Home » The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints » LDS Deep Doctrine » Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH (He shalt be a "Dispensation King or President and the Forerunner of the Messiah")
| Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH [message #1451] |
Fri, 16 November 2012 04:15  |
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Kingdom of ZION
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The Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH
Known as the "Eliyah, the Tishbite" in the Scriptures
and is in reality more then the Sealing Keys of Elijah,
He shalt be a "Dispensation King and the Forerunner of the Messiah"
The purpose of this paper is to establish two facts. First, that the coming of Elijah is a physical and mortal coming in the flesh, just as the Messiah's coming was. Secondly, this coming of Elijah was believed by Joseph Smith to still be a future event, right up until his death, based upon statements that he made as late as spring of 1844.
We will also review all known scriptures and prophesies that specifically refer to Elijah, regarding his coming in the latter days and specially those discourses of Joseph Smith that were recorded containing discussions on Elijah's mission. Other terms and names for Elijah, used in the Scriptures are discussed in KoZ papers entitled, "The Prophecies of the ROOT of Jesse" and "The Prophecies of the ENSIGN unto the Nations".
After carefully reviewing and coming to a greater understanding of these prophecies on Elijah, we will learn that Elijah's coming will process the Second Coming of the Messiah, which coming is obviously still future. That those things Elijah is prophesied to fulfill, that they still have not yet happened, and exactly why it is that Elijah MUST come, "lest the whole world be smitten with a curse." Finally, with the careful study of all the different recorded copies on the different discourses Joseph made about Elijah, it is hoped that the most correct understand of Joseph's beliefs will prove beyond dispute that he clearly believed that Elijah's coming was then still Future (after 1844).
The most logical place to begin would be first to look at all canonized scriptures that pertain to Elijah. Secondly, then look at all the other discourses given concerning Elijah. To start, most latter day revelations, and prophesies are based on the original revelation found in Malachi, chapter 4, which says:
"1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither ROOT [King] nor BRANCH [Prophet].
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun [10th Planet] of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall [to be fed and house by the Lord].
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked [Gentiles]; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith [Michael] the LORD of hosts.
4 Remember ye [Yesrael that] the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb FOR ALL ISRAEL, [that] the statutes and judgments [will be restored?].
5 [For] Behold, I will SEND YOU [Yesrael] Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
[Please note with interest the next verse and what the Lord was asking the last Prophet of the Old Testament times to reveal in the very last book, in the very last chapter, in the very last verse!]
6 And HE SHALL turn the heart of the [Eternal] fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to THEIR fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with A CURSE."
[Malachi 4:1-6, capitalization and comments added in brackets]
This scripture leads us to believe that Elijah's coming mission will be the very last thing that must be done in this Telestial world. In setting forth this Prophecy in sequence of future events: first a Sun must come and burn the wick up and heal (translate) the righteous, and then the righteous shall go forth and tread down the wicked (Gentiles) down. If the wicked (Gentiles) have not already been burned as stubble, how could the righteous then tread them down as "they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in THAT day, meaning by THEN!"
Yesrael is then told to remember the law of Moses. Why would Yesrael be asked to remember the law of Moses? Perhaps living the law of Moses, if it is referring to the Ten Commandments, will be the place where Yesrael will be able to repent, unit around and begin to gather. This concept is not in proper order according to other revelations however, but if we look closely and then pray for discernment, we see that the last verse in Malachi is revealing one of the greatest Signs by which we may know Elijah when he does come. For the real Sign, which is not perceived by most the world and LDS people in general, is that he (Elijah) will perform this mission personally rather than have it done through others doing temple work for the dead!
In 3 Nephi, we find that the Lord personally re-quoted this same Scripture found in Malachi almost word-for-word to the Nephite nation:
"1 FOR behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root [King] nor branch [Prophet].
2 But unto you that fear my name, shall the SON of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall [we shall be like baby cows being trained from our youth to stand where the master wants, having little understanding as to why].
3 And YE SHALL TREAD DOWN THE WICKED; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this [first], saith the Lord of Hosts [Michael].
4 Remember ye the law of Moses, my servant [Moses], which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord;
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers [in heaven] to the children [on earth], and the heart of the children [here] to their fathers [in heaven], lest I come and smite the earth with A CURSE.
1 AND now it came to pass that when Jesus had told these things he expounded them unto the multitude; and he did expound all things unto them, both great and small. [Ha Mashiyach revealed who Elijah was and is, and why he must come, and what he will do when he comes!]
2 And he saith: THESE SCRIPTURES, which ye had not with you, THE FATHER COMMANDED THAT I SHOULD GIVE UNTO YOU; FOR IT WAS WISDOM IN HIM THAT THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN UNTO FUTURE GENERATIONS [LDS Gentiles]."
[3 Nephi 25:1-6; 26:1-2, capitalization and comments added in brackets]
The above Scripture from the Book of Mormon is the very last Scripture that the Messiah quoted. Then in the next chapter, 3 Nephi 26, the Messiah explains WHY He was quoting these Scriptures. For He said that the Father had commanded Him to do so and that it will be a blessing unto Future Generations. And in truth, there is only one generation that would really be blessed by such knowledge and that generation would be the one in which Elijah would come!
We also have a record of this same prophecy found in the writings of Joseph Smith. On the night and the following day of September 21 and 22 in 1823, Moroni visited the Prophet Joseph Smith and quoted from Malachi. Incidentally, this date is the correct or real Hebrew religious New Year's the erev or evening, the laila or night, and the tov or day of Rosh Hashanah. On September 22, the next day, Joseph went to the place where Moroni had revealed that the plates containing the Book of Mormon record were buried. When he was about to remove the plates, the Angel Moroni appeared and told him that the time had not yet come when the plates were to be delivered into his hands, but that he was to return to this spot once a year. He did so for the next four years, until the plates were finally delivered unto him. Also of great interest, is that the true Hebrew Year of Jubilee was 1827, and that the plates were delivered on the day of Rosh Hashanah in the Year of Jubilee!
Now to return to our discussion on the Scripture found in Malachi, Joseph Smith said that, Moroni did not quote Malachi word-for-word as it is found recorded in the King James version of the Bible. In Joseph Smith History, we find:
"36 After telling me these things, he commenced quoting the prophecies of the Old Testament. He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi; and he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy, though with a LITTLE VARIATION FROM THE WAY IT READS IN OUR BIBLES. Instead of quoting the first verse as it reads in our books, he quoted it thus:
37 For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for THEY [the Messiah (Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach) and His Angels] that come shall burn them [by the light of their being], saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root [King] nor branch [Prophet].
38 And again, he quoted the fifth verse thus: Behold, I will reveal unto you THE PRIESTHOOD, by the HAND of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
39 He also quoted the next verse differently: And HE SHALL PLANT in the hearts of the children THE PROMISES made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to THEIR fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be UTTERLY WASTED at his coming."
[Joseph Smith History 1:36-39, capitalization and comments added in brackets]
There is great differences, I beg to differ with Joseph Smith! They [the Messiah and His Angels] will personally come and burn the wick up, that G_d would reveal unto Joseph Smith THE PRIESTHOOD, by the HAND of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And HE [ELIJAH] SHALL PLANT in the hearts of the children THE PROMISES made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to THEIR fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be UTTERLY WASTED [NOT JUST CURSED!] at his coming."
And just what is those Promises made to the Fathers that will turn the hearts of the children unto the Fathers? Jacob's promised land of inheritance? The blessings of Abraham or the different blessings of each son or tribe individually? Or was there promises made in heaven, to the Fathers, than when revealed, will turn the hearts of their Children unto their own Fathers? These question are not in the canon, nor has it been yet revealed.
Let us try to reconstruct the wording of Malachi that Moroni quoted to Joseph:
"1 Behold, I will send my messenger Elijah, the Prophet, and he shall prepare the way before me, for the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even I the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith Michael my father, the Lord of Hosts is his title.
2 But who may abide the day of my coming, and who shall stand when I appeareth? For I am like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap.
3 And I shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and I shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger, and fear not me, saith Michael my father, the Lord of Hosts.
6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
1 For behold, the day cometh that the world shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach and his followers that come shall burn them, saith Michael the Lord of Hosts, and that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2 Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
3 And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming."
[Moroni Latter Day Visitation, September 21, 1823]
When we look to the latter day Scriptures for prophecies concerning the coming of Elijah, it would seem prudent to sequentially study them in the order in which they were received. The earliest prophecy regarding Elijah is found in the 2 section in the current Doctrine and Covenants. This Scripture was received on September 21, 1823 (the true day of Rosh Hashanah), in Manchester, New York, by Joseph Smith:
"1 Behold, I will reveal unto YOU [WHO? Joseph Smith?] THE PRIESTHOOD, by the HAND of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
2 And HE SHALL plant in the hearts of the children THE PROMISES made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
3 If it were not so, the whole earth would be UTTERLY WASTED at his coming."
[Doctrine and Covenants 2:1-3, capitalization and comments added in brackets]
It does not say that Elijah laid his hands on Joseph Smith (nor anyone else for that matter) and conferred or revealed any Priesthood under the hand of Elijah. Through other Scriptures, we also learn that the keys of Elijah are to be revealed before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. This dreadful day has not yet come, allowing time for this to still be fulfilled. So then we might ask who is this 'YOU' that will have the Priesthood revealed? Might this Priesthood be revealed by the hand of Elijah to the reader when Elijah does come? Also, it says HE SHALL plant in the hearts of the children THE PROMISES made to the fathers. It seems that Elijah would have to come personally in order to fulfill this prophecy!
The next revelation on Elijah was given seven years later, and is found in the 27th Section of the current Doctrine and Covenants. It was received in August of 1830, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, by Joseph Smith.
"5 Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not, for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with MORONI, WHOM I HAVE SENT UNTO YOU to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim;
6 And also with ELIAS [Noah/Gabriel], TO WHOM I HAVE COMMITTED THE KEYS of bringing to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days;
7 And [not] also [but.. For it is by and with] JOHN [the Tawbalist] the son of Zacharias, which Zacharias he (Elias) visited and gave promise that he should have a son, and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the spirit of Elias [Elijah];
8 Which JOHN I HAVE SENT UNTO YOU, my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto the FIRST PRIESTHOOD which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron;
9 And [not] also [but.. For it is by and with] ELIJAH [Sariel], UNTO WHOM I HAVE COMMITTED THE KEYS of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with A CURSE;
10 And also [For it is by and] with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, YOUR FATHERS, by whom THE PROMISES remain;[,]
11 And also [Which PROMISE COMES BY and] with Michael, or Adam, the FATHER OF ALL [including Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach], the prince of all, the ancient of days;
12 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 [Joseph Smith Dispensation Keys!] and of the same things which I revealed unto them;
13 UNTO WHOM I HAVE COMMITTED THE KEYS OF MY KINGDOM [Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach Dispensation Keys], and "A" DISPENSATION OF THE GOSPEL FOR THE LAST TIMES [Joseph Smith's Dispensation]; and FOR THE ["A" DISPENSATION OF THE] FULNESS OF TIMES [Elijah's Dispensation], in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;
14 And also [I will gather Yesrael] with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world.
15 Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.
16 Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE [the Gospel of Salvation], WHICH I HAVE SENT MINE ANGELS TO COMMIT UNTO YOU;
17 Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;
18 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen.
[Doctrine and Covenants 27:5-18, August 1830, strike out editing to reflect historical changes, capitalization added and comments in brackets]
Let us review, Elijah is to fulfilled TWO MISSIONS:
FIRST: "1 Behold, I will reveal unto YOU [WHO? Joseph Smith?] THE PRIESTHOOD, by the HAND of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
SECOND: 2 And HE SHALL plant in the hearts of the children THE PROMISES made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
3 If it were not so, the whole earth would be UTTERLY WASTED at his coming."
[Doctrine and Covenants 2:1-3, capitalization and comments added in brackets]
I want to make a statement here [I really ever put it in those terms], am I the only one who see this? Joseph Smith at this time in August of 1830, he did not realize that this JOHN [the Tawbalist], the son of Zacharias, who should be filled with the spirit of Elias [Elijah] was Elijah; that the very fact Elijah had restored the Priesthood, fulfilling impart the FIRST MISSION that would actually lay the foundation of his SECOND MISSION. Not that this is the only Priesthood that Elijah is to yet restore as we shall see hereafter, but in the Revelation we had just read above, Doctrine and Covenants, 27:5-18, actually verse 5 through 11 applies, Adonai or the Lord is revealing the layered answers to what Elijah will do! Let us re-read it:
"5 Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not, for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with MORONI, WHOM I HAVE SENT UNTO YOU to reveal the [FIRST 1/3 Portion of] Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel [In the 2/3 portion of the Book of Mormon that was held back], to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim;
6 And also with ELIAS [Noah/Gabriel], TO WHOM I HAVE COMMITTED THE KEYS of bringing to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days;
7 And [not] also [but.. For it is by and with] JOHN [the Tawbalist] the son of Zacharias, which Zacharias he (Elias) visited and gave promise that he should have a son, and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the spirit of Elias [Elijah];
8 Which JOHN I HAVE SENT UNTO YOU, my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto the FIRST PRIESTHOOD which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron;
9 And [not] also [but.. For it is by and with] ELIJAH [Sariel], UNTO WHOM I HAVE COMMITTED THE KEYS of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with A CURSE;
10 And also [For it is by and] with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, YOUR FATHERS, by whom THE PROMISES remain;[,]
11 And also [Which PROMISE COMES BY and] with Michael, or Adam, the FATHER OF ALL [including Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach], the prince of all, the ancient of days;
[Doctrine and Covenants 27:5-11, August 1830, strike out editing to reflect historical changes, capitalization added and comments in brackets]
Notice, First in verse 8 it answers as to how the First Mission that Elijah should do, I will reveal unto YOU THE PRIESTHOOD, by the HAND of Elijah the prophet... Which JOHN I HAVE SENT UNTO YOU, my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto the FIRST PRIESTHOOD which you have received. Still, this does not fulfill what Joseph Smith will yet say leter in Nauvoo, that the Priesthood Elijah MUST RESTORE, he was the last one upon the earth to hold. The Aaronic or Levitical Priesthoods clearly Elijah was not the last one to hold these Priesthood's, so there is another PRIESTHOOD THAT ELIJAH MUST YET RESTORE IN THE FUTURE TO THE EARTH!
Then in verse 9 that is states what Elijah's keys are and then in the very next verse 10, it answers to whom and what the Second Mission that Elijah would be. HE SHALL plant in the hearts of the children THE PROMISES made to the fathers... with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, YOUR FATHERS, by whom THE PROMISES remain- Which PROMISE COMES BY and with Michael, or Adam, the FATHER OF ALL, including Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach, our blessed Messiah.
Now, let us summarizing as to who will drink of the fruit of the vine with the Lord and Joseph Smith, on the earth (as per this Revelation). Let us list which includes Angels or Just Men made perfect that have been sent and those Angels or Just Men made perfect which were still to be sent.
1 Moroni, whom I have sent unto you. (SENT)
2 Elias [Noah/Gabriel], to whom I have committed the Keys. (SENT LATER)
John, (the Tawbalist} I have sent unto you. (SENT)
Elijah, unto whom I have committed the Keys. (SENT LATER AS ELIJAH)
3 Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham, your fathers, by whom the promises
remain. (NO RECORD AS SENT EXCEPT HERE)
4 And also Michael or Adam, the father of all. (SENT)
5-7 Peter, James, and John, whom I have sent unto you. (SENT)
As for the time sequences, it would be another six years, and not until 1836 that Elias (who is Noah or Gabriel) and Elijah (who is also John, the Tawbalist or Sariel) they would be sent to bestow keys unto Joseph. As for Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham, we have no other record except this Section that Joseph ever did see them. Michael or Adam (who he had already seen at least two times earlier), still we have no record that Joseph saw him after this time. It should be noted that all of these verses were added by Orison Pratt while Joseph Smith was not present for the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants revision of the revelations that were originally contained in the 1833 Book of Commandments.
Three months later in December of 1830, at or near Fayette, New York, in the company of Sidney Rigdon, Joseph Smith received the current 35th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
"3 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto my servant Sidney, I have looked upon thee and thy works. I have heard thy prayers, and prepared thee for a greater work.
4 Thou art blessed, for thou shalt do great things. Behold thou wast sent forth, even as John, to prepare the way before me, and before Elijah which should come, and thou knewest it not.
5 Thou didst baptize by water unto repentance, but they received not the Holy Ghost;
6 But now I give unto thee a commandment, that thou shalt baptize [Tawbaling] by water, and they shall receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, even as the apostles of old."
[Doctrine and Covenants 35:3-6, December 1830, History of the Church, Vol. 1, p.128-131]
The above revelation to Joseph Smith states that Sidney Rigdon was called in the spirit of or mission of an Elias. It further states that this mission of an Elias PROCEEDS the coming of Elijah, which is still future.
The last revelation found in the Doctrine and Covenants, given to Joseph Smith that speaks of the coming of Elijah, is Section 133. As a side note, with some prayer and supplication to Adonai, one will find that Section 138 is not a revelation of the Lord to His Servants. Section 133 was received on November 3, 1831 at Hiram, Ohio and addressed the church at large:
"45 For since the beginning of the world have not men heard nor perceived by the ear, neither hath any eye seen, O God, besides thee, how great things thou hast prepared for him that waiteth for thee.
46 And it shall be said: Who is this that cometh down from God in heaven with dyed garments; yea, from the regions which are not known, clothed in his glorious apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?
47 And he shall say: I am he who spake in righteousness, mighty to save.
48 And the Lord shall be red in his apparel, and his garments like him that treadeth in the wine-vat.
49 And so great shall be the glory of his presence that the sun shall hide his face in shame, and the moon shall withhold its light, and the stars shall be hurled from their places.
50 And his voice shall be heard: I have trodden the wine-press alone, and have brought judgment upon all people; and none were with me;
51 And I have trampled them in my fury, and I did tread upon them in mine anger, and their blood have I sprinkled upon my garments, and stained all my raiment; for this was the day of vengeance which was in my heart.
52 And now the year of my redeemed is come; and they shall mention the loving kindness of their Lord, and all that he has bestowed upon them according to his goodness, and according to his loving kindness, forever and ever.
53 In all their afflictions he was afflicted. And the angel of his presence saved them; and in his love, and in his pity, he redeemed them, and bore them, and carried them all the days of old;
54 Yea, and Enoch also, and they who were with him; the prophets who were before him; and Noah also, and they who were before him; and Moses also, and they who were before him;
55 And from Moses to Elijah, and from Elijah to John, who were with Christ [Ha Mashiyach] in his resurrection, and the holy apostles, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, shall be in the presence of the Lamb.
56 And the graves of the saints shall be opened; and they shall come forth and stand on the right hand of the Lamb, when he shall stand upon Mount Zion, and upon the holy city, the New Jerusalem; and they shall sing the song of the Lamb, day and night forever and ever.
57 And for this cause, that men might be made partakers of the glories which were to be revealed, the Lord sent forth the fulness of his gospel, his everlasting covenant, reasoning in plainness and simplicity--
58 To prepare the weak for those things which are coming on the earth, and for the Lord's errand in the day when the weak shall confound the wise, and the little one become a strong nation, and two shall put their tens of thousands to flight.
59 And by the weak things of the earth the Lord shall thrash the nations by the power of his Spirit.
60 And for this cause these commandments were given; they were commanded to be kept from the world in the day that they were given, but now are to go forth unto all flesh--
61 And this according to the mind and will of the Lord, who ruleth over all flesh.
62 And unto him that repenteth and sanctifieth himself before the Lord shall be given eternal life.
63 And upon them that hearken not to the voice of the Lord shall be fulfilled that which was written by the prophet Moses, that they should be cut off from among the people.
64 And also that which was written by the prophet Malachi: For, behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch."
[Doctrine and Covenants 133:45-64, 3 November 1831, History of the Church, Vol.1, p.229-234]
Most Latter-Day Saints, including the LDS Church and its membership, embrace the belief that the events that took place in the Dedicatory Ceremonies of the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836 [which again by the way is the true day for Passover], in Kirtland, Ohio, were the fulfillment of the prophesy found in Malachi. An account of this experience is recorded in Section 110 of the current Doctrine and Covenant:
"1 THE veil was taken [the first time] from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened.
2 We saw [the first personage] the Lord [Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach/ Uriel, our Eternal PRIEST in this world/creative period, King of Kings] standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like [transparent] amber.
3 His eyes were as a flame of fire [reflecting the eternal burnings of a Celestial World in His eyes, where he is standing]; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even [like] the voice of Jehovah, saying:
4 I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am [Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach] your advocate with the Father.
5 Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice.
6 Let the hearts of your brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name.
7 For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.
8 Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, IF my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this holy house.
9 Yea the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out, and the endowment with which my servants [Joseph and Oliver] have been endowed in this house [they received endowments this very day in the Temple by the hand (and feet) of the Lord!].
