D&C 87 - Prophecy on War

D&C 87: The Prophecy on War


(Note: this is my current understanding on the Prophecy on War. The LDS Church has not given out an official interpretation of its events beyond the Civil War and the World Wars predicted).

Joseph Smith's Prophecy on War (D&C 87) is a big thorn in the side of those critics of the Mormon Prophet. Some claim that 'everyone knew that the North and South were going to war, so it wasn't that big of a prophecy.' However, the evidence is against such belief. Many believed that the tensions between North and South were calmed down just a few years prior to the Civil War.

Elder Orson Hyde supplemented the prophecy in 1858, claiming the destructions and wars were about to come upon the U.S.  When he made these claims, many eastern newspapers quoted and mocked him. There was no way the States were going to war, according to the papers. In 1862, Elder Hyde commented on this fact as further evidence that the American people did not consider this prophecy valid prior to its accomplishment.

But the Prophecy on War is more than just a prediction of the Civil War.  we shall see that the Prophecy of War goes well beyond the Civil War/War between the States, and down to our own day.  In fact, calling it the Prophecy on War is a misnomer.  It would be better to call it the Prophecy on Slavery, as it deals with slavery throughout the prophecy.


War Among the States and Among All Nations

The section starts by prophecying of the Civil War, a war that will be the beginning point for all great wars . We read in D&C 87:

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls;

2 And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place.

Here we see that the Civil War is the beginning of wars to be poured out "on all nations." The Civil War was a great turning point in warfare. With it came modern warfare, which opened the way for wars of mass destruction to be commonplace and widespread. Also, this was the first war where new weapons of destruction were used: repeating rifles, gatling guns, iron ships, railroads for transporting troops and equipment, and telegraph to communicate over long distances, etc. All this added up to tens of thousands being killed in battles, and more than 600,000 dead over the 4 year long war.  It would be a war based upon slavery: the black slaves toiling in the fields, but also for those white Americans who felt the Union was enslaving them with laws that affected their economic choices (states' rights).  To this day, many white Southerners call the Civil War the "War of Northern Aggression."

3 For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations.

The South, during the Civil War, called upon other nations for assistance, and "they" or Great Britain and other nations would later "also call upon other nations" for assistance in their own defense. Imagine a nation like Great Britain, which at the time ruled the oceans and had a formidable army having to call upon other nations for assistance! And yet it happened in both the First and Second World Wars, which is exactly the time when war was "poured out upon all nations."  World War II was only a continuation of the First World War, as France and other nations sought to enslave and punish Germany with huge restrictions and even bigger economic stresses.  In 1917, the German Mark was worth 75 cents in American dollars.  By 1921, it required over One Trillion Marks to equal one dollar.  People were starving because of the devastating requirements placed on Germany, causing the Germans to seek someone to save them.  Sadly, Adolph Hitler became their one great hope.  It is easy for starving people to believe the words of the person who is feeding them and giving them jobs.

From the ashes of the Great World Wars, some nations were opened to greater levels of democracy, while others were plunged deeper into the tyranny of slavery.

The Fall of Communism

Now this next portion is very interesting. Many readers think it refers to the Civil War, but it doesn't. In terms of time, it refers to a time after the wars on all nations:

4 And it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war.

The only "slaves" in the days after the World Wars, have been those who suffered under the bonds of Communism and racism. Isn't it interesting to see how quickly the shackles of slavery fell off of the slaves of the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and among the blacks in South Africa, and to an extent, even in the United States in its Civil Rights movement. However, since their "masters" are marshaled and disciplined for war, there are few primary choices, except Communism and Socialism where this has occurred.

What took millions of lives in bloodshed during the Civil War and World Wars I and II, then seems almost like a bloodless coup in the collapse of the Iron Curtain.  However, when one considers Josef Stalin slaughtered over 25 million people in the Soviet Union, starving millions (especially in the Ukraine) during his 5 year plans, and sent untold more to the gulags and mines of Siberia, we can see that it was a very bloody experience over 70 years. for the slaves under Socialism. 

It was only three years between the time President Ronald Reagan proclaimed at the Brandenburg Gate, "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" and the Berlin Wall being torn down by the former slaves.  Since then, millions have had economic and religious opportunities in many of those nations.  We do see tyranny attempting to regain power in some former Soviet states, but there seems to be an equal push to retain new rights that weren't available before.

For Christians, there has been a true evangelism that has swept much of the area over the past two decades.  Bibles are now common place, a variety of churches are erected, and LDS temples are beginning to dot the land.

