over the wall.” When you consider that the wall of the well contains the water—that it is a barrier—this metaphor becomes clear when you consider that in those days, the bodies of water like the ocean were the only barriers. Branches that cross the barrier represent Joseph’s descendants passing the barrier or crossing the ocean. The Nephites, who were descendants of Joseph, crossed the ocean and were brought to a promised land. So, this is a prophecy about the Nephites.
• 2 Kings 19:31—For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this—Is an example of how the Lord leads away remnants out of Jerusalem—The Nephites were a remnant from Jerusalem: 3 Nephi 10:17—Behold, our father Jacob also testified concerning a remnant of the seed of Joseph. And behold, are not we a remnant of the seed of Joseph? And these things which testify of us, are they not written upon the plates of brass which our father Lehi brought out of Jerusalem?.
• Further, according to Moses’ blessing on Joseph, in Deut. 33:13—And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, Joseph will have “his” own “land.” In verse 15, it speaks of the unique characteristics of his land—“ancient mountains” and “lasting hills” (these ‘hills’ may mean mountains because in Gen 7:19-20, “hills” comes from the Hebrew word “harim” meaning “mountains”). These same characteristics are mentioned in Jacob=s blessing to Joseph in Gen. 49:26—The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren, when he speaks of his land of inheritance which will be located very far away—“utmost”—and will have “everlasting hills.” Such a description of geography appropriately and uniquely fits that of the entire mountain system (including the Rocky Mountains) which are the only ones which stretch from one pole of the earth to the other, Alaska to Chili, and is located very far from Palestine, which they were in. No other geographical detail on the Earth can better match this description of “everlasting hills.” According to Mormon theology, and the Book of Mormon, a group of people from the Palestinian area, who are descendants of Joseph, inherited North and South America where these “everlasting hills” or “ancient mountains” exist. Consider also that the Lord has allowed remnants of Judah to escape when they rest of them were scattered: Ezek. 6:8—Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries, so it isn’t unreasonable for Him to do the reverse and allow a remnant of Joseph to escape the destruction of Jerusalem in 600 B.C. by scattering them.
Other Biblical References to Book of Mormon people:
• Gen. 11:8-9— So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. At the time of the Tower of Babel, the Lord confounded the languages and scattered them upon the “face of all the earth.” This scattering upon “all the earth” is reiterated in verse 9. It’s not unreasonable to believe that some were scattered to the Americas since this is the literal interpretation of the plain language in the scripture.
• Consider Ether 1:33, 6:12—Which Jared came forth with his brother and their families, with some others and their families, from the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, and swore in his wrath that they should be scattered upon all the face of the earth; and according to the word of the Lord the people were scattered…. And they did land upon the shore of the promised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them.
Origins of the Book: Scattering people to different places on the Earth is not unusual for God to do
The Bible has many examples where God has and/or will scatter and gather different people, including the House of Israel. The Book of Mormon does also, and conforms well with the Bible:
Lev. 20:22-24,26
Isa. 11:11-12, Ezek. 5:5,10 3 Nephi 5:23-24
Isa. 42:4, Deut. 30:4, 4:1,25-27, 28:64 3 Nephi 21:2,7
Isa. 10:20-22, 43:1-5-6! 1 Nephi 15:13-14
Jer. 23:3, 31:8,10, Micah 2:12, 4:6-7 2 Nephi 10:20-22
Ezek. 14:22-23 (comforts by—2 Nephi 29:8, 3:12)
Joel 2:20
Micah 5:8
Zeph. 3:19-20
Zech. 8:6-8 3 Nephi 5:23-24, 20:13
Amos 5:15, Isa. 42:4 3 Nephi 10:16-17
2 Kings 19:30-31
Acts 7:2-4 1 Ne 2:1-2, 17:13-14
Compare with Book of Mormon scriptures:
1 Nephi 17:38, 10:14, 15:13-14, 2 Nephi 20:20-22, 29:8, 30:3-5, Jacob 5, Alma 46:23, 3 Nephi 10:16-17, 15:12, 29:8, Mormon 7:1-2, Ether 13:5-8 (compare Amos 5:15).
So, all these scriptures (most of which are below) make the origin of the Nephites and Lamanites more believable—they allow room to consider that the stick of Joseph came from a remnant which the Lord brought out of Jerusalem and scattered to the ends of the Earth, as The Book of Mormon affirms.
Leviticus 20:22-24,26—Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out. And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people. And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
Isaiah 11:11-12—And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Ezekiel 5:5-10—Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her. Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.
3 Nephi 5:24-25—And as surely as the Lord liveth, will he gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the seed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth. And as he hath covenanted with all the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the house of Jacob be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the restoring all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them.
Isaiah 42:4—He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
Deuteronomy 30:4—If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee.
3 Nephi 21:2,7—And behold, this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign—for verily I say unto you that when these things which I declare unto you, and which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself, and by the power of the Holy Ghost which shall be given unto you of the Father, shall be made known unto the Gentiles that they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, and concerning this my people who shall be scattered by them….And when these things come to pass that thy seed shall begin to know these things—it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel.
Isaiah 10:20-22—And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
1 Nephi 15:13-14—And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fulness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years, and many generations after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fulness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed— And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the house of Israel, and that they are the covenant people of the Lord; and then shall they know and come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and also to the knowledge of the gospel of their Redeemer, which was ministered unto their fathers by him; wherefore, they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved.
Jeremiah 23:3, 31:8,10—And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase….Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither….Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock
Micah 2:12, 4:6-7—I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men….In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
2 Nephi 10:20-22—And now, my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful God has given us so great knowledge concerning these things, let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off; nevertheless, we have been driven out of the land of our inheritance; but we have been led to a better land, for the Lord has made the sea our path, and we are upon an isle of the sea. But great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea; wherefore as it says isles, there must needs be more than this, and they are inhabited also by our brethren. For behold, the Lord God has led away from time to time from the house of Israel, according to his will and pleasure. And now behold, the Lord remembereth all them who have been broken off, wherefore he remembereth us also.
Ezekiel 14:22-23—Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.
2 Nephi 29:8, 3:12—Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also….Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.
Joel 2:20—But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
Micah 5:8—And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
Zephaniah 3:19-20—Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
Zechariah 8:6-8—Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
3 Nephi 5:23-24, 20:13—Yea, and surely shall he again bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God. And as surely as the Lord liveth, will he gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the seed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth…And then shall the remnants, which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them.
Amos 5:15—Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
3 Nephi 10:16-17—Yea, the prophet Zenos did testify of these things, and also Zenock spake concerning these things, because they testified particularly concerning us, who are the remnant of their seed. Behold, our father Jacob also testified concerning a remnant of the seed of Joseph. And behold, are not we a remnant of the seed of Joseph? And these things which testify of us, are they not written upon the plates of brass which our father Lehi brought out of Jerusalem?
2 Kings 19:30-31—And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.
Acts 7:2-4—And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
1 Nephi 2:1-2—For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee, behold, they seek to take away thy life. And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 17:13-14—And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led. Yea, and the Lord said also that: After ye have arrived in the promised land, ye shall know that I, the Lord, am God; and that I, the Lord, did deliver you from destruction; yea, that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem.
Biblical prophecy of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and its purposes
• Isaiah 29:13-14—Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Because of unbelief the Lord will do a marvelous work and a wonder.
• Ezekiel 37:16-19—Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
Contemporary commentary on Ezekiel 37:16-19:
The Bible testifies of the Book of Mormon (in my opinion)in Ezekiel 37:15-17. Here, Ezekiel prophesied about the joining of two "sticks" (using the term from the King James Version) from different parts of the House Israel, one from the tribe of Judah and one from the tribe of Ephraim (from Joseph). These "sticks" refer (in our opinion) to two volumes of scripture. The Hebrew word used in Ezekiel 37 is not the usual word for stick, but is "etz", which means a wooden tablet. The wooden tablet, based on modern archaeological data, may refer to a writing tablet on which a layer of wax was coated for writing with a stylus. These tablets appear to have been a major medium of writing in the ancient world, though few survived because wood rots (interestingly, Agatha Christie's husband found one such tablet, with wax still intact, preserved in the bottom of an ancient well, as I recall). The tablets were like individual leaves of a book that could be bound together to make a book (or smaller books could be joined to make larger ones). Based on the Hebrew and based on what we now know about the use of "etz" as a writing medium, Ezek. 37:15-17 makes sense as a prophecy of two volumes of scripture that would be united in the last days. These volumes are the Bible (from the tribe of Judah) and the Book of Mormon (from the tribe of Joseph, for the founders of the Nephite people who came out of Jerusalem were descendants of Joseph).
Given that background, here is the New English Bible translation (no LDS members were involved in the NEB translation!) of Ezekiel 37:15-20:
These were the words of the Lord to me: Man, take one leaf of a wooden tablet and write on it, 'Judah and his associates of Israel.' Then take another leaf and write on it, 'Joseph, the leaf of Ephraim and all his associates of Israel.' Now bring the two together to form one tablet; they will be a folding tablet in your hand. When your fellow-countrymen ask you to tell them what you mean by this, say to them, These are the words of the Lord God: I am taking the leaf of Joseph, which belongs to Ephraim and his associates of Israel, and joining it to the leaf of Judah. Thus I shall make them one tablet, and they shall be one in my hand. The leaves on which you write shall be visible in your hand for all to see.
http://www.jefflindsay.com/BOMIntro.shtml
• As mentioned already, 1 Nephi 5:14—And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine. Lehi is a descendant of Joseph, therefore if he created a record, his record could be referred to as the record of Joseph. Joseph Smith, who translated The Book of Mormon, was a descendant of Joseph also, but more specifically from Ephraim (according to Church doctrine); therefore, The Book of Mormon can be referred to as the “stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim,” as it says in Ezek. 37:19.
Little Summary of the Two Scriptures—Isaiah and Ezekiel
According to the prophecy in Ezekiel 37:19, the stick of Judah (the Bible since the Bible is a record of the Jews, predominantly through Judah) is to be combined with the stick of Ephraim (or the stick of Joseph = The Book of Mormon because it was written by those who were descendants of Joseph). Thus, there are two records of two people: the Jews, and those from Joseph—two witnesses. “Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will…make them one stick” and the two will be “one in mine hand”—the two, then, will be combined by the influence of God, and could thus be called a “marvelous work and a wonder” as prophesied in Isaiah 29:14.
Compare:
• 2 Nephi 3:12—Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord—This includes the same prophecy, but it also includes the purpose for this combination, for the “confounding of false doctrines.”
Compare this purpose to the purpose of scripture in general and another one of Isaiah’s specific prophecies about the future book:
• 2 Tim. 3:16-17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
• Isa. 29:18,24—And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness…They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
Precise prophecies from the Bible about the Book of Mormon
• Isaiah 29:11-12—And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. There is a sealed book to come forth; the learned man cannot read the sealed book.
• Compare with 2 Nephi 27:5-10, 15-21, 25-35—For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep. For behold, ye have closed your eyes, and ye have rejected the prophets; and your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquity. And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered. And behold the book shall be sealed; and in the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof. Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the book shall be kept from them. But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in the dust, and he shall deliver these words unto another; But the words which are sealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold, they reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof….But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book: Take these words which are not sealed and deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying: Read this, I pray thee. And the learned shall say: Bring hither the book, and I will read them. And now, because of the glory of the world and to get gain will they say this, and not for the glory of God. And the man shall say: I cannot bring the book, for it is sealed. Then shall the learned say: I cannot read it. Wherefore it shall come to pass, that the Lord God will deliver again the book and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man that is not learned shall say: I am not learned. Then shall the Lord God say unto him: The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee. Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work….And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered him: Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men—Therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid. And wo unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord! And their works are in the dark; and they say: Who seeth us, and who knoweth us? And they also say: Surely, your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay. But behold, I will show unto them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that I know all their works. For shall the work say of him that made it, he made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, he had no understanding? But behold, saith the Lord of Hosts: I will show unto the children of men that it is yet a very little while and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field; and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest. And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. And the meek also shall increase, and their joy shall be in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For assuredly as the Lord liveth they shall see that the terrible one is brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off; And they that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of naught. Therefore, thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. But when he seeth his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
Consider the fulfillment of Isaiah’s precise prophecy
• JSH 1:63-65—Sometime in this month of February, the aforementioned Mr. Martin Harris came to our place, got the characters which I had drawn off the plates, and started with them to the city of New York. For what took place relative to him and the characters, I refer to his own account of the circumstances, as he related them to me after his return, which was as follows: "I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated, and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and Arabic; and he said they were true characters. He gave me a certificate, certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him." He then said to me, 'Let me see that certificate.' I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were sealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, 'I cannot read a sealed book.' I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation," a literal fulfillment of Isaiah=s prophecy in Isaiah 29:11-12 when it says “the words of a book,” or the drawn “characters” as opposed to the Book itself which was actually “sealed” like Isaiah said it would be, “a book that is sealed;” that it would be delivered by “men” in the plural (not only by the unlearned farm boy, Joseph Smith, but also by Martin Harris) to another; that other, Charles Anthon, was a “learned” man by virtue of his high education as a “professor” and was “celebrated for his literary attainments,” as Isaiah prophesied, who actually declared, almost verbatim, that “I cannot read a sealed book,” just as Isaiah said he would respond: “I cannot; for it is sealed.”
More of Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled by the Book of Mormon
• Isaiah 29:4—And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust. Consider: Moses 7:62—And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.) A voice from the dust is a metaphor of a written record buried in the ground. The city of Ariel is another name for Jerusalem. The ancient golden plates of the Book of Mormon were brought up out of the ground or the “dust” and it recorded the words of ancient people from Jerusalem or “Ariel” who spoke directly to us.
• Lehi was from Jerusalem: 2 Nephi 30:4—And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews.
• Also, Isaiah states that in Isa. 29:2 that his prophecy about the distress of Ariel is that “it shall be unto me as Ariel.” Hence, the actual city of this prophecy may not be Ariel, but like it, in the sense that it was destroyed (see Jer. 39:1-2,8-9—In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up….And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem. Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained). The Nephites were also destroyed—Mormon 8:2-4—And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed. And my father also was killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not. Therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not.
• Compare Isa 29:6 and 3 Nephi 8:5-17—“as Ariel”: Isaiah prophecies: Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. The Nephites experienced exactly the same catastrophes prophesied about in Isaiah when Christ was crucified: And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land. And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder. And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land. And the city of Zarahemla did take fire. And the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned. And the earth was carried up upon the city of Moronihah, that in the place of the city there became a great mountain. And there was a great and terrible destruction in the land southward. But behold, there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward; for behold, the whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth; And the highways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough. And many great and notable cities were sunk, and many were burned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate. And there were some cities which remained; but the damage thereof was exceedingly great, and there were many in them who were slain. And there were some who were carried away in the whirlwind; and whither they went no man knoweth, save they know that they were carried away. And thus the face of the whole earth became deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth.
• Note: The Joseph Smith Translation of verse 4 omits the “as” simile. It is apparent then, from the Lord’s perspective, that He makes no distinction between the people of Jerusalem who stayed and were destroyed and the people of Jerusalem who migrated to America and were destroyed. Both groups of Jerusalemites suffered the same end; hence the Lord speaks of them together.
• Note: “Familiar spirit”—in the Bible this usually refers to an evil spirit speaking from the dead. This metaphor used to describe the Book of Mormon, then, may not be very descriptive of the righteousness of the book. But consider: Morm. 8:26—And no one need say they shall not come, for they surely shall, for the Lord hath spoken it; for out of the earth shall they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; and it shall come in a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away; and it shall come even as if one should speak from the dead, 2 Ne. 18:19—And when they shall say unto you: Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter—should not a people seek unto their God for the living to hear from the dead? (Isa 8:19—same), and Moro. 10:27—And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust? Further, the metaphor comparing The Book of Mormon to a “familiar spirit” is quite effective because the things said by the people to us in this record will be like a spirit speaking from the dead since they have already died but their words remain for us to read—Morm. 9:30—Behold, I speak unto you as though I spake from the dead; for I know that ye shall have my words.
The Book of Mormon explicitly records and clarifies Isaiah’s prophecy referring to the Nephites
• 2 Nephi 26:15-17—After my seed and the seed of my brethren shall have dwindled in unbelief, and shall have been smitten by the Gentiles; yea, after the Lord God shall have camped against them round about, and shall have laid siege against them with a mount, and raised forts against them; and after they shall have been brought down low in the dust, even that they are not, yet the words of the righteous shall be written, and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard, and all those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not be forgotten. For those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground, and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust. For thus saith the Lord God: They shall write the things which shall be done among them, and they shall be written and sealed up in a book, and those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the things of God. This is another prophecy of a voice from the dust that is to be the record of the Nephites which will be sealed up and buried for a later time.
• Consider another possible prophecy from the Bible about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon from the ground as an instrument to restore God’s rebellious children to the truth: Psalms 85:2,6,8,11,13—LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah…Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?... I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly…Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven…Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps. The wording “truth shall spring out of the earth” is strikingly similar to Isa. 29:4—Thou “shalt speak out of the ground” so that “They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine” Isa. 29:24.
Modern Fulfillment of the Book of Isaiah’s and the Book of Mormon’s prophecies:
• JSH 1:51-52—Convenient to the village of Manchester, Ontario county, New York, stands a hill of considerable size, and the most elevated of any in the neighborhood. On the west side of this hill, not far from the top, under a stone of considerable size, lay the plates, deposited in a stone box. This stone was thick and rounding in the middle on the upper side, and thinner towards the edges, so that the middle part of it was visible above the ground, but the edge all around was covered with earth. Having removed the earth, I obtained a lever, which I got fixed under the edge of the stone, and with a little exertion raised it up. I looked in, and there indeed did I behold the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate, as stated by the messenger. The box in which they lay was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement. In the bottom of the box were laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them. This is an account of Joseph Smith finding the Nephite record buried in the ground, or the record coming out of the dust.
Christ proclaimed correctly about scripture and its necessity
• Matt. 4:4—But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Christ teaches here that God has not ceased to speak, but more and more words proceed out of God’s mouth. And just as we would starve to death by only eating one loaf of bread and no other food for the remainder of our lives, so too will we starve to death spiritually if we only consume the word of God which He has already spoken in the Bible. But, for our spiritual nourishment, God continues to speak to us and we must live by every word which He speaks, as Christ commanded. Another loaf of bread is the Book of Mormon which is consistent with Christ’s statement that “out of the mouth of God” will come more words because we must live “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God,” not just the words that have proceeded out of the mouth of God in the past.
• Matt. 22:29—Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. We all need to be careful that we do not err and misunderstand the scriptures and power of God. And if there is more scripture that has come by God’s power, then we must not reject it or else we will “err, not knowing the scriptures.” By accepting all of God’s words, we will be as those spoken of in Acts 17:11—These were more noble…in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
The scriptural record of the Bible is not complete because it did not record everything about Christ:
• John 20:30-31—And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
• John 21:25—And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
The scriptures are not unchangeable—God-authorized changes in previous scripture:
• Jer. 36:1-2,27-28,32—And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day…Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned…Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words. This is an example of past scripture that was rewritten and even added upon, confirming that the Lord gives us more scripture through His prophets.
There is other, future scripture prophesied of in the bible:
• Daniel 12:4,8-9 (1-4)—And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased….And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
According to the Lord’s promises in both scriptures, you can know the Book of Mormon is true
• 2 Nephi 33:10—And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good. When you believe in Jesus Christ, you will become so familiar with Him that you will recognize His words in the Book of Mormon—Another Testament of JESUS CHRIST.