10 And the fame of this house shall spread to foreign lands; and this is the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured out upon the heads of my people. Even so. Amen.
11 After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened [the second time] unto us; and [the second personage] Moses [Jerahmeel, the Eternal PROPHET in this world/creative period] appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys [of his Dispensation] of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north.
12 After this, [the third personage] Elias [Noah/Gabriel, the Eternal ELIAS (witness) of this world/creative period] appeared, and committed the [keys of his dispensation, the] dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us [Joseph and Oliver] and our seed all generations after us should be blessed.
13 After this vision had closed, [the third time] another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for [the fourth personage] Elijah the prophet [Sariel, the Eternal PRIEST unto this world/creative period], who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:
14 Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi--testifying that he [I, Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come--
15 To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse--
16 Therefore, the KEYS OF 'THIS' ['MY' (ELIJAH'S)] DISPENSATION are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors [Door].
[Doctrine and Covenants 110:1-16, 3 April 1836, capitalization added and comments in brackets]
The interpretation of this Scripture has brought much confusion to Mormonism. This belief that the 'fulfillment' of Malachi's prophecy that Elijah's return in the latter days took place at the Kirtland Temple Dedicatory Ceremonies in 1836 and has fulfilled this prophecy, is not based on anything Joseph Smith ever said. Yet it has spread throughout the LDS Church for over a hundred years. It is from this belief that the idea of doing temple work for the dead is the fulfillment of turning the hearts of the Children to the Fathers. If that is all that is needed, how is it that Elijah could not just turn the hearts of the dead children unto the dead fathers, and the hearts of the dead fathers to the dead children and be done with it while he is on that side of the veil? Maybe Baptism [Tawbaling] for the Dead is not the whole of it as to how Elijah is going to turn the hearts of the Children to their Eternal Fathers ? Just a thought.
On September 6, 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois, Joseph penned a letter to the Church. It was written by way of instruction. This letter is now found in Section 128 of the current Doctrine and Covenants, and the portion regarding Elijah is as follows:
"14 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord [Adonai] from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as are the records on the earth in relation to your dead, which are truly made out, so also are the records in heaven. This, therefore, is the SEALING AND BINDING POWER, and, in one sense of the word, the KEYS OF THE KINGDOM, which consist in the KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
15 And now my dearly beloved brethren and sisters, let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers--that they without us cannot be made perfect- neither can we without our dead be made perfect.
16 And now, in relation to the BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD, I will give you another quotation of Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:29: Else what shall they do which are BAPTIZED [TAWBALING] FOR THE DEAD, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then BAPTIZED [TAWBALING] FOR THE DEAD? [The Ordinance is to partition G_d to be Reborn in the Flesh AGAIN! See the KoZ Paper entitled, The True Order of TAWBAL by WATER]
17 And again, in connection with this quotation I will give you a quotation from one of the prophets, who had his eye fixed on the restoration of the priesthood, the glories TO BE [future tense] revealed in the last days, and in an especial manner this most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel, namely, the BAPTISM [TAWBALING] FOR THE DEAD; for Malachi says, last chapter, verses 5th and 6th: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
18 I [Joseph] might have rendered a plainer translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my [Adonai's] purpose as it stands [or else the Lord would have corrected him!]. It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children, upon some subject or other--and behold what is that subject? [Joseph said:] IT IS THE BAPTISM [TAWBALING] FOR THE DEAD. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect [this is the truth but IT IS NOT THE WHOLE OF IT!]. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is NECESSARY in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time [SAVING OUR DEAD WITH US IS ONE THING, BUT MALACHI WAS NOT SPEAKING OF EARTHLY FATHERS!!!]. And not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, SHALL BE [future tense] revealed unto babes and sucklings in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times [WHEN IT COMES! IT DID NOT COME IN JOSEPH'S DAY!].
19 Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of good things, and that say unto Zion: Behold, thy God reigneth! As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon them!
20 And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets--the book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness of Fayette, Seneca county, declaring the three witnesses to bear record of the book! The voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light! The voice of Peter, James, and John [the Beloved] in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the KEYS OF THE KINGDOM, and of the DISPENSATION OF THE FULNESS OF TIMES!
21 And again, the voice of God [Yehovah, of the Old Testament] in the chamber of old Father Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca county, and at sundry times, and in divers places through all the travels and tribulations of this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! And the voice of Michael [Adam], the archangel; the voice of Gabriel [Noah], and of Raphael [Enoch], and of divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope. [Amen]!
22 Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free."
[Doctrine and Covenants 128:14-22, 6 September 1842, capitalization added and comments in brackets]
The real issue is, whether the LDS Church members knows it or not, that 'Baptism [Tawbaling] for the Dead' can in no way fulfill the mission of Elijah of turning the hearts of the Children to the Fathers! The above letter was written in 1842 which was a little less than two years before Joseph's death. If Joseph himself did know that Tawbaling for the Dead was not the fulfillment of the keys of Elijah, we will have to do some further research then just looking in the canonized scriptures to determine this. We need to first determine whether Joseph Smith knew this and second whether he clarified this point by public discourse. Either Joseph believed that Elijah had come and fulfilled the prophecy given in Malachi, or whether he believed that Elijah would still need to come at a later time to fulfill his mission, he cannot believe it to be both! With all of the discourses given by Joseph Smith during the last two years of his life, and the clear importance of this subject, as to whether the world shall be cursed or the whole earth will be utterly wasted at his coming, we should be able to find something recorded that can help us determine whether Joseph Smith had more knowledge regarding the full understanding of the mission of Elijah.
Let us now examine the office of an Elias. An Elias prepares the way for a greater revelation of God and witness of the other three to come, the Prophet, Priest, and King. An Elias is limited to witnessing, preaching and Tawbaling. For it was Joseph Smith as the latter day Elias that restored the authority for the Tawbaling of the Living and preaching the knowledge of the need for the ordinance of Tawbaling (by Water) for the dead, and preforming such ordinances. That is what an Elias would do!
"The spirit of Elias is to prepare the way for a greater revelation of God, which is the Priesthood that Aaron was ordained unto. And when God sends a man into the world to prepare for a greater work, holding the keys of the power of Elias, it was called the doctrine of Elias, even from the early ages of the world.
John's mission was limited to preaching and baptizing; but what he did was legal; and when Jesus Christ came to any of John's disciples, He baptized them with fire and the Holy Ghost.
We find the Apostles endowed with greater power than John: their office was more under the spirit and power of Elijah and Elias...
What I want to impress upon your minds is the difference of power in the different parts of the Priesthood, so that when any man comes among you saying, "I have the spirit of Elias," you can know whether he be true or false; for any man that comes, having the spirit and power of Elias, he will not transcend his bounds.
John did not transcend his bounds, but faithfully performed that part belonging to his office;"
[DHC 6:249-254, 10 March 1844; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.336]
Although Joseph Smith did receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, as it is evident that He HELD the Sealing Keys of Elijah, and his mission and calling were not as limited as John, the Tawbalist was (Joseph Smith being one of the 'divers angels [Raguel], from Michael or Adam down to the PRESENT TIME, all declaring THEIR dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope.' Doctrine and Covenants, 128:21 [capitalization added and comment in brackets]
However Joseph's dispensation was limited in power and scope. He was not the one 'like unto Moses' that will come forth in the last days. Nevertheless, Joseph was given the same keys as mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 133, "Yea, and Enoch also, and they who were with him; the prophets who were before him; and Noah also, and they who were before him; and Moses also, and they who were before him." So he could administer the Higher Laws and Sealing Ordinances to his family and friends up until his death when the keys were then taken with him.
So what is the real mission of Elijah? Even after studying all the known Scriptures on the subject, we find that his mission is still vague and only hints at its fullness. But if we make a summary of what the Scriptures have told us, we find that Elijah will do the following:
1. Elijah shall personally be sent (return) in the Latter Days, before the coming of the Lord in glory.
2. Elijah shall personally teach the Children, (plant in their Hearts) the promise made to our Forefathers (who are in Heaven).
3. Elijah shall personally turn the Hearts of the Children unto the Fathers, which in reality only hints at Sealing the Children to their Eternal Fathers in heaven.
4. Elijah shall personally reveal (restore) under his hand the Priesthood. The Scriptures do not reveal as to which Priesthood will be revealed and to whom it will be revealed to.
5. The Scriptures hints that Elijah shall help Yesrael to remember the Law of Moses, which the Lord commanded unto Moses in Horeb for All YESRAEL, to keep these statutes and judgments (throughout her generations).
6. Elijah did come to the Temple in Kirtland, in 1836, and said, "Therefore, the Keys of 'THIS' ['MY' (ELIJAH'S)] DISPENSATION are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors [Door]."
In retrospect, we can most assuredly say that not one of these prophesied portions of Elijah's mission have been fulfilled as of yet! And although the Scripture are vague and only hint at Elijah's mission, this is not to say that Joseph did not understand the mission of Elijah, because, as we shall see, these things were understood by Joseph Smith. Joseph believed that Elijah had not completely fulfilled his mission as prophesied in Malachi, and that he believed that Elijah was still required to come to fulfill his mission in the future. We find in the summer of 1839, Joseph outlined the Signs of the Second Coming, saying that they have already commenced!
"Men profess to prophesy. I will prophesy that the signs of the coming of the Son of man are already commenced. One pestilence will desolate after another. We shall soon have war and bloodshed. the moon will be turned to blood. I testify of these things, and that the coming of the Son of Man is nigh, even at your doors. If our souls and our bodies are not looking forth for the coming of the Son of Man; and after we are dead, if we are not looking forth, we shall be among those who are calling for the rocks to fall upon them."
[DHC 3:383-392, 2 July 1839; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.160]
Joseph went on to add:
"The hearts of the children of men WILL HAVE TO BE [future tense] turned to the fathers, and the fathers to the children, [whether the fathers are] living or dead, to prepare them [the Children] for the coming of the Son of Man. IF ELIJAH DID NOT COME [what tense?], the whole earth would be smitten."
[DHC 3:383-392, 2 July 1839; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.160, capitalization added and comments in brackets]
What was meant by the statement, "If Elijah did not come?" With the use of the word 'DID' rather than using the word 'DOES' or 'SHALL,' (future tense) or 'HAD' or HADN'T' (past tense) we cannot clearly tell if Joseph was saying that Elijah had already come (by 1839) or was yet to come. But with the use of the word 'IF,' was Joseph implying that it was referring to a future event? And lastly to be considered, was the above quote recorded by another person who might have paraphrased and ultimately lost what Joseph actually said?
Let us now examine an unedited version of the above quote from the original account:
"The hearts of the Children will have to be turned to the Fathers, and the Fathers to the Children living or dead to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. If Elijah did not come the whole earth would be smitten.
[The Words of Joseph Smith, Willard Richards Pocket Companion: Before 8 August 1839 (1), p.1011; DHC 3:383-392, 2 July 1839]
This quote still does not make it clear as to if Elijah had already come or still needs to come, so we will need to spend some more time researching the rest of the historical accounts in order to find out what Joseph knew about the mission of Elijah.
At this point, it might be helpful for us to review a short quote from the records of the first day of a General Conference that was held in Nauvoo on October 3, 1841. This quote defines the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. Joseph Smith said:
"The dispensation of the fulness of times will bring to light the things that have been revealed in all former dispensations, also other things that have not been before revealed. He shall [future tense] send Elijah the prophet &c., and restore all things in Christ [Ha Mashiyach]."
The Words of Joseph Smith, 3 October 1841 (Sunday Morning), p.79, also Times and Seasons, 2:577-78, 15 October 1841 [comments in brackets]
With a careful review of the next Discourse, we will find that it provides all the answers that we are seeking as to what Joseph did know or at least what he revealed regarding the mission of Elijah and his coming. This sermon was recorded in the Original Manuscript by the hand of Robert B. Thompson. Robert Blashel Thompson was born in 1811 and at the age of 25, was Tawbaled by Parley P. Pratt in Upper Canada in 1836. He was one of the Scribes for Joseph Smith between 1839 to his (Robert's) death in 1841. From a record found in the Times and Seasons that recorded the first day of the first session of this General Conference on October 3, 1840, we find:
"Minutes of the general conference of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held in Nauvoo, Hancock county, Illinois, October 3rd, 1840."
[Times and Seasons, Vol.1, 3 October 1840, p.185]
Within the first hour it was proposed:
"On motion. Resolved, that Robert B. Thompson be appointed the general church clerk in the room of George W. Robinson, who intends to remove to Iowa."
[Times and Seasons, Vol.1, 3 October 1840, p.185]
The initial source of the report of this Discourse is found in the History of the Church and the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. This was the only Discourse where the Prophet ever prepared a written text beforehand. It is believed that this was why Joseph chose not to personally deliver this Sermon, entitled, a "Treatise on Priesthood." Joseph asked Robert B. Thompson, his personal secretary and clerk of the Church, to read it to the Saints in General Conference who had assembled in the morning on Monday, October 5, 1840. As previously mentioned, the dictation of this text was composed by the Prophet and was meant as an inspirational and even a revelatory Treatise on Priesthood.
We are also indebted to one of Joseph's other clerks at the time. The following account of this same Sermon is preserved in the autobiography of Howard Coray:
"One morning, I went as usual, into the Office to go to work: I found Joseph sitting on one side of a table and Robert B. Thompson on the opposite side, and the understanding I got was that they were examining or hunting in the manuscript of the new translation of the Bible for something on Priesthood, which Joseph wished to present, or have read to the people the next Conference: Well, they could not find what they wanted and Joseph said to Thompson "put the manuscript one side, and take some paper and I will tell you what to write." Bro. Thompson took some foolscap paper that was at his elbow and made himself ready for the business. I was seated probably 6 or 8 feet on Joseph's left side, so that I could look almost squarely into Joseph's left eye -- I mean the side of his eye. Well, the Spirit of God descended upon him, and a measure of it upon me, insomuch that I could fully realize that God, or the Holy Ghost, was talking through him. I never, neither before or since, have felt as I did on that occasion. I felt so small and humble I could have freely kissed his feet.
Much like the Prophet's dictated revelations, this text has few editorial changes. Furthermore, the document demonstrates the Prophet's knowledge of the scriptures. With no Bible at hand, he accurately cited and dictated the text of fourteen scriptural passages. Only twice did the Prophet not remember the chapter and verse of a passage. Nevertheless, he quoted those passages accurately. In this important address the Prophet makes many important statements on Temple Priesthood the day after announcing plans for the construction of the Nauvoo Temple."
[Special Collections, Brigham Young University, 5 October 1840, p.51]
Although the Original Manuscript of this Treatise on Priesthood dictated by the Prophet and recorded by Robert B. Thompson is long, it is important to read the manuscript in its entirety in order to completely follow the overall theme that Joseph was trying to convey.
"In order to investigate the subject of the Priesthood so important to this as well as every succeeding generation, I shall proceed to trace the subject as far as I possibly can from the Old and New Testament.
There are two Priesthoods spoken of in the Scriptures, viz the Melchizedek and the Aaronic or Levitical. Although there are two Priesthoods, yet the Melchizedek Priesthood comprehends the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood and is the Grand head, and holds the highest Authority which pertains to the Priesthood [and] the keys of the Kingdom of God in all ages of the world to the latest posterity on the earth and is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation and every important matter is revealed from heaven. Its institution was prior to "the foundation of this earth or the MORNING STARS sang together or the Sons of God shouted for [p.39] joy," and is the highest and holiest Priesthood and is after the order of the Son [of] God, and all other Priesthoods are only parts, ramifications, powers and blessings belonging to the same and are held, controlled and directed by it. It is the channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing his glory at the beginning of the creation of this earth and through which he has continued to reveal himself to the children of men to the present time and through which he will make known his purposes to the end of time. Commencing with Adam who was the first man who is spoken of in Daniel as being the "Ancient of days" or in other words the first and oldest of all, the great grand progenitor of whom it is said in another place he is Michael because he was the first and father of all, not only by progeny, but he was the first to hold the spiritual blessings, the plan to whom was made known the plan of Ordinances for the Salvation of his posterity unto the end, and to whom Christ was first revealed, and through whom Christ has been revealed from heaven and will continue to be revealed from henceforth. Adam holds the Keys of the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, i.e. the Dispensation of all the times have been and will be revealed through him from the beginning to Christ and from Christ to the end of all, world the Dispensations that have [been and] are to be revealed.
Ephesians 1 Chapter 9 and 10 verses. "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself that in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times he might gather [Future Tense] together in one all things in Christ [Ha Mashiyach] both which are in heaven and which are on earth in him" Now the purpose in himself in the winding up scene of the last Dispensation is, that all things pertaining to that Dispensation should be conducted precisely in accordance with the preceding Dispensations. And again, God purposed in himself that there should not be an eternal fulness until every Dispensation should be fulfilled and gathered together in one and that all things whatsoever that should be gathered together in one in those Dispensations unto the same fulness and eternal glory should be in Christ Jesus [Ha Mashiyach Yahwushwah], therefore he set the ordinances to be the same for Ever and ever and set Adam to watch over them to reveal them from heaven to man or to send Angels to reveal them. Hebrews 1 chapter 14 verse. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those [for them KJV] who shall be heirs of Salvation." These angels are under the direction of Michael or Adam who acts under the direction of Christ [Ha Mashiyach]. [p.40]
From the above quotation we learn that Paul perfectly understood the purpose of God in relation to his connection with man, and that glorious and perfect order which he established in himself whereby he sent forth power revelations and glory. God will not acknowledge that which he has not called, ordained, and chosen. In the beginning God called Adam by his own voice. See Genesis 3 Chapter, 9 and 10 verses. And the Lord called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou, and he said I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and hid myself. Adam received commandments and instruction from God. This was the order from the beginning: that he received Revelations, Commandments, and Ordinances at the beginning is beyond the power of controversy, else, how did they begin to offer Sacrifices to God in an acceptable manner? And if they offered Sacrifices they must be authorized by Ordination. We read in Genesis 4 Chapter 4 verse. That Abel brought of the firstlings of the flock and the fat thereof and the Lord had respect to Abel and to his offering. And again Hebrews 11 Chapter 4 verse. By Faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts and by it he being dead yet speaketh. How doth ye yet speak? Why he magnified the Priesthood which was confirmed upon him and died a righteous man, and therefore has become a righteous man, an angel of God by receiving his body from the dead, therefore holding still the keys of his dispensation and was sent down from heaven unto Paul to minister consoling words and to commit unto him a knowledge of the mysteries of Godliness and if this was not the case I would ask how did Paul know so much about Abel and why should he talk about his speaking after he was dead. How that he spoke after he was dead must be, by being sent down out of heaven, to administer. This then is the nature of the Priesthood, every man holding the Presidency of his Dispensation and one man holding the Presidency of them all even Adam, and Adam receiving his Presidency and authority from Christ [Ha Mashiyach], but cannot receive a fulness, until Christ [Ha Mashiyach] shall present. The kingdom to the Father which shall be at the end of the last dispensation. The power, glory, and blessings of the Priesthood could not continue with those who received Ordination only as their righteousness continued, for Cain also being authorized to offer sacrifice but not offering it in righteousness, therefore he was cursed. It signifies then, that the [p.41] Ordinances must be kept in the very way God has appointed, otherwise their Priesthood will prove a cursing instead of a blessing. If Cain had fulfilled the law of righteousness as did Enoch he could have walked with God all the days of his life and never failed of a blessing. Genesis 5 chapter 22 verse. And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah 300 years and begat Sons and Daughters and all the days of Enoch were 365 years and Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him. Now this Enoch God reserved unto himself that he should not die at that time and appointed unto him a ministry unto terrestrial bodies of whom there has been but little revealed. He is reserved also unto the Presidency of a Dispensation [Future Tense], and more shall be said of him and terrestrial bodies in another treaties. He is a ministering Angel to minister to those who shall be heirs of Salvation and appeared unto Jude as Abel did unto Paul. Therefore Jude spoke of him in verses in Jude, and Enoch the seventh revealed these sayings. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints Paul was also acquainted with this character and received instructions from him. Hebrews 11 chapter 5 verse. By Faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and was not found because God had translated him, for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a revealer to those who diligently seek him.