The Terrorism Connection

In the last decade, we've seen great wars on terrorism. I believe this is discussed as well in the Prophecy on War.

5 And it shall come to pass also that the remnants who are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation.

At one time I thought the remnant referred to is the literal House of Israel, and particularly the Lamanites (Native Americans). It may be that a portion of this part of the prophecy will still be fulfilled by them. Now, however, I feel it is the remnant of the slaves in the Arab/Muslim world that this refers to. Tyrannical dictators of Muslim nations have kept their peoples in poverty and slavery. They have stayed in power by turning the anger of the peoples against the Jews and the Gentile Nations (Western nations).

The events predicted overlap to some extent.  So while the Soviet Union was on the rise, the great world wars brought down those enslaved by Hitler's Germany and others.

Radical Arab attacks have been known for decades: from airplane hijackings, to the terrorism at the Munich Olympics, and to the assault on the cruise ship Achille Lauro.  Over time, they have organized and become more powerful, until we all gasped in horror as commercial airliners were used to bring down the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001.

We are now feeling the pain of the remnant of Arab and Muslim slaves in the world, as they continue attacking and vexing the Gentile nations, even as some try to gain freedom from those who have enslaved them. Sadly, it seems that of those nations overthrowing their leaders, many are not gaining the freedoms they sought, but are being placed in a new form of radical Islamic slavery.

Interestingly, many of the tactics the radicals are using are very similar to the terrorist attacks used by the Gadianton Robbers in the Book of Mormon (Books of Helaman and 3 Nephi). They gained great power, taking over some lands and nations, and vexing the righteous Nephites and Lamanites.  The Nephites and Lamanites sought to destroy them in their mountain hideouts, but were generally unsuccessful.  After a decade of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, radical Islam is still growing in many parts of the world.  Terror will possibly become a part of the "new normal" in the United States, even as it is in Israel, as we see events such as those happening on Fort Hood and the Boston Marathon occur.

Great Destructions to Come

6 And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations;

7 That the cry of the saints, and of the blood of the saints, shall cease to come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, from the earth, to be avenged of their enemies.Obviously, when the remnant of the slaves vex the Gentiles, we shall see great destruction and bloodshed begin. So, the times for great destruction may not be too far away.

As the times of terrorism occur, natural disasters and other problems will increase. Since 9/11/2001, we've seen some of the biggest earthquakes to ever occur (including Japan's earthquake that caused nuclear reactors to melt down), global economic disaster, tsunamis that have slain hundreds of thousands, bird flu and other (new and old) diseases, deadly tornadoes (Joplin MO, Tuscaloosa AL), and devastating hurricanes (New Orleans, and the northeast)

In section 88 of the D&C we learn a little more of the disasters to occur:

88 And after your testimony cometh wrath and indignation upon the people.


89 For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes (Japan, Chile, Haiti), that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground and shall not be able to stand.

90 And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests (tornadoes), and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds (tsunami, hurricanes).

91 And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people

.A rather bleak picture, to be sure.  So, what can protect us from such terrible premonitions of war and nautral disaster?

Stand In Holy Places

8 Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen.

I frankly do not know how close we are to the final destructive days and the beginning of Christ's peaceful Millennial reign.  However, whether it is in 2 years or 200 years, we can see that these are potential signs for us to be noticing.  The solution is to "stand in holy places, and be not moved".

The "holy places" mentioned above are Zion and her stakes. As with the righteous Nephites and Lamanites in 3 Nephi, the time will come when we will see the need to physically gather in places of refuge and safety for sanctuary.  Right now, we are building the stakes of Zion so that we will have an organization and plan ready to receive those who need help.

When Hurricane Andrew hit southern Florida in the early 1990s, Mormons came by the hundreds to help people fix their homes.  Two LDS stake center buildings were used by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Red Cross as headquarters.  When the army needed 3000 chainsaws, which would take them weeks to requisition, the Church had them brought in the very next day.  Mormons in Idaho filled a semi-truck full of Idoaho potatoes and drove down to provide food for the people.

When Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf Coast and New Orleans, thousands of Mormons were organized by region to travel down to the area and assist every weekend for months.  Saints from as far away as Indianapolis and elsewhere traveled and worked on their own dime to help out where they could. So it is with each and every natural disaster in the United States, and elsewhere.