• Phillip. 4:8—Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
• 1 John 4:1-3—Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Try the spirits; if they are of God, then they will confess that Jesus is come in the flesh—Consider Ether 3:16 (9,14-15)—And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger…Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters… Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh, and 3 Nephi 11:8,10,14—And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them. And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying: Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world….Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world. Christ came in a resurrected state to the Nephites on the other side of the world—in this state he had flesh according to Luke 24:39—Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
• Consider Morm. 7:8-9: “This is written for the intent that ye may believe the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews. And if ye believe that ye will believe this also.”
• 1 Cor. 12:3—Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Only by the Holy Ghost can a person say Jesus is the Lord—Mos. 3:12,17-19—But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ….And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent, Moro. 8:8—Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me, Moro. 9:26—And now, behold, who can stand against the works of the Lord? Who can deny his sayings? Who will rise up against the almighty power of the Lord? Who will despise the works of the Lord? Who will despise the children of Christ? Behold, all ye who are despisers of the works of the Lord, for ye shall wonder and perish, Morm. 1:15—And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen, Morm. 3:14—And when they had sworn by all that had been forbidden them by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that they would go up unto their enemies to battle, and avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren, behold the voice of the Lord came unto me, Morm. 9:37—And may the Lord Jesus Christ grant that their prayers may be answered according to their faith; and may God the Father remember the covenant which he hath made with the house of Israel; and may he bless them forever, through faith on the name of Jesus Christ. Amen, Alma 37:33—Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, 3 Ne 11:12-13—And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them, D&C 35:1-2—Listen to the voice of the Lord your God, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, whose course is one eternal round, the same today as yesterday, and forever. I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one, A of F 1:4—We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. These examples help demonstrate that the Holy Ghost is truly with us, according to the Bible. Jesus Christ is our leader, and our Church is His only true church, according to our claims by the Holy Ghost.
You may know the truth of the Book of Mormon yourself according to Christ’s personal promise:
• Matt. 7:20—“By their fruits ye shall know them.” You can know if fruit is good by seeing it and tasting it or smelling it—in this process, there are two or three witnesses necessary to know for certainty (for example, see the fruit, it appears good, and then taste it and know for sure that it is good). Likewise, you can know if Joseph Smith’s fruit by two witnesses—you can read it for yourself (“see”) and the Lord can tell you it is true (“taste” the sweetness of His Spirit’s witness to you).
• Matt. 7:17-18—Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Thoughtful questions:
• Is the Book of Mormon good fruit? Read it and pray about it to know for sure if it tastes delicious. See Moro. 10:3-7—Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. 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.
• Why isn’t the book of Mark enough to know the truth about Jesus Christ? Why do we also need Matthew, Luke, and John? Are there more essential details about Jesus Christ and salvation in those books combined? Are more witnesses than one to Christ’s divinity irrelevant? If the additional witnesses are not irrelevant, then why would the Book of Mormon’s additional witness of Christ be irrelevant or too much? John 20:31 explains the purposes of these additional records and proofs: “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ.” The Book of Mormon is written that you may know with certainty that Jesus truly is the Christ and Savior of the world, and that you may believe His Gospel: Morm. 3:20-21—“And for this cause I write unto you…that ye may believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
More Scriptural Reasons for Additional Scripture:
1. Luke 1:1-4—Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. There wasn’t anything corrupt in Luke’s addition to the scripture which “many” had already “set forth.” There wasn’t anything improper about Luke writing for the purpose of helping others know for a certainty that Jesus Christ lives. Similarly, it is not improper for other “eyewitnesses” elsewhere to write scripture like Luke did in order that people “mightest know the certainty of those things.” The purpose of the eyewitnesses in The Book of Mormon was exactly the same: It was “written…to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations.”
2. Deut. 8:3—And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
3. D&C 98:11—And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.
4. Matt. 28:20—Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Since Christ is with us always and we are commanded to teach all things that He has commanded, we should probably also teach anything else He speaks to us—and certainly He will if He is with us. Consider:
5. Mark 4:23-25—If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. Have traditional Christians not heard Christ’s words completely since more has not been given them as promised in this prophecy? Christ truly has given more words as He promised. His words can be found in their purity from The Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and the modern-day prophets which Christ has given, fulfilling His own prophecy.
6. Mark 6:34—And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. Also consider:
7. Mark 1:22,27, 4:2—And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes….And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him…. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine. Has the Bible recorded everything which He taught, or could there be parables or doctrines that are missing? If not, then maybe Christ has compensated for our weaknesses and mistakes by putting His other doctrines in other books of scripture similar to the Bible, just as additional doctrine and insights come from each separate Gospel of Christ (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that the other books of the New Testament don’t have.
8. Mark 5:19-20—Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel. Since Christ does great things among us today, and has done many great things in the past among all people, those acts may also be published and accurately recorded as scripture.
9. Mark 7:8-9,13—For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition….Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Is the Christian tradition 73 books of the Bible, or 66? Either way, the tradition makes the words that currently proceed out of God’s mouth of none effect since these traditions in the length of the Bible arbitrarily restrict God’s ability to speak to His children by direct revelation like He did formerly. This restriction is evidenced by the lack of additional scripture in Catholicism, Protestantism, and non-denominationalism. Why hasn’t Christ’s voice and words been recorded as revealed by the Holy Ghost to leaders of Christianity? Surely Christ speaks to people today by the Holy Ghost—but why have they not recorded those inspirations? Revelation was recorded by prophets and even the apostles. But, those were revelations, not inspiration, and were worthy of recording. Revelation has ceased to traditional Christians. But, does not this fact in itself bear witness to the truthfulness of Christ’s own warning: “He that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath” (Mark 4:25)? It seems, then, that the Lord has taken away from traditional Christianity revelation and all that’s left is inspiration because by their traditions, they have made the word of God none effect.
10. Mark 13:31—Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. One way to consider this scripture is to recognize that just as earth is constantly progressing and adapting, the word of God is also increasing and being adapted for us in our differing circumstances. But, the Lord’s dynamic and continuous revelations to us will never end like the earth will. Thus, there will be additional scripture throughout the eternities that should be written. Remember John’s comment: Even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. —John 21:25. Consider also:
11. Luke 1:55—As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. The Lord will speak to the seed of Abraham forever—not just stop at some point and leave only individual inspiration on the earth.
Personal Thoughts
• Isa. 29:18—Perhaps I was a literal fulfillment of this—“and the eyes of the blind shall see . . . the words of the book . . . out of obscurity.”
Summary and More
(1) –The Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ. Relates to 2 Cor. 13:1—This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. Compare this to Alma 7:7—For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people, the most important future event is the coming of the Redeemer. Consider John 5:39—Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me, where Christ tells us to “search the scriptures” because they testify of Him. The Book of Mormon is consistent with the Bible’s promises.
(2) –The Book of Mormon is the promised stick of Joseph. Relates to Ezekiel 37:16-19—Moreover,
thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
(3) –The Book of Mormon is the promised sealed book. Relates to Isaiah 29:11-12—And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
(4) –The Book of Mormon is the promised voice from the dust. Relates to Isaiah 29:4—And thou shalt
be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
(5) –The Book of Mormon is another witness to the Bible that Jesus is the Christ. Relates to John
21:25—And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. Plus, consider John 20:30-31—And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name, in the context of scriptural books that could be written for the intent to help us believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Read Moroni=s title page for The Book of Mormon: “Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation. . . . Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord . . . and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations.” More scriptures: 2 Ne 33:4—And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal, their writings “speaketh of Jesus.” 2 Ne 25:23—For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. The purpose of the Book of Mormon prophets was to “persuade . . . to believe in Christ.” Jacob 4:4—For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us, written to show that they “knew of Christ . . . many hundred years before his coming.” 1 Ne 13:39-40—And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true. And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved, shows that the Old Testament and the New Testament are true, and that the Lamb of God is the Son and Savior. As a reminder, John 5:39— Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. The scriptures testify of Christ.
(6) –Both the Bible and The Book of Mormon are intended to support one another. Relates to
Mormon 7:8-9—Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you. For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them. The Book of Mormon helps fulfill scriptural purpose according to 2 Tim. 3:15-17—And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
(7) –The Book of Mormon is in fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant: Gen. 17:2-4,7—And I will
make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations….And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, 2 Nephi 29:9,14—And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever….And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever, Abr. 2:6,11—But I, Abraham, and Lot, my brother's son, prayed unto the Lord, and the Lord appeared unto me, and said unto me: Arise, and take Lot with thee; for I have purposed to take thee away out of Haran, and to make of thee a minister to bear my name in a strange land which I will give unto thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession, when they hearken to my voice. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed (that is, thy Priesthood), for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal, and Isa. 29:18,22-24—And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness….Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
Interesting Facts:
• 2 Nephi 12:16—And upon all the ships of the sea, and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. This verse demonstrates the completeness of the biblical scriptures Lehi and his family had—The Greek (Septuagint) has simply “ships of the sea,” whereas the Hebrew has only “ships of Tarshish.” However, The Book of Mormon has both, showing that the brass plates had lost neither phrase.
• Diversity of Literary Style in The Book of Mormon—“There is a marked difference in the literary style of Nephi and some of the other earlier prophets from that of Mormon and Moroni. Mormon and his son are more direct and take fewer words to express their ideas than did the earlier writers. . . . Enos, the son of Jacob, has also a style peculiar to himself. There is another noticeable fact that when original records or discourses, such as the record of Limhi, the sermons of Alma, Amulek, etc., the epistles of Helaman, and others, are introduced into Mormon=s abridgement, words and expressions are used that appear nowhere else in The Book of Mormon. The diversity of style, expression, and wording is a very pleasing incidental testimony to the truth of the claim made for The Book of Mormon--that it is a compilation of the work of many writers.”—From Lectures on The Book of Mormon, by Elder George Reynolds.
Another Testament of Jesus Christ
Amos 3:7—Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The Lord reveals his secrets to his prophets.
Who are those prophets?
(1) Moses—Author of the first five books in the Old Testament.
(2) Isaiah—Most quoted prophet of all.
Why were prophets like these important?
(1) To testify and to help us learn about God and Jesus Christ.
(2) To help us know what God wants us to do and believe.
How do we know about those prophets?
The scriptures—we have them and they were written by the prophets. Those scriptures are testaments (a covenant and witness) of God and Jesus Christ, we call them the Old and the New Testaments of the Bible.
There is another Testament of Jesus Christ: It is called The Book of Mormon. Like the Bible, The Book of Mormon is a translation of the writings of ancient prophets. The Biblical prophets lived in what we now refer to as the Middle East (Egypt, Israel, Syria and Iran). The Book of Mormon prophets lived somewhere in the Western Hemisphere, North and South America. Their record begins at the time of the tower of Babel, about 2200 B.C. and ends 2600 years later at approximately 420 A.D. Like the prophets of the Bible, The Book of Mormon prophets taught the people God's laws, such as the ten commandments, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
$ Mosiah 12:34-36, 13:15-16, 20-24—Commandments: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.
$ 2 Nephi 9:20-24—Gospel of Christ: O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it. And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam. And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God. And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned; for the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it.
The Book of Mormon is also an account of the Savior's visit to the Western Hemisphere shortly after His resurrection.
$ 3 Nephi 11:8-12—Christ visiting the Nephites and the Lamanites:
And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them. And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying: Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning. And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.
While He was with them Jesus taught them, healed their sick and organized His church like He did among the Bibles New Testament’s People.
In addition to being another Testament of Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon clarifies Christian Doctrines:
(1) Baptism—the proper way to baptize: 3 Nephi 11:23-26—Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his
sins through your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them—Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them. And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying: Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water.
(2) When is a person ready to be baptized?—Mosiah 18:8-10—And it came to pass that he said unto them:
Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? Moro. 8:9-15,19-23—And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children. Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children. And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins. But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism! Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell. Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell. For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism….Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy. And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption. Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment. I speak it boldly; God hath commanded me. Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the judgment-seat of Christ. For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing—But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works.
(3) What is faith and how do we gain it?—Alma 32:26-28—Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a
perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge. But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words. Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. Ether 12:4,6—Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God….And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
(4) Life after death—Alma 40:11-14,21,23—Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the
resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil. Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection….But whether it be at his resurrection or after, I do not say; but this much I say, that there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works….The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame. Alma 41:3-5—And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good. And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other—The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh. 2 Nephi 9:8-19,38—O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more. And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness. O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit. And because of the way of deliverance of our God, the Holy One of Israel, this death, of which I have spoken, which is the temporal, shall deliver up its dead; which death is the grave. And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel. O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect. Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness. And it shall come to pass that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear before the judgment-seat of the Holy One of Israel; and then cometh the judgment, and then must they be judged according to the holy judgment of God. And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy are the devil and his angels; and they shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end. O the greatness and the justice of our God! For he executeth all his words, and they have gone forth out of his mouth, and his law must be fulfilled. But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever. O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel! For he delivereth his saints from that awful monster the devil, and death, and hell, and that lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment….And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their sins; for they shall return to God, and behold his face, and remain in their sins. Alma 34:32-35—For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.
(5) Grace or Works (Also our beliefs in the Savior)?—2 Nephi 25:23—For we labor diligently to write, to
persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. Mosiah 3:17—And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. 13:28,32—And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses….And now, did they understand the law? I say unto you, Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts; for they understood not that there could not any man be saved except it were through the redemption of God. 15:26-27—But behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection. Therefore ought ye not to tremble? For salvation cometh to none such; for the Lord hath redeemed none such; yea, neither can the Lord redeem such; for he cannot deny himself; for he cannot deny justice when it has its claim. Alma 42:17-28—Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment? Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man. Now, if there was no law given—if a man murdered he should die—would he be afraid he would die if he should murder? And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be afraid to sin. And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature? But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God. But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice. For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved. What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God. And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes, which were prepared from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh about the salvation and the redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery. Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds. If he has desired to do evil, and has not repented in his days, behold, evil shall be done unto him, according to the restoration of God. Moroni 10:32-33—Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
(6) Resurrection—Alma 11:42-45—Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall
loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death. The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt. Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption. Alma 40:22-23—But whether it be at his resurrection or after, I do not say; but this much I say, that there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works. Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those things of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets. The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.
(7) Prayer—Alma 34:17-27—Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him. Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks. Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies. Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness. Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase. But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you. 2 Nephi 32:8-9—And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.
(8) Importance of Christ—2 Nephi 25:23,26,28—For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also
our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do…. And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins….And now behold, my people, ye are a stiffnecked people; wherefore, I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the words which I have spoken shall stand as a testimony against you; for they are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law. 2 Nephi 31:16,20—And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved….Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
(9) Mercy & Justice—Alma 34:15-17—And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name;
this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance. And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption. Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you. 42:12-30—And now, there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state, which man had brought upon himself because of his own disobedience; Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God. And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence. And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also. Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul. Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment? Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man. Now, if there was no law given—if a man murdered he should die—would he be afraid he would die if he should murder? And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be afraid to sin. And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature? But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God. But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice. For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved. What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God. And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes, which were prepared from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh about the salvation and the redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery. Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds. If he has desired to do evil, and has not repented in his days, behold, evil shall be done unto him, according to the restoration of God. And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance. O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility.
(10) Does actual Knowledge exist?—Moro. 10:5—And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of
all things. Jacob 4:8,12—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 save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God….And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come? Alma 5:45-46—And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me. Alma 32:34—And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand. Ether 4:11—But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. For because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good. Ether 12:6—And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. Hel. 14:31—He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you. Moroni 7:15-17—For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
(11) Is there truly Agency?—Hel. 6:34—And thus we see that the Nephites did begin to dwindle in unbelief, and grow
in wickedness and abominations, while the Lamanites began to grow exceedingly in the knowledge of their God; yea, they did begin to keep his statutes and commandments, and to walk in truth and uprightness before him. Hel. 14:30—And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day. 2 Nephi 2:16,26-29—And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given. Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit; And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom. 2 Nephi 10:23—Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. Mos. 2:21—I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants. Alma 12:31—Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as Gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good. Alma 61:21—See that ye strengthen Lehi and Teancum in the Lord; tell them to fear not, for God will deliver them, yea, and also all those who stand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them free. And now I close mine epistle to my beloved brother, Moroni. See also: D&C 58:26-29—For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward. But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.
Note: “agents unto themselves” could mean that as mortals, we are agents for our premortal selves who had already decided to follow Christ. If we do not follow Christ in this life, then we will have been very poor agents to ourselves when life is finished.
(12) Is there truly Love?—Moro. 8:26—And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and
because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God. Moroni 7:48—Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. Alma 13:28—But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;
(13) What is Truth?—Jacob 4:13—Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of
men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.
(14) Reality of Two—2 Nephi 2:14—And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for
there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon. Opposites: 2 Nephi 2:11—For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
(15) Fall of Adam was good—2 Nephi 2:10-11,15—And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto
God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement—For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility….And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter. Alma 42:16-17—Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul. Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?
(16) The Nature of Evil, What is it and Does it Exist?—2 Nephi 2:17—And I, Lehi, according to the things
which I have read, must needs suppose that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from heaven; wherefore, he became a devil, having sought that which was evil before God. Jacob 5:47-48—But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long, and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard? And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted? Alma 41:13—O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful.
(17) The Purpose of Life—2 Nephi 2:25—Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
Alma 12:24—And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead. Alma 34:32-33—For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. Alma 42:4,10,13—And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God….Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature, this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state. Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.