Now the Doctrine of Translation is a power which belongs to THIS Priesthood, there are many things which belong to the powers of the Priesthood and the keys thereof that have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world. They are hid from the wise and prudent to be revealed in the last times. Many may have supposed that the Doctrine of Translation was a doctrine whereby men were taken immediately into the presence of God and into an Eternal fulness but this is a mistaken idea. There place of habitation is that of the terrestrial order and a place prepared for such characters, he had in he held in reserve to be ministering angels unto many planets, and who as yet have not entered into so great a fulness as those who are resurrected from the dead. See Hebrews 11 Chapter, part of the 35 verse. "Others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection." Now it was evident, that there was a better Resurrection or else God would not have revealed it unto Paul, [p.42] wherein then can it be said a better Resurrection? This distinction is made between the Doctrine of the actual Resurrection and the Doctrine of Translation, the Doctrine of Translation obtains deliverance from the tortures and sufferings of the body but their existence will prolong as to their labors and toils of the ministry before they can enter into so great a rest and glory. But on the other hand those who were tortured not accepting deliverance received an immediate rest from their labors. See Revelations [14 chapter 13 verse.] "And I heard a voice from heaven saying blessed are the dead who die in the Lord for from henceforth they do rest from their labors and their works do follow them". They rest from their labors for a long time and yet their work is held in reserve for them, that they are permitted to do the same works after they receive a resurrection for their bodies, but we shall leave this subject and the subject of the terrestrial bodies for another time in order to treat upon them more fully The next great grand patriarch who held the Keys of the priesthood was Lamech. See Genesis 5 Chapter 28 and 29 verses. And Lamech lived 182 years and begat a Son and he called his name Noah saying this same shall comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands because of the ground which the Lord has curst. "The Priesthood continued from Lamech to Noah. Genesis 6 chapter 13 verse. And God said unto Noah the end of all flesh is before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them, and behold I will destroy them with the earth," thus we behold the Keys of THIS Priesthood consisted in obtaining the voice of Jehovah that he talked with him in a familiar and friendly manner, that he continued to him the Keys, the Covenants, the power and the glory with which he blessed Adam at the beginning and the offering of Sacrifice which also shall be continued at the last time, for all the ordinances and duties that ever have been required by the Priesthood under the direction and commandments of the Almighty in the last Dispensation at the end thereof in any of the Dispensations, shall all be had in the last Dispensation. Therefore all things had under the Authority of the Priesthood at any former period shall be had again--bringing to pass the restoration spoken of by the mouth of all the Holy Prophets. Malachi 3 says, then shall the Sons of Levi offer unto the Lord an acceptable offering" then shall the sons of Levi offer an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord. See Malachi 3 chapter 3 and 4 verses. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of Silver; and he shall purify the Sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord [p.43]
It will be necessary here to make a few observations on the doctrine, set forth in the above quotation, As it is generally supposed that Sacrifice was entirely done away when the great sacrifice [i.e., the sacrifice of the Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach was offered up]--and that there will be no necessity for the Ordinance of Sacrifice in future, but those who assert this, are certainly not acquainted with the duties, privileges and authority of the [this] Priesthood or with the Prophets.
The offering of Sacrifice has ever been connected and forms a part of the duties of the priesthood. It began with the priesthood and will be continued until after the coming of Christ, from generation to generation. We Frequently have mention made of the offering of Sacrifice by the servants of the Most High in ancient days, prior to the law of Moses, See which ordinances will be continued when the priesthood IS RESTORED [Not was restored, this was given in the future tense and Joseph said this on the 5 October 1840] with all its authority power and blessings.
Elijah was the last prophet that held the keys of THIS Priesthood, and WHO WILL [future tense], BEFORE the LAST DISPENSATION [BEFORE Joseph's Dispensation? No, nothing happened! Ah, the NEXT DISPENSATION!!], RESTORE the AUTHORITY and Deliver the Keys of THIS Priesthood: in order that all the Ordinances may be attended to in righteousness.
And I will send Elijah the Prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord &c &c.
Why send Elijah[?] Because he holds the Keys of the Authority to administer in all the ordinances of the priesthood and without the authority IS given [future tense], the Ordinances could not be administered in righteousness.
It is true that the Savior had authority and power to bestow this blessing but the Sons of Levi were too prejudiced.
It is a very prevalent opinion that in the sacrifices of sacrifices which were offered were entirely consumed, this was not the case if you read Leviticus [2] Chapter [2-3] verses you will observe that the priests took a part as a memorial and offered it up before the Lord, while the remainder was kept for the benefit [and] maintenance of the Priests. So that the offerings and sacrifices are not all consumed upon the Alter, but the blood is sprinkled and the fat and certain other portions are consumed. These sacrifices as well as every ordinance belonging to the Priesthood will when the temple of the Lord shall be built and the Sons Levi be purified, be fully restored and attended to then all their powers, ramifications and blessings--this [when] the Sons of Levi shall be purified. Ever was and will exist when the powers of the Melchizedek Priesthood are sufficiently manifest. Else how can the restitution of all things [p.44] spoken of by all the Holy Prophets be brought to pass be brought to pass. It is not to be understood that, the law of Moses will be established again with all it rights and variety of ceremonies, this had never been spoken of by the prophets but those things which existed prior Moses' day viz. Sacrifice will be continued. It may be asked by some what necessity for Sacrifice since the great Sacrifice was offered? In answer to [that] which if Repentance, Baptism, and Faith were necessary to Salvation existed prior to the days of Christ what necessity for them since that time?
The priesthood has descended in a regular line from Father to Son through their succeeding generations. See [the] Book of Doctrine and Covenants [107:40-52]."
[The Words of Joseph Smith, 5 October 1840 (Monday Morning, also the true first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, and a High Sabbath), p.38-44; See also History of the Church, 4:207-212; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (for a revisionist history version), p. 166-173], spelling and punctuation standardized, capitalization added and comments in brackets]
Let us now re-read this Sermon by breaking it down into smaller portions in order that some of the more insightful statements might be better analyzed. In this way, we might hope to understand better what Joseph was REALLY saying.
"In order to investigate the subject of the Priesthood so important to THIS [Dispensation] as well as every succeeding generation...[future tense
In these first two lines, Joseph states that it is "so important to THIS as well as every succeeding generation." What is 'THIS' generation? Was Joseph speaking about the time in which he lived or was it important to the United States or the world at large? No! This subject of the Priesthood is ONLY important to those who had or would later embraced the Gospel as revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Church that was established at that time is composed of not only 'this' Generation but 'THIS' Dispensation! Joseph also reveals that there will be yet FUTURE generations or Dispensations!
Let us now examine the next portion of Joseph's treatise on Priesthood:
"There are two Priesthoods spoken of in the Scriptures, viz the Melchizedek and the Aaronic or Levitical. Although there are two Priesthoods, yet the Melchizedek Priesthood comprehends the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood [On January the 5th, 1841, Joseph said, "All priesthood is Melchizedek; but there are different portions or degrees of it." (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:1-20)] and is the Grand head, and holds the highest Authority which pertains to the Priesthood [&] the keys of the Kingdom of God in all ages of the world to the latest posterity on the earth and is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation and every important matter is revealed from heaven. [AMEN!!! On August 27th, 1843, Joseph said, [the power of Melchizedek Priesthood was the power of] a King and a Priest to the most high God.[That Priesthood was] a perfect law of Theocracy, holding keys of power and blessings, [and] stood as God to give laws to the people, administering endless (eternal) lives to the sons and daughters of Adam."] Its institution was prior to "the foundation of 'THIS' earth... [or] the MORNING STARS sang together or the Sons of God shouted for joy," [Job 38:7, see also 4-7, 'THE' in KJV] and is the highest and holiest Priesthood and is after the order of the Son [of] God, and all other Priesthoods are only parts, ramifications, powers and blessings belonging to the same and are held, controlled and directed by it. It is the channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing his glory at the beginning of the creation of this earth and through which he has continued to reveal himself to the children of men to the present time and through which he will make known his purposes to the end of time. Commencing with Adam who was the first man who is spoken of in Daniel as being the "Ancient of days" or in other words the first and oldest of all, the great grand progenitor of whom it is said in another place he is Michael [the Archangel] because he was the first and father of ALL [Ha Mashiyach , His Son included... might that also be the eternal meaning of 'Michael'], not only by progeny, but he was the first to hold the spiritual blessings [IS first in the Eternities, again this includes the Ha Mashiyach], [Lecture given before August 8th, 1839, Joseph said, "The Priesthood was first given to Adam: He obtained the First Presidency and held the Keys of it from generation to generation; he obtained it in the creation before the world was formed" Millennium/Pre-existence last creation], to whom was made known the plan of Ordinances for the Salvation of his Posterity unto the end [see Moses 5:1-12; 6:4-9, 45-68], and to whom Christ [Ha Mashiyach] was first revealed, and through whom Christ [Ha Mashiyach] has been revealed from heaven and will continue to be revealed from henceforth [Ha Mashiyach is ONLY revealed through Michael, His Father!] for Adam holds the Keys of the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, i.e. the Dispensation of ALL the times, [that] have been and will be [Future Tense] revealed THROUGH HIM from the beginning to Christ [Ha Mashiyach] and from Christ [Ha Mashiyach] to the end of all, the Dispensations that have [been] ARE TO BE REVEALED [Future Tense]."
In this above quote, Joseph was revealing that the Melchizedek Priesthood had varying degrees. He also stated that Adam was the first progenitor (both physically and spiritually) which hints at the real truth that Adam is in actuality, God.
"Ephesians 1st Chapter 9 and 10 verses. "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself that in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times [the Dispensation where God shall revealed through Him, Adam, all the Dispensation[s] that have been, are to be revealed] gather together in one all things in Christ [Ha Mashiyach] both which are in heaven and which are on earth; [even] in him" [This has not yet happened, but will shortly [transpire] according to the time of the Lord]. Now the purpose in himself in the winding up scene of the last Dispensation is, that all things pertaining to that Dispensation should be conducted precisely in accordance with the preceding Dispensations [hence the need to reveal all the Dispensations that have been, that the coming Dispensation can and WILL be built up upon all the Truths and revealed Knowledge from THESE previous Dispensations]. And again, God purposed in himself that there should NOT be an eternal Fulness until every Dispensation should be fulfilled and gathered together in one and that all things whatsoever that should be gathered together in one in those Dispensations unto the same fulness and eternal glory should be in Christ Jesus [Ha Mashiyach, Yahwushwah], therefore he set the Ordinances to be the same for Ever and ever and set Adam to watch over them to reveal them from heaven to man or to send Angels to reveal them [Lecture given before 8 August 1840, Joseph said, "The Keys (of the Priesthood) have to be brought from heaven whenever the Gospel is sent. When they are revealed from Heaven it is by Adam's authority"] Hebrews 1 Chapter 14 verse. "Are they not ALL MINISTERING SPIRITS sent forth to minister to those [for them KJV] who shall be heirs of Salvation" [for "there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong (future) or have belonged (past) to it" Doctrine and Covenants 130:5]. [Wherefore,] THESE angels are under the direction of Michael or Adam[,] who [these Angels] acts under the direction of Christ [Ha Mashiyach]."
With the inserted comments above, one might say that this is not what it says here. You have changed it to suit preconceived beliefs. One might also ask how is it that if God, the Eternal Father, was and is Michael, why does it say that "Michael (or Adam) who acts under the direction of Christ [Ha Mashiyach]," His Eternal Son? But it is the truth that "the Son does nothing of Himself, but only that which the Father has given Him to do, for He does only the will of the Father. Wherefore, the Father has given all things over to the Son, that the Son might show forth that He will do His Father's will, and will perfect all the works of thy Father's hand." With this said, there are no inconsistencies.
Let us now look at the sentence structure more carefully. It says, "these Angels [which are the subject or noun] are under the direction of Michael or Adam[,] who [also] acts under the direction of Christ [Ha Mashiyach]. These Angels, then, are under the Father's direction, but they only act as directed by the Son. This is true, because the Father is not revealed to anyone excepting through the Son. It is true that Joseph Smith could have worded this sentence better, but there also could have been voice inflections that the Scribe should have noted. As is with all mortal languages, there are multiple ways that they can be interpreted thereby they falling short of glory.
Now let us examine the next portion of this treatise on Priesthood by reading what Joseph said on Ordination and Sacrifices:
"From the above quotation we learn that Paul perfectly understood the purpose of God in relation to his connection with man, and that glorious and perfect order which he established in himself whereby he sent forth power, revelations and glory. God will not acknowledge that which he has not called, ordained [3rd Estate] and chosen [4th Estate]. In the beginning God called Adam by his own voice. See Genesis 3 Chapter 9 and 10 verses. And the Lord called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou, and he said I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and hid myself. Adam received commandments and instruction from God. This was the order [of all Dispensations] from the beginning: that he received Revelations, Commandments, and Ordinances at the beginning is beyond the power of controversy, else, how did they begin to offer Sacrifices to God in an acceptable manner? And if they offered Sacrifices they must be authorized by Ordination. We read in Genesis 4 Chapter 4 verse. That Abel brought of the firstlings of the flock and the fat thereof and the Lord had respect to Abel and to his offering. And again Hebrews 11 Chapter 4 verse. By Faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts and by it he being dead yet speaketh. How doth ye yet speak? Why he magnified the Priesthood which was confirmed upon him and died a righteous man, and therefore has become an angel of God by receiving his body from the dead, therefore holding still the keys of his Dispensation [Moses' Dispensation] and was sent down from heaven unto Paul to minister consoling words and to commit unto him a knowledge of the mysteries of Godliness [Temple Endowment and Covenants therein] and if this was not the case I would ask how did Paul know so much about Abel and why should he talk about his speaking after he was dead[?] How that he spoke after he was dead must be, by being sent down out of heaven [in the flesh], to administer[?] This then is the nature of the Priesthood, every man holding the Presidency of his Dispensation and one man holding the Presidency of them all even Adam, and Adam receiving his Presidency and authority from Christ [Ha Mashiyach], but cannot receive a fulness, until Christ [Ha Mashiyach] shall present [all the Dispensations back unto Him, Adam]. The kingdom [of God shall be given back] to the Father which shall be at the end of the last Dispensation [even the Eighth Dispensation, which has not been revealed unto the world until now!]. The power, glory, and blessings of the Priesthood could not continue with those who received Ordination only as their righteousness continued [Doctrine and Covenants 121:34-37, 41-42, for Cain also being authorized to offer sacrifice but not offering it in righteousness, therefore he was cursed. It signifies then, that the Ordinances must be kept in the very way God has appointed, otherwise their Priesthood will prove a cursing instead of a blessing. If Cain had fulfilled the law of righteousness as did Enoch, he could have walked with God all the days of his life and never failed of a blessing [fallen from this blessing, for the Law of Sacrifice did authorize the legitimate offering unto the Lord an offering of the "first fruits of the field." Had Cain followed the prescribed form his offering would have been accepted. He was cursed because he violated the forms of sacrifice, by not offering his sacrifice with a righteous heart]. Genesis [5 chapter 22 verse.] And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah 300 years and begat Sons and Daughters and all the days of Enoch were 365 years and Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him. Now this Enoch God reserved unto himself that he should not die at that time and appointed unto him a ministry unto terrestrial bodies of whom there has been but little revealed. He is reserved [Future Tense] ALSO unto the Presidency [King] of a Dispensation, and more shall be said of him and terrestrial bodies in another treaties [Joseph only briefly mentioned this subject once more (in life), during a discourse a year later on 3 October 1841. Joseph had revealed more scriptures upon this subject than anyone else to date. See, Alma 45:18-19; 3 Nephi 28; 4 Nephi 14, 37; Mormon 8:10-12; 9:22; Ether 12:17; Doctrine and Covenants 7; 49:8; 50:26-30; 77:7-11, 14; 84:25, 98-100; 107:48-49, 57; 110:13-16; 129:1-3; 130:4-7; 133:52-56; Moses 6:32-34; 7:13; 16-23, 27, 61-69; JST Genesis 9:21-25; 13:13; 14:25-36).] He is a ministering Angel to minister to those who shall be heirs of Salvation and appeared unto Jude as Abel did unto Paul. Therefore Jude spoke of him in verses in Jude, and Enoch the seventh [Dispensation President/King] revealed these sayings, "Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints." Paul was also acquainted with this character and received instructions from him. Hebrews 11 chapter 5 verse. By Faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and was not found because God had translated him for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a 'REVEALER'[not Rewarder KJV] to those who diligently seek him."
In order to offer sacrifices again unto God in an acceptable manner, the next Dispensation must be authorized by Ordination, through divine visitation. Upon receiving the proper Ordination, one must then go forth in faith and obtain a witness that he is righteous before the Lord and that a testimony might burn in his heart that he is pleasing God. IF a man shall do this, 'IF' it is according to God's will, that man shall not die, he shall not die but shall continue to serve the purposes of God. 'IF' it is not his well, then when that man shall lays down his body where and when the Lord wills, he shall become an Angel of God by receiving his past old body (again) from the dead. He will still hold the keys of his Dispensation, if he was a Dispensation King like Enoch, Noah, Moses, Ha Mashiyach and Elijah. He will then be send down from heaven in the flesh according to God's own due time to minister the authority that has been given unto him, to the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times, where all things that have ever been, will be found again in the earth. In that day, He will also be given authority to share the knowledge of the mysteries of Godliness with the Children of God according to the will of the Ha Qadowsh Ruwach (Holy Spirit).
"Now the Doctrine of Translation is a power which belongs to THIS Priesthood, there are many things which belong to the powers of the Priesthood and the keys thereof that have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world [It is evident that Joseph considered the Doctrine of Translation to be part of the highest blessings of this Priesthood, tied to specific Ordinances which must BE RESTORED to its fulfill, see Malachi 3:3-4]. They are hid from the wise and prudent to be revealed in the last times. Many may have supposed that the Doctrine of Translation was a doctrine hereby men were taken immediately into the presence of God and into an Eternal fulness but this is a mistaken idea. There place of habitation is that of the terrestrial order and a place prepared for such characters, he held in reserve to be ministering angels unto many planets, and who as yet have not entered into so great a fulness as those who are resurrected from the dead. See Hebrews 11 chapter, part of the 35 verse. "Others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection." Now it was evident, that there was a better Resurrection or else God would not have revealed it unto Paul, wherein then can it be said a better Resurrection? This distinction is made between the Doctrine of the actual Resurrection and the Doctrine of Translation, the Doctrine of Translation obtains deliverance from the tortures and sufferings of the body but their existence will prolong as to their labors and toils of the ministry before they can enter into so great a rest and glory. But on the other hand those who were tortured not accepting deliverance received an immediate rest from their labors. See Revelations [14 chapter 13 verse.] "And I heard a voice from heaven saying blessed are the dead who die in the Lord for from henceforth they do rest from their labors and their works do follow them". They rest from their labors for a long time and yet their work is held in reserve for them, that they are permitted to do the same works after they receive a resurrection for their bodies, but we shall leave this subject and the subject of the terrestrial bodies for another time in order to treat upon them more fully [which was never done]. The next great grand patriarch [after Enoch] who held the Keys of the priesthood was Lamech [must be based upon personal revelation]. See Genesis 5 chapter 28 and 29 verses. And Lamech lived 182 years and begat a Son and he called his name Noah saying this same shall comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands because of the ground which the Lord has cursed. "The Priesthood continued from Lamech to Noah." Genesis 6 chapter 13 verse. "And God said unto Noah the end of all flesh is before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them, and behold I will destroy them with the earth," thus we behold the Keys of THIS Priesthood consisted in obtaining the voice of Jehovah [*See note below] that he talked with him in a familiar and friendly manner, that he continued to him the Keys, the Covenants, the power and the glory with which he blessed Adam at the beginning and the offering of Sacrifice which also shall be continued at the last time, for all the ordinances and duties that ever have been required by the Priesthood under the direction and commandments of the Almighty in any of the Dispensations, shall all be had in the last Dispensation [Again it is evident that Joseph considered the Doctrine of Translation to be part of the highest blessings of this Priesthood, tied to specific Ordinances which must BE RESTORED to fulfill Malachi 3:3-4]. Therefore all things had under the Authority of the Priesthood at any former period shall be had again, bringing to pass the restoration spoken of by the mouth of all the Holy Prophets, then shall the sons of Levi offer an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord. See Malachi 3 chapter 3 and 4 verses. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of Silver; and he shall purify the Sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord." [capitalization added, spelling and punctuation corrected, and comments in brackets]
So the 'Doctrine of Translation' is a power which belongs to the Melchizedek Priesthood, and one must possess the fullness of THIS Priesthood in order to obtain this power of translation. For we are told that it was this way from the beginning, because "in the beginning God called Adam by his own voice!" What is the Fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood? It is called the Patriarchal Priesthood.
What was Joseph saying here? That the 'Doctrine of Translation' was taken because, first, "The power, glory, and blessings of the Priesthood could not continue with those who received Ordination only as their righteousness continued", and second, "the Ordinances must be kept in the very way God has appointed". He gives us one great key, we must know that, by Faith is a person Translated that we should not see death, and before our Translation, we must have a testimony that we are pleasing God. At this point, it is worth mentioning that the above quote clearly reveals Joseph's understanding of Dispensation Presidencies, more is revealed about this in the KoZ paper entitled, KoZ The Principle of DISPENSATION PRESIDENCIES in this Creation.