The LDS Church provided millions of dollars of aid to the victims of the Indonesia Tsunami, dig wells for fresh water in many poor nations, and have inoculated tens of thousands of children in Africa and elsewhere.  But that is not all, bishop's storehouses provide assistance to many struggling to find work, pay the bills, or have food on the table. Anyone who has seen Welfare Square in Salt Lake City is amazed.  But those who visit the bishop's storehouse in Indianapolis Indiana will also be impressed with the program run in that area, far from Mormon central.  It is this organization and desire of the membership to serve and help others that will bring it to the forefront of assistance to those who seek the refuge of Zion.

In D&C 45, we read of Zion and her stakes:

66 And it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God;


67 And the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion.

68 And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety.

69 And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another.

70 And it shall be said among the wicked: Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand.

71 And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy.

Not all will be Latter-day Saints, but all that are willing to keep the 10 Commandments, and perhaps a few other laws of righteousness will be welcome to dwell in safety, while the wicked choose to suffer through the great destructions of the last days prior to the Second Coming of the Lord.

Once again, we see that the Prophecy of War is a timeline of events, many happening in our own day. It truly is an amazing prophecy given to Joseph Smith from the Lord, to prepare us for the last days.

D&C Gospel Doctrine lessons at Mormon Interpreter

As I noted at the beginning of the year, the D&C lessons are set up by themes, very different from the OT, NT, and BoM.  So, I will only occasionally be writing an article regarding a section here or there that has some interesting concepts for us to view.

To quench your thirst for some high quality lessons, I suggest the Scripture Roundtable at the Mormon Interpreter.  Daniel Peterson, Bill Hamblin and others are discussing the lessons much better than I ever could.

You can access the video podcasts here:

http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/category/scripture-roundtable/

D&C lesson 11: "The Field is White, Already to Harvest"

D&C lesson 11: "The Field is White, Already to Harvest"

The manual covers the lesson fairly well.  Here I want to invite all my readers to share one or two of the following:

1. Your Conversion Story
2. Your Experience opening your mission call
3. A neat experience from your mission
4. A missionary moment you have had with someone else.

Let me share three of my own experiences.

In the Spring of 1975, my high school in Montana suffered several big tragedies.  Students died or were seriously injured over a 2 week period in about 1/2 dozen incidents.  In one event, friends went 4-wheel driving and turned over their Jeep, with 2 dying.  In another, 4 friends went up a canyon and drank rubbing alcohol, with 3 of them dying, and the girl who survived ending up shriveled up and in a wheelchair.  Then some kids took cow tranquilizers and were found dead at the fairgrounds.  Other events occurred. It shook up our school back in a time when counselors were not sent to schools to help the students.


That summer, my grandfather died.  I remember being a pallbearer with my brother and cousins. As we sat in the back of the car carrying us, one cousin noted that there had to be a better way.  I agreed.  I was shell shocked from all the death I'd seen in just a few months.  That Fall, I met some new friends at school.  Most of them were Mormons, and one of them invited me to play basketball on his church team.  I accepted.  Prior to playing that Wednesday night, the bishop invited me into his office.  He explained to me that to be able to play in the future, I would have to cut my long hair and attend church on Sundays.  Normally I would have refused, as my Dad could never get me to cut my shoulder length hair.  But something happened in that bishop's office to me, which I would not understand until much later.  The Spirit of the Lord was thick in the room and moved me to change my life.  As I attended and studied the Restored Gospel, I began to understand the Atonement of Christ, salvation, eternal families, and the hope of a glorious resurrection that I did not understand when my friends were dying.  Since then, I've always been ever grateful to my friend who invited me to play Church basketball, and to the bishop who introduced me to the Spirit.


From 1978-1980, I served a mission in Bolivia.  On the southern border is a small town, named Yacuiba.  In 1970, when there were no missionaries in the region, the town drunk staggered home in the rain.  Looking down, he found a pamphlet in a puddle of water.  He picked it up, took it home, dried it off and read it.  He then turned to his wife and said, "I don't know what Church this is, but when it gets here, w e're going to join it."  The pamphlet was the Joseph Smith First Vision story.  In 1979, the first missionaries were sent to Yacuiba.  His was the fourth door they knocked on.  By the time I arrived in Yacuiba a year later, he had gone from being the town drunk to a respected businessman with his own logging truck.  Not long afterward, he was called to preside over the congregation as its branch president.  While in Bolivia, I saw many such marvelous experiences of people being led to the LDS Church by the Lord.