(18) Pre-Christian Knowledge about Christ (on average, a reference to Christ occurs every 1.7
verses, or once every two sentences, more than even the New Testament which is 2.1, say scholars)—1 Nephi 1:9, 10:4, 11:12-33—And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God. And it came to pass that he saw One descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day. And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament….Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world….And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look! And I looked as if to look upon him, and I saw him not; for he had gone from before my presence. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white. And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou? And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins. And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God? And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things. And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh. And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things. And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul. And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him. And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God. And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the condescension of God! And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove. And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them. And I also beheld twelve others following him. And it came to pass that they were carried away in the Spirit from before my face, and I saw them not. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw angels descending upon the children of men; and they did minister unto them. And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; and the angel spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record. And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world. 2 Nephi 25:19, 31:13, 32:9—For according to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh in six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem; and according to the words of the prophets, and also the word of the angel of God, his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God….Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel….But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul. Mos. 3:8—And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary. Alma 7:12, 14:28—And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities….And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison, and they were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them power, according to their faith which was in Christ. And they straightway came forth out of the prison; and they were loosed from their bands; and the prison had fallen to the earth, and every soul within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek, was slain; and they straightway came forth into the city. Jacob 4:5—Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son. Hel. 13-15—And now it came to pass in the eighty and sixth year, the Nephites did still remain in wickedness, yea, in great wickedness, while the Lamanites did observe strictly to keep the commandments of God, according to the law of Moses. And it came to pass that in this year there was one Samuel, a Lamanite, came into the land of Zarahemla, and began to preach unto the people. And it came to pass that he did preach, many days, repentance unto the people, and they did cast him out, and he was about to return to his own land. But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart. And it came to pass that they would not suffer that he should enter into the city; therefore he went and got upon the wall thereof, and stretched forth his hand and cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart. And he said unto them: Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart; and behold he hath put it into my heart to say unto this people that the sword of justice hangeth over this people; and four hundred years pass not away save the sword of justice falleth upon this people. Yea, heavy destruction awaiteth this people, and it surely cometh unto this people, and nothing can save this people save it be repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, who surely shall come into the world, and shall suffer many things and shall be slain for his people. And behold, an angel of the Lord hath declared it unto me, and he did bring glad tidings to my soul. And behold, I was sent unto you to declare it unto you also, that ye might have glad tidings; but behold ye would not receive me. Therefore, thus saith the Lord: Because of the hardness of the hearts of the people of the Nephites, except they repent I will take away my word from them, and I will withdraw my Spirit from them, and I will suffer them no longer, and I will turn the hearts of their brethren against them. And four hundred years shall not pass away before I will cause that they shall be smitten; yea, I will visit them with the sword and with famine and with pestilence. Yea, I will visit them in my fierce anger, and there shall be those of the fourth generation who shall live, of your enemies, to behold your utter destruction; and this shall surely come except ye repent, saith the Lord; and those of the fourth generation shall visit your destruction. But if ye will repent and return unto the Lord your God I will turn away mine anger, saith the Lord; yea, thus saith the Lord, blessed are they who will repent and turn unto me, but wo unto him that repenteth not. Yea, wo unto this great city of Zarahemla; for behold, it is because of those who are righteous that it is saved; yea, wo unto this great city, for I perceive, saith the Lord, that there are many, yea, even the more part of this great city, that will harden their hearts against me, saith the Lord. But blessed are they who will repent, for them will I spare. But behold, if it were not for the righteous who are in this great city, behold, I would cause that fire should come down out of heaven and destroy it. But behold, it is for the righteous' sake that it is spared. But behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord, that when ye shall cast out the righteous from among you, then shall ye be ripe for destruction; yea, wo be unto this great city, because of the wickedness and abominations which are in her. Yea, and wo be unto the city of Gideon, for the wickedness and abominations which are in her. Yea, and wo be unto all the cities which are in the land round about, which are possessed by the Nephites, because of the wickedness and abominations which are in them. And behold, a curse shall come upon the land, saith the Lord of Hosts, because of the peoples' sake who are upon the land, yea, because of their wickedness and their abominations. And it shall come to pass, saith the Lord of Hosts, yea, our great and true God, that whoso shall hide up treasures in the earth shall find them again no more, because of the great curse of the land, save he be a righteous man and shall hide it up unto the Lord. For I will, saith the Lord, that they shall hide up their treasures unto me; and cursed be they who hide not up their treasures unto me; for none hideth up their treasures unto me save it be the righteous; and he that hideth not up his treasures unto me, cursed is he, and also the treasure, and none shall redeem it because of the curse of the land. And the day shall come that they shall hide up their treasures, because they have set their hearts upon riches; and because they have set their hearts upon their riches, and will hide up their treasures when they shall flee before their enemies; because they will not hide them up unto me, cursed be they and also their treasures; and in that day shall they be smitten, saith the Lord. Behold ye, the people of this great city, and hearken unto my words; yea, hearken unto the words which the Lord saith; for behold, he saith that ye are cursed because of your riches, and also are your riches cursed because ye have set your hearts upon them, and have not hearkened unto the words of him who gave them unto you. Ye do not remember the Lord your God in the things with which he hath blessed you, but ye do always remember your riches, not to thank the Lord your God for them; yea, your hearts are not drawn out unto the Lord, but they do swell with great pride, unto boasting, and unto great swelling, envyings, strifes, malice, persecutions, and murders, and all manner of iniquities. For this cause hath the Lord God caused that a curse should come upon the land, and also upon your riches, and this because of your iniquities. Yea, wo unto this people, because of this time which has arrived, that ye do cast out the prophets, and do mock them, and cast stones at them, and do slay them, and do all manner of iniquity unto them, even as they did of old time. And now when ye talk, ye say: If our days had been in the days of our fathers of old, we would not have slain the prophets; we would not have stoned them, and cast them out. Behold ye are worse than they; for as the Lord liveth, if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil. But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth—and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet. Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him. O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye stiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you? Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides? Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light? Yea, behold, the anger of the Lord is already kindled against you; behold, he hath cursed the land because of your iniquity. And behold, the time cometh that he curseth your riches, that they become slippery, that ye cannot hold them; and in the days of your poverty ye cannot retain them. And in the days of your poverty ye shall cry unto the Lord; and in vain shall ye cry, for your desolation is already come upon you, and your destruction is made sure; and then shall ye weep and howl in that day, saith the Lord of Hosts. And then shall ye lament, and say: O that I had repented, and had not killed the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out. Yea, in that day ye shall say: O that we had remembered the Lord our God in the day that he gave us our riches, and then they would not have become slippery that we should lose them; for behold, our riches are gone from us. Behold, we lay a tool here and on the morrow it is gone; and behold, our swords are taken from us in the day we have sought them for battle. Yea, we have hid up our treasures and they have slipped away from us, because of the curse of the land. O that we had repented in the day that the word of the Lord came unto us; for behold the land is cursed, and all things are become slippery, and we cannot hold them. Behold, we are surrounded by demons, yea, we are encircled about by the angels of him who hath sought to destroy our souls. Behold, our iniquities are great. O Lord, canst thou not turn away thine anger from us? And this shall be your language in those days. But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head. O ye people of the land, that ye would hear my words! And I pray that the anger of the Lord be turned away from you, and that ye would repent and be saved. And now it came to pass that Samuel, the Lamanite, did prophesy a great many more things which cannot be written. And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name. And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day. Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born. And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you. And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven. And it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth. And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life. And behold, thus hath the Lord commanded me, by his angel, that I should come and tell this thing unto you; yea, he hath commanded that I should prophesy these things unto you; yea, he hath said unto me: Cry unto this people, repent and prepare the way of the Lord. And now, because I am a Lamanite, and have spoken unto you the words which the Lord hath commanded me, and because it was hard against you, ye are angry with me and do seek to destroy me, and have cast me out from among you. And ye shall hear my words, for, for this intent have I come up upon the walls of this city, that ye might hear and know of the judgments of God which do await you because of your iniquities, and also that ye might know the conditions of repentance; And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name. And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits. And behold, again, another sign I give unto you, yea, a sign of his death. For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord. Yea, behold, this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first death—that spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual. But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord. Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness. Therefore repent ye, repent ye, lest by knowing these things and not doing them ye shall suffer yourselves to come under condemnation, and ye are brought down unto this second death. But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead. Yea, at the time that he shall yield up the ghost there shall be thunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours, and the earth shall shake and tremble; and the rocks which are upon the face of this earth, which are both above the earth and beneath, which ye know at this time are solid, or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be broken up; Yea, they shall be rent in twain, and shall ever after be found in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon the face of the whole earth, yea, both above the earth and beneath. And behold, there shall be great tempests, and there shall be many mountains laid low, like unto a valley, and there shall be many places which are now called valleys which shall become mountains, whose height is great. And many highways shall be broken up, and many cities shall become desolate. And many graves shall be opened, and shall yield up many of their dead; and many saints shall appear unto many. And behold, thus hath the angel spoken unto me; for he said unto me that there should be thunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours. And he said unto me that while the thunder and the lightning lasted, and the tempest, that these things should be, and that darkness should cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three days. And the angel said unto me that many shall see greater things than these, to the intent that they might believe that these signs and these wonders should come to pass upon all the face of this land, to the intent that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men—And this to the intent that whosoever will believe might be saved, and that whosoever will not believe, a righteous judgment might come upon them; and also if they are condemned they bring upon themselves their own condemnation. And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free. He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you. And now, my beloved brethren, behold, I declare unto you that except ye shall repent your houses shall be left unto you desolate. Yea, except ye repent, your women shall have great cause to mourn in the day that they shall give suck; for ye shall attempt to flee and there shall be no place for refuge; yea, and wo unto them which are with child, for they shall be heavy and cannot flee; therefore, they shall be trodden down and shall be left to perish. Yea, wo unto this people who are called the people of Nephi except they shall repent, when they shall see all these signs and wonders which shall be showed unto them; for behold, they have been a chosen people of the Lord; yea, the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he chastened them; yea, in the days of their iniquities hath he chastened them because he loveth them. But behold my brethren, the Lamanites hath he hated because their deeds have been evil continually, and this because of the iniquity of the tradition of their fathers. But behold, salvation hath come unto them through the preaching of the Nephites; and for this intent hath the Lord prolonged their days. And I would that ye should behold that the more part of them are in the path of their duty, and they do walk circumspectly before God, and they do observe to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments according to the law of Moses. Yea, I say unto you, that the more part of them are doing this, and they are striving with unwearied diligence that they may bring the remainder of their brethren to the knowledge of the truth; therefore there are many who do add to their numbers daily. And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free. And ye know also that they have buried their weapons of war, and they fear to take them up lest by any means they should sin; yea, ye can see that they fear to sin—for behold they will suffer themselves that they be trodden down and slain by their enemies, and will not lift their swords against them, and this because of their faith in Christ. And now, because of their steadfastness when they do believe in that thing which they do believe, for because of their firmness when they are once enlightened, behold, the Lord shall bless them and prolong their days, notwithstanding their iniquity—Yea, even if they should dwindle in unbelief the Lord shall prolong their days, until the time shall come which hath been spoken of by our fathers, and also by the prophet Zenos, and many other prophets, concerning the restoration of our brethren, the Lamanites, again to the knowledge of the truth—Yea, I say unto you, that in the latter times the promises of the Lord have been extended to our brethren, the Lamanites; and notwithstanding the many afflictions which they shall have, and notwithstanding they shall be driven to and fro upon the face of the earth, and be hunted, and shall be smitten and scattered abroad, having no place for refuge, the Lord shall be merciful unto them. And this is according to the prophecy, that they shall again be brought to the true knowledge, which is the knowledge of their Redeemer, and their great and true shepherd, and be numbered among his sheep. Therefore I say unto you, it shall be better for them than for you except ye repent. For behold, had the mighty works been shown unto them which have been shown unto you, yea, unto them who have dwindled in unbelief because of the traditions of their fathers, ye can see of yourselves that they never would again have dwindled in unbelief. Therefore, saith the Lord: I will not utterly destroy them, but I will cause that in the day of my wisdom they shall return again unto me, saith the Lord. And now behold, saith the Lord, concerning the people of the Nephites: If they will not repent, and observe to do my will, I will utterly destroy them, saith the Lord, because of their unbelief notwithstanding the many mighty works which I have done among them; and as surely as the Lord liveth shall these things be, saith the Lord. 3 Nephi 9:13-18, 11-26 (chapters.) O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me. Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name….And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place. And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death. And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn. And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not. And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came. And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them: Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him. And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them. And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying: Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning. And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying: Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world. And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come. And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying: Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him. And it came to pass that he spake unto Nephi (for Nephi was among the multitude) and he commanded him that he should come forth. And Nephi arose and went forth, and bowed himself before the Lord and did kiss his feet. And the Lord commanded him that he should arise. And he arose and stood before him. And the Lord said unto him: I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven. And again the Lord called others, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be no disputations among you. Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them—Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them. And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying: Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water. And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one. And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize. And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been. For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away. Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine. And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me. And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God. And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them. Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth. And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words unto Nephi, and to those who had been called, (now the number of them who had been called, and received power and authority to baptize, was twelve) and behold, he stretched forth his hand unto the multitude, and cried unto them, saying: Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am. And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins. Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost. And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God. And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake; For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men. Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house; Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy but to fulfil; For verily I say unto you, one jot nor one tittle hath not passed away from the law, but in me it hath all been fulfilled. And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled. Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, and it is also written before you, that thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of God; But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore, if ye shall come unto me, or shall desire to come unto me, and rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee—Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you. Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time he shall get thee, and thou shalt be cast into prison. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence until thou hast paid the uttermost senine. And while ye are in prison can ye pay even one senine? Verily, verily, I say unto you, Nay. Behold, it is written by them of old time, that thou shalt not commit adultery; But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman, to lust after her, hath committed adultery already in his heart. Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye suffer none of these things to enter into your heart; For it is better that ye should deny yourselves of these things, wherein ye will take up your cross, than that ye should be cast into hell. It hath been written, that whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery; and whoso shall marry her who is divorced committeth adultery. And again it is written, thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths; But verily, verily, I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair black or white; But let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever cometh of more than these is evil. And behold, it is written, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; But I say unto you, that ye shall not resist evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also; And if any man will sue thee at the law and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also; And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away. And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy; But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good. Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled. Old things are done away, and all things have become new. Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect. (Chapters 13-26 of 3 Nephi omitted).
(19) Jehovah was the Premortal Christ—2 Nephi 1:10, 6:9—But behold, when the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings from the hand of the Lord—having a knowledge of the creation of the earth, and all men, knowing the great and marvelous works of the Lord from the creation of the world; having power given them to do all things by faith; having all the commandments from the beginning, and having been brought by his infinite goodness into this precious land of promise—behold, I say, if the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them….Nevertheless, the Lord has shown unto me that they should return again. And he also has shown unto me that the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, should manifest himself unto them in the flesh; and after he should manifest himself they should scourge him and crucify him, according to the words of the angel who spake it unto me. Mos. 3:5, 13:28—For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases….And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses. 3 Nephi 11:14, 15:5—Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world….Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end.
“The Father placed His name upon the Son (‘divine investiture’); and Jesus Christ spoke and ministered in and through the Father’s name; and so far as power, authority, and Godship are concerned, His words and acts were and are those of the Father” The Father and the Son: A Doctrinal Exposition by the First Presidency and the Twelve, 1912.
3 Nephi 9:15—Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.
(20) The Atonement—2 Nephi 2:7,10, 9:7,26, 11:6—Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered…. And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement….Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more….For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel. Jacob 7:12—And this is not all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost. Mosiah 3:5-7,11,15, 13:28—For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases. And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men. And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people….For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned….And many signs, and wonders, and types, and shadows showed he unto them, concerning his coming; and also holy prophets spake unto them concerning his coming; and yet they hardened their hearts, and understood not that the law of Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of his blood….And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses. Alma 7:11, 22:14, 42:16,23—And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king….Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul….But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice. Hel. 5:9—O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; 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; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world. 3 Nephi 11:14—Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world. Moro. 7:41, 8:20, 10:32-33—And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise….And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption….Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
(21) The sacrament (not Transubstantiation): 3 Nephi 18:1-12,28,30 (10-11)—And it came to pass that Jesus commanded his disciples that they should bring forth some bread and wine unto him. And while they were gone for bread and wine, he commanded the multitude that they should sit themselves down upon the earth. And when the disciples had come with bread and wine, he took of the bread and brake and blessed it; and he gave unto the disciples and commanded that they should eat. And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded that they should give unto the multitude. And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, he said unto the disciples: Behold there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it unto the people of my church, unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name. And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it unto you. And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you. And it came to pass that when he said these words, he commanded his disciples that they should take of the wine of the cup and drink of it, and that they should also give unto the multitude that they might drink of it. And it came to pass that they did so, and did drink of it and were filled; and they gave unto the multitude, and they did drink, and they were filled. And when the disciples had done this, Jesus said unto them: Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you. And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you. And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do these things. And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock….And now behold, this is the commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall not suffer any one knowingly to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily, when ye shall minister it….Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.
(22) Sinning in ignorance: Alma 29:5—Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience. Moro. 8:22—For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing. 2 Nephi 9:25-26—Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him. For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel. Mos. 3:11,20-22—For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned….And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. And behold, when that time cometh, none shall be found blameless before God, except it be little children, only through repentance and faith on the name of the Lord God Omnipotent. And even at this time, when thou shalt have taught thy people the things which the Lord thy God hath commanded thee, even then are they found no more blameless in the sight of God, only according to the words which I have spoken unto thee.
(23) Additional Scripture: 2 Nephi 29:7-14—Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also. And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written. For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written. For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it. And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews. And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever.Alma 29:8—For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true. Mos. 3:13—And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them. 2 Nephi 28:30-31—For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have. Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. 2 Nephi 27:7-8,10-11,22-23—And behold the book shall be sealed; and in the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof. Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the book shall be kept from them….But the words which are sealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold, they reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof. And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall be read upon the house tops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ; and all things shall be revealed unto the children of men which ever have been among the children of men, and which ever will be even unto the end of the earth….Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work. Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which I have commanded thee, and obtained the witnesses which I have promised unto thee, then shalt thou seal up the book again, and hide it up unto me, that I may preserve the words which thou hast not read, until I shall see fit in mine own wisdom to reveal all things unto the children of men. Ether 3:27, 4:4-7,13,16—And the Lord said unto him: Write these things and seal them up; and I will show them in mine own due time unto the children of men….Behold, I have written upon these plates the very things which the brother of Jared saw; and there never were greater things made manifest than those which were made manifest unto the brother of Jared. Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to write them; and I have written them. And he commanded me that I should seal them up; and he also hath commanded that I should seal up the interpretation thereof; wherefore I have sealed up the interpreters, according to the commandment of the Lord. For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord. And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are….Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief….And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the people. Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed. 1 Nephi 13:39-40—And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true. And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved. 3 Nephi 16:1-4—And verily, verily, I say unto you that I have other sheep, which are not of this land, neither of the land of Jerusalem, neither in any parts of that land round about whither I have been to minister. For they of whom I speak are they who have not as yet heard my voice; neither have I at any time manifested myself unto them. But I have received a commandment of the Father that I shall go unto them, and that they shall hear my voice, and shall be numbered among my sheep, that there may be one fold and one shepherd; therefore I go to show myself unto them. And I command you that ye shall write these sayings after I am gone, that if it so be that my people at Jerusalem, they who have seen me and been with me in my ministry, do not ask the Father in my name, that they may receive a knowledge of you by the Holy Ghost, and also of the other tribes whom they know not of, that these sayings which ye shall write shall be kept and shall be manifested unto the Gentiles, that through the fulness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed, who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth because of their unbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their Redeemer. Morm. 5:12-15, 8:12—Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord that they may come forth in his own due time. And this is the commandment which I have received; and behold, they shall come forth according to the commandment of the Lord, when he shall see fit, in his wisdom. And behold, they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for this intent shall they go—that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that the Father may bring about, through his most Beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant; And also that the seed of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles; for this people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us, yea, even that which hath been among the Lamanites, and this because of their unbelief and idolatry. 1 Nephi 14:26—And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all things, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, unto the house of Israel.
Qur’an: 018.109
DAWOOD: Say: “If the waters of the sea were ink with which to write the words of my Lord, the sea would surely dry up before the words of my Lord were finished, though we brought another sea to replenish it.”
YUSUFALI: Say: "If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid."
PICKTHAL: Say: Though the sea became ink for the Words of my Lord, verily the sea would be used up before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even though We brought the like thereof to help.
SHAKIR: Say: If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would surely be consumed before the words of my Lord are exhausted, though We were to bring the like of that (sea) to add.
KHALIFA: Say, "If the ocean were ink for the words of my Lord, the ocean would run out, before the words of my Lord run out, even if we double the ink supply."
(24) An Actual Plan of Salvation: 2 Nephi 9:6,13-16—For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord….O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect. Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness. And it shall come to pass that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear before the judgment-seat of the Holy One of Israel; and then cometh the judgment, and then must they be judged according to the holy judgment of God. And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy are the devil and his angels; and they shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end. Alma 22:13-14—And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name. And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king. Alma 34:16—And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption. Alma 42:13-16—Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God. And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence. And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also. Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul.
(25) Christ’s grace extends to those who lived before Him: 2 Nephi 2:3-4—Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, and thou shalt dwell safely with thy brother, Nephi; and thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God. Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men. And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free. Ether 3:9,12-14—And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?...And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie. And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you. Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters. Mos. 4:7—I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.
(26) What is the image of God? Ether 3:15-17—And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh. And now, as I, Moroni, said I could not make a full account of these things which are written, therefore it sufficeth me to say that Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body even as he showed himself unto the Nephites.