*See Doctrine and Covenants 107:18-19: "18 The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church 19 To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant." Joseph three months later received a revelation specifically requiring that he teach Hyrum Smith and William Law certain "keys by which they could ask and receive", Doctrine and Covenants 124:95, 97. The 1879 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, Orson Pratt indicated that these keys were "the order of God for receiving revelations", the keys to the oracles of God. These keys are part of the oral tradition, the Endowment Ceremony/ Ordinances, which were not taught for another year and a half. We read in the Revelations of John about, "a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." In the Doctrine and Covenants 130:10-11, it says this new name is a key word. George A. Smith's recorded that the Prophet told the Relief Society on 28 April 1842 (six days before the first endowment was given) that he was about to deliver "the keys of the Priesthood to the Church, and said that the faithful members of the Relief Society should receive them with their husbands, that the Saints whose integrity has been tried and proved faithful, might know how to ask the Lord and receive an answer" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 226). George's wife, Bathsheba W. Smith stated that, Joseph Smith, "When speaking in one of our general fast meetings, he said that we did not know how to pray to have our prayers answered. But when I and my husband had our endowments... Joseph Smith presiding, he taught us the order of prayer" (Juvenile Instructor 27 [1 June 1892]:345). And again, in 1833 the Prophet taught the brethren of the School of the Prophets "how to get revelation." Also in 1835, Joseph taught the Father of Lorenzo Young how to obtain the spiritual blessing to heal his son. "Join in prayer, one be mouth and the others repeat after him in unison... [then] continuing the administration in this way until you receive a testimony that he will be restored" Biography of Lorenzo Dow Young, Utah Historical Quarterly 14:45. Three months after these instructions were given, the Prophet received the keys of the sealing power from Elijah. This authority that Elijah bestowed upon the Prophet, Joseph said six years later, "For him to whom these keys [of Elijah] are given there is no difficulty in obtaining" revelation (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:10-11). Thus, based on the authority he received of Elijah, Joseph Smith conferred the keys of the priesthood in the endowment 4 May 1842 (see History of the Church, 5:1-2 or Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.137.
"It will be necessary here to make a few observations on the doctrine, set forth in the above quotation, As it is generally supposed that Sacrifice was entirely done away when the great sacrifice [i.e., the sacrifice of the Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach was offered up], and that there will be no necessity for the Ordinance of Sacrifice in future, but those who assert this, are certainly not acquainted with the duties, privileges and authority of the [this] Priesthood or with the Prophets.
The offering of Sacrifice has ever been connected and forms a part of the duties of the priesthood. It began with the priesthood and will be continued until after the coming of Christ [Ha Mashiyach], from generation to generation. We Frequently have mention made of the offering of Sacrifice by the servants of the Most High in ancient days, prior to the law of Moses. See [for example, Genesis 4:3-5; 8:20-22; 11:7-8; 13:3-4; 22:1-19; Moses 5:4-8; Abraham 2:17-21; the book of Abraham Facsimile 2, figure 2.] which Ordinances will be continued WHEN [*See Note below] the Priesthood IS RESTORED [Not was restored, this was given in the future tense and Joseph said this on the 5 October 1840, first day of the true Feast of Tabernacles] with all its authority power and blessings.
Elijah was the last Prophet that held the keys of the [THIS] Priesthood [Sacrifices and Translation], and WHO WILL [future tense, again note the use of the word 'WILL' rather than 'HAS' or 'HAVING'], BEFORE the LAST DISPENSATION [BEFORE Joseph's Dispensation? No, nothing happened! Ah, the NEXT DISPENSATION!!], RESTORE the AUTHORITY [still future tense!] and Deliver the Keys of THIS Priesthood [under his hands: see Doctrine and Covenant 2:1]: in order that all the Ordinances may be attended to in righteousness [which Ordinances: like Translation and Sacrifice, which have not YET been attended to!].
It is true that the Savior had authority and power to bestow this blessing; but the sons of Levi were too prejudiced. "And I will send Elijah the Prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord," etc., etc. Why send Elijah? Because he holds the keys of authority to administer in all the ordinances of the Priesthood; and without the authority IS GIVEN [not WAS given], the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness." [See the original Book of Doctrine and Covenants. October 5, 1840, DHC 4:207-212, and Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.***
*Note: Using the word 'WHEN' rather than the word "BECAUSE' or 'FOR' tells volumes as to what Joseph believed.
*****************************work on quote...
According to Joseph Smith own diary, Elijah appeared to him on 3 April 1836 and delivered the keys:
"13 After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death [translated], stood before us, and said:
14 Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi--testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come--
15 To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse--
16 Therefore, the KEYS OF THIS DISPENSATION are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors."
[Doctrine and Covenants 110:13-16, April 3, 1836; Joseph Smith Diary, Church Archives]
What Dispensation? It could not be Joseph Smith's Dispensation, that Dispensation had already started 16 years earlier. It had to be Elijah's Dispensation which he goes on to declare is yet future, but is very close.
The offering up of Sacrifices has always been connected and is a part of the duties, privileges and authority of THIS Priesthood. If this Priesthood spoken of as needing to be yet restored, we will have to watch to see which Ordinances will continue (those Ordinances which existed before the giving of the Law unto Moses in Horeb).
We need to be clear here that the keys that we are speaking of are not the Sealing Keys of Elijah, for the Sealing Keys of Elijah are always given when the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood is RESTORED. However, those Keys were only given to Prophets. An example of this is found in Helamen, chapter 10:
"5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.
6 Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people.
7 Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people."
[Helaman 10:5-7]
Based on other statements Joseph made, it appeared that in his mind, the spirit and power of Elias was first, Elijah would come second, and Ha Mashiyach last.
"Then what you seal on earth, by the keys of Elijah, is sealed in heaven; and this is the power of Elijah, and this is the difference between the spirit and power of Elias and Elijah; for while the spirit of Elias is a forerunner, the power of Elijah is sufficient to make our calling and election sure; and the same doctrine, where we are exhorted to go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, &c.
We cannot be perfect without the fathers, &c. WE MUST HAVE REVELATION FROM THEM [for they are IN HEAVEN], and we can see that the doctrine of revelation far transcends the doctrine of no revelation; for one truth revealed from heaven is worth all the sectarian notions in existence.
The spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second, and Messiah [Ha Mashiyach] last. Elias [Joseph Smith] is a forerunner to prepare the way, and the spirit and power of Elijah is to come after, holding the keys of power, building the Temple to the capstone, placing the seals of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon the house of Israel [Yesrael], and making all things ready; then Messiah comes to His Temple, which is last of all.
Messiah is above the spirit and power of Elijah, for He made the world, and was the spiritual rock unto Moses in the wilderness. Elijah was to come and prepare the way and build up the kingdom before the coming of the great day of the Lord, although the spirit of Elias might begin it.
[DHC 6:249-254, 10 March 1844; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.340, comments and capitalization added]
In the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132, which was received as early as 1831, Joseph was reassured that he 'WILL IN TIME' receive the Sealing keys and power of Elijah. For the Lord said:
"45 For I have conferred upon you the keys and power of the priesthood, wherein I restore all things, and make known unto you all things IN DUE TIME.
46 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that whatsoever you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever you bind on earth, in my name and by my word, saith the Lord, it shall be eternally bound in the heavens; and whosoever sins you remit on earth shall be remitted eternally in the heavens; and whosoever sins you retain on the earth shall be retained in heaven.
47 And again, verily I say, whomsoever you bless I will bless, and whomsoever you curse I will curse, saith the Lord; for I, the Lord, am thy God."
[Doctrine and Covenants 132:45-47]
Joseph clearly did not have the sealing keys in 1831, it would be five years before he would receive visitation from Elijah, and most likely receive any instruction or ordination of the Keys of Elijah. Those ordinances pertaining to such sealing keys were not part of the Kirtland Temple, even in 1836.
"It is true that the Savior had [this Priesthood] authority and power to bestow this blessing [while He was upon the earth] but the Sons of Levi were too prejudiced [to receive it! Joseph Smith recognizing the difficulty he had [in] attempting to introduce some of the knowledge and Ordinances he received by revelation. Such as the Doctrine of Baptism for the Dead, the principle of Celestial Plural Marriage and Consecration. What if he had tried to reveal all that had been revealed to him? He feared the abandonment of everyone, and that would all be for nothing! It was through this and other doctrinal discourses given by Joseph in the last few years that would try the faith of all the Saints and would fly in the face of their prejudices. Often throughout the remainder of his life, Joseph would lament how the Saints were unwilling to accept the glorious things revealed unto him from heaven]."
[See the original Book of Doctrine and Covenants, 5 October 1840; DHC 4:207-212, comments in brackets]
We learn from the above quote that the principle of Translation and deliverance from this world was beyond Yesrael's grasp, for they thought they knew better.
"And I will send Elijah the Prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord &c &c."
We know that Elijah was translated. He then returned to Joseph and bestowed upon him his Keys of his Dispensation so that upon Elijah's return to this world, Joseph would in turn return and re-bestow these Keys unto Elijah.
"Why send Elijah? Because HE holds the Keys of the Authority to administer in all the Ordinances of the Priesthood and without the [THIS] authority IS given [future tense] the Ordinances could not be administered in righteousness [Despite the restoration of the of the Aaronic Priesthood authority by John the Baptist (Joseph Smith-History 1:69-72) and the Apostleship by Peter, James and John (Joseph Smith-History 1:72), other Ordinances could not be performed unless administered by the power and Priesthood authority of Elijah]."
[Joseph Smith-History 1:69-72, capitalization added and comments in brackets]
Ha Mashiyach received the Keys of Elijah upon the Hill of Transfiguration when Moses, Noah (the Eternal Elias), and Elijah (who were all translated beings), appeared to Him. We might contest that the Scriptures do not say that Noah was Translated nor do they say that Moses was translated (but was rather not found), just because they did not ascend into heaven amidst flames of glory. However, all Senior Fourth Estate Beings are ONLY REMOVED from this creation by either being quickened through translation or by martyrdom. That is the order of heaven and has always been so.
"It is a very prevalent opinion that the sacrifices which were offered were entirely consumed, this was not the case if you read Leviticus chapter [2] verses [2-3] you will observe that the priests took a part as a memorial and offered it up before the Lord, while the remainder was kept for the maintenance [food] of the Priests. So that the offerings and sacrifices are not all consumed upon the Alter, but the blood is sprinkled and the fat and certain other portions are consumed. These Sacrifices as well as every Ordinance belonging to the Priesthood will when the temple of the Lord shall be built and the Sons Levi be purified, be fully restored and attended to then all their powers, ramifications and blessings [all future tense!]. Ever was and will exist when the powers of the Melchizedek Priesthood are sufficiently manifest [Again, it is evident that Joseph considered the Doctrine of Translation to be part of the highest blessings of this Priesthood, tied to specific Ordinances which must BE RESTORED to its fullness, see Malachi 3:3-4]. Else how can the restitution of all things spoken of by all the Holy Prophets be brought to pass [Acts 3:19-21]. It is not to be understood that, the law of Moses will be established again with all its rights and variety, this had never been spoken of by the prophets but those things which existed prior Moses' day viz. Sacrifice will be continued [see Genesis 3:21; 4:2-7; 8:20-21 Are Sacrifices after the order of the Melchizedek Priesthood? Look at Mosiah 13:27-35]. It may be asked by some what necessity for Sacrifice since the great Sacrifice was offered? In answer to [that] which if Repentance, Baptism, and Faith existed prior to the days of Christ what necessity for them since that time."
[Unlike the King James Version of the Bible, Joseph revealed that the Ordinances of Baptism for the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands was the authentic Old Testament ritual. See 2 Nephi 31, Moses 6:51-68, and Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, See the original Book of Doctrine and Covenants, 5 October 1840; DHC 4:207-212]
The Sacrifices of animals as well as every other Ordinance belonging to this Priesthood, will return when the Temple of the Lord is built in the New Jerusalem and the Sons of Levi are purified by making the Righteous Offering. This must follow the restoration of this Priesthood and will be attended to with all its powers, ramifications and blessings, when it is restored by Elijah. For Blood Sacrifices ever have and ever will exist when the powers of the Melchizedek Priesthood are sufficiently manifest, among men. For how else can the restitution of all things spoken of by all the Holy Prophets, come to pass lest we have a restoration of Priesthood and a New Dispensation, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times? We cannot! If Elijah does not come, THIS World will be utterly wasted in the coming of Adonai! For G_d has prophesied it, He has commanded it, and IT SHALL BE SO!
With this one Discourse, Joseph brought the real truth about the Fullness of the Priesthood from the realm of speculation to the realm of defined fact. Elijah was the last person to posses this Priesthood (over looking Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach, and Joseph Smith who was and is currently holding those Keys). It is absolutely without question that THIS Priesthood was not restored and is still yet future! Until the return of Elijah BEFORE the 'Next Dispensation' Zion CANNOT be established.
On January 22, 1843 in the Temple, Joseph clearly stated that he knew he had a set amount of time left before he would be sacrificed.
"I know what I say, I understand my Mission and business, God Almighty is my shield and what Can man do if God is my friend? I shall not be Sacrificed until my time Comes, then I shall be offered freely".
[The Words of Joseph Smith, Wilford Woodruff Journal, January 22, 1843, p.158, punctuation and some capitalization corrected]
After this careful review of this discourse, if one is truly sincere in heart enough to be humble and honest with yourself, you must admit that the coming of Elijah and this Patriarchal Priesthood still needs to be restored. It was also Joseph's attempt to turn the eyes of the Saints towards the next grand events of the next coming Dispensation, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times.
On August 13, 1843, with less than one year before the passing of Joseph Smith and the end of his Mission, Joseph was still insisting that Elijah needed to come!
"The world is reserved unto burning in the last days, he shall send [future tense] Elijah the prophet. And he shall [future tense] reveal the Covenants of the Fathers in relation to the Children. And the Children and the Covenants of the Children in relation to the Fathers."
[The Words of Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith Diary, by W. Richards: 13 August 1843 (Sunday Morning), p.239; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.321, punctuation and capitalization added, comments in brackets]
Notice that twice in the same paragraph of Joseph's personal diary, he mentioned that Elijah still needed to come and that it would be Elijah who would personally reveal these Covenants unto the Children of Men!
"Malachi 4th chapter, Behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven and all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble and they that cometh shall burn them up. But although in the beginning God created the Earth standing in the water and out of the water still in the End it shall be burned and FEW MEN LEFT --but before that God shall SEND UNTO THEM [not 'US'!] Elijah the prophet and HE SHALL reveal unto THEM [again not 'US'!] the Covenants of the Fathers with relation to the Children and the Covenants of the Children in relation to the Fathers that THEY MAY [not 'WE'] have the privilege of ENTERING INTO THE SAME IN ORDER TO EFFECT THEIR MUTUAL SALVATION. And I saw another angel ascending from the east having the Seal of the living God and he cried &c. saying Hurt not the Earth nor sea nor trees till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. -- [p.241]"
[The Words of Joseph Smith, Howard and Martha Coray Notebook: 13 August 1843 (Sunday Morning), p.240, capitalization added, spelling corrected, and comments in brackets]
There are multiple accounts of this same discourse, that Joseph gave. Each one is different but also important in their own right:
"A measure of this Sealing is to confirm upon their head in common with Elijah the Doctrine of Election or the Covenant with Abraham which when a Father and Mother of a family have entered into their Children who have not transgressed are secured by the Seal wherewith the Parents have been sealed. And this is the Oath of God unto our Father Abraham and this Doctrine shall stand forever."
The Words of Joseph Smith, Howard and Martha Coray Notebook: 13 August 1843 (Sunday Morning), p.241 [spelling corrected]
"Joseph. Translation of Malachi 4:5-6 I will send [Not 'have sent'] Elijah the Prophet and he shall reveal the Covenants of the Fathers to the Children and of the Children to the Fathers that THEY MAY ENTER INTO COVENANT WITH EACH OTHER lest I come and smite the whole Earth with a curse--"
[The Words of Joseph Smith, Franklin D. Richards "Scriptural Items": 13 August 1843 (Sunday Morning), p.241, capitalization added]
"Went to meeting heard Joseph preach on 2 Peter 3:10-11 Being a funeral sermon on the death of E. Higbee. When speaking of the passage "I will send [Not 'have sent'] Elijah the prophet &c" he said it should read [p.242] and HE SHALL turn the hearts of the Children TO THE COVENANT made with their Fathers. Also where it says [in Revelations] and they shall Seal the Servants of God in their foreheads &c it means to Seal the blessing on their heads {meaning the Everlasting Covenant thereby making their Calling and Election sure. When a Seal is put upon the Father and Mother it secures their posterity so that they cannot be lost but will be saved by virtue of the Covenant of their Father.}"
[The Words of Joseph Smith, William Clayton Diary: 13 August 1843 (Sunday Morning), p241-242, capitalization added and comments in brackets]
From the above quotes, we can begin to see what Joseph Smith believed would be the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham that he would head an innumerable hosts of posterity and that it would be fulfilled through the sealing power of the keys of Elijah. This sealing power is accomplished when each individual and his Wives and Sons are sealed for time and eternity and then back through their Priesthood lineage, so that they would then become the posterity of Abraham. Joseph Smith taught that a PATRIARCHAL PRIESTHOOD of Kings and Priests would need to be established. This would be accomplished by sealing Patriarch's back through Abraham and ultimately to Adam in order to fulfill the mission of Elijah.
Joseph Smith taught that when these Sealings are performed, this Covenant relationship (through the Law of Adoption) would then continue throughout all eternity. Whether it actually does is another matter. These Sealings or Covenants is not complicated by the doctrine of Eternal Lives (which bring multiple lifetimes) or multiple sealings that could result but rather that only efficacious sealings that are bound in the heavens, by ONE who possesses the Keys of Elijah count. For these sealings can only be performed by ONE in authority given him directly from God and must possess the power to obtain the revelation necessary to know what the true order of heaven is. Of course, this obviously excludes any apostate church presidents claiming authority through earthly chain of ordinations. We learn, too, that these sealings are contingent upon free agency whereby some may choose, through their actions, to break this Priesthood Sealing chain thus bringing about the necessity to repair eternal Priesthood Sealings. For example, if a son of God were to become a Son of Perdition, this would require a re-sealing of his posterity to a more righteous Priesthood holder as happened with the Eternal Wives and Posterity of Lucifer. I have meet one of his wife's thus far in this life. For they did not fall just because he chose to fall. So his posterity will have to one day be re-Sealed up into the heavens again. For Sealings must be done in this world and not in the world to come.
Another example where these sealings are contingent upon free agency whereby some may choose, through their actions, to break this Priesthood Sealing chain thus bringing about the necessity to repair eternal Priesthood Sealings is, when through service her in this world to another Priesthood Head like Brigham Young to Joseph Smith. Out of his great love for Joseph he chose to be adopted to him as his Son, worlds without end. In doing this, if Joseph proves thus well in the next creation to come, he will become Brigham Father, Lord, King, Messiah, and God. But this is not by the general order of the heavens but rather by Brigham's personal election.
Two weeks later, on 27 August 1843 (a Sunday morning), Joseph gave a Discourse on Priesthood at the Temple Grove. Since this is such an important Discourse, we will quote all five accounts. First let's read from Joseph Smith's diary recorded by Willard Richards:
"10 A M. President Marks prayed.
Joseph said 2 weeks to day something said about Elder Rigdon. Vote taken to take away his license. On account of a report brought by Elder Hyde from Quincy.
The letter is one of the most evasive things. And carries with it a design to hide the truth. ...
In answer to Sidney Rigdon of the 15. Inst Thomas Carlin. Has any man been concerned in a conspiracy to deliver Joseph Smith to Missouri? [p.244] If so who? Read 7th Hebrews. Salem is designed for a Hebrew term. It should be Shiloam, which signifies Righteousness and Peace. As it is, it is nothing, neither Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French or any other [language]. To all those who are disposed to say to set up stakes for the almighty, will come short of the glory of God. To become a joint heir of the heirship of the Son, he MUST PUT AWAY ALL HIS TRADITIONS.
I bear record this morning that all the combined powers of earth and hell shall not over come this boy.
If I have sinned I have sinned outwardly--but secretly I have contemplated the things of God.
Told an anecdote of the Episcopalian priest, who said he had the Priesthood of Aaron. But not of Melchizedek and bore this testimony that I never have found the man who claimed the Priesthood of Melchizedek.
The law was given under Aaron for the purpose of pouring out
Judgments and destructions.
The sectarian world are going to hell--by 100s 1000s 1,000,000!
3 grand orders of priesthood referred to here.
1st King of Shiloam [Peace], power and authority over that of Abraham holding the key and the power of endless life [Eternal Lives]. Angels desire to look into it, but they have set up too many stakes. God cursed the children of Israel because they would not receive the last law from Moses.
By the offering of Isaac, if a man would attain, he must sacrifice all to attain to the keys of the kingdom of an endless life [Eternal Lives].