Another experience came when the Air Force had me stationed in South Korea in 1985.  A young man,  who had a notoriety for being bad, was moved to my squad.  Korea was very challenging for good people to live morally, as drinking and prostitution were a way of life outside of military bases.  I avoided the scene directly outside the base, choosing to travel to other areas where I could get to really know the people.  I knew the day would come when I would be assigned to work with this other young man, but did not look forward to it.  When I saw we were being stationed together in a solitary post together, I prayed that I would survive what I expected to be an onslaught of obscenities and filthy talk, as this is how the man was described to me by others.  Yet, when we arrived at our post, he said that he admired my standards and my life.  He once had been active in a church and was happy, but fell far from his moral lifestyle.  We spent the night talking about God and faith.  By morning he wanted to talk with the missionaries.  So, I contacted a missionary couple up in Seoul to come down once a week to teach my new friend.  After a month, we took a trip to Seoul to see the temple, then under construction.  As we walked around the temple, I showed him where the corner stone would be set on the first day of the dedication.  He asked me if he could touch the sacred building, and I encouraged him to do so.  "This is where I want to be married someday", he said.  Within a few weeks, I baptized him in the base swimming pool, the temple being a key component in converting a man, whom I would never would have guessed to be wanting to change his life so drastically.

From these and hundreds of other experiences, my own testimony of Christ and his work have grown.  It truly is a marvelous work.  In the early 1830s, Joseph Smith told the few members of the fledgling Church that they were not to only be a congregation, but that someday the Church would fill both North and South America, indeed, it would fill the world.  As people throughout the world find that the LDS Church has solutions to worldly problems and answers to spiritual questions, it will continue to grow, preparing the world for the 2nd Coming of Christ.

Please share your experiences in the comments....

D&C Lesson 10: “This Is My Voice Unto All”

D&C Lesson 10: “This Is My Voice Unto All”

The earliest sections of the D&C contain many personal revelations to people asking guidance of God through the Prophet Joseph Smith.  D&C 25 is the only section containing a personal revelation to a woman: Emma Smith.  Meeting Joseph in 1825 while he was working with Josiah Stowell,  searching for buried treasure.  Joseph would return to Harmony Pennsylvania several times to court Emma.  Her father disapproved of Joseph the treasure hunter courting his daughter, and so they eloped.

Emma must have felt isolated, with much of her family considering Joseph a fraud or crazy for his claims of angelic visits and a book with gold plates.  Yet, Emma was present with Joseph on the night he obtained the plates from the Hill Cumorah.  Later, she would be his scribe and assist him in hiding the plates from others who attempted to steal them.

Emma patiently waited and served Joseph.  She saw Oliver, Martin and David become the Three Witnesses.  Soon after, 8 others would be additional witnesses of the gold plates.  She would listen to Joseph describe receiving the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods with Oliver Cowdery.  She saw these many men come into the home to receive personal revelations from Joseph, many being called to special responsibilities and missions.  She was the woman in waiting, never directly involved in the revelations or events that occurred.  Yet, she was also the woman who patiently went through the many trials: watching Joseph arrested dozens of times or being tarred and feathered.  Seeing most of her children die in childhood. Visiting Joseph in Liberty Jail, Carthage Jail, and other jails along the way.  Escaping Missouri alone with her children, while Joseph was imprisoned and mobs wandered the hills looking for Mormons to harm.  Watching the wagon slowly bring the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum back from Carthage.

So, when she did receive her revelation, the Lord seemed to explain that her position would not include a center position in the early events of the Restoration.  She was told to patiently support and strengthen her husband, and to be a source of joy and good cheer.  Perhaps one of her two defining responsibilities in the LDS Church was her assignment to put together the first hymnbook (the other being the first Relief Society President of the Church).

When we consider how important music is in the Church today, we can owe it all to Emma.  Many of the hymns she selected are still found in our hymnbook today.  The hymnbook inspired many members to write hymns, including Eliza R Snow (O My Father), William W Phelps (Spirit of God), John Jaques (O Say What is Truth), Joel H Johnson  (High on the Mountaintop), Parley P Pratt (The Morning Breaks), and many others.  Today, we have the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and many other local choirs and performance groups that inspire millions.  Indeed, “the song of the righteous is a prayer unto” the Lord.

Emma was faithful to Joseph throughout his life, and served the poor and needy throughout her own life.  She definitely is an elect lady.

D&C Lesson 9: The Only True and Living Church

Lesson 9, the Only True and Living Church
D&C 20, 21, 27

The concept that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the "only true and living Church" on earth with which God is "well pleased" (D&C 1:30)) was discussed in Lesson 1.