(27) Apostles continue: 4 Nephi 1:14—And it came to pass that the seventy and first year passed away, and also the seventy and second year, yea, and in fine, till the seventy and ninth year had passed away; yea, even an hundred years had passed away, and the disciples of Jesus, whom he had chosen, had all gone to the paradise of God, save it were the three who should tarry; and there were other disciples ordained in their stead; and also many of that generation had passed away.
(28) Did God create all things, even evil? Hel. 6:30—And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. And behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness and secret murder, and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths, and their covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, from generation to generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the children of men. Alma 5:40—For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil. Moro. 7:12—Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually. (See Matt. 7:18—A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Mark 7:23—All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. Rom. 1:30—Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents. John 8:44—Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. D&C 29:36—Behold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency, and D&C 93:37,39—Light and truth forsake that evil one. Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God. And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers, for possible consistencies)
(29) What does Isaiah 53:10—Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand—mean when it talks of Christ’s seed? Does He have blood-children living on Earth? Mos. 15:10-14—And now I say unto you, who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed? Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God. For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not his seed? Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that has opened his mouth to prophesy, that has not fallen into transgression, I mean all the holy prophets ever since the world began? I say unto you that they are his seed. And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!
The Lord gave us The Book of Mormon as part of the restoration of knowledge and divine power that was prophesied in the New Testament.
These ancient American records were written on metal plates. The last Book of Mormon prophet buried the plates. They remained that way until 1827 when they were revealed to the prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. Joseph translated them by the gift and power of God. The Book of Mormon was first published in 1830. The Lord put in the Book an interesting challenge—Moroni 10:3-5—Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. As you read this book, you should follow this counsel to learn, by the power of the Holy Spirit, whether or not this Book is Holy Scripture, and whether or not the Restoration really occurred. Verse 3 also emphasizes the importance of the Bible in determining whether or not The Book of Mormon is true—it speaks of remembering the mercies of God ever since Adam. Through remembering the Bible when pondering about The Book of Mormon, a person can receive a more sure witness from the two records together. Consider 1 Thess. 5:21—Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 John 4:1-4—Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (Greek: test, prove by trial, discern) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
GOD
CAN WE SEE GOD?
1 Cor. 2:14—But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The reason no man has seen God at any time, like the scripture says in John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him, is because the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. Likewise, he cannot behold God because He is “spiritually discerned.” Romans 8:8-9—So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. We are not in the flesh when the Spirit dwells in us.
John 6:46—Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. No man hath seen God, “save he which is of God.”
3 John 1:11—Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. Those who are evil cannot see God.
Heb. 12:14—Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. No man “shall see the Lord” without following “peace with all men, and holiness.”
Judges 13:22—And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. An angel of the Lord manifests himself to Manoah and his wife; he declares that they’ve seen God.
Heb. 11:27—By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Moses saw God, “seeing him who is invisible” (God is invisible to the wicked).
1 John 3:6—Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Those who sin have not seen Him.
Deut. 34:10—And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. The Lord knew Moses face to face, unlike any of the other prophets.
Isa. 6:5—Then said I, Woe is 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. Isaiah has seen the King, the Lord of hosts, with his own eyes.
Ex. 6:2-3—And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. God appeared to Moses, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
IF HE CAN BE SEEN, WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE?
$ GOD LOOKS HUMAN—rather, we look like God:
Genesis 5:1—This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him. Man in the likeness of God. Compare Genesis 5:3--And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth—Adam begat a son in his own likeness, after his image. (Ether 3:15-16 [6-17] And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh. )
Genesis 1:25-27—And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. God’s pattern is first established—animals bring forth offspring after their kind. Then He makes man after His kind, specifically, “in His own image.” And this image was “after our [the Gods’] likeness.”
James 3:9—Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. We are made in the similitude of God (Alma 18:34--Ammon said unto him: I am a man; and man in the beginning was created after the image of God, and I am called by his Holy Spirit to teach these things unto this people, that they may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true).
1 Cor. 11:7—For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. Man should not cover his head since he’s in the image and glory of God.
Josh. 5:13-15—And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. God looks like man—“There stood a man” who was “Captain of the Lord’s host (Jesus Christ).”
Gen 9:6—Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. If a man murder, then another man shall slay him, since God made us in His image.
Judges 13:3,6,22—“An angel of the Lord appeared” who was more than just an angel, but “A man of God . . . and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God.” Then Manoah declares that this person was “God.”
Phillip. 3:20-21—For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Our bodies will be fashioned like His glorious body through Jesus Christ (Jesus Christ’s atonement made possible the resurrection—1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Cor. 15:42,44,52-53—So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.—This spiritual body will be like Christ’s resurrected body and it will no longer die. The emphasis is on a change from mortal to immortality. It is not an emphasis on changing shape or form, but simply in the ability to die—Luke 24:39).
Luke 24:39—Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.Jesus has flesh and bones (not flesh and blood) in His resurrected state (support for His actual resurrection: Acts 1:3,22 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection and 2:31-33—He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear). 2 Cor. 4:4—In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them, Phillip. 2:5-6—Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God—Christ in the image of God.
John 12:44-45—Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. God looks like Christ.
$ GOD HAS A FACE AND BODY PARTS: (Ether 3:6-17 [15-16] And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh)
Matt. 18:10—Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Genesis 32:30, 33:10—And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. Jacob saw God face to face and survived. Jacob sees the face of Esau, as though he had seen the face of God.
Ex. 33:11—“And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend (compare with contradictory verse 20—And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.).”
Num 14:14—“That thou Lord art seen face to face.” God has a face to be seen as a face.
Gen. 6:6—And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. God has a heart.
Acts 22:14—And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. God has chosen Saul to “see the Just One” and “hear the voice of his mouth.”
Deut. 4:28—And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. The true God can “see,” “hear,” “eat,” and “smell,” just like we can.
Psalms 115:5-7—But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. Verses 3 and 4 begin comparing idols and God—they can’t see, hear, smell, be handled, etc. Also Rev. 9:20—And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk. Idols which “neither can see, nor hear, nor walk” implying that the true God does.
Dan. 5:23—But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified. God is unlike false gods in that they “see not, nor hear, nor know” nor have a “hand” like it is mentioned in verse 5—In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. In 6:26—I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. God is “the living God, and steadfast for ever.”
2 Chron. 18:13,18—And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak. Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. God lives and sits on His throne, and all of the host of heaven stands on his right and left hands. *Remember Stephen’s vision—he was an eyewitness.* Acts 7:55-56—But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Heb. 1:3—Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Christ, who came to earth and took upon Him the form of man is nonetheless in “the express image” of God’s “person.” This means that God the Father is also in the form of a man and is not a form which fills the whole universe by His shape.
Gen. 6:8—But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. God has eyes.
ARE JESUS AND THE FATHER SEPARATE BEINGS? –1 John 5:7,20—For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life, 4:16—And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him, 5:8-11—And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. “These three ARE one.”
THERE ARE EVENTS WHERE GOD’S AND CHRIST’S SEPARATENESS IS MANIFESTED: 3 Ne 11:7-8—Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him. And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them. God speaks and Christ visits the Nephites.
John 11:23,41-42—Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. Jesus looks above himself and spoke to the Father in prayer. God truly sent Him. God always hears His Son.
John 12:27-28—Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
Jesus prays to the Father and He responds from heaven, for the sake of those who also heard His voice, proving that the Father glorifies His own name through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Matt 26:53—Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? Christ can pray to the Father and He will send him “legions of angels.”
Luke 9:35-36—And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. A voice from heaven declares that Jesus “is my beloved Son: hear Him.”
Luke 6:12—Jesus went out to pray and “continued all night in prayer to God.”
Matt. 17:5-8—While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. Mark 9:7-8—And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. Peter, James and John witnessed the separateness of the Father to Christ while on the mount of transfiguration when “a cloud overshadowed them” and “a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him.” Then “suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man anymore (Elias and Moses were no longer there), save Jesus only.” They testify of the event in 2 Peter 1:16-18—For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. Their testimony confirms that separateness of the Two.
Matthew 3:16—And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost were all manifested at the same time, in three separate ways, at Christ's baptism, then verse 17 and 17:5—While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. A voice from heaven says “This is my beloved Son. . . .” These scriptures show distinct manifestations of the Father and the Son, at the same time.
Luke 4:1—And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Jesus was led by the Spirit, “He was full of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 7:55-56— But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Jesus on the right hand of God. They are definitely separate according to this scripture. Similar, also, to Joseph Smith=s first vision which teaches us that They are actually separate. Furthermore, Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost while he saw the Two Beings. They are all separate.
WHEN JESUS AND THE FATHER ARE DESCRIBED AS ONE, THE WORD, OR IMPLIED WORD, IS NOT LITERAL, BUT IS FIGURATIVE FOR BEING ONE IN PURPOSE. See 3 Nephi 28:9-10—And again, ye shall not have pain while ye shall dwell in the flesh, neither sorrow save it be for the sins of the world; and all this will I do because of the thing which ye have desired of me, for ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me, while the world shall stand. And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one.
Question: If Christianity is truly one body in Christ—the single true faith—then is it not a combination of several separate churches with separate names? (If you believe they are separate yet one, then you should be able to understand that God is one God consisting of Three separate Individuals, separate in substance, yet who work together in perfect unison, one in heart, motives, and methods).
Examples: Phillip. 2:2,5—Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, 1:27—Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, Romans 12:5—So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
More Scripture
1 John 2:1,5—My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: …But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. Jesus is the advocate for us with the Father and if we keep God’s word (make our purpose the same as God’s), then that’s how we’ll know that “we are in Him,” a figurative use of the implied “one.”
John 17:20-23—Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
This scripture verses show the symbolism of being one. It indirectly tells us They are actually separate: “they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me.” Thus, we can be one with God in the same way that Christ is one with God—3 Nephi 19:23—And now Father, I pray unto thee for them, and also for all those who shall believe on their words, that they may believe in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one is similar.
John 17: (entire chapter is good) 3,11—And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent….And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. It’s life eternal to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent. Similar usage of “as”—“that they may be one, as we are.” Chapter: These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
1 Cor. 12:12—For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. “Being many, are one body; so also is Christ.”
John 14:20—At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. “I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”
Eph. 1:10—That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him “In the dispensation of the fulness of times,” Jesus will “gather together in one all things in Christ.” Together in one is just as the Godhead.
Eph. 5:29-31—For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. We are members of the Lord’s flesh, and when we join with our wife, we two “shall be one flesh.”
1 Cor. 3:5-9,23—Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building….And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. “He that planteth and he that watereth are one.”
1 Cor. 6:16-17—What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. He who is “joined to an harlot is one body” and “one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”
Heb. 2:11—For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. “He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one.”
Gal. 3:27-28—Everyone baptized into the Church is one in Christ Jesus.
1 Cor. 10:17—For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. “For we being many are one bread, and one body.” Is it unreasonable to believe that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are also one God in the same way that we are one body?
Luke 10:16—He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. Those who hear the seventy, whom the Lord appointed, hears Him. Those who despise them despise the Lord. Those who despise them also despise Him that sent the Lord—an example of the figurative language of the implied “one.”
1 John 4:12—No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. By loving others, God dwells in us—a figurative implication of “one.” “We have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” 1 John 3:24 (21-24)—Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. He who keeps God’s commandments dwells in Him—They become one with God.
Matt. 25:40—And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
1 John 5:20—And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. “We are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ.”
D&C 35:2—I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one. This shows our belief as being one in purpose by saying “. . .as many as will believe on my name. . .become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father. . . .” When you believe on His name, you will be and do good, thus making you, Jesus and the Father “one” in purpose, which is to do good.
Our teachings include similar figurative language describing God: 3 Nephi 1:12-14—And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets. Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.
Mosiah 15:1-5—And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son—The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son—And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth. And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people.
3 Nephi 11:27—And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.
3 Nephi 9:15-16—Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name. I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled.
D&C 20:28—Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.
D&C 93:2-5—And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world; And that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one—The Father because he gave me of his fulness, and the Son because I was in the world and made flesh my tabernacle, and dwelt among the sons of men. I was in the world and received of my Father, and the works of him were plainly manifest.
D&C 35:2—I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.
D&C 50:43—And the Father and I are one. I am in the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me and I in you.
Moses 1:3—And God spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name; for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless? (supposed to be Christ speaking), 6—And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth; but there is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all. (sounds like Heavenly Father). The implication of D&C 1:38 explains why Jesus speaks as the Father—“whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”
Consider: 3 Nephi 27:14 and 26:4—Christ is God: And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil, And And even unto the great and last day, when all people, and all kindreds, and all nations and tongues shall stand before God, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.
THE FATHER AND JESUS HAVE DIFFERENT WISHES, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THEIR SEPARATENESS:
Luke 22:41-42—And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. When Christ was about to take upon him the sins of the world in the garden of Gethsemane, He prayed to the Father, calling Him “Daddy” (Greek translation), and asked Him that He might not have to do it, but quickly resolved to do what the Father desired of Him to do, instead of what He was inclined to feel like doing (Mark 14:36—And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. Matt. 26:38-39--Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt).
John 6:37-39—All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. Christ states that He came to do what the Father wants, not what He wants.
John 8:29—And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. “I do always those things that please him.”
Luke 2:48-50—And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. Even when Jesus was twelve, He was doing what the Father wanted Him to do, and when He explained why He was still teaching, days after His mortal parents had left the city, in the Temple, they didn’t understand what He meant about how He was “about my Father=s business.” Many Christians today still don’t understand what Jesus meant, either.
Luke 23:34—Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Christ prayed to the Father and asked Him to forgive those who put Him on the cross.
THE FATHER AND JESUS ARE SEPARATE BECAUSE THEY WEREN’T COMPLETELY EQUAL: God is actually the Father, and Christ is actually the Son = a father/son relationship
Luke 2:52—And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. At one point in His life, Christ actually progressed spiritually “in favour with God.”
Matt. 7:9-11—Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Just as a father acts in his child’s best interests, so do God the Father, and Christ His Son.
Matt. 5:48—Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Christ exhorts us to be “perfect” like our Father in heaven who is perfect. He didn’t tell us to be perfect like Himself, because He wasn’t perfected yet—Luke 13:32: And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. After he was perfected, he admonished the Nephites in America to be perfect as He, or their Father, is—3 Nephi 12:48: Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
Rev. 5:12—Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Heb. 5:8-9—Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. Christ progressed and learned to perfection where, “being made perfect, he became….”
John 14:28,31—Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I….But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. Jesus says that He will go to the Father, who is greater than Himself, and will do what He commands of Him.
Heb. 1:2—God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. God, through His own Son, spoke to people, and also made worlds by him. Christ will become an “heir.” His Dad will give him all things as an inheritance from Him.
Luke 18:19—And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Christ states that He isn’t good, but the only one who is good is God.
1 Cor. 11:3—But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Note the relation to each other: The head of the woman is man, man’s head is Christ, and Christ’s head is God. This parallelism demonstrates that Christ is separate from God just as a man is physically separate from the woman and are distinct persons, yet work together in harmony as one.
John 7:16-18—Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Christ proclaimed God=s doctrine, not his own (similar—John 3:34-35—For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand).
Matt. 20:23—And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. Jesus doesn’t grant people a seat next to Him in the after life, but the Father does.
John 6:57—As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. We live by Christ and we are not equal with Him; Christ lives by “the living Father” who sent him—thus, Jesus was not equal with the Father at that time.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER SCRIPTURES WHICH INDICATE THEIR SEPARATENESS:
1 Tim 2:5—“There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (Thus, Mary and St. Christopher are not mediators between us and God). Heb. 7:24-25—But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Jesus is the man who lives forever, and by him people can come to God because Christ is always making intercession for them.
John 3:16—“God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son.” This literal statement also manifests the true love that God has for all of us—that He would allow His only Child to be murdered. This is a greater sacrifice for a selfless Being than giving up His own life.
Col. 1:12-13—Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son
The “Father” has delivered us by “his dear Son.” It does not seem reasonable with this language to assume that He is talking about Himself or any part of Himself; therefore, Christ is God’s literal Son whom He loves just as a human father loves his own son.
John 20:17—Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. “I ascend unto my Father, and your Father,” my God, your God.
Acts 14:11-12,15—And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker….And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.
A pagan belief of God is that He comes “down to us in the likeness of men” as if He isn’t normally in the likeness of men except for when comes down to us. But God is a “living God.”
1 John 4:14-15—And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. The Father sent the Son, and whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God has God dwelling in him while he dwells inside of God. So, if people refuse to confess that Jesus truly is God the Father’s literal Son, then they are not truly of God even though they may be genuinely good people.
Genesis 1:26—And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. “Let us make man in our. . . .”
Eph. 3:9—And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. God created things by Jesus Christ.
John 14:21-23—He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Here there is a special promise: God & Christ will manifest themselves to a person who keeps the commandments—Christ said, “We will come unto him and make our abode”
Hebrews 1:2-3—God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. God has spoken to us by his Son, who will be an heir of all things, and who God made the worlds with (Jesus and God were the us and our in the previous scriptures). Jesus is in the “express image of [God’s] person . . . [who] sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High.”
Matt. 18:10-11—Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Angels in heaven are always beholding Christ’s Father’s face, but the Son of Man came to save that which was lost—his sheep (vs. 12—How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?).
Moses 6:57—Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time. Jesus Christ is the “Son of Man”; God is the “Man of Holiness.” Hence, the Son of man is really the Son of Man of Holiness.
Mark 15:34—And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? God forsook Jesus while He was on the cross. If Christ were inseparably connected with God, that would mean Christ ceased to be God when the greater portion of Himself left Him; but, this is untrue. Christ remained God, and “God” was able to “forsake” Him because God is His Father who is distinctly separate from Him, the Son and God Jesus Christ. They are two physically distinct Gods who are one God in their perfect unity with each other, harmonizing in purposes, power, knowledge, motives, and methods.
Eph. 1:17,20—That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: …Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. “The God of our Lord Jesus Christ” raised Christ “from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.” (Why not say, “The God of our Lord Jesus Christ raised Himself from the dead and symbolically sits enthroned in the heavenly places once again as God ruling from on high in Heaven” if the idea of the Trinity is true from the Biblical perspective?)
Mark 13:26,32—And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory…. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Jesus will come a second time in great power and glory, but even He does not know when it will be, only the Father knows.
John 7:28—Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. Christ is from God, and the Father is not known by some—if they were the same, then others would know the Father.
Luke 4:41—And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. Devils even know Jesus is the Son of God, physically not the same Being as God the Father Himself.
Luke 9:26—For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. Distinctions between Christ’s glory, God’s glory, and holy angel’s.
Mark 4:1—And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Jesus separate from the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:15,26—And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses…. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
God sent his Son Jesus after raising Him.
Heb. 13:20—Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. God brought the Lord Jesus from the dead.
Acts 2:14, 22—But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:….Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know. Peter, the prophet of the Church or head apostle, had this to say about Jesus Christ—“a man approved of God.” Jesus is not God the Father, but was through whom God worked “miracles.” “This Jesus hath God raised up (verse 32)” and has been “exalted (vs. 33)” by God, and has been made “both Lord and Christ (vs. 36)” also by God.
Acts 10:38—How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.” Verse 40—“Him God raised up the third day.” Jesus “was ordained of God to be the Judge (vs 41).” “God was with him (vs 38)” God was not him.