What was the power of Melchizedek[?] It was not Priesthood of Aaron &c., [but] a King and a Priest to the Most High God. A perfect law of Theocracy holding keys of power and blessings. [Moses] stood as God to give laws to the people, administering endless [Eternal] Lives to the sons and daughters of Adam. Kingly powers of Anointing. Abram says [said] unto Melchizedek. Away [Now] I have a priesthood.
Salvation could not come to the world without the mediation of Jesus Christ.
How shall God come to the rescue of this generation? He shall [future tense] send Elijah [the Prophet]. The Law revealed to Moses in Horeb, never was revealed to the Children of Israel [as a nation]. Elijah shall [future tense, as Joseph did not say 'has'] reveal the 'COVENANTS' to seal the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the Children to the Fathers. [The 'COVENANTS' of] Anointing and Sealing, called 'Calling and Elected made sure', [which comes] without father &c. [which pertains to] a Priesthood which holds the Priesthood by right from the Eternal Gods. And not by descent from father and mother. [p.245]
2nd Priesthood, Patriarchal [Priesthood] authority, finish the [Nauvoo] Temple and God will fill it with power.
3rd Priesthood, Levitical [Priesthood].
Priests made without an Oath but by the Priesthood of Melchizedek is by Oath and Covenant [and become] Holy Ghost.
[Like] Jesus Christ, men have to suffer that they might come up on Mt. Zion, [and be] exalted above the heavens. I know a man that has been caught up to the 3rd Heaven and saw."
The Words of Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith Diary, by W. Richards: 27 August 1843 (Sunday Morning), p.243-245 [capitalization added, spelling and punctuation corrected]
When Joseph said: "To become a joint heir of the heirship of the
Son, HE [YOU] PUT AWAY ALL HIS [YOUR] TRADITIONS." So what traditions are we to put away in order to become joint hears of the Son? It is fine right up until Adonai calls a Prophet get specifics, such as declaring it is Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, Monogamy, Divorce, Communism, Socialism, Liberalism, Sports, calendar, or anything tradition that is not commanded by Adonai. We must be willing to replace these traditions with correct principles and ceremonies that will one day be commanded by Adonai!
Joseph also revealed that there are three Grand Orders of Priesthood. These are Melchizedek, Patriarchal and Levitical. But as we will find in other accounts, the numbering or this grand orders is not consistent.
Let us now read the "Scriptural Items" from the account of Franklin D. Richards:
"A sermon of Joseph's Hebrews 7 chapter Salem is Shiloam
Those who limit the designs of God as concerted by the grand council of H[eaven] cannot obtain the Knowledge of God and I do not know but I may say they will drink in the Damnation of their souls.
I Prophecy that all the powers of Earth and Hell shall never be able to overthrow this Boy for I have obtained it by promise--
There are 3 grand principles or orders of Priesthood portrayed in this chapter.
1st Levitical [Priesthood] which was never able to administer a Blessing but only to bind heavy burdens which neither they nor their father [is] able to bear.
2d Abrahams Patriarchal [Priesthood] power WHICH IS THE GREATEST YET EXPERIENCED IN THIS CHURCH [because no Sealings had yet been performed].
3d That of Melchizedek [Priesthood] who had still greater power even power of an endless life [Eternal Lives] of which was our Lord Jesus Christ [Jesus was Melchizedek], which also Abraham obtained by the offering of his son Isaac which was not the power of a Prophet nor Apostle nor Patriarch only but of King and Priest to God to open the windows of Heaven and pour out the peace and Law of endless Life [Eternal Lives] to man and No man can attain to the Joint heirship with Jesus Christ [Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach] with out being administered to by one having the same power and Authority of Melchizedek. Joseph also said that the HOLY GHOST IS NOW IN A STATE OF PROBATION WHICH IF HE SHOULD PERFORM IN RIGHTEOUSNESS HE MAY PASS THROUGH THE SAME OR A SIMILAR COURSE OF THINGS THAT THE SON HAS."
[The Words of Joseph Smith, Franklin D. Richards "Scriptural Items": 27 August 1843 (Sunday Morning), p.245, capitalization added, spelling and punctuation corrected, and comments in brackets]
If this account is correct, it is quite a revelation! It states that "Abraham's Patriarchal [Priesthood] power WHICH IS THE GREATEST YET EXPERIENCED IN THIS CHURCH!" It seems that because this quote was given as late as 1843, the Church had never experience this portion of the Melchizedek Priesthood! But if this is true, this account is not consistent with other revelations that are found in the Doctrine and Covenants. Why is that? Perhaps it is just semantics, because ALL Priesthoods are part (or a portion) of the Melchizedek Priesthood! One must hold the Patriarchal Priesthood to become a "Great High Priest" (or Priest) unto the Most High God. In other words, in order to become 'thee' Great High Priest, Melchizedek, one must have the Patriarchal Priesthood (see KoZ paper, "The History of MELCHIZEDEK"). The Patriarchal Priesthood had not been experienced by the Church, this Priesthood is the Priesthoods that Elijah was the last to hold, and administer it to others upon the earth. In Joseph's own diary quoted above, "2nd Priesthood, Patriarchal [Priesthood] authority, finish the [Nauvoo] Temple and God will fill it with power." This had not happened as of yet, the Nauvoo Temple was not completed until after Joseph Smith's death [18 August 1845].
We will now read the account from James Burgess Notebook:
"Hebrews 7 chapter. Paul is here treating of three different [p.246] Priesthoods, namely the PRIESTHOOD OF AARON, ABRAHAM, AND MELCHIZEDEK. Abraham's Priesthood was of greater power than Levi's and Melchizedek's was of greater power than that of Abraham. The Priesthood of Levi consisted of cursings and blessings carnal commandments and not of blessings and if the Priesthood of this generation has no more power than that of Levi or Aaron or of a bishopric, it administers no blessings but cursings for it was an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. I ask was there any sealing power attending this Priesthood? Oh no that would admit a man into the presence of God. Oh no, but Abraham's was a more exalted power or Priesthood. He could talk and walk with God and yet consider how great this man was when even this patriarch Abraham gave a tenth part of all his spoils and then received a blessing under the hands of Melchizedek even the last law or a fulness of the law or Priesthood which constituted him a King and Priest after the order of Melchizedek or an endless life. Now if Abraham had been like the sectarian world and would not have received any more revelation, what would have been the consequence? It would have damned him.
Book of Covenants. The Levitical Priesthood was an appendage to the Melchizedek Priesthood or the whole law of God when in full face or power in all its parts and bearings on the earth. It is understood by many by reading this chapter that Melchizedek was King of some country or nation on the earth, but it was not so. In the original it reads King of Shaloam which signifies King of Peace or Righteousness and not of any country or nation.
Malachi says that the sons of Levi shall in the last days offer an offering in righteousness.
Men will set up stakes and say thus far will we go and no farther. Did Abraham when called upon to offer his son? Did the Saviour? No. View him fulfilling all righteousness again on the banks of Jordan, [and] also on the Mount transfigured before Peter and John there RECEIVING THE FULNESS OF PRIESTHOOD OR THE LAW OF GOD, setting up no stake but coming right up to the mark in all things. Here him after he returned from the Mount? Did ever language of such magnitude fall from the lips of any man, hearken him. All power is given unto me both in heaven and the earth. Offering's sacrifice's and carnal commandments, was added in consequence of transgression and they that did them should live by them. View [p.247] him the Son of God at saying it behooveth me to fulfil all righteousness. Also in a garden saying if it be possible let this cup pass from me nevertheless thy will be done. What was the design of the Almighty in making man? It was to exalt him to be as God. The scripture says ye are Gods and it cannot be broken, heirs of God and joint heirs I with Jesus Christ equal with him possessing all power &c. The mystery POWER AND GLORY OF THE PRIESTHOOD is so great and glorious that the ANGELS DESIRED TO UNDERSTAND it and cannot. Why? Because of the TRADITION of THEM and THEIR FATHERS in SETTING UP STAKES and NOT COMING UP TO THE MARK IN THEIR PROBATIONARY STATE. J Smith the Prophet."
[The Words of Joseph Smith, James Burgess Notebook: 27 August 1843 (Sunday Morning), p.245-247, capitalization added, spelling and punctuation corrected, comments in brackets]
The above quote verifies that one of the visitors (either Moses, Elias or Elijah... it had to be Elijah) was restoring the FULLNESS OF PRIESTHOOD OR THE LAW OF GOD to Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach on the Mount of Transfiguration.
We next learn that the mystery, power and glory of the PRIESTHOOD is so great and glorious that even the ANGELS desired to understand it but could not. Why could the Angels not understand it? It was because of the TRADITION of THEM THEIR FATHERS that these ANGLES SET UP STAKES and did not come up to the mark IN THEIR PROBATIONARY STATE. Now Angels are, in reality, Resurrected Beings. But in general terms, they are beings that have been to heaven and returned. So what was Joseph telling us? He was saying that there are beings who fall short of POWER and GLORY in the Priesthood because of their decisions in Mortality in their Second Estate and because of free agency. If a Second Estate Man does not live worthy of holding the Melchizedek Priesthood, he will never arrive to the Fourth Estate where men are ordained and receive this Priesthood.
We will now study the William Clayton diary. In his diary, he does not record the most complete account of this Discourse as he did on other occasions:
"A.M. at the Grove. President Joseph preached on Hebrews chapter 7. After reading a letter from Thomas Carlin to S. Rigdon and making some remarks about it, he showed that the word "Salem" is a wrong translation. It should be "Shaloam" signifying Peace. He prophesied that "not all the powers of hell or earth combined can ever overthrow this boy" for he had a promise from the eternal God. He spoke concerning the Priesthood of Melchizedek showing that the sectarians never proposed to have it consequently never could save any one and would all be damned together. He showed that the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood was to have the power of an "endless lives [actually Eternal Lives]." He showed that the everlasting covenants could not be broken, and by the sacrifice required of Abraham the fact that when God offers a blessing or knowledge to a man and he refuses to receive it, he will be damned. Mentioning the case of the Israelites praying that God would speak to Moses and not to Them. In consequence of which he cursed them with a carnal law."
[The Words of Joseph Smith, William Clayton Diary: 27 August 1843 (Sunday Morning), p.247, punctuation corrected, comments in brackets]
The final account is found in Levi Richards Diary:
"27 August, attended meeting at Temple Grove. Letter from Governor Carlin to Sidney Rigdon read by Joseph Smith attended with remarks on it by J. Smith who afterwards preached from Hebrews 7 upon the priesthood Aaronic, Patriarchal, and Melchizedek."
[The Words of Joseph Smith, Levi Richards Diary: 27 August 1843
(Sunday Morning), p.247]
All of these five accounts mention the three Grand Orders of Priesthood. This tell us that this was the major theme of Joseph's Discourse. If we were to combine all of these statements together, along with other known truths and personal revelation, we might be able to better understand what Joseph might have originally said. Let us find out if this is possible:
"1st/3rd King of Shiloam or Peace, Melchizedek Priesthood holds the power and authority over that of Abraham, for it holds the key and power of Endless Life [or Lives], even Eternal Lives and WHICH WAS OUR Lord Jesus Christ [Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach, so Joseph was revealing that Yahwushwah was Melchizedek in the flesh, and which many Christians already knew]. Priests are made with an Oath [First Washings and Anointings] and Covenant [Second Anointings] and they become the Holy Ghosts [Fourth Estate Beings]. Joseph said that, "the HOLY GHOST [speaking of Himself as one of the Holy Ghost] IS NOW in a STATE of PROBATION [HERE in this world] which if HE [I] Should perform in righteousness HE [I] may pass through the same or a Similar course of things that the SON HAS! [To become a Melchizedek and Ha Mashiyach of their own creation and make the Eternal Sacrifice!] The Covenant Abraham obtained was by the offering of his son Isaac, which was not done by the power of a Prophet nor Apostle nor Patriarch, but only of a Priest and King unto [the Most High] God. To [have the power and knowledge of Praying in the True Order of Prayer to] open the windows of Heaven and pour out the Peace [Revelations] and the Law [the Truth] of Endless Life [Eternal Lives] unto man. And No man can attain to the Joint Heirship with Jesus Christ [Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach] without being administered to by one having the same power and Authority of Melchizedek [even Ha Mashiyach].
2nd Patriarchal or Abraham's Priesthood, Abraham's Patriarchal [authority] Priesthood power is the greatest yet experienced in this Church [1 month and 1 day later, the Sealing keys for the first time were administered], go to and finish the Nauvoo Temple and God will fill it with power. This Priesthood was greater than Levi's Priesthood.
3rd/1st Priesthood, Levitical [Levi's] or Aaron's [Aaronic] Priesthood. Priests made without an Oath. The Levitical Priesthood or Priesthood of Levi consisted of Cursings of carnal commandments and which was never able to administer Blessings. It could only bind heavy burdens which neither they nor their Fathers were able to bear. If the Priesthood of Levi is all this generation has, with no more power than that of Levi or Aaron or that of a bishopric, then it administers no Blessings but Cursings, for it was an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth [sounds like today?]. I ask was there any Sealing power attending this [Levitical] Priesthood? Oh no that would [it is not able to] admit a man into the presence of God. And though Abraham's [Priesthood] was a more exalted power or Priesthood, as he could talk and walk with God, yet consider how great this man was. For even this Patriarch Abraham gave a tenth part of all his spoils [excess to Melchizedek] and received a Blessing under the hands of Melchizedek [the true Son of God] even the last Law or a Fulness of the Law or Priesthood, which constituted him [Consecrated in other words, ANOINTED HIM] a Priest and King, after the order of Melchizedek or an endless life [Eternal Lives]. Now if Abraham had been like the sectarian world and would not have received any more revelation [continued down the path of Eternal Progression], what would have been the consequence? It would have damned him [He would have become a Son of Perdition. For once you pass on into the Fourth Estate, that is the only possible outcome]! See the Book of Covenants, for more concerning this. The Levitical Priesthood was an appendage to the Melchizedek Priesthood or the whole Law of God when in its full face or power in all its parts and bearings on the earth. It is understood by many by reading this chapter [Hebrews chapter 7] that Melchizedek was King of some country or nation on the earth, but it was not so. In the original it reads, 'King of Shaloam' which signifies King of Peace [Also King of Heaven, see JST Genesis 14:33-36] or Prince of Righteousness and not of any country or nation." [capitalization added, punctuation corrected, and comments in brackets]
Now many may say that the author of this paper has gone too far again and have put words into Joseph's mouth. But let the reader say, 'I will go strait way and pray unto the Father in the True Order and see if you I get a different revelation upon the matter.' If the answer does not come immediately, continue to Pray and ask if these sayings are not true. And if you believe, asking with a sincere heart, He will answer you. And when He does answer you, BELIEVE the WORDS that HE SHALL SAY UNTO YOU!
Elijah will be restoring a special Priesthood. The most common definition of this restoration of Priesthood is called, 'the Fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood'. This was given by Joseph Smith on March 10, 1844, he said:
"Now for Elijah; the spirit, power and calling of Elijah is that ye have power to hold the keys of the Revelations, Ordinances, Oracles, Powers and Endowments of the FULLNESS OF THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD and of the Kingdom of God on the Earth and to receive, obtain and perform all the Ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God, even unto the turning of the hearts of the Fathers unto the Children, and the hearts of the Children unto the Fathers, even those who are in heaven.
Malachi says, "I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
Now, what I am after is the knowledge of God, and I take my own course to obtain it. What are we to understand by this in the last days?
In the days of Noah, God destroyed the world by a flood, and He has promised to destroy it by fire in the last days: but before it should take place, Elijah should first come and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, &c.
Now comes the point. What is this office and work of Elijah? It is ONE OF THE GREATEST AND MOST IMPORTANT SUBJECTS THAT GOD HAS REVEALED. He should send Elijah to seal the children to the fathers, and the fathers to the children.
Now was this merely confined to the living, to settle difficulties with families on earth? By no means. It was a far greater work. Elijah! what would you do if you were here? Would you confine your work to the living alone? No: I would refer you to the Scriptures, where the subject is manifest: that is, WITHOUT US, THEY COULD NOT BE MADE PERFECT, NOR WE WITHOUT THEM; THE FATHERS WITHOUT THE CHILDREN, NOR THE CHILDREN WITHOUT THE FATHERS.
I wish you to understand this subject, for IT IS IMPORTANT; and if you receive it, this is the SPIRIT OF ELIJAH, that we redeem our dead, and connect ourselves with our fathers which are in heaven, and seal up our dead to come forth in the first resurrection; and here we want the POWER OF ELIJAH TO SEAL THOSE WHO DWELL ON EARTH TO THOSE WHO DWELL IN HEAVEN. This is the power of Elijah and the keys of the kingdom of Jehovah.
Let us suppose a case. Suppose the great God who dwells in heaven should reveal himself to Father Cutler here, by the opening heavens, and tell him, I offer up a decree that whatsoever you seal on earth with your decree, I will seal it in heaven; you have the power then; can it be taken off? No. Then what you seal on earth, by the KEYS OF ELIJAH, is sealed in heaven; and this is the power of Elijah, and this is the difference between the spirit and power of Elias and Elijah; for while the spirit of Elias is a forerunner, the POWER OF ELIJAH IS SUFFICIENT TO MAKE OUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE; and the same doctrine, where we are exhorted to go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, &c.
WE CANNOT BE PERFECT WITHOUT THE FATHERS, &C. WE MUST HAVE REVELATION FROM THEM, AND WE CAN SEE THAT THE DOCTRINE OF REVELATION FAR TRANSCENDS THE DOCTRINE OF NO REVELATION; for one truth revealed from heaven is worth all the sectarian notions in existence.
This SPIRIT OF ELIJAH was manifest in the days of the Apostles, in delivering certain ones to the buffetings of Satan, that they might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. They were SEALED BY THE SPIRIT OF ELIJAH UNTO THE DAMNATION OF HELL until the day of the Lord, or revelation of Jesus Christ.
Here is the doctrine of election that the world has quarreled so much about; but they do not know anything about it.
The doctrine that the Presbyterians and Methodists have quarreled so much about -- one in grace, always in grace, or falling away form grace, I will say a word about. They are both wrong. Truth takes a road between them both, for while the Presbyterian says: "Once in grace, you cannot fall"; the Methodist says: "You can have grace today, fall from it tomorrow, next day have grace again; and so follow on, changing continually." But the doctrine of the Scriptures and the SPIRIT OF ELIJAH would show them both false, and take a road between them both; for, according to the Scripture, if men have received the good word of God, and tasted of the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, it is impossible to renew them again, seeing they have crucified the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame; so there is a possibility of falling away; you could not be renewed again, and the POWER OF ELIJAH cannot seal against this sin, for this is a reserve made in the seals and power of the Priesthood.
I will make every doctrine plain that I present, and it shall stand upon a firm basis, and I am at the defiance of the world, for I will take shelter under the broad cover of the wings of the work in which I am engaged. It matters not to me if all hell boils over [and they finally put me to death]; I regard it only as I would the crackling of the thorns under a pot.
[Joseph Smith DHC 6:273, 10 March 1844, capitalization added and comments in brackets]
Here we have Joseph Smith saying about Elijah and his mission, that it is: "One of the GREATEST and MOST IMPORTANT SUBJECTS that G_D has revealed. He should send Elijah to seal the children to the fathers, and the fathers to the children." Again, not to belabor the point, but Joseph did not say, 'Has Sent' or 'Did Send', but that, 'He (G_d) Should Send Elijah..."! And Joseph Smith said this just two months before his death.
In now turning and looking at what Joseph Smith had done with the Sealing Keys of Elijah, that he had received from Elijah on the 3 April 1836. We find that The Prophet had not as yet administered the Ordinances that ordained men to become Priests and Kings unto God. Brigham Young said three weeks before this Discourse that no one yet in the Church had the 'Fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood':
"For any person to have the Fullness of THAT Priesthood, he must be a king and priest"
[History of the Church, Vol. 5, p.527, note this was quoted verbatim from the Wilford Woodruff account, Church Archives, capitalization added]
From the Joseph Smith Journal, we learn that Endowment Ordinances were initially administered to Joseph and Emma Smith on September 28, 1843 (exactly half way between Rosh ha-Hannah and Yom Kippur). According to the record, a prayer meeting was also held on this day, and the Prophet organized the Church's first prayer circle. Over the next five months (then two months before his death), Joseph performed Ordinances for over twenty men and their wives. To be exact, the record indicates that 20 men and 16 women (36 in all) received their Ordinances. These individuals included: Hyrum and Mary Fielding Smith, Brigham and Mary Ann Angell Young, Heber C. and Vilate Murray Kimball, Willard and Jennetta Richards Richards, Newel K. and Elizabeth Ann Smith Whitney, William and Rosannah Robinson Marks, John and Leonora Cannon Taylor, John and Clarissa Lyman Smith, Reynolds and Thirza Stiles Cahoon, Alpheus and Lois Thethrop Cutler, Orson and Catherine Curtis Spencer, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, Wilford and Poebe Carter Woodruff, George A. and Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith, Levi Richards, Cornelius P. and Permelia Darrow Lott, William W. and Sally Waterman Phelps, Isaac and Lucy Gunn Horley, and Orson Pratt. The Ordinances performed for these individuals were not Second Anointings nor Calling and Election Ordinances. They were only Initiatory Ordinances and the Endowment Ceremony. So what part of 'the Fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood' was conferred upon these early Church members, if any?