D&C 20:1
Since Elder B.H. Roberts gave his opinion on this verse about a century ago, many members have understood it to mean that Jesus was born on April 6, AD 1.    However, early Church members, including Joseph Smith and Brigham Young never seemed to read this revelation in this manner.  A problem arises when one considers archaeology and history.  According to the Bible, King Herod the Great sought to kill the infant Jesus, and slaughtered all children from 2 years and under in Bethlehem.  Archaeology shows that Herod died in 4 BC, so either the Bible is wrong on this story of Herod, or Jesus was likely born around 6 BC.

With the new Joseph Smith Papers Project, we now see that D&C 20: was not intended to be part of the revelation initially, but was an introduction to the section provided by John Whitmer, the scribe. Somewhere along the line of publishing, it was included as part of the revelation. The question then becomes, does an introduction approved by the LDS membership as doctrine equate to a revelation establishing the date of Jesus' birth?  Thanks to the JSPP and the Church's new 2013 online scripture updates, we will be able to understand the revelations we have even better, and perhaps reduce the amount of speculation on just what the scriptures say.

So, when was Jesus born?  Around 6 BC, and we do not know exactly which day, although April 6 may be as good a day as any.

Church Organization
The focus is on the basic organization of the Church.  The new heading for D&C 20 notes that portions of the revelation were received as early as 1829.  It establishes a foundation for the Church's organization, describing key ordinances, such as baptism, the laws/rules of obedience for the Church, and important concepts for the functioning and organization of the priesthood.

We should not be surprised that many of the revelations in D&C were gathered over a period of time, occasionally changed, etc.  The concept is that the Church is "living".  It is ever growing, changing and adapting, as new revelation are given.  For example, at the Church's beginning, Joseph and Oliver Cowdery were established as the First and Second Elders of the Church and as apostles (D&C 20:2-3).  The concepts of "a seer, translator and a prophet" (D&C 21:1), or the current "prophet, seer and revelator" or even the title "apostle" (D&C 20:38, D&C 21:1) had not been fully formalized as it would be in just a few years.  However, by 1835, the LDS Church had grown sufficiently to require major changes in priesthood structure.  The First Presidency, and Quorums of 12 and 70 were officially organized, although their final functions were still in the future. In 1835, the Quorum of Twelve was initially a traveling council, equal to the stake high councils.  Only later in Nauvoo would the Twelve become the predominant council it is today.

D&C 27 The Sacrament

Here, Joseph went to find wine for a Sacrament service.  Along the way, he was stopped and told that wine was not necessary, but water could be used instead.  Here we see that the Lord is a pragmatic God.  If something isn't available, the Lord will often make allowances. 

In the early days of Nauvoo, the saints were allowed to do baptisms for the dead in the Mississippi River. The Word of Wisdom was initially given as guidance, and not a commandment.  When Joseph lost the 116 pages of the Book of Mormon, the Lord had him translate Nephi's record instead.

What we find in all of these instances is that God will work with us, according to our need and diligence. Can't use the wine? Then use water.  No temple baptismal font? Use the river until you can finish the temple.

Elder Ezra Taft Benson was sent by the Church to oversee the relief effort in Europe after World War II. He noted later:

"The Saints in Europe taught me a new appreciation for the priesthood of God. I heard them bear testimony of their gratitude for the priesthood in their homes. Many families who had been isolated from other representatives of the priesthood during the bombing and during sickness told of their gratitude that they had in their homes the authority and the power to lay their hands upon members of their families, and under the inspiration of heaven invoke God's healing power upon them.
    My brethren and sisters, this is a priceless blessing. I heard them speak of their gratitude that in their homes while isolated from the rest of the members of the mission, they were able to administer the sacred emblems. Yes even at times when they did not have bread, they used potatoes or potato peelings as the emblem but had the sacrament administered to members of their own household." (Ezra Taft Benson, "The Aftermath of War")

The Lord is pragmatic, and will work with his children. If they can't use wine, there is water. If bread is not available, potato peelings are acceptable as an alternative in time of need.

D&C lesson 8: The Restoration of the Priesthood

Lesson 8: Restoration of the Priesthood

The Aaronic Priesthood was restored to the earth by John the Baptist on May 15, 1829.  Between then and May 1830, the Melchizedek Priesthood was also restored by the ancient apostles Peter, James and John.