1 Thess. 2:11—As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children. The apostle Paul explains the manner in which he has taught, and compares it to that of a “father.” He was not actually a father to them, although, when Paul speaks of God (1 Thess. 1:1—Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ), he calls Him, “God the Father” not “God who is like a Father.” God is actually the Father of Jesus Christ, thus demonstrating the separateness of the Father and His Son, literal Son; Paul doesn’t use a comparison to explain the nature of God, rather a direct specific description with no symbolism involved. See also 1 Thess. 3:13—To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
John 5:17-38—But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. The Jews didn’t believe that God was Jesus’ Father because that would mean that He and God were equal. The Son does what He sees the Father do. The Father loves the Son. The Father will commit all judgment of the dead to the Son. All men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that doesn’t honor Jesus doesn’t honor the Father since the Father sent Him. Everyone who believes on Him that sent Christ will have everlasting life. The Father has life in Himself and He has given the Son life as well. God has also given Him authority. Jesus seeks the will of the Father who has sent Him. If Christ were to bear witness of Himself, then it wouldn’t be true, but there is another that beareth witness of Him, greater even than John—the works which He does bear witness that the Father has sent Him. And the Father himself has born witness of Christ, but the people haven’t heard God’s voice or seen His shape.
Acts 20:28—Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. He who purchased the Church with his own blood is God; therefore, Christ is also God.
John 8:17-18—It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. These verses are very significant because Jesus explains the impossibility of Him and the Father being the same person: “It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.” Jesus, thus, intends to prove that what He has said is true by fulfilling the requirements of their own law. “I am one that bear witness of myself,” but, as Jesus knows, that is not enough, and the law requires a second, separate person as a witness. So, he continues, “and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.” Therefore, the Father is separate from Jesus Christ, whom the Father has literally sent.
John 8:16,19,26-29,38-42,49,54-55—And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me….Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also….I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him….I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me….Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me….Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Explains that the Father and Jesus are one in purpose, because if you know Christ, then you’ll know the Father. He continues explaining that He that sent Him is true, and He speaks those things the Father has told Him. He does nothing of Himself, but only what the Father has taught Him. The Father hasn’t left Him alone, because Christ always does those things that please Him. Christ compares the Father and Son relationship He has with the Father, to the father and son relationship they, those He’s speaking to, have with their fathers.
John 12:49-50— For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. Not only has Christ spoken with the Father in prayer, but the Father has personally tutored Christ. And Christ testifies: “I know that his commandment is life everlasting.”
John 5:22-27—For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. The Father commits all Judgment to His “Son.” Men should also honor the Son as much as they honor the Father. The Father hath sent Him. If you hear and understand Christ’s word and if you will believe on “Him” that sent Christ, then you’ll gain everlasting life. (People who know the truth gain this—the truth is They are separate.) Christ is the “Son of God,” The Father has His own life, and the Son has His own life—not the same life. (The text does not say that God, acting as the Father, has a manifestation, and when He acts as the Son, He has that distinction, but rather they each have a separate “life” of their own—One doesn’t loose His life in order to appear as some other manifestation called God). God has given Christ authority to Judge—separate roles.
Acts 17:29—Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. There is a “Godhead” made up of Three People Beings glorified, and we are offspring.
Acts 17:31—Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. “He will judge . . . by that man whom he hath ordained.”
Matt 19:28—And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. If God has committed all judgment to Christ (John 5:22—For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son), then how do the Twelve also get it? The Twelve will act as one with Christ. This pattern of bestowing judgment from Christ to the Twelve, they being separate, is the same as the Father bestowing judgment to the Son, They being separate, but acting as one.
John 20:21—Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. The Lord compares the peace the Father has sent him to the peace that He sends to us, indicating the separateness of Him and His Father and us and Him.
Matt. 5:45—That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. We should be children of our Father who “is in heaven”—Christ was on Earth when he said this, so he must have been referring to someone other than himself who wasn’t on the earth, but who “is in heaven.”
Heb. 9:24—For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. “Christ . . . entered . . . into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God.”
Matt. 23:9—And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”
Luke 8:28—When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. “Jesus, thou Son of God most high.”
Heb. 8:1—Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. Christ is a high priest set on the right hand of God the Majesty.
Rev. 3:5,12,21—He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels….Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name….To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Christ will confess good people’s names before “my Father, and before His angels.” He will also “write upon him the name of my God.” “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I . . . am set down with my Father in His throne.”
1 Cor. 3:23—And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. We are to Christ as Christ is to God; separate.
Phillip. 2:5-6,9,11—Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God….Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name…. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Christ Jesus is in the form of God, and is equal with God. God has exalted him. All should say to the Father that Jesus is Lord.
1 John 2:22-25—Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. He that denies the Father and the Son is the anti-christ; but we can be “in” the Son “and in the Father” and have “eternal life.”
Luke 12:10—And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. People can speak against Jesus and be forgiven, but if they have received a pure testimony from the Holy Ghost and deny it, then they won=t be forgiven; thus, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are separate.
Matt. 16:13-17—When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Christ, as God on earth, had flesh & blood, yet Peter received a revelation from someone who had not flesh & blood, but was Christ’s Father.
Acts 9:3-5—And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. If Jesus is another manifestation of God in the flesh (Trinity idea), why then would God still profess to Paul to be Jesus after he ascended back to heaven? Wouldn’t that manifestation of God call himself the Father, not Jesus? Consider Christ’s view about us as Gods—John 10:32-36—Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
John 21:24—This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. An example of how people in those days spoke about themselves in the third person which Christ sometimes did, “the Son of Man.”
In Conclusion
We can have the privilege of seeing God (John 6:46). We believe that “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; (our belief of this is in accordance with the two scriptures Luke 24:39 and 2 Cor. 4:4) but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us (D&C 130:22).” (This belief is in accordance with Acts 2:4—The Holy Ghost filled them and was referred to as the “Spirit (giving) them utterance,” and “a spirit hath not flesh and bones” as it says in Luke 24:39).
John 6:68-69—Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. We, as Latter-day Saints, believe and are sure that Jesus is that Christ, the Son of the Living God.
God’s Glory versus God’s Person
God is not just some entity. The entity aspect of Him is His glory or influence, not Himself—2 Chron. 5:13-14—It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD. So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. In 2 Chron. 7 there is a distinction between God’s glory, verse 2—And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house—and God’s actual form, because He “appears” in verse 12—And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice—and according to verse 14—If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land, He has a “face.” Compare Rev. 14:14—And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle—and Acts 1:9—And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. Another distinction between an entity aspect and a person appearing is in Ex. 3:2—And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. Consider Luke 1:19—And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings—This goes to show that God has a personal presence with a definite location, surrounded by angels who maintain their identity as standing beings. It must be, then, His glory or influence shining from Him that extends to the reaches of the universe, not Himself as an entity Being.
Some accuse us of breaking the first commandment—“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” This accusation is false. We do not worship any other Gods above God the Father, or put any “before” Him. We do, in fact, worship Jehovah, or Jesus Christ, equally with God because they make up one unit, the Godhead. It is by Christ’s name that we pray to the Father (Jacob 4:5—Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son), which is a form of worship. This is because Jesus Christ is our advocate (1 John 2:1—My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous) and mediator (1 Tim. 2:5—For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus) with God. But we do not worship Jesus Christ more than we worship our original Creator (Moses 6:36—And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye; and from thenceforth came the saying abroad in the land: A seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people), Heavenly Father. We worship God, and when we worship Christ in various ways of grateful reverence, revering Him, we worship God our Father too because They are all one; They are one in a very powerful, figurative sense.
Jesus Christ is our Lord and God
Godhood through Christ’s Atonement
$ As children of God, we inherit the potential to become like God. We can reach that potential by becoming true children of God, otherwise we won’t achieve the potential we all share.
Romans 8:16-17—The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. The Spirit witnesses that we are God’s spirit children. As children of God, we become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. As an heir, Christ received all (see John 16:15—All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.) that the Father has—even glorified Godhood. So, we can be “glorified together” with Christ if we’re worthy of this, the greatest gift of God. We become true children of God and thus worthy of this glorification by being “led by the Spirit of God,” as verse 14 emphasizes.
Hebrews 1:2-4—Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Christ is God’s Son who was appointed to be “heir of all things.” He is in the “express image of [God’s] person” and has been “made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Christ has “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” He has become equally God with God (see vs. 8-9—But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows). Because we have the privilege of being “joint-heirs” with Christ, as Paul said in Romans, we also can become like God.
Acts 17:28-29—For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. The Greek philosophers Cleanthes and Arates were poets who correctly said we are the offspring of God; therefore, as being God’s own literal children, not just figuratively His offspring, we can also know that the whole Godhead of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are not gold, silver, or stone but actual people beings like ourselves. As God’s literal offspring, we have the potential to become like Him.
Acts 20:32—And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. The word of God’s grace builds us up and gives us an inheritance.
Psalm 37:18—The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. The upright inheritance shall be for ever, eternally inheriting from God—that’s everything.
Psalm 82:6—I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. The Lord declares that we are gods and children of the Most High. This scripture became the subject of several early Christian fathers’ comments. They taught it matter-of-factly that it is possible for man to attain Godhood:
$ The venerated Saint Augustine (354-430 A.D.), who was Bishop of Hippo Regius, commented on the Psalm scripture, saying: “It is evident then, that he hath called men gods, that are deified of His Grace. . . . He that justifieth doth Himself deify, in that by justifying He doth make sons of God. ‘For He hath given them power to become the sons of God.’ If we have been made sons of God, we have also been made gods: but this is the effect of Grace. . . . The rest that are made gods, are made by His own Grace . . . that by favor they should come to Him, and be fellow-heirs with Christ” (On the Psalms, 50:2).
$ Saint Justin Martyr (c. 100 - c. 165) was an early Christian apologist who said, “Let the interpretation of the Psalm be held just as you wish, yet thereby it is demonstrated that all men are deemed worth of becoming ‘gods,’ and of having power to become sons of the Highest” (Dialogue with Trypho, 124)
$ Another saint, Saint Clement of Alexandria (c. 150 - c. 215) said strongly, “And now the Word Himself clearly speaks to thee, shaming thy unbelief; yea, I say, the Word of God became man, that you mayest learn from man how man may become God” (Exhortation to the Heathen, 1).
$ Saint Irenaeus in the second century, speaking about “our Lord Jesus Christ” said that “through His transcendent love,” He became “what we are, that He might bring us to be even what He is Himself” (Against Heresies, Book 5, preface). He stated earlier, too, that “we have not been made gods from the beginning, but at first merely men, then at length gods” and that “God has adopted this course out of His pure benevolence.” He goes on to quote the Lord, saying, “He declares, ‘I have said, Ye are gods; and ye are all sons of the Highest.’ But since we could not sustain the power of divinity, He adds, ‘But ye shall die like men,’ setting forth both truths—the kindness of His free gift, and our weakness” (Against Heresies, Book 4, chapter 38, no. 4). He explained at another time, “As God shared our life in the Incarnation, so we are destined to share the Divine life and ‘become what he is’” (see “Deification,” in F.L. Cross and E.A. Livingstone, eds., Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997), 465).
$ Saint Athanasius (c. 296-373), who was Bishop of Alexandria, made several comments on man’s deification: “He was not man, and then became God, but He was God, and then became man, and that to deify us” (Against the Arians, Discourse 1, 39). “And how can there be deifying apart from the Word and before Him? Yet, saith He to their brethren the Jews, ‘He called them gods, unto whom the Word of God came.’ And if all that are called sons and gods, whether in earth or in heaven, were adopted and deified through the Word, and the Son Himself is the Word, it is plain that through Him are they all. . . . He alone is very Son, and He also is very God from very God” (Against the Arians, Discourse 1, 39). He continued, “The union was of this kind, that He might unite what is man by nature to Him who is in the nature of the Godhead, and his salvation and deification might be sure” (Against the Arians, Discourse 2, 70). Another more famous of his expressions was, “The Word became flesh…that we, partaking of His Spirit, might be deified” (see “Deification,” in F.L. Cross and E.A. Livingstone, eds., Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997), 465).
John 10:34-38—Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Christ, the Savior Himself, quotes the Psalm, which declares we are gods, to Jews who challenged His seemingly heretical claim, giving ample room for Him to be the Son of God. It isn’t a heretical claim He made because “the scripture cannot be broken,” declared Christ. That scripture said that those who receive the word of God are gods. So, scripture itself legitimatized how He can be the Son of God since all of us who receive the word of God are also sons and daughters of God.
• Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ genuinely want us to become like Them; They never discourage us from trying to be like Them, but in fact encourage us to be just like Themselves
John 17:20-23—Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Christ prayed specifically for those converted to Him that they would become one with God the Father in the same way that He is one with God, receiving all the same glory of Godhood so there is perfect unity or oneness in all of them.
1 Thess. 2:12—That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. God calls us to His glory.
Jer. 9:24—But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. Compare to John 17:3—And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Matt. 5:48—Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Christ commands us to be perfect or whole just as God is. Compare with 3 Nephi 12:48—Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
Heb. 6:1—Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.
Heb. 12:23—To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.
Heb. 13:21—Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Deut. 18:13—Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
1 Peter 5:6—Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. If we are humble, then God “may exalt you in due time.” Exaltation is what Christ has received: Acts 2:32-33—This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear, and Phillip. 2:5-6, 9—Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God….Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, 2 Peter 1:17—For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Verse 10 says, “the God of all grace, hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus” who will “make you perfect.”
1 Peter 2:21—For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. Christ left us an example “that ye should follow his steps.”
John 13:15—For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Christ has given us an example that we should “do as I have done.” We should also love one another “as I have loved you.” See John 15—I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Leviticus 11:44-45—For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. God, as Jehovah, commanded “ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” The Lord has always wanted us to be like Him.
1 John 3:2-3—Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God . . . when he shall appear, we shall be like him.” Those who have this hope of being like Him are pure, “even as he is pure.” The condition of becoming like Christ and a son or daughter of God is purity and holiness. We can only achieve that by following Christ’s exemplary good works and always relying in Him.
Isa. 53:10—Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Christ prolongs his days through his seed, meaning those who are his followers (See also Mos. 15:10-11—And now I say unto you, who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed? Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God) that gives prophetic interpretation of Isaiah’s words. Also consider Alma 5:14,19—And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?... I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?
• God is willing and eager to give us everything He has without exception, even the power of Godhood. This is possible through our Lord Jesus Christ
Peter’s Witness:
2 Peter 1:3-4—According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Christ’s divine power has given “us all things that pertain unto . . . godliness,” and the knowledge of Him calls us to “glory,” whereby we are given “exceedingly great and precious promises,” by which we will be “partakers of the divine nature.” Remember Romans 8:17 which says we’ll be “glorified together” with Christ. That glory is definitely a type of “divine nature.”
Paul’s Witness:
Romans 8:32—He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? God freely gave “all things” to His Son Jesus Christ, and He will do the same for us. Having all things includes all the qualities, attributes, and abilities which God Himself possesses.
John’s Witness:
Revelation 21:7—He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. God promises that we can “inherit all things,” and we can also qualify to become a true “son” or daughter of God. A child of God matures into who God is when he/she is no longer a child. This is a slow but possible process. God will use a method of “line upon line” and “precept upon precept” (Isa. 28:10—For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little) to help us progress and become exalted like Him.
Rev. 1:5-6—And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. What does this mean?
David’s Witness:
Psalms 84:11—For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. God gives not only “grace,” but also “glory” withholding “nothing” for them that “walk uprightly.” A person’s works, then, are qualifiers for attaining this glory coupled with God’s grace.
Christ’s Additional Witnesses He Himself gave to John in revelation. He empowers us:
Revelation 3:20-21—Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. If we invite Christ in as He beckons and overcome like Christ did, then we will be granted by Christ “to sit down with me in my throne, even as . . . [I] am set down with my father in his throne.” See also Matthew 25:21 (“I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”)
Revelation 2:26-27—And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. “He that overcometh . . . to him will I give power over the nations and he shall rule them . . . even as I received of my Father.”
• God has established His pattern which all life follows: all creatures multiply themselves and bring forth offspring in their own images, likenesses, and forms
Genesis 1:25-27—And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. God’s pattern is first established—animals bring forth offspring after their kind. Then He makes man after His kind, specifically, “in His own image.” And this image was “after our [the Gods’] likeness.”
Genesis 5:1—This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him. Man is in the likeness of God. Compare Genesis 5:3—And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth, Adam begat a son in his own likeness, after his image. (Ether 3:15-16 [6-17]—And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear. And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen? And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood. And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this? And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me. And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak? And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie. And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you. Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters. And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh. And now, as I, Moroni, said I could not make a full account of these things which are written, therefore it sufficeth me to say that Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body even as he showed himself unto the Nephites).
James 3:9—Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. We are made in the similitude of God. (Alma 18:34—Ammon said unto him: I am a man; and man in the beginning was created after the image of God, and I am called by his Holy Spirit to teach these things unto this people, that they may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true)
• Is the doctrine of becoming like God a Satanic one?
Genesis 3:4-5—And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. It appears from this that being “as the gods” or as God is a Satanic doctrine, and therefore incorrect. But see verse 22—And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever—where God Himself declares that man has in fact become like one of Them (“Us”) in knowing good and evil. They are no longer in a state of ignorance.
Answer: No, it is a Christian one because Christ sacrificed everything for us for our greatest benefit; He sacrificed not only His life, but also His status so that He would not be the only person who could become a God by His grace. What is more good than God? Christ sacrificed for us to have the greatest good, to have the chance by His grace to become even as He is.
• What is the truth about multiple Gods and multiple Lords?
1 Col. 8:5-6—For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
• Latter-day doctrine is consistent with the ancient doctrine
D&C 84:38—And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. He that receives the kingdom of the Father will receive all that the Father has—it will all be given. The Father has Godhood. (See Rev. 21:7—He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.)
D&C 88:106-107—And again, another angel shall sound his trump, which is the seventh angel, saying: It is finished; it is finished! The Lamb of God hath overcome and trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. And then shall the angels be crowned with the glory of his might, and the saints shall be filled with his glory, and receive their inheritance and be made equal with him. The saints will receive their inheritance and become equal with the Lamb of God. The wording here is a nice correlation between modern and ancient scripture (see Romans 8:16-17—The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together).
D&C 132:20—Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them. This speaks of people becoming gods. See also D&C 76:58-63, 92, 94-95 Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ's, and Christ is God's. And they shall overcome all things. Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet. These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever. These are they whom he shall bring with him, when he shall come in the clouds of heaven to reign on the earth over his people…. And thus we saw the glory of the celestial, which excels in all things—where God, even the Father, reigns upon his throne forever and ever….They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace; And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion. (See early Christian fathers’ testimonies).
• Consider The First Book of Adam and Eve, an apocryphal work among The Forgotten Books of Eden. As far as is known, the version given here is the work of unknown Egyptians. Because there is a lack of historical allusions, it is impossible to date the writing. Parts of this version are found in the Talmud (about 200-500 CE), the Koran (about 610 to 622 CE), and elsewhere, showing the vital role it played in the original literature of human wisdom. The Egyptian author first wrote in Arabic, which was most likely the original manuscript. It was later translated into Ethiopic. The English translation has the advantage of the original, making the bridge over the gap of many centuries a direct one. One critic has said of this writing: “This is we believe, the greatest literary discovery that the world has known. Its effect upon contemporary thought in molding the judgment of the future generations is of incalculable value.”:
• 1 Adam & Eve 45:5-8,10-11—Again said God unto him, “See, O Adam, how Satan has exalted thee! He has deprived thee of the Godhead, and of an exalted state like unto Me, and has not kept his word to thee; but, after all, is become thy foe....Why, O Adam, has he not kept his agreement with thee, not even one day; but has deprived thee of the glory that was on thee—when thou didst yield to his command? Thinkest thou, Adam, that he loved thee when he made this agreement with thee? Or, that he loved thee and wished to raise thee on high? But no, Adam, he did not do all that out of love to thee; but he wished to make thee come out of light into darkness; and from an exalted state to degradation; from glory to abasement; from joy to sorrow; and from rest to fasting and fainting…There shall be no deliverance from it for you, but at My coming…not until My Word shall come that will make a way for thee on the day My covenant is fulfilled. There is no way for thee at present to come from hence to rest, not until My Word comes, who is My Word. Then will He make a away for thee, and thou shalt have rest.”