"This is the only known record of when, according to Joseph Smith, the Savior received the Fulness of the Priesthood. Wilford Woodruff's report of the Prophet's 11 June 1843 discourse recorded a significant comment by Joseph Smith regarding this subject: "If a man gets the Fulness of God ["Priesthood" as in the published version], he has to get [it] in the same way that Jesus Christ [Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach] obtained it, by keeping all the Ordinances of the house of the Lord". To Joseph Smith, however, it was not the Lord's will that all have Elijah confer upon them the Sealing power of the Fullness of the Priesthood, for as Franklin D. Richards expressed it, we receive the fullness by "being administered to by one having the same power and Authority of Melchizedek" (Doctrine and Covenants 132:7).
Joseph Smith distinguished between the Ordination of the twelve Disciples as Apostles (in Matthew 10) and the bestowal of the Sealing power of Elijah upon three of the twelve (in Matthew 17), for he himself received the authority of the Apostleship in 1829 (Joseph Smith-History, 1:72; Doctrine and Covenants 27:12), but did not receive the Sealing power of the Fulness of the Priesthood until 3 April, 1836 (from Elijah) Doctrine and Covenants 110:13-16.
[The Words of Joseph Smith, 27 August 1843, Note #38, p.307, comments in brackets]
So, what was this Fulness of the Priesthood? It IS the ADAMIC Priesthood of GOD! When Elijah comes and receives back the 'Keys of Elijah' from Joseph Smith, he will hold the 'Sealing Keys' of the Adamic Priesthood, which is the power to stand and act in the Office of God, and be the God unto this generation. The Ha Mashiyach exemplified the Fullness of Power in this Priesthood when He showed forth that He possessed all power under Heaven. For example, one who possesses the Adamic Priesthood, can walked on water, stand in the midst of Eternal Burnings or fire, can ascend or fly into Heaven or descend therefrom, command the winds, command all evil spirits, raise the dead, heal all manner of maladies, talk to all creatures, know the hearts and minds of men, speak those things that are not lawful to be uttered, know all future events, and forgive sin. He did become GOD and IS GOD unto THIS Generation (World, all Second Estate Beings)!
We will now continue looking at a few more Discourses Joseph gave at the very end of his life, where he spoke in reference to Elijah. It was on the 21 January in 1844, when Joseph gave this Discourse:
"What shall I talk about today[?] I know what Brother Cahoon wants me to speak about. He wants me to speak about the Coming of Elijah in the last days. I can see it in his eye. I will speak upon that subject then. The Bible [Malachi] says, "I will send you Elijah [the Prophet] before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come, that he shall turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children, and the hearts of the Children to the Fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Now the word turn here should be translated (bind or Seal). But what is the object of this important Mission? Or 'how is it to be' [future tense, for why did Joseph not just say, 'how was it'] fulfilled? The keys 'are to be' [not 'have been', again future tense] delivered, the spirit of Elijah [the very same exact being] is to come, the Gospel IS TO BE ESTABLISHED [So the Gospel needs to be RE-ESTABLISHED? YES! YES! YES!], the Saints of God are to be gathered [Joseph did not think that they had, but it is clear he saw a FUTURE Gathering!], Zion is to [be] built up, and the Saints are to come up as Saviors on mount Zion. But 'how are they to become'[future tense] Saviors on Mount Zion? By building 'their' [not 'our' Temples!], erecting 'their' Baptismal Fonts, and going forth and receiving all the Ordinances, Baptisms, Confirmations, Washings and Anointings Ordinations and Sealing powers upon 'their' heads, in behalf of all 'our' Progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the First Resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with 'us'; and herein is the chain [Sealings] that binds the hearts of the Fathers to the Children, and the Children to the Fathers, which fulfills the Mission of Elijah [which must be in the future and was fairly well defined as to what Elijah WILL do]. And I would to God that this Temple [the Nauvoo Temple] was now done, that we might go into it, and go to work and improve our time, and MAKE USE OF THE SEALS [the Sealing power of Elijah] WHILE THEY ARE ON EARTH [That is, that Joseph Smith] and the Saints have NONE TO MUCH TIME to save and redeem their Dead, and gather together their living Relatives that they may be saved also, before the earth will be smitten and the Consumption Decreed falls upon the world [Joseph knew that when he was taken, so would the keys of Elijah!].
I would advise all the Saints to go to with [all] their might and gather together all their living Relatives to this place, that they may be Sealed and saved. That they may be prepared against the day that the Destroying Angel goes forth and if the whole Church should go to with all their might to save their Dead [and] Seal their Posterity, and [also] gather their [p.319] living Friends and spend none of their time in behalf of the world. THEY WOULD HARDLY GET THROUGH before [the] night would come, when no man could [can] work and my only trouble [heartache] at the present time is [why did Joseph worry about this not being done and completed?] concerning ourselves [is] that the Saints will be divided and broken up and scattered before we get our Salvation Secure [a very just reason to worry!]. For there is so many fools in the world for the devil to operate upon, it gives him the advantage often times. [AMEN!]
The question is frequently asked, 'Can we not be saved without going through with all these Ordinances, &c?' I would answer, 'No, not the Fulness of Salvation!' Jesus said, 'There was many 'mansions' in His Father's 'house' and He would go and prepare a place for them.' [The] 'House' here named should have been translated '[Kingdom]' and any person who is Exalted to the highest 'mansion' [kingdom of Glory, known to us as the Celestial Kingdom] has to abide a Celestial Law and the whole Law [Celestial Plural Marriage and Consecration] too. But there has been a great difficulty in getting anything into the heads of this generation [not just Joseph's day, look around!]. It has been like splitting hemlock knots [very hard nut] with a corn dodger [corn bread] for a wedge and a pumpkin for a beetle [mallet]. Even the Saints are slow to understand. I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the Saints prepared to receive the things of God, but we frequently see some of them, after suffering all they have for the work of God, will fly to pieces like glass as soon as any thing comes that is Contrary to their traditions [so who is lining up to abandon Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter? How about wearing business suits on Sunday, let alone keeping the true Sabbath rather then observing Sundays, or praying with your eyes closed, your arms crossed and your head bowed?]! They Cannot stand the fire at all.
How many will be able to abide a Celestial Law and go through and receive their Exaltation? I am unable to say but, 'many are called and few are chosen.'"
[The Words of Joseph Smith, Wilford Woodruff Diary: 21 January 1844 (Sunday), p.317319, spelling and punctuation corrected, comments in brackets; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.330 punctuation corrected]
What a powerful Sermon, filled with truth and light! It was only two months later, on the 10th of March, 1844, that Joseph Smith spoke more openly about the Three Spirits of Priesthood:
"I attended meeting A M at the Stand by the Temple and preached on the Subject of the Spirit of Elias, Elijah, and Messiah clearly defining the offices of the 3 personages."
[The Words of Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith Diary, by W. Richards: 10 March 1844 (Sunday), p.335, spelling and punctuation corrected]
These Three Spirits are tied to the Three Grand Orders of Priesthood, that Joseph addressed on the 27 August 1843, referred to in Hebrews, chapter 7 (that we read above). There were six accounts of this Discourse. So in order to simplify our study, we will now merge these accounts into one so as to present the most complete account. As you read this account, keep in mind that we are trying to understand more about the three basic Priesthoods that we defined above. Namely the Levitical (Aaronic) Priesthood, Patriarchal (Abrahamic) Priesthood, and Adamic (Fullness of the Melchizedek) Priesthood.
"A large assembly of the Saints, gathered on Sunday morning, the 10th of March 1844. One recorded that there was frost from the night before, but that this day was most beautiful. They all went to the temple to meet and to hear Joseph and Hyrum speak. They were addressed by President Joseph Smith upon one of the most important and interesting subjects ever presented to the Saints. And the principles presented were of the greatest importance to be understood; it was as follows: on the Spirit of Elias, the Spirit of Elijah, and the Spirit of Messiah; that the Spirit of Elias [Levitical Priesthood] is a forerunner same as John the Baptist -- the Spirit of Elijah is the Sealing power [Patriarchal Priesthood]: to Seal the hearts of the Fathers to the Children, and the Children to the Parents, as Paul declared that the Saints of the last days could not be perfect without them, neither can they be perfect without us -- the Spirit of Messiah is all power in Heaven and in Earth [Adamic Priesthood]. Enthroned in the Heavens as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Joseph said, the work, calling, Powers and Spirit of Elias, Elijah, and Messiah, were three well defined Offices [Missions] of three personages [whom shall come forth in the last days]. The following is a compilation synopsis of that Discourse:
There is a difference between the Spirit, Power and Office of Elias and Elijah. It is the Spirit of Elias I wish first to speak of. The power of Elias is not the power of Elijah. This is the power which John the Baptist, was clothed with when he came bounding out of the wilderness saying, 'repent ye for the kingdom of Heaven is come unto you, prepare ye the the way of the Lord and make His paths strait. For there standeth one among you whose shoes latchet I am not worthy to unloose. He has greater power than I have. He will Baptize you with Fire and with the Holy Ghost. Jesus said of John, 'This is Elias which was for to come if you will receive me otherwise he cannot do the work of an Elias, for Elias is preparatory for something greater, to prepare my way before me. I have power to restore all things and establish my kingdom amongst you, but if you will not receive me and my Doctrine, he is not that Elias which was for to come, for he cannot accomplish that for which he was sent." see 1st chapter of John, verses 19 to 22. For he confessed that he was not Elias. Why? Because they would not receive him that was coming after him namely, Christ [Ha Mashiyach]. Philip was clothed with the power of Elias when he went to Samaria he could Baptize for remission of sins, but could not lay on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but sent for Peter and John who had the power of Elijah, &c. Acts 19 chapter. Paul when he came to Corinth found certain disciples and asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost, since they believed, and they said we have not so much as heard of the Holy Ghost and with what surprise says he unto them. Unto what were you Baptized and they said unto John's Baptism. Not so not so my friends if you had you would have heard of the Holy Ghost but you have been duped by some designing knave who has come in the name of John, an impostor. How do you know it Paul? Why John verily Baptized with water unto repentance, always telling the people that they should believe on him that should come after him. He would Baptize with Fire and with the Holy Ghost. John's Baptism stood good but these had been Baptized by some impostor.
I was informed that I had not power to lay on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, [but] that is the power of the Aaronic Priesthood. And in order to come at the subject, I will bring some of the testimony from the Scriptures and give my own [Revelations, for] I will related the vision of my Ordination to this Priesthood. It was after the order of Aaron, and was on the Susquehanna river, when I retired in the woods, pouring out my soul in prayer to Almighty God. An Angel came down from heaven and laid his hands upon me and Ordained me to be a Priest, and the power of Elias [unto] his will concerning me. He authorized me to Baptize with water unto repentance, and to hold the keys of this Priesthood. This said the Angel is the Spirit of Elias. Which Office is to preach Repentance and Baptism for the remission [of sins]. But [I] was informed that this Office did not extend to the laying on of hands, for the giving of the Holy Ghost, that that Office was a greater work and was to be given this power afterwards. I was commanded to preach the preparatory gospel. But that my Ordination [and Mission] was a Preparatory work or a going before, which was the Spirit of Elias. For the Spirit of Elias is to prepare the way for one greater to come!
The spirit of Elijah is to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the hearts of the Children to the Fathers lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. The Baptism for the Dead and the Ordinances that are to be administered by us for them for Paul says that they without us cannot be made perfect neither can we without them be made perfect. Now we come to talk about Election a great deal is said about it. One way or another. The Presbyterians says once in grace always in grace. The Methodist says once in grace can fall from grace and be renewed again. There is some truth in both of these statements. Paul says in the 6 chapter of Hebrews that after arriving at a certain knowledge and then fall away it is impossible to renew them again. Well Paul the Presbyterians says once in grace always in grace. I say it is not so. The Methodist says once in grace can fall from grace and be renewed again, but Paul say it is impossible seeing that they crucify to themselves the son of God afresh and put him to an open shame.
And they were informed if they could receive it, it was the Spirit of Elias [Noah]. AND John [the Baptist] was very particular to tell the people, 'He was not that light but was sent to bear witness of that light'. He told the people that his Mission was to preach Repentance and Baptize with water [through immersion], but it was He that should come after him, that should Baptize with Fire and the Holy Ghost. If he had been an impostor, he might have gone to work beyond [what he had been commissioned to do], his bounds. And [he never] undertook to have performed Ordinances that did not belong to that Office and Calling under the Spirit of Elias. The Spirit of Elias is to prepare the way for a greater Revelation of God which is the Priesthood of Elias or the Priesthood that Aaron was ordained unto. And when God sends a man into the world to prepare for a greater work, [he] holds the keys of the power of Elias. It was called the 'Doctrine of Elias' even from the early ages of the world. John's Mission was limited to preaching and Baptizing. But what he [had] done was legal and when Jesus Christ [Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach] came to any of John's Disciples, He Baptized them with Fire and the Holy Ghost. We find the Apostles endowed with greater power than John. Their office was more under the Spirit and power of Elijah, than Elias. In the Case of Philip, when he went down to Samaria, [he] was under the Spirit of Elias. He Baptized both men and women. When Peter and John heard of it, they went down and laid hands on them and they [did] receive the Holy Ghost. This shows the distinction between the two powers [or Priesthoods]. When Paul came to certain Disciples, He asked if they had received the Holy Ghost. They said no. Who Baptized you then? We were Baptized unto John's Baptism. No, John did not Baptize you for he did his work right, and so Paul went and Baptized them for He knew what the true Doctrine was and he knew that John had not Baptized them, and these principles and [it] is strange to me that men who have read the scriptures of the New Testament are so far from it. What I want to impress upon your minds is, the difference of power in the different parts of the Priesthood, so that when any man comes among you saying I have the spirit of Elias you can know whether he be true or false, for any man that comes having the spirit and power of Elias he will not transcend his bounds. John did not transcend his bounds but faithfully performed that part belonging to his office, and every portion of the great building should be prepared right and assigned to its proper place, and it is necessary to know who holds the keys of power and who doesn't, or we may be likely to be deceived. That person who holds the keys of Elias hath a preparatory work. But if I spend much more time in conversing about the spirit of Elias. I shall not have time to do justice to the spirit and power of Elijah. This is the Elias spoken of in the last days and here is the rock upon which many split thinking the time was past in the days of John and Christ [Ha Mashiyach] and no more to be, but the spirit of Elias was revealed to me and I know it is true. Therefore I speak with boldness for I know verily my Doctrine is true.
Now for Elijah, the spirit, power, and calling of Elijah is that degree of power that which holds the Sealing power of the Kingdom. With the Spirit of Elijah, ye have power to hold the keys of the Revelations, Ordinances, oracles, powers, and Endowments of the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood and of the Kingdom of God on the Earth and to receive, obtain and perform all the Ordinances belonging to the Kingdom of God, even unto the Sealing of the hearts Fathers unto the Children and the hearts of the Children unto the Fathers not only on earth but even those who are in Heaven, both the living and the Dead to each other for they (the dead) cannot be made perfect without us (See Hebrews 11:1-40). For Malachi says I will send Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come and He shall turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the hearts of the Children to the Fathers lest I come and smite the earth with a Curse. Now what I am after is this! I take my own course to obtain the knowledge of God. What are we to understand by this in the last days? In the days of Noah, God destroyed the world by a flood and [He] has promised to destroy it by fire in the last days. But before it should take place, Elijah should first come and turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children &c. Now comes the point. What is this office and work of Elijah? It is one of the greatest and most important subjects that God has revealed [to me]. He should [WILL] send Elijah to Seal the Children to the Fathers and Fathers to the Children. Now is this merely confined to the living, to settle difficulties with families on earth? By no means, for it is a far greater work. Elijah! What would you do if you were here? Would you confine your work to the living alone? No, I would refer you to the Scriptures, where the subject is manifest, i.e, without us they could not be made perfect, nor we without them; the Fathers without the Children, nor the Children without the Fathers. I wish you to understand this subject, for it is important; and if you will receive it, this is the spirit of Elijah, that we redeem our dead, and connect ourselves with our Fathers, which are in heaven, and Seal up our dead to come forth in the first resurrection, and here WE WANT the power of Elijah to SEAL those who dwell on earth to those which dwell in heaven.
This power of Elijah is to that of the power of Elias where, in the architecture of the Temple of God, those who Seal or cement the Stone to their places are to those who cut or hew the stones. The one preparing the way for the other to accomplish the work. By this we are Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, i.e. [by the ability to obtain the revelations from the Holy Spirit of promise through the keys of] Elijah. To obtain this Sealing is to make our Calling and Election sure, which we ought to give all diligence to accomplish.
There are TWO SINS against which this power does not secure or prevail. They are "The sin against the Holy Ghost" and "shedding of innocent Blood", which is equivalent to "crucifying the Son of God afresh and putting Him to an open shame". Those who do [any one of] these [Sins], it is impossible to renew [them] unto Repentance for they are delivered to the buffetings of Satan until the day of Redemptions [Judgment].
Illustrated in the case of [King] David [of old], [for Joseph] said he [David] could not obtain Celestial glory but the reason why he had any hope [is he] obtained a Promise that of his seed, one should be raised up to reign over Israel forever. [This] was because he had not spoken against the Spirit [Holy Ghost] and because he had not done this, he obtained promise that God would not leave his soul in Hell.
Also spake of the rulers of the Jews and Peters preaching, "...I wot [wish] that through ignorance ye did [it], as [did] also your rulers (those over whom ye ruled)." Acts 3:17 Peter did not preach repentance & Baptism but repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of redemptions shall come from the presence of God. Promised to treat upon the Spirit of Messiah some future time.
This is the power of Elijah [stands second in the Grand Orders of Priesthoods in Mortality] and the keys of the Kingdom of Jehovah [who stands as the Great High Priest in the Eternities]. Let us suppose a case. Suppose the great God who dwells in heaven should reveal himself to Father Cutler here, by [opening the heavens] and tell him, I offer up a decree that whatsoever you Seal on earth with your decree, I will Seal it in heaven. You have [the] power then, [and] can it be taken off? No. Then what you Seal on earth by the Keys of Elijah, [it] is Sealed in heaven, and this is the power of Elijah, and this is the difference between the spirit and power of Elias and Elijah; for while the spirit of Elias is a forerunner, the power of Elijah is sufficient to make our Calling and Election sure, going on from grace to grace, until you OBTAIN A PROMISE from God for yourselves, that you shall have eternal life. This is Eternal Life: to know God and His Son Jesus Christ [Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach], it is to be Sealed up unto Eternal Life and OBTAIN A PROMISE for our Posterity. Whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. This is the power of Elijah; to Seal or bind or turn the hearts of the Fathers to THEIR Children. Sealed against all sin but the sin of shedding innocent blood and the Sin against the Holy Ghost. DAVID WAS ONE OF THE PROMISED SEED [He was a Fourth Estate Being]... one of the Elect, where it is said, "He [Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach] shall not LOSE One!" Yet he was guilty of murder. See Acts 2 and 3 chapter. Other sins will go to judgement before hand [before the Millennium]. And the same Doctrine, where we are exhorted to go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, but of laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, &c. We cannot be perfect without the fathers, &c. We must have revelations then and we can see that the Doctrine of Revelation as far transcends the doctrine of no Revelation as knowledge is above ignorance, for one truth revealed from heaven is worth all the sectarian notions in existence. This spirit of Elijah was manifest in the days of the Apostles, in delivering certain ones to the buffetings of Satan, that they may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus [Yahwushwah]. They were Sealed by the Spirit of Elijah unto the damnation of Hell until the day of the Lord, or Revelation of Jesus Christ [Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach].