The priesthood provides two things: power and authority.  Authority to govern the Church, perform ordinances, and organize is very important.  As important as authority is, however, it is impotent without the power of the priesthood.  President Packer recently stated that we do well on distributing the authority, but need to improve on distributing the true powers of heaven.  He also notes in his discussion on priesthood,

"I include the sisters because it is crucial for everyone to understand what is expected of the brethren. Unless we enlist the attention of the mothers and daughters and sisters—who have influence on their husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers—we cannot progress. The priesthood will lose great power if the sisters are neglected." (Ensign, April 2010, The Power of the Priesthood)

This power is not only for the men, but also for the women of the Church.  Why? Because of the ordinances and covenants attached to the priesthood.

The Aaronic Priesthood provides the outward ordinances, holding the keys of repentance, baptism and the ministering of angels (D&C 13). The greater Priesthood of Melchizedek holds even greater power and promise:

"And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.

Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.
 Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;
 But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory. (D&C 84:19-24)

While the Aaronic Priesthood gives the power to have angels minister to a person and to have a remission of sins, the Melchizedek Priesthood holds the power to bring people into the presence of God, to have His mystery revealed to them, and to become not only cleansed of sin, but purified to a divine state!

Moses' goal at Sinai was to take Israel to the top of the mountain, where each one of them would see God personally.  They refused to go, fearing God's wrath and reluctant to give up their sinful ways.  God gave them the lesser priesthood as a preparatory power, to prepare them for the greater opportunities. If mankind was not ready to converse with God, perhaps they could be prepared to converse with angels.

The Melchizedek Priesthood, however, contains the power, primarily through the ordinances, of being in the presence of the members of the Godhead.

First, the Gift of the Holy Ghost is confirmed upon a person, giving that person access to the third member of the Godhead.  In the temple ordinances, which set us apart from the world both figuratively and literally, we learn to walk through the Cosmos and all of Creation, in a journey to return back into the full presence and glory of God.  This is not a journey that is accomplished alone.  It is a journey for both Adam and Eve, husband and wife, who share the power, authority and blessings of the Melchizedek Priesthood within the temple. In the marriage sealing, husband and wife both receive together the Patriarchal Priesthood, the greatest role in the Melchizedek Priesthood.  Husband and wife are promised that as they are faithful to God, they will receive blessings in time and eternity, to stand in God's presence and be like Him.

This is the purpose of the priesthood in our day: to prepare a people to stand in the presence of God and be holy.  Through the ordinances the priesthood provides, men and women can enjoy the greatest blessings and opportunities of God in heaven.  These promises begin with baptism and find the climax as the believers enter into the Celestial Room of the temple, symbolic of the day when they literally will walk into the Celestial Kingdom and into the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

D&C Lesson 7: “The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel”

D&C Lesson 7: “The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel”

In Article #4 of the Articles of Faith, we read,

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.

This statement is important enough for the Savior to declare it to be the "doctrine of Christ" (3 Nephi 11).  Let's look at these one at a time first.

Faith

In the Lectures on Faith, we learn,

Faith, being the first principle in revealed religion, and the foundation of all righteousness,  necessarily claims the first place in a course of lectures which are designed to unfold to the understanding the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

Here we find that faith is not only the first principle, but it is the foundation for all righteousness.  We cannot be fully righteous without first having faith in Jesus Christ!
The Lectures on Faith teach that faith is the "moving cause" in all action both temporal and spiritual.  Before a person goes to off to work, she has faith that her employer will pay her wages at the end of the week.  We exercise faith in termporal things everyday we arise and do the things we do, because we believe our actions will provide a benefit.  That faith is based upon experience, that which we have observed occur in others' lives, and that which happens in our own.

So it is in spiritual things.  We follow Christ because our belief in him creates a moving power or action within us.  It begins the process of the "doctrine of Christ" in our lives, and without faith, repentance, ordinances and the Spirit cannot work.

So powerful is faith that God used faith to frame the worlds and all his creations. 

Had it not been for the principle of faith, the worlds would had never been framed, neither would man have been formed of the dust. It is the principle by which Jehovah works, and through which he exercises power over all temporal as well as eternal things.  Take this principle or attribute - for it is an attribute - from the Deity, and he would cease to exist.

Faith being so important for the creation of the worlds, how important then is it for us to develop faith in regards to our own salvation?

Repentance

Once we develop a faith in Christ, we will recognize our weaknesses and sins.  We will want to follow him, as faith is a "moving cause."