• 1 Adam & Eve 46:4-8—And God said unto Adam, “See Satan’s love for thee, who pretended to give thee the Godhead and greatness…Then look at Me, O Adam; I created thee, and how many times have I delivered thee out of his hand?”…And God said to Eve, “What is that he promised thee in the garden, saying ‘At the time ye shall eat of the tree, your eyes will be opened, and you shall become like gods, knowing good and evil.’ But lo! he has burnt your bodies with fire…Your eyes have seen the good he has taken from you, and in truth he has opened your eyes; and you have seen the garden in which ye were with Me, and ye have also seen the evil that has come upon you from Satan. But as to the Godhead he cannot give it you, neither fulfill his speech to you.”
• 1 Adam & Eve 47:7-8—But Satan, the hater of all good, thought within himself: Whereas God has promised salvation to Adam by covenant, and that He would deliver him out of all the hardships that have befallen him—but has not promised me by covenant, and will not deliver me out of my hardships; nay, since He has promised him that He should make him and his seed dwell in the kingdom in which I once was—I will kill Adam. The earth shall be rid of him; and shall be left to me alone; so that when he is dead he may not have any seed left to inherit the kingdom that shall remain my own realm; God will then be in want of me, and He will restore me to it with my hosts.
• 1 Adam & Eve 49:6,8-9—“It came from Satan, who had promised thee the Godhead and majesty....At my coming upon earth: Satan will raise the people of the Jews to put Me to death; and they will lay Me in a rock, and seal a large stone upon Me, and I shall remain within that rock three days and three nights. But on the third day I shall rise again, and it shall be salvation to thee, O Adam, and to thy seed, to believe in Me.”
• 1 Adam & Eve 51:5-7—Then came the Word of God to Adam and Eve, and said to them, “This is he who was hidden in the serpent, and who deceived you, and stripped you of the garment of light and glory in which you were. This is he who promised you majesty and divinity. Where, then, is the beauty that was on him? Where is his divinity? Where is his light? Where is the glory that rested on him? Now his figure is hideous; he is become abominable among angels; and he has come to be called Satan.”
Joseph Smith’s Testimony: “Some say I do not interpret the scripture the same as they do. They say it means the heathen gods. Paul says there are Gods many and lords many; and that makes a plurality of Gods, in spite of the whims of all men. Without a revelation, I am now going to give them the knowledge of the God of heaven. You know and I testify that Paul had no allusion to the heathen gods. I have it from God, and get over it if you can. I have a witness of the Holy Ghost, and testimony that Paul had no allusion to the heathen gods in the text. I will show from the Hebrew Bible that I am correct, and the first word shows a plurality of Gods; and I want the apostates and learned men to come here and prove to the contrary, if they can. An unlearned boy must give you a little Hebrew.
“‘Berosheit baurau Eloheim ait aushamayeen vehau auraits,’ rendered by King James' translators, ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.’ I want to analyze the word Berosheit. Rosh, the head; Sheit, a grammatical termination; the Baith was not originally put there when the inspired man wrote it, but it has been since added by an old Jew. Baurau signifies to bring forth; Eloheim is from the word Eloi, God, in the singular number; and by adding the word heim, it renders it Gods. It read first, ‘In the beginning the head of the Gods brought forth the Gods,’ or, as others have translated it, ‘The head of the Gods called the Gods together.’ I want to show a little learning as well as other fools. . . .
“The head God organized the heavens and the earth. I defy all the world to refute me. In the beginning the head of the Gods organized the heavens and the earth. Now the learned priests and the people rage, and the heathen imagine a vain thing. If we pursue the Hebrew text further, it reads, ‘Berosheit baurau Eloheim ait aashamayeen vehau auraits’? The head one of the Gods said, Let us make a man in our own image.’ I once asked a learned Jew, ‘If the Hebrew language compels us to render all words ending in heim in the plural, why not render the first Eloheim plural?’ He replied, ‘That is the rule with few exceptions; but in this case it would ruin the Bible.’ He acknowledged I was right. I come here to investigate these things precisely as I believe them. Hear and judge for yourselves; and if you go away satisfied, well and good.
(Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957-1966], 2: 141.)
NOTE: One way to think of the physical fact of multiple Gods is that the other Gods who exist are not Gods to us but are our uncles, aunts, and grandparents spiritually, who have no acknowledgment here (maybe They do in the eternities, but God has not revealed that to us). There is no need to put any other gods before God, and for mortals to recognize other Gods as before God would violate the 1st Commandment given to Moses. God our Eternal Father (who is one with Christ and the Spirit) is our one and only God with whom we have all our dealings and to whom we owe our full allegiance.
Constantine and the Trinity
Constantine saw a personal political advantage in fostering the Christian religion. Having recently fought a long civil war, he felt that a state religion as popular as Christianity had become, would help him solidify his Empire. He therefore took the Christian religion under his wing.
He called a council of bishops which was held at Arles. Certain of the clergy present objected to the decisions made concerning baptism and the authority of the Church. Constantine resorted to force to bring them in line. A massacre ensued, blood flowed, and a number who escaped with their lives were banished (Shotwell and Loomis, The See of Peter, p. 451).
When the doctrine of the nature of God was in dispute, he called another council of all bishops. He favored the Athanasian side. He banished the bishops who disagreed and appointed new ones in their stead. So, he determined what the belief in the Trinity would be.
It’s interesting to note that in this Nicene council Constantine was still unbaptized—he was not Christian and was still a Sun-worshiper, which he remained as for most of his life. So, by his political power he, a Sun-worshiper, gave to later Christianity its doctrine of the nature of God (Eusebius, Life of Constantine).
Other pagans also believed in the idea of God coming “down to us in the likeness of men,” as if God isn’t in that likeness always. As Paul declared, God is in fact a “living God” who is in form like our life form. See Acts 14:11-12,15.
From the Catholic Encyclopedia: Arianism
A heresy which arose in the fourth century, and denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ.
“First among the doctrinal disputes which troubled Christians after Constantine had recognized the Church in A.D. 313, and the parent of many more during some three centuries, Arianism occupies a large place in ecclesiastical history. It is not a modern form of unbelief, and therefore will appear strange in modern eyes. But we shall better grasp its meaning if we term it an Eastern attempt to rationalize the creed by stripping it of mystery so far as the relation of Christ to God was concerned. In the New Testament and in Church teaching Jesus of Nazareth appears as the Son of God. This name He took to Himself (Matthew 11:27; John 10:36), while the Fourth Gospel declares Him to be the Word (Logos), Who in the beginning was with God and was God, by Whom all things were made. A similar doctrine is laid down by St. Paul, in his undoubtedly genuine Epistles to the Ephesians, Colossians, and Philippians. It is reiterated in the Letters of Ignatius, and accounts for Pliny's observation that Christians in their assemblies chanted a hymn to Christ as God. But the question how the Son was related to the Father (Himself acknowledged on all hands to be the one Supreme Deity), gave rise, between the years A.D. 60 and 200, to a number of Theosophic systems, called generally Gnosticism, and having for their authors Basilides, Valentinus, Tatian, and other Greek speculators….The drift of all he [the rationalist] advanced was this: to deny that in any true sense God could have a Son; as Mohammed tersely said afterwards, "God neither begets, nor is He begotten" (Koran, 112). We have learned to call that denial Unitarianism. It was the ultimate scope of Arian opposition to what Christians had always believed. But the Arian, though he did not come straight down from the Gnostic, pursued a line of argument and taught a view which the speculations of the Gnostic had made familiar. He described the Son as a second, or inferior God, standing midway between the First Cause and creatures; as Himself made out of nothing, yet as making all things else; as existing before the worlds of the ages; and as arrayed in all divine perfections except the one which was their stay and foundation. God alone was without beginning, unoriginate; the Son was originated, and once had not existed….During several years the argument raged; but when, by his defeat of Licinius (324), Constantine became master of the Roman world, he determined on restoring ecclesiastical order in the East, as already in the West he had undertaken to put down the Donatists at the Council of Arles. Arius, in a letter to the Nicomedian prelate, had boldly rejected the Catholic faith. But Constantine, tutored by this worldly-minded man, sent from Nicomedia to Alexander a famous letter, in which he treated the controversy as an idle dispute about words and enlarged on the blessings of peace. The emperor, we should call to mind, was only a catechumen, imperfectly acquainted with Greek, much more incompetent in theology, and yet ambitious to exercise over the Catholic Church a dominion resembling that which, as Pontifex Maximus, he wielded over the pagan worship. From this Byzantine conception (labelled in modern terms Erastianism) we must derive the calamities which during many hundreds of years set their mark on the development of Christian dogma. Alexander could not give way in a matter so vitally important. Arius and his supporters would not yield. A council was, therefore, assembled in Nicaea, in Bithynia, which has ever been counted the first ecumenical, and which held its sittings from the middle of June, 325. (See FIRST COUNCIL OF NICAEA). It is commonly said that Hosius of Cordova presided. The Pope, St. Silvester, was represented by his legates, and 318 Fathers attended, almost all from the East. Unfortunately, the acts of the Council are not preserved. The emperor, who was present, paid religious deference to a gathering which displayed the authority of Christian teaching in a manner so remarkable. From the first it was evident that Arius could not reckon upon a large number of patrons among the bishops. Alexander was accompanied by his youthful deacon, the ever-memorable Athanasius who engaged in discussion with the heresiarch himself, and from that moment became the leader of the Catholics during well-nigh fifty years. The Fathers appealed to tradition against the innovators, and were passionately orthodox; while a letter was received from Eusebius of Nicomedia, declaring openly that he would never allow Christ to be of one substance with God. This avowal suggested a means of discriminating between true believers and all those who, under that pretext, did not hold the Faith handed down. A creed was drawn up on behalf of the Arian party by Eusebius of Caesarea in which every term of honour and dignity, except the oneness of substance, was attributed to Our Lord. Clearly, then, no other test save the Homoousion would prove a match for the subtle ambiguities of language that, then as always, were eagerly adopted by dissidents from the mind of the Church. A formula had been discovered which would serve as a test, though not simply to be found in Scripture, yet summing up the doctrine of St. John, St. Paul, and Christ Himself, "I and the Father are one". Heresy, as St. Ambrose remarks, had furnished from its own scabbard a weapon to cut off its head. The "consubstantial" was accepted, only thirteen bishops dissenting, and these were speedily reduced to seven. Hosius drew out the conciliar statements, to which anathemas were subjoined against those who should affirm that the Son once did not exist, or that before He was begotten He was not, or that He was made out of nothing, or that He was of a different substance or essence from the Father, or was created or changeable. Every bishop made this declaration except six, of whom four at length gave way. Eusebius of Nicomedia withdrew his opposition to the Nicene term, but would not sign the condemnation of Arius. By the emperor, who considered heresy as rebellion, the alternative proposed was subscription or banishment; and, on political grounds, the Bishop of Nicomedia was exiled not long after the council, involving Arius in his ruin. The heresiarch and his followers underwent their sentence in Illyria. But these incidents, which might seem to close the chapter, proved a beginning of strife, and led on to the most complicated proceedings of which we read in the fourth century. While the plain Arian creed was defended by few, those political prelates who sided with Eusebius carried on a double warfare against the term "consubstantial", and its champion, Athanasius.” http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01707c.htm
Jesus Christ is the Jehovah of the Old Testament—Isa. 48:16-18
1 Tim. 2:5—One Mediator—the Lord Jesus Christ. Question: When did mankind need a mediator? Answer: After Adam=s fall in the garden. Therefore, who is the God of the Old Testament?
Proclamations O.T. Jehovah N.T. Jehovah
He is the Creator (2Ne9:5) Isa. 45:11-12,18 John 1:1-3,10,14
He is the Creator Isa. 40:28 Eph. 3:9
He is our Savior Hosea 13:4 Luke 2:11
He is our Redeemer Isa. 43:14 Gal. 3:13
Atoned & Resurrected Hosea 13:14, Isa. 53:6 1 Cor. 15:20-22, Heb.9:28
He was crucified Zech. 12:10 John 19:34,37
1st/Last, Alpha/Omega Isa. 44:6 Rev. 1:8
He is the Rock Deut. 32:4 1 Cor. 10:4
Prints in hands Zech. 13:6 John 20:25
He is the Stone Gen. 49:24 Acts 4:11
He is our Judge Isa. 33:22 John 5:22
He is the great I AM Ex. 3:14 John 8:58 (footnote)
Isa. 45:11-12,18 and John1:1-3,10,14—Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded….For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. And, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made….He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not….And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Isa. 40:28 and Eph. 3:9—Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. And, And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.
Hosea 13:4 and Luke 2:11—Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me. And, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Isa. 43:14 and Gal. 3:13—Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. And, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
Hosea 13:14, Isa. 53:6 and 1 Cor. 15:20-22, Heb.9:28—I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes….All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. And, But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Zech. 12:10 and John 19:34,37—And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. And, But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water….And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Isa. 44:6 and Rev. 1:8—Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. And, The Revelation of Jesus Christ….I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Deut. 32:4 and 1 Cor. 10:4—He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. And, And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Zech. 13:6 and John 20:25—And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. And, The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Gen. 49:24 and Acts 4:11—But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel). And, This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Isa. 33:22 and John 5:22—For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us. And, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.
Ex. 3:14 and John 8:58 (footnote)—And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And, Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (footnote: “The term I AM used here in the Greek is identical with the Septuagint usage in Ex. 3:14 which identifies Jehovah.”)
Grace and Works
(1) - We believe that Salvation is only possible through Christ (Mosiah 13:28,32—And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses….And now, did they understand the law? I say unto you, Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts; for they understood not that there could not any man be saved except it were through the redemption of God).
3 Nephi 27:6—And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.
(2) - We also believe that through righteous living (“good works” included), we accept His grace; through wickedness, we reject His grace (D&C 20:30-33—And we know that justification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true; And we know also, that sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds, and strength. But there is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God; Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation). Acts 10:34-35—Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him—work righteousness and God will accept you. Phillip 2:12— Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. “Work out your own salvation.” Matt. 5:20—For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Christ says, “except your righteousness exceeds . . . the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Definition of righteousness—1 John 3:7,10-12—Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous….In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Consider 1 Tim. 4:12,15-16—Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity….Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. “In doing this thou shalt save thyself.”
What is being “saved” or “Salvation?” 1 Cor. 15:21-22—For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Saved from physical death because of Christ. Resurrection is unconditional for all mortals. Also, the original sin of Adam is atoned for by Christ. See also Rom. 5:19—For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
CHRIST’S PERSONAL TEACHINGS ABOUT LIFE AND SALVATION
“Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”
Luke 11:27-28
“If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments …Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, honor thy father and thy mother: and, thou shalt love they neighbor as…I have loved you.”
Matt. 19:17-19, John 13:34
“Love your enemies…do good to them that hate you, and pray for them…that ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven.”
Matt. 5:44-45
“Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Matt. 5:20
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Matt. 7:21
“Afterward he appeared unto the eleven...and he said unto them...He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.”
Mark 16:14-16
JUDGMENT
Christ will judge us according to our works: Matt. 5:16,20—Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven….For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Revelaton:
2:2—I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.
2:5—Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
2:19—I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
2:23, 2:26-27—And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works….And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
3:2—Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3:8—I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
3:15-16,(19)—I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth….As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
(12:17)—And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(14:4)—These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
(14:12)—Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
14:13—And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
18:6—Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
20:13—And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
(22:7)—Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
(22:11)—He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
22:12,14—And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be….Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Compare: Matt. 16:24-27—Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
What is “Grace?”:
Grace = Gift—Eph. 2:8-9—For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Faith = Obedience (one version of faith)—Heb. 11:8—By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Rev. 20:6,14, 21:8—Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years….And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death….But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Resurrection and the Second Death. What is the Second Death? Alma 12:16—And now behold, I say unto you then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a spiritual death; then is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness. A spiritual death because of sin. Salvation from spiritual death is conditional. We must have faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8—For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves) to repent and be obedient to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel or we will not be saved—Romans 6:1-2,15-16—What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?...What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 1 Cor. 6:9-10—Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Peter 4:18-19—And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
James 2:14,17,19-24,26—What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him….Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone….Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only….For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Faith requires works. (An argument could be Rom. 10:9-10—That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Confess; If believe (only), Salvation comes. Also Romans 11:16—And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Cannot earn Salvation with works (the works Paul preached against were the required works and technicalities of the Jewish law of Moses: Gal. 2:13-17—And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid). Is it true that salvation cannot be earned by works? – Answer: Matt. 7:21-24—Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. Only those who do the will of the Father will enter into the kingdom of heaven, not those who simply confess. And there will only be a few who get into the highest degree of heaven—Matt. 7:13-14—Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it, Luke 13:23-24—Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Heaven:
(1 Cor. 15:40-42—There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. 2 Cor. 12:2—I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. John 14:2—In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. These scriptures tell about the different degrees or glories of heaven, or multiple levels that there are. Wouldn’t it be awful if only a few went to Heaven and many went to Hell? It’d be tragic if this were the case. But God is merciful—there will be many who obtain a glory of God, which is heaven, but only in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom, or the Kingdom of God, is eternal progression possible. And when it’s not, then it can be accurately termed “destruction.” Only those who are converted to Christ's Gospel and have humbled themselves like little children will be saved in the kingdom of Heaven—Matt 18:3—And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Further, Luke 6:46—And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? teaches that saying is not enough; you must do what Christ has said.)
Forgotten Books of Eden—The following book is a biography written between 107 and 137 B.C. by a Pharisee who secured publicity by using the names of the greatest men of ancient times. According to Dr. R. H. Charles, a scholar on the Pseudepigrapha (a body of texts written between 200 B.C. and A.D. 200 and spuriously ascribed to various prophets and kings of Hebrew Scriptures), the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs include ethical teachings that have “achieved a real immortality by influencing the thought and diction of the writers of the New Testament, and even those of our Lord. This ethical teaching, which is very much higher and purer than that of the Old Testament, is yet its true spiritual child, and helps to bridge the chasm that divides the ethics of the Old and New Testaments.” In the New Testament, the instances of influence are in the Sermon on the Mount, which reflects the spirit and even uses phrases from these Testaments, and in St. Paul’s teachings. St. Paul appears to have borrowed so freely that it seems as though he must have carried a copy of the Testaments with him on his travels. These books, therefore, are valuable as some of the actual source books of the Bible (The Forgotten Books of Eden. 1927. World Bible Publishers, Inc. pp. 220, 227):
Testament of Levi 1:7-27: “And I was grieving for the race of the sons of men, and I prayed to the Lord that I might be saved. Then there fell upon me a sleep, and I beheld a high mountain, and I was upon it. And behold the heavens were opened, and an angel of God said to me, Levi, enter. And I entered from the first heaven….And further I saw a second heaven far brighter and more brilliant, for there was a boundless light also therein….And the angel said to me, Marvel not at this, for thou shalt see another heaven more brilliant and incomparable. And when thou hast ascended thither, Thou shalt stand near the Lord….Hear, therefore, regarding the heavens which have been shown thee. The lowest is for this cause gloomy unto thee, in that it beholds all the unrighteous deeds of men….And in the highest of all dwelleth the Great Glory, far above all holiness….But the sons of men, having no perception of these things, sin and provoke the Most High.”
Grace can be lost:
Heb. 12:15—Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.