Here is the doctrine of Election that the world has quarreled so much about, but they do not know any thing about it! The doctrine that the Presbyterians and Methodist have quarreled so much about, once in grace always in grace, or falling away from grace, I will say a word about. They are both wrong! Truth takes a road between them both, for while the Presbyterian says: 'Once in grace you cannot fall'; the Methodist says: 'You can have grace today, fall from it tomorrow, next day have grace again; and so follow it [not, possible to obtain again]'. But the Doctrine of the Scriptures and the Spirit of Elijah would show them both false, and take a road between them both. For according to the Scriptures, if a man has received the good word of God and tasted of the powers of the world to come, if they [he] shall fall away it is impossible to renew them [him] again, seeing they have crucified the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame, so there is a possibility of falling away [but] you could not be renewed again, and the power of Elijah CANNOT Seal against this sin, for this is a reserve made in the Seals and power of the Priesthood. I will make every doctrine plain that I present and it shall stand upon a firm [basis]. And I am at the defiance of the world for I will take shelter under the broad shelter cover of the wings of the work in which I am engaged. It matters not to me if all hell boils over I regard it only as I would the crackling of thorns under a pot. A murderer; for instance one that sheds innocent Blood cannot have forgiveness. David sought repentance at the hand of God, carefully with tears, but he could only get it through Hell. He got a promise that his soul should not be left in Hell. Although David was a King, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the fulness of the Priesthood; and the Priesthood that he received and the throne and kingdom of David is to be taken from him and given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage. Peter referred to the same subject on the day of Pentecost, but the multitude did not get the Endowment that Peter had. But several days after the people asked what shall we do? Peter says I would ye had done it ignorantly speaking of crucifying the Lord, &c. He did not say to them repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins but he said, "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." Acts 3:19 This is the case with murderers. They could not be Baptized for the remission of sins for they had shed innocent Blood.
Again the doctrine or sealing power of Elijah is as follows: if you have power to Seal on earth and in heaven, then we should be Crafty [wise]. The first thing you do, go and seal on earth your sons and daughters unto yourself, and yourself unto your fathers IN ETERNAL GLORY, and go ahead and not go back [Sealing too far], but use a little Craftiness [Wisdom] and Seal all you can, and when you get to heaven tell your Father that what you Sealed on earth should be Sealed in heaven. I will walk through the gate of heaven and claim what I Seal and those that follow me and my Council [did Joseph Smith mean his 12 Apostles? Or did the person recording this record just record the wrong word, 'Counsel?' In other words, Advice? HE MEANT HIS APOSTLES!]. The Lord once told me that what I asked for I should have. I have been afraid to ask to ask God to kill my enemies lest some of them should peradventure should repent I asked a short time, since for the Lord to deliver me out of the hands of the Governor of Missouri, and if it must needs be to accomplish it, to take him away; and the next news that came pouring down from there was, [that] Governor Reynolds had shot himself. And I would now say, Beware O earth how you fight against the Saints of God and shed innocent Blood; for in the days of Elijah, his enemies came upon him and fire was called down from heaven and destroyed them.
The spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second, and Messiah last. Elias is a forerunner to prepare the way, and the spirit and power of Elijah is to come after, holding the keys of power [p.332] building the Temple to the Capstone, placing the Seals of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon the house of Israel and making all things ready; then [shall the] Messiah come to his Temple which is last of all. Messiah is above the spirit and power of Elijah, for He made the world and was that spiritual rock unto Moses in the wilderness. Elijah was to come and prepare the way and build up the kingdom before the coming of the great day of the Lord. Although the spirit of Elias might begin it!
While enquiring of the Lord concerning the End of time, I have asked the Lord concerning His coming and while asking, it was made known to me by the Holy Spirit. A Revelation: So long as we see the bow [Rainbow] in the cloud, seed time and harvest shall continue. For there should be prosperity, seed time and harvest in every year in which the Rainbow is seen, for we are to look to it, as was Noah referred to it as a surety on this subject. The Lord gave me a Sign and said, in the days of Noah I set a bow [Rainbow] in the heavens as a Sign and Token that in any year that the bow [Rainbow] should be seen [I] the Lord would not come, for there should be seed time -- and harvest during that year. But when ever you see the bow [Rainbow] withdraw, in that same year, when the Bow [a Rainbow] is not to be seen, it shall be a Token [actually a Sign] that there shall be famine, pestilence, and I will commence my desolation by calamities and cause great distress among the nations. After which the Sign of the Son of Man shall be seen in heaven. And that this Revelation of the Son of Man from Heaven, would be manifested, unveiled, and light up for all the world to see. But if a Bow [a Rainbow] is seen, it would not be in this year, nor the next year!
Joseph said that, "he would say to his Millerite friends, that it would not be in forty years to come. But I take the responsibility upon myself to prophesy in the name of the Lord, that Christ [Ha Mashiyach] will not come this year as [William] Miller has prophesied, for we have seen the bow [Rainbow]. That the coming of the Messiah is not that far distant, but I also Prophecy in the name of the Lord that Christ [Ha Mashiyach] will not come in forty years and if God ever spake by my mouth He will not come in that length of time. [Actually Joseph knew it would not be any less than 46 years: 1844 - 40 = 1884, see Doctrine and Covenants 130:14-15, where the Lord reveals that the soonest would be when Joseph was 85 years old: born 1805 + 85 = 1890, hence 46 years, rather than 40 years.]
For Jesus Christ [Yahwushwah Ha Mashiyach] never did reveal to any man the precise time [DAY nor HOUR!] that he would come. Go and read the scriptures and you cannot find any thing that specified the exact [time] He would come and all that say so are false teachers. He uttered all this in the name of the Lord, and said we should go home and write it! It was a very large and attentive congregation. [However it is written in other places that there will be men [and women] who will have it revealed to them (told) the year or even the month! I know two such people, one male and one female, whom the Lord has told. The first was told back in the spring of 1975, when only at the age of seventeen. And he will be an old man when the Messiah returns, 70 years old. This same person has since been told the month (one year ago).]
There are some important things concerning the Office of the Messiah in the organization of the worlds, which I will speak of hereafter. May God Almighty bless you and pour out His spirit upon you is the prayer of your unworthy servant Amen."
[The Words of Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith's Diary by W. Richards, p.335; Wilford Woodruff Diary, p.327332; James Burgess Notebook, p.332-334; Franklin D. Richards "Scriptural Items", p.334-335; Thomas Bullock Diary, p.336; John Solomon Fullmer Papers, p.336; 10 March 1844 (Sunday) overall p.327-336; capitalization added, spelling and punctuation corrected, crossed out words removed, comments in brackets, and personal revelation on additional words added, not noted]
We can now see that there are three Grand Orders of Priesthood as well as three Dispensations of old that represented these Offices and Callings. These Dispensations of old are, in actuality, archetypes of the Last Days. For example, Noah was the archetype of 'Elias,' Moses was the archetype of 'Elijah' (i.e., Moses revealed the functioning Endowment, Gathering the Elect and taking them to the Promise Land of Inheritance by might miracles), and the Messiah was the archetype of possessing a fulness of the Priesthood, bringing redemption this the enemy spiritually, healings of all manners of elements, and salvation to the righteous. Then in the Last Days, Joseph Smith's Dispensation was the archetype of the 'Elias,' Elijah's Dispensation will bring Elijah to set in order all the Ordinances of the house of G_d, and finally the Messiah will come to possessing a fulness of the Priesthood, bringing redemption this the enemy physically, healings of all manners of elements, and exaltation to the righteous.
Let us now turn our attention to the last Discourse Joseph Smith gave on the 'coming of Elijah.' This Discourse was given on April 7, 1844. Historical records indicate that there were three different accounts of this Discourse. To simplify things, we will merge all three documents into one so as to present the most complete account possible.
"It is associated with the subjects in question of the Resurrection of the Dead. Another subject, is the soul and the mind of man. They say God created it in the beginning. The idea lessens man in my estimation. I don't believe this Doctrine, I know better. God told me so! It makes a man appear a fool before he gets through, if he does not believe it. We say that God was self-existent, but who told you so? It is correct enough but how did it get into your heads? Again, who told you that man did not exist upon the same principle (referring to the bible)? Does it not say so in old Hebrew [that] God made man (Adam) out of the earth and put into him his spirit and then it became a living body. The mind of man, the intelligent part is coequal with God himself. I know that my testimony is true! Hence, when I talk to these mourners what have they lost. They are only separated from their bodies for a short season but their spirits existed coequal with God and they now exist in a place where they converse together as much as we do on the earth. Is it logical to say that a spirit is immortal and yet have a beginning? Because if a spirit has a beginning, it will have an end? Good logic, let me illustrate this by my ring. All the fools: learned and wise men that comes and tells that man has a beginning, proves that he must have an end and if that Doctrine is true then the Doctrine of Annihilation is true [where fore Sons of Perdition individual intelligences can not be totally annihilated]. But if I am right then I might be bold to say that God never did have power to create the spirit of man at all. He could not create himself. Intelligence exists upon a self-existent, and is the first principle of man, that is that, intelligences that makes up a spirit, existed with God from age to age and there was no creation about it. All the spirits that God ever sent into this world are susceptible of enlargement. That God himself, find himself in the midst of spirit and glory because he was greater because He saw proper to institute laws for those who were less intelligent, whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself, that they might have one glory upon another [adding to them] in all that knowledge, power, and glory and so took in hand to save the world of Spirit: you say honey is Sweet and so do I. I can also taste the Spirit of eternal life I know it is good and when I tell you of these things that were given me by Inspiration of the Holy Spirit you are bound to receive it as sweet and I reject more and more [the precept of men. For] I know that when I tell you those words of eternal life that are given to me I know you taste it and I know you believe it. I wants to talk more of the relationship of Man to God, and I will open your eyes to the relationship to your dead? All things which God of his infinite reason that he has seen fit to reveal to us while we are dwelling in our mortal state in mortality, regard to our mortal bodies are revealed to us in the abstract and independent of affinity of this mortal tabernacle, as if we had no bodies at all and those revelations which will save our dead will also save our own spirit. God must of necessity reveals these Revelations to us in the view of no eternal dissolution of the spirit.
Would to God I had 40 days and nights, to tell you all, to let you know that I am not a fallen prophet! What kind of beings or characters are those who can be saved although their bodies are moldering and decaying in the dust or grave. When his commandments teach us it is in view of eternity. The greatest responsibility that God has laid upon us in this world, is to seek after our dead. The apostle says, they without us can not be made perfect. It is necessary that those who come after us should have salvation in common with us, and thus hath God laid this upon the [a word or words that that were indecipherable, might it be: 'Elect', 'Sons of God', 'Fourth Estate Beings', or 'next King'] of the world hence the saying of Elijah [we need to check the original source]. Speak in relation to the provisions God hath made to suit the conditions of man.
We are looked upon by God as though we were in Eternity, hence the greatest responsibility, and the awful responsibility that rests upon us is for the looking after our dead! For all the Spirits who have not obeyed the gospel in the flesh, must either obey the gospel in death or be damned. Solemn thought. Dreadful thought. Is there nothing that can be done, no preparation, no salvation for our fathers and friends gone before us and who have died without obeying the decrees of the Son of Man? Yes, for they without us cannot be made perfect, nor us without them. Now as I am speaking of them, I say to you, we must meet Paul half way, for you can not be perfect without us. Those that are gone before and those who come after must be made perfect, and God has made it obligatory upon man to do it. Hence the saying about Elijah, that he shall send Elijah, &c. God made provisions from before the foundations the world was for every living creature therein. I have a declaration to make as to the proven which God made from before the foundation of the world. What has Joseph said? All sins and all blasphemes every transgression that man may be guilty of there is a Salvation for him or in the world to come. Every Spirit in the Eternal World can be ferreted out and saved unless he has committed that Sin which can not be Redeem to him, that God has wrote out salvation for all men unless they have committed a certain sins a friend who has got a friend in the world can save him unless he has committed the unpardonable sin and so you can see how far you can be Savior there is no thing that a man can commit the unpardonable sin after the dissolution of the body and there is a way possible for escape. not Particularly stated those that are without wisdom until they get exalted to wisdom so long as man will not give account of his sins a sinner has his own mind and is in his own condemner for the guilty will the torment of the mind of man is as exquisite as a lake burning with fire and brimstone. I know the Scriptures I understand them. No man can commit the unpardonable sin after the dissolution of the body but they must do it in this World. Hence the Salvation of Jesus Christ was wrought out for all men to triumph over the devil, for he stood up for a Savior.
What hath Jesus said? All sins and all blasphemies every transgression except one there is a provision either in this world or in the world of spirit. Hence God hath made a provision that every spirit can be ferreted out in that world that has not sinned the unpardonable sin neither in this world or in the world of spirits. Every man who has a friend in the eternal world who hath not committed the unpardonable sin you can save him. A man cannot commit the unpardonable sin after the dissolution of the body there is a way for his escape. Knowledge saves a man and in the world of spirits a man can't be exalted but by knowledge. So long as a man will not give heed to the commandments he must abide without salvation. A man is his own torment. Hence the saying they shall go into the lake that burns with fire and is as exquisite as a lake and so is the torments of a man--I said no man could commit the unpardonable sin after the dissolution of the body. Hence the salvation that the saviour wrought out for the salvation of a man if it did not [indecipherable] him in one place it would another--The contention in heaven was Jesus said there were certain man would not be saved the devil said he could save them. He rebelled against God and was thrust down. After a man has sinned the sin against the Holy Spirit there is no repentance for him. Hence like many of the apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They go to far the spirit leaves them hence they seek to kill me they thirst for my blood--they never cease--he has got the same spirit that crucified Jesus. You cant renew them to repentance awful is the consequence. Advise all to be careful what they do, you may by and by find out that you have been deceived. He continued his discourse and told of parents receiving their children--concluded his remarks by Baptism--Choir sang--
The Words of Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith Diary, by W. Richards:
7 April 1844 (2) (Sunday Afternoon), p.342
The Words of Joseph Smith, Thomas Bullock Report: 7 April 1844
(2)(Sunday Afternoon), p.352p.353p.354
The Words of Joseph Smith, William Clayton Report: 7 April
1844 (2)(Sunday Afternoon), p.359p.360p.361 [punctuation and
spelling corrected, comments in brackets]
So what say ye? You cannot sit on the fence about so important matters as this. Either Elijah coming has been and Temple work is all that is needed and and if G_d came tomorrow were ready to receive Him, or as I contend, there is still another Dispensation that needs to come forth. That Elijah must come and head up this dispensation. That the turning of the Gospel from the Gentiles back to the house of Yesrael, the gathering of the Elect from the four corners of the earth and the establishment of Zion, as well as the bringing forth of the other 2/3's of the Book of Mormon, MUST HAPPEN FIRST, lest the whole earth be cursed and utterly wasted in His coming! Aman, Aman and Aman [Amen, Amen, and Amen].
* * *
® Copyrighted by Kingdom of ZION (KoZ), Ver 11/12, 2004
Coming of Eliyah is yet future, the Restoration of Yesrael and the Kingdom or Gospel and the other 2/3's of the Book of Mormon will follow. If Eliyah does not come, then with the coming of the Messiah, the earth shall be cursed and utterly wasted!
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| Re: Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH [message #1459 is a reply to message #1451] |
Sun, 18 November 2012 05:23  |
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Dragon
Messages: 499
Registered: June 2010
Location: Earth
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I admittedly did not make it through all the text either. However, I found the following points relevant to what you discussed in the first section.
1. The Fulness of the Gospel
The Fulness of the Gospel is discussed in other topics on this forum. To summarize what is eloquently stated there, the Fulness of the Gospel is: Repent, all ye ends of the Earth, and be Baptized that ye may receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands and endure to the end.
2. The sealed portion of the Golden Plates
Again, this has been discussed in other topics. To summarize, the sealed 2/3rds of the Golden Plates contains a single prophecy/vision given to the Brother of Jared which shows/expounds the entire history of this world, from the creation until the burning of the earth and the judgement of all men.
3. Elijah is a calling, as well as a person.
This is an important point for your text, as it means it may take multiple people, acting as, or in the office of (an) Elijah to fulfill the prophecies you have reference. So, Elijah the prophet of the Old Testament did come, and act in the office of Elijah. Joseph Smith did come, and act in the office of Elijah. There is a person who has come who WILL restore Israel unto the land of promise (Jerusalem). This person will take the throne of David unto himself, being a descendant of David, thus been the stem of Jesse (Judah) and the stem of Joseph. This is the second half of the fulfillment of the prophecy of John in the Book of Revelation that the stick of Judah and the Stick of Joseph shall become one in the hand of the Lord. This person will act as a prophet, defending Israel from her enemies (Rev 11). He will be King of Israel before the coming of the Lord. He will purify the sons of Levi, and restore the Aaronic priesthood to their care, and theirs alone, when they offer an offering in righteousness. There is evidence this offering will be a return of animal sacrifices in Jerusalem. During his reign as King, he will be known as the Prince of Peace (as was Melchizedek) and he will reduce the amount of war and bloodshed among the Gentile and Heathen nations.
These events will take place after many of the plagues spoken of in the Book of Revelation have taken place. When he enters Jerusalem, there will be wars and bloodshed continually, such that every man must either take up the sword in defense of his own life and his country, or flee unto Zion for safety. This Elijah will bring Zion to Jerusalem and make it a haven from these wars for many years, also building the temple in Jerusalem. He will have the power of Moses in commanding the plagues of Egypt and the famines of Elijah. These will be used to subdue the Gentile and Heathen nations under the reign of this King David. He will send out Missionaries who have the Seal of God in their Forehead (Rev 7) to seek out any and all who are willing to flee to Zion and learn of the ways of the Lord. This Elijah/David will be the one to greet the Lord in the Temple when he returns in His glory.
If you are not familiar with these verses, I can quote them for you, or state the source of these prophecies, though I do not have time now to do so.
- Dragon
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| Re: Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH [message #1465 is a reply to message #1457] |
Sun, 18 November 2012 22:35 |
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Kingdom of ZION
Messages: 46
Registered: November 2012
Location: Colorado
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Thrones wrote on Fri, 16 November 2012 13:54I made it half way through. I think you have some great points, but it is so obtuse with repetitions, quotes, and proofs that it is a bit unbearable to read.
If you could squeeze the most essential information down to a page or two, and then attach the evidence as end notes, you would reach more people with it.
You are very right, this material especially every quote is long and dry, and a short summery would speak better to more people who have less interest in knowing of a certainty, or willing to commit the time to see if it is true. Thank you Thrones, very constructive comment.
Shalom
Coming of Eliyah is yet future, the Restoration of Yesrael and the Kingdom or Gospel and the other 2/3's of the Book of Mormon will follow. If Eliyah does not come, then with the coming of the Messiah, the earth shall be cursed and utterly wasted!
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| Re: Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH [message #1466 is a reply to message #1459] |
Mon, 19 November 2012 00:06 |
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Kingdom of ZION
Messages: 46
Registered: November 2012
Location: Colorado
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Dragon wrote on Sun, 18 November 2012 05:23I admittedly did not make it through all the text either. However, I found the following points relevant to what you discussed in the first section.
1. The Fulness of the Gospel
The Fulness of the Gospel is discussed in other topics on this forum. To summarize what is eloquently stated there, the Fulness of the Gospel is: Repent, all ye ends of the Earth, and be Baptized that ye may receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands and endure to the end.
2. The sealed portion of the Golden Plates
Again, this has been discussed in other topics. To summarize, the sealed 2/3rds of the Golden Plates contains a single prophecy/vision given to the Brother of Jared which shows/expounds the entire history of this world, from the creation until the burning of the earth and the judgement of all men.
3. Elijah is a calling, as well as a person.
This is an important point for your text, as it means it may take multiple people, acting as, or in the office of (an) Elijah to fulfill the prophecies you have reference. So, Elijah the prophet of the Old Testament did come, and act in the office of Elijah. Joseph Smith did come, and act in the office of Elijah. There is a person who has come who WILL restore Israel unto the land of promise (Jerusalem). This person will take the throne of David unto himself, being a descendant of David, thus been the stem of Jesse (Judah) and the stem of Joseph. This is the second half of the fulfillment of the prophecy of John in the Book of Revelation that the stick of Judah and the Stick of Joseph shall become one in the hand of the Lord. This person will act as a prophet, defending Israel from her enemies (Rev 11). He will be King of Israel before the coming of the Lord. He will purify the sons of Levi, and restore the Aaronic priesthood to their care, and theirs alone, when they offer an offering in righteousness. There is evidence this offering will be a return of animal sacrifices in Jerusalem. During his reign as King, he will be known as the Prince of Peace (as was Melchizedek) and he will reduce the amount of war and bloodshed among the Gentile and Heathen nations.
These events will take place after many of the plagues spoken of in the Book of Revelation have taken place. When he enters Jerusalem, there will be wars and bloodshed continually, such that every man must either take up the sword in defense of his own life and his country, or flee unto Zion for safety. This Elijah will bring Zion to Jerusalem and make it a haven from these wars for many years, also building the temple in Jerusalem. He will have the power of Moses in commanding the plagues of Egypt and the famines of Elijah. These will be used to subdue the Gentile and Heathen nations under the reign of this King David. He will send out Missionaries who have the Seal of God in their Forehead (Rev 7) to seek out any and all who are willing to flee to Zion and learn of the ways of the Lord. This Elijah/David will be the one to greet the Lord in the Temple when he returns in His glory.
If you are not familiar with these verses, I can quote them for you, or state the source of these prophecies, though I do not have time now to do so.