Repentance is the actions needed to realign ourselves with Christ and his will.  It requires humility and a willingness to change.  Without repentance, we remain stagnant and unable to develop faith in Christ.  The Lord warned us about the importance of repentance:

Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.
Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit. (D&C 19:15-20)

We only suffer for the things we refuse to repent of.  Yet, the suffering is so intense that we would suffer even as Christ did.  For Alma the Younger, we learn that his suffering lasted 3 days, with a pain that was so "exquisite", he wished to stop existing entirely.  Only when he exercised faith in Christ and repented, was he rescued from the intense and racking pain, and was filled with joy as exquisite as was his pain a moment before (Alma 36).  Those who absolutely refuse to ever repent will be sons of Perdition.  There is no salvation for them, because they would rather suffer the intense pains of hell than to beg forgiveness of the Lord.

The best time to repent is now.  Still, even in the Spirit World, the Lord will open the door of salvation to any who believe and repent.

Baptism and other Ordinances

Many churches do not believe that baptism or other outward ordinances are necessary for salvation.  They are right.  A basic salvation in the Telestial Kingdom only requires faith and repentance, and it seems that repentance and redemption come at the last moment.

And again, we saw the glory of the telestial, which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differs from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament.

These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus.
These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit.
These are they who are thrust down to hell (in Spirit Prison - until they repent and are redeemed at the last).
These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work....
 And also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them, or who are appointed to be ministering spirits for them; for they shall be heirs of salvation. (D&C 76:81-88)

However, salvation in a Celestial Glory DOES require baptism.  It is the gate that opens to God's full kingdom and glory. Baptism, the Sacrament (Holy Supper), and other ordinances of salvation are necessary for us, not only because of the covenants made, but also because of what the ordinances reveal to us.

And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.

Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live. (D&C 84:19-22)

The ordinances of baptism, the Sacrament, priesthood ordination, temple endowment and sealings, all reveal to us the "power of godliness."  We receive the key to the knowledge of God as we receive ordinances and make the covenants eternally connected to those ordinances.  In the instance of baptism, it opens the gate to heaven, so we can return back into God's presence and know him.

Gift of the Holy Ghost
  While we receive this gift officially through an ordinance of laying on of hands by those in authority, it is significant to see how it works.  No one lays his hands upon the person and says, "I bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost."  Instead, the gift is received by commandment: "Receive the Holy Ghost!"

It is then our responsibility to actually receive the gift and accept it.  The Holy Ghost can be a constant companion, but only when we are ready to have Him as a constant companion.  Until then, he will come and go, as we are ready to receive him or not.


Note that after baptism, the Holy Ghost is received. He is a member of the Godhead.  We now have communication with a member of the Godhead, as the mystery of godliness is revealed to us.

The Holy Ghost's main calling is twofold: to witness of the Father and Son, and to sanctify us (Mosiah 4:1-4).

A Pattern to Live By


 It isn't that we gain faith once, or repent once, or receive an ordinance once, and then we are finished. Instead, we have been given a pattern by which we should live our lives.  It becomes a process:

1. Gain faith in Christ to a certain level
2. Realize we have weaknesses to overcome and Repent
3. Receive the ordinances necessary to move forward at this level of faith
4. Have the Holy Ghost sanctify us to a new level of faith and righteousness
5. Rinse and repeat

 This is a process or pattern established by Jesus.

And I, John (the Apostle), saw that he (Christ) received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace;

And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness;
And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first. (D&"C 93:12-14)

As with Jesus, we must proceed from grace to grace, receiving grace for grace.  As we develop a level of faith and repentance, we then receive an ordinance/covenant to that level. Then, the Holy Ghost sanctifies us to that new level of grace.  In this pattern, we can develop perfection over time through Christ, and receive a fulness, even as he did.


  Bibliography

Lectures on Faith:  http://archive.org/stream/compilationconta00lund#page/6/mode/2up

D&C Lesson 6: “I Will Tell You in Your Mind and in Your Heart, by the Holy Ghost”

Lesson 6: “I Will Tell You in Your Mind and in Your Heart, by the Holy Ghost”

Lessons 5 and 6 both discuss D&C 6-8, which I discussed primarily in lesson 5.  In this lesson, we'll discuss the revelation given to Joseph Smith's brother, Hyrum in section 11.

In many of the early revelations, the Lord opened them with the following teaching:

"A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

Behold, I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word.
Behold, the field is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.
Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God." D&C 11:1-4

The early teachings of the Church were establishing the basics of the gospel.  For Oliver (in sections 6-8), it was to teach him (and us) the proper forms of receiving revelation from God.  For many, it was to let them know that the most important thing they could do is to preach the gospel of Christ to the world.