Do Belief in Christ and Good Works act together?
2 Nephi 25:23—For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. Saved by grace, after all we can do (Heb. 13:20-21—Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.).
What do we have to do?
Consider 2 Nephi 10:24-25—Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved. Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen. “Reconcile yourselves to the will of God . . . after . . . it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.”
1 Sam. 15:22—And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. To obey is “better than sacrifice.” God is more “delighted” in people obeying His voice than He is from the faith of their sacrifices.
Heb. 5:9—And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. Be obedient to gain “eternal salvation.”
Rom. 2:5-10—But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile
Eternal life for those who continue in “well-doing” but “wrath” for others. God is fair even for the good people in Asia who don’t know of Christ but who are at least involved in well-doing (which, I would say, is a way of truly knowing Christ. Even if you don’t know His name or about His mortal life, simply living like Him, without awareness that it is His style of life, will make you familiar with Him).
Luke 10:27—And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. Love God and others (Old Testament belief: Deut. 6:5—And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might, Lev. 19:18—Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD).
2 John 1:5-6—And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. A commandment to loveBlove means to walk in commandments.
1 John 3:18-19—My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. “Let us not love in word nor tongue but in deed . . . .” 3:10—In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. The children of God do righteousness.
Matthew 7:16-24 –Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: “By there fruits. . . .” Or, have good works (Other more clear scriptures: Luke 6:43-49—For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great, Rev. 20:12-13,15—And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works….And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire, Matt. 15:8—This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me).
2 Nephi 9:20-24—O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it. And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam. And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God. And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned; for the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it. Christ came to save us and command things that will save us. Those who will not believe, be baptized, or endure must be damned.
Acts 2:38—Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. John 3:5—Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Not saved unless born of the Spirit and baptized (John 3:18-21—He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God)
Matt. 20:21-23—And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
Matt 28:19-20—Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Luke 7:30—But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
Gal. 3:24-27—Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Luke 8:21—And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. Those who learn the word of God and do it are Christ's mother and brethren.
2 Cor. 7:10—For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Repentance, which comes from godly sorrow, saves us. See Ezek. 33:12-20—Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
Titus 1:15-16—Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. “In works they deny Him,” 2:7-14—For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
Titus 3:2,4-8,14—To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men….But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men….And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
Mark 14:3-9—And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. She did a good work and is now memorialized.
James 1:22, Rom. 2:5-10,12-13—But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves….But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:… For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. Be doers of the word, not only hearers. Eternal life for those who are “continually” involved in “well-doing.”
Heb. 10:36—For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
1 Peter 4:18-19—And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. The righteous will barely be saved. They will also suffer because of their goodness, but they should commit their souls to God “in well doing,” despite their sufferings.
Luke 9:24—For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. We must loose ourselves for Christ's sake to be saved (vs 26—For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.)
1 John 3:10—In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. Children of the Devil are manifest by their unrighteousness and lack of love for his brother.
2 Peter 1:4-11—Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Many virtues listed so one can enter into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 15:58—Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Do Lord’s work, and it is not in vain.
Matt. 12:31-37, 13:23—Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned…. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Bring forth good fruit or works
John 5:26-29—For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Do good and you will be resurrected to life.
Titus 3:8—This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. Those who believe in God should be careful to maintain good works.
John 13:15-17, 1 Peter 2:21-22— For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them…. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Follow Christ’s example. Also Phillip. 4:9—Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Matt. 16:27—For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works, 1 Kings 8:32,39--Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness….Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men), 2 Cor. 5:9-10—Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Rewarded according to works. See Proverbs 24:12—If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Jer. 17:10—I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. The Lord searches the heart and gives according to people’s ways and the effects of what they do.
John 3:18-21—He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Those who are condemned will have evil deeds. But those who do neither good or bad works, God will spew out of His mouth—Rev. 3:15-16—I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
James 4:17—(Remember, sinners won=t be saved)—Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. It is sin to know to do good and not do it, which is God’s will for us to do good.
Acts 10:35, 26:20—But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him….But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Work righteousness. At Paul’s conversion, he learned a basic doctrine: “do works meet for repentance.”
Heb. 13:15-16—By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. “But to do good . . . forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Matt. 5:48—Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Be perfect as our Father.
Galatians 5:25, 6:2,7-10—If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit….Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ….Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Walk in the Spirit and bear another’s burdens. Don’t be weary in well-doing.
Keep Commandments: Matt. 19:17-19—And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Christ restates them, Matt. 5:21-22,28—Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire….But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart, Romans 13:9-10--For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law, 1 John 2:3-6,17,29—And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked….And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever….If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him, 1 John 3:22—And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight, John 7:19—Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? Why would we have commandments if we are automatically saved by grace? Alma 42:17—Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment? About repenting, sinning, law and punishment.
Mark 7:9-23—And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. Christ speaks against breaking the commandments and sinning.
Luke 11:27-28—And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. A lady hails Christ's mother Mary and said she is “blessed” but Christ said, “Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”
Matt 24:13—But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mark 13:13—And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Those who will not be saved:
Mosiah 15:26-27—But behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection. Therefore ought ye not to tremble? For salvation cometh to none such; for the Lord hath redeemed none such; yea, neither can the Lord redeem such; for he cannot deny himself; for he cannot deny justice when it has its claim. The rebellious who die in their sins.
Gal. 5:19-21—Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Those who fulfill the lusts of the flesh—fornication, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, wrath, envy, drunkenness, “shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
1 Cor. 6:9-10—Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. The unrighteous, idolaters, effeminate (guys who act like women), abusers of themselves with mankind (homosexuals), drunkards, etc.
Eph. 5:3-7—But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. “Nor unclean person . . . hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
Alma 5:20-21—I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil? I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins. Those who yielded their selves subject to the devil and haven’t washed their garments white (repented).
Rev. 3:15-16— I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Those whose works are lukewarm.
Luke 13:27—But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. Not saved by bad works.
Luke 12:47— And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. The servant who knows the Lord=s will and doesn’t do it will be punished.
Degrees of Sin
Alma 39:3-7—And this is not all, my son. Thou didst do that which was grievous unto me; for thou didst forsake the ministry, and did go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Lamanites, after the harlot Isabel. Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted. Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost? For behold, if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable; yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness. And now, my son, I would to God that ye had not been guilty of so great a crime. I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up your soul, if it were not for your good.
Matt. 12:31-32—Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Denying the Holy Ghost is a greater sin than denying Christ
Exodus 21:12—He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. Not every sin requires capital punishment; therefore, some sins requiring the greater punishment must also be more evil than other sins or else God would be an unjust God, arbitrarily killing people for some sins when every sin was supposedly equal in seriousness.
John 8:5-7—Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Mark 12:40—Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
Deut. 10:12-13—Definition of to “fear God.” And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
John 14:12,15—Definition of believe. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father….If ye love me, keep my commandments.
2 Nephi 9:25-26—Mercy and Justice explained. Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him.
26 For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.
Parable of Grace and Works: John 15:1-11—I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
1 Thess. 2:12—That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. We can inherit God’s glory.
Mosiah 3:17—And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent, Moroni 10:32-33—Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
Scriptures that probably agree with what they believe, also John 15:4-6,14—Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned….Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
What about Salvation for the Dead?
John 5:25, 28—Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live….Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice. Those who have died will have a chance to hear the Savior and “live.”
1 Cor. 15:19—If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. If this life was the only time for us to have hope in Christ, then we would be quite miserable. Implicitly, we also have hope in Him with the next life after our mortal deaths.
1 Peter 3:18-20—For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. Christ’s purpose is to bring us to God, even the dead; so, he preached to them that are “the spirits in prison” who were in “the days of Noah” and who were “disobedient.”
1 Peter 4:6—For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. The Gospel is what was preached to those who are dead so that they may be judged equally with men in the flesh. Even the dead have the chance to “live according to God in the spirit.”
John 3:5—Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. How does the preaching of the Gospel do any good for the dead if they “cannot enter into the Kingdom of God” except they are baptized?
1 Cor. 15:29—Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? There are those who are baptized for the dead so that Christ’s atonement which makes possible the resurrection or rising of the dead, will be useful for the dead who died without baptism.
D&C 137:7-10—Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom; For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts. And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven. All who die without the Gospel will be saved if they would have accepted it while alive. (See also D&C 39:22—And he that receiveth these things receiveth me; and they shall be gathered unto me in time and in eternity).
The Pre-Mortal Existence
Moses 3:5—And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For I, the Lord God, had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air. God created all things spiritually before He created them on earth.
D&C 93:29—Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. We were also created before this world and lived with God.
D&C 138:55-56—I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God. Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.
As spirits, some were taught and prepared to be leaders in the Church of God.
Abr. 3:23—And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born. Abraham was one of these spirits chosen as a leader.
Jer. 1:5—Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jeremiah was also one of these chosen leaders.
D&C 29:36—And it came to pass that Adam, being tempted of the devil—for, behold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency, Rev. 12:7—And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels. Satan and his host of spirits also existed before this world was created.
Jude 1:6—And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day, Abr. 3:26—And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever. The time before the world existed is known as our first estate. Satan and his host did not keep their first estate.
More Biblical references to Pre-mortality:
Prov. 8:22-31—The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Eph. 1:4—According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.
Titus 1:2—In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.
Acts 17:26—And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.
John 17:5,24—And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was….Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Eccl. 12:7—Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Job 38:4,7 —Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.…When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Heb. 12:9—Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
John 9:1-3—And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Romans 8:29—For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 11:2—God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying.
Eph. 1:4-5 —According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
2 Tim. 1:9—Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
Gen. 2:4-5—These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
Book of Mormon References to Premortality
Mos. 4:6-7—I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.
Mos. 18:13—And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.
Mos. 15:19—For were it not for the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, I say unto you, were it not for this, all mankind must have perished.
Alma 13:3-8—And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such. And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren. Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son, who was prepared—And thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest—This high priesthood being after the order of his Son, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from eternity to all eternity, according to his foreknowledge of all things—Now they were ordained after this manner—being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end.
Alma 12:25,30—Now, if it had not been for the plan of redemption, which was laid from the foundation of the world, there could have been no resurrection of the dead; but there was a plan of redemption laid, which shall bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, of which has been spoken….And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works.
Alma 22:13—And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name.
Alma 40:11—Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
Alma 42:23—But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice.
2 Nephi 9:38—And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their sins; for they shall return to God, and behold his face, and remain in their sins.
Mos. 3:5—For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.
Morm. 9:11-14—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. Behold, he created Adam, and by Adam came the fall of man. And because of the fall of man came Jesus Christ, even the Father and the Son; and because of Jesus Christ came the redemption of man. And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God when the trump shall sound; and they shall come forth, both small and great, and all shall stand before his bar, being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death, which death is a temporal death. And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them; and then cometh the time that he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that is righteous shall be righteous still; he that is happy shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy shall be unhappy still.
The Purpose of Life
Eternal Marriage
Sabbath-Day Worship
Through direct revelation to a modern-day prophet, the Lord Jesus Christ commanded His saints to observe the Sabbath day on Sunday, the first of the week:
Doctrine & Covenants 59:9,12—“That thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day. . . . Remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations.”
The first day of the week is called the “Lord’s Day” because it was on that day that our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead (see Mark 16:9—Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils, John 20:1,15-19--The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre….Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you). John made reference to the day’s existence in Revelation 1:10: I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,” which day was separate from the commonly observed Jewish Sabbath on Saturdays. We learn this from Paul who talked briefly about the different days in Colossians 2:16: Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days, “Let no man therefore judge you . . . in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days.” Furthermore, John received one of the most significant revelations ever given in the history of the earth while he was in prison on an island: “I, John, . . . was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. (Revelation 1:9-11).” If the Lord Jesus Christ, who Himself is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28—And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath), gave John a revelation for the Churches on the first day of the week, it would seem reasonable that that day was the Sabbath. It was a sacred revelation for the Churches and John was detained in prison so he couldn’t worship with the saints physically, but he did so spiritually—“I was in the Spirit” worshipping with the saints “on the Lord’s day,” we could infer.
We begin to see the early Church of Jesus Christ commemorating His resurrection weekly on the first day of the week. Acts 20:7-9 says, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them . . . and continued to midnight. . . . And as Paul was long preaching, [Eutychus] sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.” This event mildly indicates that it was on “the first day of the week,” or Sunday, that “the disciples came together” for the purpose of being ready for and listening to possible lengthy sermons and observing the sacrament, “to break bread.” The sacrament was instituted at the Last Supper to remember Christ (see Luke 22:19-20). This “new testament,” or new covenant (Greek), was a specific ordinance. Observing ordinances is a form of worship, and Sabbath days are specifically for worshipping the Lord. Giving alms is another worshipful activity appropriate for the Sabbath, and it was on the “first day of the week” that Paul counseled the “churches of Galatia” to be ready to give alms from that which “God hath prospered” them by (see 1 Corinthians 16:1-2—Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come).
Many early Christian writers, as well, made reference to the weekly observance of the Sabbath on the first day of the week. Ignatius, a disciple of the Apostle John, said:
Every lover of Christ celebrates the Lord's day, consecrated to the resurrection of Christ as the queen and chief of all days. (Samuel Walter Gamble, Sunday, the True Sabbath of God, p. 150.)
In a Commentary by Jameson, Fausett, and Brown an explanation of the Sabbath in Revelation 1:10 comes out which relies on ancient Christian writers’ understandings:
. . . on the Lord's day—Though forcibly detained from Church communion with the brethren in the sanctuary on the Lord's day, the weekly commemoration of the resurrection, John was holding spiritual communion with them. This is the earliest mention of the term "the Lord's day!" But the consecration of the day to worship, almsgiving, and the Lord's supper, is implied, Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2, cf. John 20:19-26. The name corresponds to "the Lord's supper," 1 Cor. 11:20. Ignatius seems to allude to "the Lord's day" (ad. Magnes, 9) and Irenaeus in the Quaest. ad Orthod. 115 (in Justin Martyr). Justin Martyr Apology 2:98 &c. "On Sunday we hold our joint meeting; for the first day is that on which God, having removed darkness and chaos, made the world, and Jesus Christ our Savior rose from the dead. On the day before Saturday they crucified Him, and on the day after Saturday, which is Sunday, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, he taught these things." To the Lord's day Pliney doubtless refers (Ex 97, B 10), "The Christians on a fixed day before dawn meet and sing a hymn to Christ as God."
A modern-day commentator, Dr. Thomas Scott, in his Commentary, speaking of Revelation 1:10, says:
This was "on the Lord's day" which can be meant of no other, than the day on which the Lord Jesus arose from the dead, even the first day of the week": and it is conclusive proof that the first day was set apart, and kept holy, by the primitive Christians, in commemoration of the great event: for on what other account could it have been thus mentioned!
(Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957-1966], 2: 63.)
Therefore, as Latter-day Saints, we worship God particularly on Sundays. It’s important to remember, though, that it’s essential to worship our Lord as an organized body of saints at least once a week, whether or not it’s the first or the last day of the week. Furthermore, we believe that we may worship our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in our hearts constantly, through our daily acts of righteousness, prayer, and kind service to any person or people.
How God Communicates with us and Answers our Prayers
(1) Elijah—A still small voice, not a spectacular sign like wind, earthquakes or fire (1 Kings 19:9-13—And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil. And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the king's house, (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not. And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day). Gen. 41:16—And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace, D&C 6:23—peace: Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God? D&C 9:8-9—burning or stupor: But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.
Alma 5:46—Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me. Knowledge through the Holy Spirit.
(2) Esther—Esther 3:8,13—And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them….And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. Jews to be destroyed; 4:15-16—Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. Esther and the Jews fast for three days so that Esther may see the king to solve the problem; 5:2—And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. The fast is successful, the king listens to Esther; 5:4—And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. Esther invites king to banquet; 7:1-10—So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified. King informed; 8:5,8,11—And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces….Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse….Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. Jews given power to defend themselves; 9:5—Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. Jews defeat their enemies. Answer: Kings attitude changed because of the fast. God answered by changing the circumstances. No voice, no revelation, no signs or wonders, but a dramatic change in circumstances.
(3) Moses—Num. 12:5-8—And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? The Lord speaks to his servants in visions, dreams or face to face (Exodus 33:11—And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle).
(4) Gideon—Judges 6:36-40—And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. The wet and dry fleece. Answer: The Lord met the requested test.
(5) Elijah—1 Kings 18:21,31-39—And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word….And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. Fire form heaven burns up alter with bullock, wood and water (Priests of Baal). Answer: A spectacular sign.
(6) Mary (Mother of Jesus)—Luke 1:27-38—To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. Gabriel appears to Mary to tell her she will give birth to the Son of God. Answer: God communicates through angelic messengers.
(7) Philip and the eunuch—Acts 8:26-39(31)—And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. The Spirit leads Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian eunuch. Answer: God communicates through other people.
(8) Alma—Alma 32:28—Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. The word compared with a seed. Something is from God when it feels right; it will enlarge the soul, enlighten your understanding, and will be delicious in thought to you.
(9) Oliver Cowdery—D&C 8:2-3—Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground. God communicates to your mind and/or your heart through the Holy Ghost.
(10) Bereans—Acts 17:10-11—And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. They searched the scriptures daily to know the truth. Answer: God communicates through the scriptures.
Answers can come in many different ways. The Lord knows what will be best for us at the specific time and will give us a personal answer which may not be what we want or expect, but it will be the best one since God chose to give it.
Testimony through Prayer and What to Pray About
Dan. 2:20-23,28-30—Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.God is a God of revelation who reveals things to us the we want to know. He doesn’t change.
James 1:17—Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. In imparting light by revelation
Philippians 4:6—Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Pray about everything, thank him and ask of him.
Jeremiah 33:2-3—Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Call on the Lord and He will show great things.
Romans 10:12—For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. He answers everybody.
Matthew 7:7-8—Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. All those who ask will get an answer.
James 1:4-6—But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Remember, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. If you lack wisdom, ask God and He will answer and not criticize you for any reason. If you are in want of something, “let patience have her perfect work” so that you “may be perfect” and “entire, wanting nothing”—and if you lack wisdom, then ask of God and be patient since you are in want of something.
Moroni 10:3-5—Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. Have faith and He will answer.
Alma 34:17-29—Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him. Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks. Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies. Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness. Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase. But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you. And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith. Therefore, if ye do not remember to be charitable, ye are as dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no worth) and is trodden under foot of men. Pray about your careers, your family, to be productive, etc. Pray anywhere and everywhere, in private. And pray for those around you.
1. Address our Heavenly Father (Matthew 6:6,9—But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly….After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name).
2. Thank Him (1 Thess. 5:17-18--Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you).
3. Ask Him for what you need (Matthew 7:7-8--Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened).
4. End the prayer by saying: “In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen (John 15:16—Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you, 16:23—And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you).”
How to know if something is really from Heavenly Father
(1) - MANY FALSE SPIRITS THAT DECEIVE: D&C 50:1-3—Hearken, O ye elders of my church, and give ear to the voice of the living God; and attend to the words of wisdom which shall be given unto you, according as ye have asked and are agreed as touching the church, and the spirits which have gone abroad in the earth. Behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many spirits which are false spirits, which have gone forth in the earth, deceiving the world. And also Satan hath sought to deceive you, that he might overthrow you. Examples: Matthew 24:24—For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Truth imitated by false Christs and prophets. D&C 46:7-8,16,23—But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils. Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given….And again, it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, that the manifestations of the Spirit may be given to every man to profit withal….And to others the discerning of spirits. By doing all things with prayer, you won’t be seduced by evil spirits permanently. Beware and discern whether it is of God.
Alma 30:52-53—And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God. But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me. Korihor deceived by the Devil who appeared as an angel.