I tried to preview it and then click back to have lost it all... I guess my answers needed to not be posted. Lets say I had many things I totally disagree with you on about Elijah. However, based on what you said above. Do you have something to declare here? As you said "There is a person who has come" would implying you know him?"
Coming of Eliyah is yet future, the Restoration of Yesrael and the Kingdom or Gospel and the other 2/3's of the Book of Mormon will follow. If Eliyah does not come, then with the coming of the Messiah, the earth shall be cursed and utterly wasted!
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| Re: Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH [message #1470 is a reply to message #1467] |
Tue, 20 November 2012 16:55 |
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Kingdom of ZION
Messages: 46
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Location: Colorado
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Dragon wrote on Mon, 19 November 2012 07:42KoZ:
I welcome your views on this subject. I enjoy learning through healthy discussion. Yes, I have met someone I believe to be the Elijah of whom you speak, if I am interpreting these scriptures correctly. I invite you to address each issue of disagreement, one at a time, with a few quotes to explain your disagreement. I will respond in kind, as I hope others will as well.
First off I want to say that when I posted this paper I was editing, I had not finished it but felt it got the doctrine across okay. I clicked poll as I thought having people vote on whether they think Elijah's mission is still yet future would be worthy of taking a poll. It labeled it a poll, yet there is no poll.
Next, I have tried to paste my post to find the encoding not working, like bold. So I was editing it when my lap top did a page back and I lost the post for a second time, except I had a copy in a word processor. So, after wasting time editing it one more time, I just capitalized the bolded comments and posted it. I do not think this forum software is working out for me.
Last of all, I really do not want to cause contention between me and others like Dragon, I had hoped to find friends here... however, when I doctrinally disagree on almost everything he said about Elijah and his mission, I am not getting off to a very good start!
Well, here is the twice lose post... my comments are in caps:
I admittedly did not make it through all the text either. However, I found the following points relevant to what you discussed in the first section.
1. The Fulness of the Gospel
The Fulness of the Gospel is discussed in other topics on this forum. To summarize what is eloquently stated there, the Fulness of the Gospel is: Repent, all ye ends of the Earth, and be Baptized that ye may receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands and endure to the end.
THAT IS NOT THE FULNESS OF THE GOSPEL, IT IS THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION AND YOU BARELY LISTED 3 OUT OF THE 5 BASIC TENETS.
4. WE BELIEVE THAT THESE ORDINANCES ARE: 1ST, FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST; 2ND, REPENTANCE; 3RD, BAPTISM BY IMMERSION FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS; 4TH, LAYING ON OF HANDS FOR THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; 5TH, THE LORD'S SUPPER. OAofF
2. The sealed portion of the Golden Plates
Again, this has been discussed in other topics. To summarize, the sealed 2/3rds of the Golden Plates contains a single prophecy/vision given to the Brother of Jared which shows/expounds the entire history of this world, from the creation until the burning of the earth and the judgment of all men.
ACTUALLY, THE WRITINGS OF MAHONRI ARE CONTAINED ON OTHER PLATES, AND ONLY "THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF" BY NEPHI IN THE NEPHITE LANGUAGE (ETHER 4:5), AND MORONI POSSESSING A COPY OF THAT RECORD, MOST LIKELY MADE A THIRD COPY BY WRITING THE WORDS OF THE VISION UPON "THESE PLATES" (ETHER 4:4, THE GOLD PLATES).
HOWEVER TO SAY THAT THE "the sealed 2/3rds of the Golden Plates 'ONLY' contains a single prophecy/vision given to the Brother of Jared" WOULD NOT BE CORRECT.
3. Elijah is a calling, as well as a person.
I AM SORRY TO CONTINUALLY BE CORRECTING YOU, BUT THE "KEYS OF ELIJAH" ARE KEYS! AND THE CALLING, OFFICE AND MISSION OF ELIJAH IS HIS PERSONAL MISSION TO FULFILL THAT CALLING AND OFFICE.
This is an important point for your text, as it means it may take multiple people, acting as, or in the office of (an) Elijah to fulfill the prophecies you have reference. NOT SO! So, Elijah the prophet of the Old Testament did come IN HIS FIRST COMING, and act in the CALLING, OFFICE (AND MISSION) of Elijah. Joseph Smith did come, and act in the office of Elijah NO, IN THE SPIRIT AND CALLING OF ELIAS AS HE SAID. TPJS There is a person who has come who WILL restore Israel unto the land of promise (Jerusalem) NO, HE WILL RESTORE THE KINGDOM OF YESRAEL TO THEIR (JABOB'S) LANDS OF INHERITANCE, AND THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH HAS AND WILL GATHER TO JERUSALEM. This person will take the throne of David unto himself AGAIN I HAVE TO DISAGREE, HE WILL BE GIVEN THE KINGDOM OF DAVID (OF OLD) AS THE MIGHT AND THRONE BELONG TO THE MESSIAH, being a descendant of David, thus been the stem of Jesse (Judah) and the stem of Joseph. ACTUALLY HE IS THE ROOT OF JESSE! NOT THE STEM! This is the second half of the fulfillment of the prophecy of John in the Book of Revelation that the stick of Judah and the Stick of Joseph shall become one in the hand of the Lord. IF YOU ARE SAYING THAT THE QUAD SCRIPTURES (STICKS) ARE THE FIRST HALF YOU ARE HALF RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE IS NO SECOND PART, AS PER THIS PROPHECY. MORE MAY YET BE ADDED (FROM THE 2/3 OF THE SEALED BofM TO THE STICK OF JOSEPH), BUT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE UNIFICATION OF THE TWO KINGDOMS. WHEN THE WRITINGS OF THE LOST TRIBES AND THEIR RECORDS ARE BROUGHT FORTH, ADDITIONS THAT WILL AGAIN BE ADDED TO THE STICK OF JOSEPH. This person will act as a prophet, defending Israel from her enemies (Rev 11). NO, HE AS THE DISPENSATION KING AND THE DISPENSATION PRIEST'S COMING WILL BE A CURSING AND A SCOURGE TO JUDAH FOR A THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND THREESCORE DAYS. He will be King of Israel before the coming of the Lord. SO YOU THINK HE WILL BE A KING IN JERUSALEM? NO ABSOLUTELY NOT! He will purify the sons of Levi, and restore the Aaronic priesthood (ACTUALLY THEY WILL AGAIN BEGIN TO ADMINISTER IN THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS) to their care, and theirs alone, when they offer an offering in righteousness THEY WILL DO THIS UNDER HIS SUPERVISION? NO, THEY WILL AFTER REPENTING AND SEEKING THE LORD/ADONAI AFTER CHASTISEMENT FROM THESE, HIS SERVANTS. There is evidence this offering will be a return of animal sacrifices in Jerusalem. YES, THAT IS LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD! During his reign as King, he will be known as the Prince of Peace (as was Melchizedek) NO, NO, NO, he WILL NOT! MELCHIZEDEK WAS CALLED SUCH BECAUSE HE WAS ADONAI, THE HOLY ANOINTED/HA MASHIYACH, HE WILL AND NOW HAS BECOME A LITERAL SON OF THE LIVING G_D. HE IS THE KING OF HEAVEN AND THE AIR, PRINCE OF PEACE, LORD OF LORDS. and he will reduce the amount of war and bloodshed among the Gentile and Heathen nations. AND THIS WILL INCREASE NOT DECREASE, BUT HE WILL STAND AS AN ENSIGN UNTO THE NATIONS AND ESPECIALLY UNTO THE GENTILES.
These events will take place after many of the plagues spoken of in the Book of Revelation have taken place. When he enters Jerusalem, there will be wars and bloodshed continually, such that every man must either take up the sword in defense of his own life and his country, or flee unto Zion for safety. IN PRINCIPLE. This Elijah will bring Zion to Jerusalem and make it a heaven from these wars for many years, THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN! also building the temple in Jerusalem. NO HE WILL NOT DO THIS! He will have the power of Moses in commanding the plagues of Egypt and the famines of Elijah. YES, AND OTHER THINGS. These will be used to subdue the Gentile and Heathen nations under the reign of this King David. IT IS THE WICKED THAT WILL DESTROY THE WICKED. He will send out Missionaries who have the Seal of God in their Forehead (Rev 7) THE 144,000 WILL GO OUT TO GATHER THE ELECT FROM THE FOUR CORNER OF THE EARTH. to seek out any and all who are willing to flee to Zion and learn of the ways of the Lord. NOT TRUE, THOSE FEW GENTILES WHO COME OF THEIR OWN ACCORD AND ARE WILLING TO REPENT AND BE NUMBERED AMONG THE HOUSE OF YESRAEL, ARE WELCOME, BUT THEIR NUMBERS SHALL BE FEW! This Elijah/David will be the one to greet the Lord in the Temple when he returns in His glory. MANY WILL GREET THE LORD AND HIS FATHER AT ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN. IN HIS COMING, THOSE HERE WILL BE CAUGHT UP TO MET HIM, IN HIS COMING IN GLORY, SAVE A FEW THAT MAYBE ASKED TO TEARY. THEIR NUMBER SHASLL BE SO FEW, THAT A SMALL CHILD MY WRITE THEIR NAMES (EIGHT IS THE ETERNAL PATTERN!).
If you are not familiar with these verses, I can quote them for you, or state the source of these prophecies, though I do not have time now to do so.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR OFFER, BUT I THINK EVEN IF WE SAT AND READ THEM TOGETHER, WE WOULD NEVER SEE THE SAME THINGS, AS IS SELF EVIDENT.
Coming of Eliyah is yet future, the Restoration of Yesrael and the Kingdom or Gospel and the other 2/3's of the Book of Mormon will follow. If Eliyah does not come, then with the coming of the Messiah, the earth shall be cursed and utterly wasted!
[Updated on: Tue, 20 November 2012 16:59] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH [message #1471 is a reply to message #1470] |
Tue, 20 November 2012 21:31 |
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Dragon
Messages: 499
Registered: June 2010
Location: Earth
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KoZTHANK YOU FOR YOUR OFFER, BUT I THINK EVEN IF WE SAT AND READ THEM TOGETHER, WE WOULD NEVER SEE THE SAME THINGS, AS IS SELF EVIDENT.
Of all the things you posted in your response, this is the only one which troubles me. It suggests to me your mind is closed and your heart is hardened by the need to be right. What's worse, you assume my mind is likewise closed. This forum is not intended for people to gather fans who agree with them in every aspect. I have made it a point to study 2nd Coming prophecies, as you clearly have. I am always interested in learning of other interpretations for concepts which seem clear to me. I will admit, there are several things in what I said which need greater understanding to sustain them through a robust discussion. One of this is whether the person I speak of is the same person you speak of. I am not yet convinced they are. If, and only if, you are willing to discuss these things with an open mind, and set aside our egos, I will gladly review the scriptures and quotes with you, and you can explain in more detail how your interpretations differs from mine. However, I will not engage in such a conversation with someone who will never consider new ideas.
- Dragon
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| Re: Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH [message #1473 is a reply to message #1471] |
Wed, 21 November 2012 10:32 |
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Kingdom of ZION
Messages: 46
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Location: Colorado
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I now see that it probably was not said in a condensing view, it was more from impetuousness of youth.
"If you are not familiar with these verses, I can quote them for you, or state the source of these prophecies, though I do not have time now to do so."
I have read them all over 30 years ago, and have received many personal revelations concerning them over the years.
You said, "It suggests to me your mind is closed and your heart is hardened by the need to be right. What's worse, you assume my mind is likewise closed. This forum is not intended for people to gather fans...
I would say, if I am looking for fans... I sure am doing a p poor job, the only fan I have is one wife who knows me almost as well as the Lord. And she is not lining up to follow me blindly!
As for being close minded... it depends on the topic. Once I have personal revelation on the subject, unless something is presented that differs in some aspect from what I have received and needs more divine clarity, my mind is set in stone. When someone say something that is the exact opposite to what I know to be true, I will plainly say that, as I have.
Are there topics that I have no clear understanding on? Probably a billion facts I either do not know or cannot recall.
Is my heart harden to the truth or the need to be right? I think those who know me, they are my witnesses.
Shalom
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| Re: Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH [message #1474 is a reply to message #1473] |
Wed, 21 November 2012 11:23 |
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Dragon
Messages: 499
Registered: June 2010
Location: Earth
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Quote:I have read them all over 30 years ago,
I seriously doubt you could have read every prophecy about the 2nd Coming or everything Joseph Smith alone said about the 2nd Coming, especially before 1982, which precedes the dawn of the internet age. There is more information out there than any one person can absorb. I am eager to hear your personal revelations and insights on this subject. However, I have too often engaged in such discussions with someone whose heart is angered by my statements. I do not wish to ferment hatred in the world. Thus, if you believe you know everything there is to know on the subject, and I present something new, you would not be open to the whisperings of the Spirit on the subject, because your mind is set in stone. As Alma said, those who refuse to accept new truths, those who close their minds and hearts to new ideas, will eventually lose the truth they possess.
- Dragon
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| Re: Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH [message #1475 is a reply to message #1474] |
Wed, 21 November 2012 12:27 |
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JulesGP
Messages: 357
Registered: May 2012
Location: Davis County, UT
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I am actually interested in this topic. However, the learning I may gain by reading this particular thread is being hindered by two individuals who are obviously well-read on the subject and have developed entirely different conclusions, and are asserting their own views without the spirit of teaching - but with the spirit of proving any other viewpoint to be incorrect. Even when the two of you - KOZ and Dragon, "apologize" to each other, you insert passive aggressive comments, accusations, etc into your comments. Maybe there is a better way for the two of you to present your ideas and allow for the spirit to direct us readers to the truths that are likely contained within both views - so we can develop our own understandings.....?
~Jules
[Updated on: Wed, 21 November 2012 12:27] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH [message #1476 is a reply to message #1474] |
Wed, 21 November 2012 12:58 |
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Kingdom of ZION
Messages: 46
Registered: November 2012
Location: Colorado
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Dragon wrote on Wed, 21 November 2012 11:23Quote:I have read them all over 30 years ago,
You originally were speaking of the scriptures and those few prophecies not canonized... "If you are not familiar with these verses, I can quote them for you, or state the source of these prophecies, though I do not have time now to do so."
"I seriously doubt you could have read every prophecy about the 2nd Coming or everything Joseph Smith alone said about the 2nd Coming, especially before 1982, which precedes the dawn of the internet age."
You may doubt whatever you want. I once had a website in the 90's that contained more original doctrines and writings then most current sites. I have the collected records of all of Farms original documents, all 354 Gigabits. I have all the collected works and original published writings of the LDS, RLDS (CoC), FLDS, AUB, PLDS, CoF x 2, CoFFoT, TLC, RBLDS, SotP, and dozens of independents Mormon Sects or LDS Brake Offs that have come and gone. I have personally visited more of these groups or churches or united orders then the years you are old.
"There is more information out there than any one person can absorb. I am eager to hear your personal revelations and insights on this subject. However, I have too often engaged in such discussions with someone whose heart is angered by my statements."
Oh please, do not flatter yourself on my account, there is nothing you could say that would remove my peace.
"I do not wish to ferment hatred in the world. Thus, if you believe you know everything there is to know on the subject, and I present something new, you would not be open to the whisperings of the Spirit on the subject, because your mind is set in stone."
Just maybe you have not heard what I said, I sure hope this is the case... you need to go and reread what I did say, lest I have to explain it to you again.
"As Alma said, those who refuse to accept new truths, those who close their minds and hearts to new ideas, will eventually lose the truth they possess."
And then again maybe I did not misjudge in the first instance...
I agree with Ashley, and I would add, you could learn many things from her! Time will tell if you yourself are capable of such.
Coming of Eliyah is yet future, the Restoration of Yesrael and the Kingdom or Gospel and the other 2/3's of the Book of Mormon will follow. If Eliyah does not come, then with the coming of the Messiah, the earth shall be cursed and utterly wasted!
[Updated on: Wed, 21 November 2012 13:00] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH [message #1531 is a reply to message #1475] |
Fri, 07 December 2012 14:00 |
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Kingdom of ZION
Messages: 46
Registered: November 2012
Location: Colorado
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JulesGP wrote on Wed, 21 November 2012 12:27I am actually interested in this topic. However, the learning I may gain by reading this particular thread is being hindered by two individuals who are obviously well-read on the subject and have developed entirely different conclusions, and are asserting their own views without the spirit of teaching - but with the spirit of proving any other viewpoint to be incorrect. Even when the two of you - KOZ and Dragon, "apologize" to each other, you insert passive aggressive comments, accusations, etc into your comments. Maybe there is a better way for the two of you to present your ideas and allow for the spirit to direct us readers to the truths that are likely contained within both views - so we can develop our own understandings.....?
I should not have been so critical of his comments, if no offense was meant, and even if he had personal issues, I should have still stepped over them. For my doing that, I am sorry if I distracted others from looking for the truth here.
As a side note I have read the paper again and see much more in what needed editing. I thank those of you who commented on it, in time I will finish it. As for a one page paper? I might do that in a post about Elijah, but I am not trying to sell people on this doctrine. Time will prove all things.
Shalom
Coming of Eliyah is yet future, the Restoration of Yesrael and the Kingdom or Gospel and the other 2/3's of the Book of Mormon will follow. If Eliyah does not come, then with the coming of the Messiah, the earth shall be cursed and utterly wasted!
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| Re: Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH [message #2305 is a reply to message #1451] |
Wed, 13 March 2013 03:45 |
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brrgilbert
Messages: 282
Registered: December 2012
Location: Nampa, Idaho
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I have just concluded reading the postings of this thread. I am concerned about some of the implications brought forward and should like to ask a few questions related thereto. I should like to direct these to Kingdom of Zion as the originator and presenter of the concepts involved.
It is a traditionally held belief that the "dispensational plan" in which we are partakers has a duration of 7,000 years. The inference of an additional dispensation would tend to upset this apple cart. What would constitute further evidence to either support or deny this assertion? Is it correct or is it false?
I concur that the Prophet Joseph Smith gave cause to question the completion of Elijah's mission. Are you inferring that Elijah will come again in a "translated" state to fulfill this mission or are you proposing that he will come again as a mortal?
This idea of first, second, third, and fourth estate beings is interesting and I would request that you review with me the definitions / explanations of each and how they interact.
I am very concerned about this "reincarnation" paradigm that has been made in another thread and inferred by this one. The idea of passing relentlessly through mortality and being "recycled" over and over again terrifies me. I caught the scent of a "yo-yo" effect of trying to make the connection with those who have passed on via the sealing power of Elijah and ourselves, as a way to "guarantee" that in the next iteration of lives we would have a sure "anchor" to allow us to return. I guess that what I am wondering about is your concept of the plan of salvation . . . . How does your cosmology incorporate the idea of reincarnation with reference to the Plan of Salvation? Perhaps I have limited, with my vernacular, your movie to a single snap-shot and this is not my intent. I wish to understand the whole of your "plan of progression" from an individual (got everything right) perspective. From what I am gleaning, I am feeling "forced" by such a paradigm into "conforming" to righteousness or be consigned to go around and around and around; up to the spirit world or heaven and then down to mortality, over and over again. The idea is one of continuous hell to me. Tell me why I would want to choose such an existence and would you "sell it" to me? Do I have it right? Help me understand because my eternity could depend on it. I appreciate your patience and gratefully anticipate your response.
"I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies."
The Little Prince by St. Exupery
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| Re: Prophecies of the Coming of ELIJAH [message #2315 is a reply to message #2305] |
Sun, 17 March 2013 17:35 |
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Kingdom of ZION
Messages: 46
Registered: November 2012
Location: Colorado
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I have finished revising this paper on Elijah some months ago, and have moved on to many other subjects.
However, as for your inquiry as to the Eight Dispensations. Mormonism is the only religion that expresses that the 'Messiah came in the meridian of Time'. What is meant by the term Meridian? The middle or center of Time? Most Theologians believe that the Fall in the Garden was at 4004 BC. Even with the 1000 years of the Millennial world, we would currently only have 7017 years. Either the Messiah should have been born at around 500 BC or we still have 1000-17 more years to go to the Millennium, plus that 1000 years, in a creation that is 8000 years long or the Messiah was not born in the Meridian of Time.
What I am declaring is that there is a 1000 year dispensation of rest from all of our labors after the Millennial world and that this realm will be Celestial in nature. The Great Yehovah will be the Dispensation King. It is hard to prove things to many Saints satisfaction about doctrines that were never clearly revealed. This is where those following the letter of the law must stop and only those who can get personal revelation will have the facts manifested.
Shalom
Coming of Eliyah is yet future, the Restoration of Yesrael and the Kingdom or Gospel and the other 2/3's of the Book of Mormon will follow. If Eliyah does not come, then with the coming of the Messiah, the earth shall be cursed and utterly wasted!
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So far, I have only witnessed kind, and constructive criticism of your paper KOZ. 