Yet, even as the Lord says to "thrust in [one's] sickle", he will give Hyrum some important guidance in regards to preparation and the focus of his own calling. 

"Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.

Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion." D&C 11:5-6

We are to ask, so that the Lord can open doors to us.  Hyrum asked the Lord through Joseph, which was a very common practice in the earliest days of the Church.  Believers saw that Joseph saw angels and God, and could receive revelations for individuals.  Others were infants when it came to receiving revelation.  Here, it seems the Lord is telling Hyrum that he should ask and knock for himself in the future.  In this instance, however, since he asked through Joseph, he was told 2 key things: keep the commandments and to bring forth Zion.

Missionary work is one part of bringing forth Zion.  Hyrum's life will have moments of missionary work in it, but much of the work he will do will be towards the members of the Church, and especially as a counselor and guide to his younger brother, Joseph.  He would become the Patriarch of the Church after the death of Joseph Smith, Sr., and Assistent President after Oliver Cowdery's excommunication.  His focus would be to build Zion, whether in Kirtland Ohio, Independence Missouri, or Nauvoo Illinois.  He would be Joseph's closest ally and colleague, being with him in Liberty and Carthage Jails.  He would support Joseph in life, even as other leaders (Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, etc) fell away from the Church, and he would be with Joseph in death, as their bodies were prepared for burial together.

"Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich." (v 7)

This revelation was given in May 1829, while the Book of Mormon was still being translated.  It is possible the Aaronic Priesthood had not been restored to Joseph and Oliver by John the Baptist yet. The Melchizedek Priesthood's restoration by Peter, James and John was still a month away. 

Could Hyrum have imagined the mysteries that would come forth: the priesthood, the gift of the Holy Ghost, understanding of the Godhead, the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, the establishment of the Quorum of 12 Apostles, establishing a literal Zion in Missouri, temples, eternal marriage, baptism for the dead, the three degrees of glory, the premortal existence, man's ability to become gods through Christ, and so many other amazing mysteries!

"Behold, thou hast a gift, or thou shalt have a gift if thou wilt desire of me in faith, with an honest heart, believing in the power of Jesus Christ, or in my power which speaketh unto thee;
 For, behold, it is I that speak; behold, I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these words unto thee.
 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;
And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive."  (vv10-14)

What would this gift be that Hyrum would receive?  He was commanded to "seek wisdom" and then he would have the Spirit, "which shall enlighten your mind".  This is very important for someone who would become the Patriarch of the Church.  A patriarch's responsibility is to receive revelation for the individual.  As Joseph was receiving a personal revelation for Hyrum in D&C 11, so Hyrum would receive personal revelations for the members in Nauvoo.
Interestingly, while his younger brother, Samuel Harrison Smith, would leave a year later on a mission to spread the Book of Mormon around, while Hyrum was told to wait.  It was important that he first gain the word of God. 

"Wait a little longer, until you shall have my word, my rock, my church, and my gospel, that you may know of a surety my doctrine." (v 16)

Not only would he wait for the Book of Mormon to be published in May 1830, but also the creation of the formal church on April 6, 1830, and the establishment of the priesthood and basic ordinances (see D&C 20).

"Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.

But now hold your peace; study my word which hath gone forth among the children of men, and also study my word which shall come forth among the children of men, or that which is now translating, yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men in this generation, and then shall all things be added thereto." (vv 21-22)

Hyrum's responsibility was to study the word which already had "gone forth among the children of men" or the Bible, and to also to study that word which was to come forth soon, the Book of Mormon.  Even though the "field is white, ready for harvest", the workers were not ready.  They needed to know the Bible and Book of Mormon, in order to know what things they preached.  This is a key reason why the Church today focuses so much training on the youth of the Church: seminary, institute, youth programs, etc.  All of the preparation is to ensure they are ready to go forth into the world and cry repentance.

"But verily, verily, I say unto you, that as many as receive me, to them will I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name. Amen" (v 30)

Hyrum could not imagine in May of 1829 just what this last statement and promise really meant.  His understanding then would mean that people could become sons of God, but not in the literal sense. They would be in heaven as servants of God, singing hymns to him eternally.  By 1844 at the end of his life, he would know that being a "son of God" was a literal thing.  One would, through Christ, become a literal son and heir of all God has.  The son of God would become part of the divine council and be a king and a priest unto God and Christ forever. 

Hyrum's door to heavenly wisdom and mysteries was just opening.