Moroni 10:30—And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing. There are “evil gifts.”
Romans 12:9—Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
(2) - HOW TO TEST:
1 Thess5:21—Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 John 4:1-3—Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Test the spirits. If they are of God, then they will confess that Jesus is the Christ.
John 5:29—And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
2 Tim. 3:15-17—And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
John 14:16, 16:23—And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever…. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Phillip. 4:8—Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
John 7:17—If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. Do the will of the Father and you will know if the doctrine is true.
1 Cor. 12:3—Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. No man by the power of God calleth Jesus accursed, but by the Holy Ghost says He is the Lord. Jesus is the Lord—Moro 8:8—Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me, Mos 3:12—But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, Mos 5:15—Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen, Eth. 3:19—And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting, 3 Ne 19:18—And behold, they began to pray; and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God, Moroni 10:34—And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen. (Jehovah is synonymous with Lord and Christ will be our Judge according to John 5:22—For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. See also Another Testament of Jesus Christ point 19 under Christian Doctrines included within this scripture booklet). The scripture here in Corinthians is important because it testifies that Christ was in fact the Jehovah of the Old Testament, and only the Holy Ghost can witness to a person’s soul of this consistency.
Moroni 7:12-14,16-17—Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually. But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil….For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him. Good spirits invite and entice to do good and persuade to believe in Christ.
Result should be—Galatians 5:22-23—But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Love (Alma 13:28-29—But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest), Joy (D&C 11:12-13—And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit. Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy, Mos. 4:20—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), peace (D&C 111:8—And the place where it is my will that you should tarry, for the main, shall be signalized unto you by the peace and power of my Spirit, that shall flow unto you), longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
$ The end result should not be confusion—1 Cor. 14:33—For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
D&C 28:11-13—And again, thou shalt take thy brother, Hiram Page, between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me and that Satan deceiveth him; For, behold, these things have not been appointed unto him, neither shall anything be appointed unto any of this church contrary to the church covenants. For all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith. Hiram Page receiving revelation from Satan. Not done through the Priesthood channels >>>> Go to 28:2, 5-7—But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses….But thou shalt not write by way of commandment, but by wisdom; And thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church; For I have given him the keys of the mysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead. Lord works through the proper chain of command.
Moses 1:12-15—And it came to pass that when Moses had said these words, behold, Satan came tempting him, saying: Moses, son of man, worship me. And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee? For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were transfigured before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so, surely? Blessed be the name of my God, for his Spirit hath not altogether withdrawn from me, or else where is thy glory, for it is darkness unto me? And I can judge between thee and God; for God said unto me: Worship God, for him only shalt thou serve. Great glory when it is from God; and darkness when it is from Satan.
D&C 129:4,8-9—When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you….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. These are three grand keys whereby you may know whether any administration is from God. Shake hands with spirits that may appear to you. Those you can feel are resurrected angels, and those who refuse come from God as a special messenger who will not deceive you. But those who offer you their hand, and yet you cannot feel it as you shake, are not from God.
Alma 32:28—Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. Seed is good because it enlarges the soul and enlightens understanding and is delicious.
Moroni 10:3-5—To see if something is right.
About false prophets—Matthew 7:15-23—Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.By their fruits ye shall know them. Compare with 3 Nephi 14:15-23—Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them: I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Ezek. 13:2-3— Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! A false prophet follows his own, inward spirit and has seen “nothing.” A prophet who has not seen God and teaches only what he personally believes is a “foolish prophet.”
Deut. 13:1-5—If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. Just because prophecies come true doesn’t mean that the prophet was a true prophet sent from God. The prophecy and teachings must be in accordance to God’s ways.
Lev. 19:15—Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. Judge neighbor righteously.
$ You can find out through Prayer and the Spirit
Matt. 7:7-8—Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. “Seek and ye shall find”
James 1:5—If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. “Let him ask of God”
Luke 11:10—For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Everyone who asks receives.
Jer. 33:2-3—Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Call, He will answer.
Romans 10:12—For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. He will answer everyone.
John 14:26—But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. “He shall teach you all things”
John 16:13—Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. “He will guide you to all truth.”
Moroni 10:5—And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. By the power of the Holy Ghost, know truth of all things.
John 11:22—But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. God will give you what you ask for.
John 7:24—Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Judge righteously.
D&C 9:8-9—But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me. The way you will feel. . . (read it).
Moroni 7:5-19—For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also. For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing. For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness. For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God. And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such. Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift. For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil. Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually. But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil. For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him. And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged. Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ. The way to judge.
Originally compiled on February 26, 1997
Revised on October 18, 1999,
2nd Revision on June 4, 2001,
3rd Revision on May 10, 2002
4th Revision—Expanded Version: September 26, 2003
Collected by Taylor Charles Hartley with personal interpretations added
Personal Testimony Section:
The Foundational Things I Know with Certain Knowledge and Understandings which God Has Given Me
June 23, 2002
Spiritual Experience: Moroni 9:9
1. God exists as a supreme power that can be felt and experienced undoubtedly
2. Chastity and virtue are most dear and precious in God’s eyes
3. Spiritual gifts always accompany faith; therefore, I had faith
4. God eventually manifests Himself to a person according to his obedience and hopeful wishes
Revelation: Alma 37:33-37
5. God reveals His will today through direct revelation by virtue of the Aaronic Priesthood to a holder of it who asks sincerely under a duty to do so
6. Repentance is in accordance with God’s will
7. Faith on the Lord Jesus Christ is in accordance with God’s will for us
8. Being humble is according to God’s will
9. Being meek and lowly in heart is God’s will
10. All temptations of the devil can be withstood by faith on the Lord Jesus Christ
11. Good works are according to God’s will for us to do without weariness
12. When people do good works, are meek and lowly in heart, then they will find rest to their souls—an inevitable, promised blessing
13. Preaching and teaching points #6 through #12 are according to God’s will for a priesthood holder to do who has been called of God to lead people
14. I am one of God’s sons; God tells me to learn wisdom in my youth to keep His commandments
15. God tells me to cry to Him for all my support
16. God tells me to let all my doings be unto the Lord
17. God tells me to let my going, to wherever I go, to be in the Lord
18. God tells me to let all of my thoughts to be directed unto the Lord
19. God tells me to let all the affections of my heart to be placed upon the Lord forever
20. God tells me to counsel with the Lord in all my doings
21. God promises that the Lord will direct me for good if I do #20
22. God tells me to lie down unto the Lord at night that he may watch over me in my sleep
23. God tells me to let my heart be full of thanks unto Him when I rise in the morning after my sleep
24. If I do the things God has told me, then He promises me that I will be lifted up at the last day
Vision
25. God reveals His will in spiritual dreams that He gives and authorizes
26. Christ Himself comes and confirms great trust in Him; He is a real Being of glory and our Older Brother
27. I have an unconquerable trust and perfect faith in Christ deep within me
28. I had a premortal existence where I developed an indomitable trust in Christ coming from an intimate relationship with Him which trust I don’t feel quite as intensely when the veil is over me
29. Christ’s influence feels distinct from the Holy Ghost’s more penetrating and powerful influence when Christ intervenes withholding His own power to some degree
30. There is a spiritual realm very close but beyond earth’s, separated by a boundary that is not fully closed nor insurmountable
31. There are other spirits or angels, female and male, involved in God’s work who act as His servants
32. God warns people of great spiritual danger through His servant spirits or angels
33. God can protect a person for a space of time from great evil or spiritual danger
34. An evil being exists who is male and who has a symbolic name and who has great command or governing power in the realm of evil
35. He is the spirit of intellectuality—he uses intellectuality as one of his tactics to destroy souls; perhaps this tactic is his second best method
36. Christ will protect me from him, who is probably Satan himself; if not Satan, then he is one of his representatives who is next to him in command
37. Some evil is so great that it cannot be overcome without reliance on Jesus Christ
Miracle
38. The Book of Mormon is in very fact God’s word which He authorizes and fully endorses
39. God grants miracles today which do in reality occur—God can quicken a person’s injured brain to make the words in the Book of Mormon comprehensible to that person, who has a severe head injury, even when all other words in regular books are still utterly incomprehensible to that person
40. God gives more than one witness to prove His word, giving perfect knowledge and assurance, when humbly desired
41. The Bible is God’s word because the Book of Mormon testifies that this is so
42. Patriarchal Blessings come from God and are true; God confirms their truth
Spiritual Experience
43. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is uniquely God and Christ’s true and living church
44. The modern-day prophets and apostles are actually God’s authorized mouthpieces
45. The Holy Ghost has an unimaginably powerful, penetrating influence to witness of truth, correctness, and duty
46. There is a spirit within me that is distinctly separate from my body but connected and is my own; it is not the Spirit of God itself
47. God encourages me to stand up for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Principles of Doing which I Know from Sacred and Personal Experiences Are God’s Will
• Seeking testimony and truth
• Chastity and virtue, which are most dear and precious in God’s eyes
• Faith leading to possession of spiritual gifts
• Seeking revelation
• Obedience & hopeful wishes to initiate fulfillment of God’s promises
• Repentance
• Withstanding every temptation of the devil
• Faith specifically on the Lord Jesus Christ (all temptations of devil withstood by this faith)
• Humility
• Meekness & lowliness of heart
• Good works done without weariness
• Preaching & teaching faith, withstanding temptation, repentance, humility, meekness & lowliness of heart, and good works when called of God to do so
• The commandments of God
• Keeping the commandments: learning wisdom in one’s youth to keep them
• Ardent prayer; crying to God for all of one’s support
• Consecrating all of one’s actions to the Lord
• Consecrating all of one’s travels and undertakings to the Lord
• Directing all of one’s thoughts to the Lord
• Allowing all affections of one’s heart to be placed on the Lord
• Counseling with the Lord in all of one’s doings
• Nightly prayer for God to watch over one in one’s sleep
• Daily morning prayer with a heart full of gratitude to God
• Absolute trust and sole reliance in Jesus Christ our Older Brother against the overwhelming powers of evil that do exist
• Seeking additional witnesses to truth
• Following church leaders’ counsel & direction and also the parents’ direction and counsel (who also adhere to those church leaders called of God)
• Praying & reading The Book of Mormon with trust in God to assist through divine intervention
• Standing up without hypocrisy for all that The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints entails
(This is the foundational knowledge given me in the first several years of gaining a testimony)
Miracles & Impacts
Eternal Principles:
Alma 29:4—I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction. God grants to people the desires of their hearts even if those desires are potentially destructive, as long as it is according to their wills.
2 Nephi 2:11—For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility. There is an opposition in all things—if the Lord exercises a degree of His omnipotent power in the life of a person, then that person will inevitably experience some sort of opposition to that divine intervention.
The Combined Principles’ Interaction Expressed Allegorically:
Jacob 5:11—And the Lord of the vineyard caused that it should be digged about, and pruned, and nourished, saying unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, that perhaps I might preserve the roots thereof that they perish not, that I might preserve them unto myself, I have done this thing. Preserving the roots is important to the Lord.
Personal Interpretation: The roots of a person are the inner, unseen portions of the person: his own, individual spirit.
Jacob 5:18—And he said unto the servant: Behold, the branches of the wild tree have taken hold of the moisture of the root thereof, that the root thereof hath brought forth much strength; and because of the much strength of the root thereof the wild branches have brought forth tame fruit. Now, if we had not grafted in these branches, the tree thereof would have perished. And now, behold, I shall lay up much fruit, which the tree thereof hath brought forth; and the fruit thereof I shall lay up against the season, unto mine own self. When roots have great strength, then branches will be able to bring forth tame fruit. At the same time, grafted-in, wild branches are also essential to the process or else the whole tree will perish.
Personal Interpretation: The strengthened spirit of a person is capable of making him produce great works of righteousness. His strong spirit enables him to achieve other great accomplishments through his physical body and intellect, the extensions and outer showing of his spirit (the trunk and top of the tree which are the parts of his observable, physical body). If a person has naturally developed bad physical or intellectual habits, (the bad branches), then his strong roots may ultimately cause the person to perish when working in combination with those bad habits; therefore, the bad habits must be cut off, cast away and replaced with the wild and unnatural new habits that are good in order to have the roots work with the branches to produce the good fruit of respectable achievements. If not, then the tree or person will perish.
Jacob 5:27—But behold, the servant said unto him: Let us prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it a little longer, that perhaps it may bring forth good fruit unto thee, that thou canst lay it up against the season. The Lord is also involved in a person’s process of growth and will personally prune and nourish the tree in order for it to be successful.
Personal Interpretation: Without directly invoking the Lord’s Divine Intervention by prayerful requests, a person will experience the Lord’s regular, subtle operations in his life which are meant to help him in life, line upon line, in an orderly fashion.
Jacob 5:65—And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the trees of my vineyard. For the benefit of the tree, the Lord commands that the bad branches not be cleared away all at once because if they are, then the roots will consequently gain too much strength and eventually overpower the grafted in, wild branches, even after producing good fruit through those wild branches.
Personal Interpretation: When a person procrastinates in developing the good habits, and then suddenly has to discard his bad habits quickly and replace them immediately with good branches as an emergency survival method, then the spirit of the person will have to take over. His spirit is then empowered immensely, and will temporarily bring forth superb accomplishments (thereby saving him from producing bad fruits), but will do so at the eventual expense of his good habits and his own well-being. In other words, the “good habits” developed in haste because of the emergency are ultimately the products of procrastination; the person should have developed the good habits beginning earlier at the proper timing in order to secure the regular growth of the good, wild branches—good branches that undergo hyper-facilitated growth to overcome the emergency situation will, in the end, experience the opposite reaction of perishing.
Jacob 5:66—For it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard; wherefore ye shall clear away the bad according as the good shall grow, that the root and the top may be equal in strength, until the good shall overcome the bad, and the bad be hewn down and cast into the fire, that they cumber not the ground of my vineyard; and thus will I sweep away the bad out of my vineyard. The Lord commands that the natural branches should be cleared away such that the root and the top may be equal in strength.
Personal Interpretation: The proper course of clearing away bad habits is to do so when there is not an emergency that would mandate immediate clearing, but to clear them away at the same rate as the regular formation of the good-habit-replacements in order to keep a smooth development.
Actual Examples of these Processes and Principles in Similar Situations:
Helaman 12:3—And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him. Except the Lord chastens His people with death and terror, the will not remember him.
Personal Interpretation: Sometimes the opposing consequence of miraculous, Divine Intervention is the additional interaction by the Lord Himself. He does this to ensure that His people who call themselves the Lord’s people do not forget Him after He has exercised such a great influence in their lives. The Lord’s people, although the Lord’s people, are prone to forget the Lord and His divine mercies and interventions with them.
Moses 1:9-10—And the presence of God withdrew from Moses, that his glory was not upon Moses; and Moses was left unto himself. And as he was left unto himself, he fell unto the earth. And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before Moses did again receive his natural strength like unto man; and he said unto himself: Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed. Direct experiences with God or with God’s miraculous, divine interventions will be overpowering for the physical body of a person. This is an actual, opposing consequence.
Personal Interpretation: When a person experiences a powerful miracle from God as an answer to his prayerful pleadings, he will also experience a subsequent, actual physical or mental weakness that will overwhelm his natural frame. In other words, the roots of the person become so empowered in this type of a situation that they are too strong for the trunk and branches of the tree.
1 Nephi 17:47—Behold, my soul is rent with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained; I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever. Behold, I am full of the Spirit of God, insomuch that my frame has no strength. Being full of the Spirit of God takes away the physical body’s strength.
Personal Interpretation: The strength of a person’s physical body or intellect is nothing compared to the strength of God’s Spirit, and when the Holy Ghost entirely fills a person, this weakness becomes much more apparent as the body and intellect are overcome with exhaustion.
Daniel 10:8,17—Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength…For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. Close interactions with the Lord will drain a person’s physical strength so that he is temporarily incapacitated.
Personal Note:
The Lord gave a couple of these scriptures to me as direct revelations when I awoke one morning. The thoughts were in my mind as the reason for why I personally had experienced a “synaptic crash” recently in my Constitutional Law class. He helped me understand that the roots of my spirit had become too strong for my branches, my formerly-injured mind, even though the strength of the roots produced great fruit by my emergency-replacement-study-habits of my mind.
More specifically, when I sought the Lord’s divine intervention through a priesthood blessing after failing the first semester of law school, He empowered me according to my will, even though it was potentially destructive. I threw away all of my poor study habits and acquired new ones. Some of these new study habits were even novel ideas that came by inspiration. The Lord gave my spirit such great strength that my mind was quickened, I understood the law like never before, and was able to perform so successfully on my next tests that I earned the highest score in the class that I originally failed the worst (and got the lowest student score), and scored higher than about 89% and 98% of my class of students in the two other classes that I failed.
The total result was an overall improvement in my grades that the school administrators had told me was practically impossible, given my situation. They had invited me to withdraw from law school before even completing my first year because my grades were so bad, and experience had told them that students in my situation, no matter how hard they try, are almost never able to improve their scores enough to even stay in law school. After I finished my first year, the administrators certainly had never seen a student before go from scoring the lowest grade in his class to the highest grade in that same class on the following semester’s exam. I experienced the fulfillment of God’s prophetic promise to me where He told me in the earlier priesthood blessing that I would “fix” my grades.
But, as an opposing consequence of my spirit gaining and expending such great strength through my mind and good intellectual habits, the synapses in my brain eventually crashed, given their not-so-perfect condition. While focusing intently on a great Constitutional Law lecture, I experienced an abnormal explosion of electrical activity in my brain that ended up spreading throughout its branching networks to other portions, causing me to black-out and go unconscious for several seconds. Now I understand why the Lord gave the warning about clearing away the branches too quickly—the tree will end up perishing because the roots will become too strong for the wild branches even though exceptional fruit can be produced in this powerful process.
Spiritual Scrutiny
• Levels of scrutiny for discovering the propriety in responses toward greater magnitudes of spirituality; an ends/means analysis like in Constitutional Law
• The verbs must match the interests (matters)
• In order to apply subsequent tests, the preceding test must be fulfilled
GOVERNING LAW: Responding equally to similarly situated magnitudes in spiritual matters
• D&C 82:3—For of him unto whom much is given much is required.
• D&C 58:26-28—For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
Scrutiny Tests:
1. Seeking after anything virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy (goodness)
2. Accepting by belief and doing those things that are conducive to salvation (very good)
3. Actively promoting those things known to be important for eternal life (greatest good)
(Lower levels than Celestial ways of life: “casual adherence” to good and some to bad = Terrestrial; “ignoring” most good and “adhering” more to sin = Telestial; utterly “rejecting” and “actively despising” good with complete adherence to evil = Outer Darkness)
Respective Classes:
1. Self
2. God
3. Others
Supporting Scriptures Respectively:
1. Article of Faith 1:13—If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
2. Articles of Faith 1:1-13—(omitted); Heb. 11:6,16,33,35—But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him; Mos. 4:10—And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them; Alma 19:35-36—And it came to pass that there were many that did believe in their words; and as many as did believe were baptized; and they became a righteous people, and they did establish a church among them. And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name.
3. Alma 5:44-49—For I am called to speak after this manner, according to the holy order of God, which is in Christ Jesus; yea, I am commanded to stand and testify unto this people the things which have been spoken by our fathers concerning the things which are to come. And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me. And moreover, I say unto you that it has thus been revealed unto me, that the words which have been spoken by our fathers are true, even so according to the spirit of prophecy which is in me, which is also by the manifestation of the Spirit of God. I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name. And now I say unto you that this is the order after which I am called, yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren, yea, and every one that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea, to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again; Ether 4:11-12—But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. For because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good. And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world.
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