Repentance vs. Constitutional Issues

With the popularity of the Tea Party Movement, some have asked why the LDS Church leadership isn't as vocal on government corruption and Constitutional issues like President Ezra Taft Benson or President J. Ruben Clark. With the 2012 presidential elections approaching the LDS Leadership faithfully releases the usual statements that the LDS Church does not endorse specific political parties or candidates but keeps itself politically neutral except when it comes to specific social issues like Protecting Traditional Marriage for example. in addition to realizing that the LDS Church is a world-wide organization and not just an American Church, I had the following thoughts on this issue with regard to some of the problems and challenges in America.

The first step in America's IDEOLOGICAL SUBVERSION was our DEMORALIZATION. Therefore, the only way to defend the Constitution is not to fight constitutional issues, put to fight SIN and to preach repentance and to encourage keeping Gods law. We must somehow REMORALALIZE America.

Remember our covenant with God according to the Book of Mormon, Inasmuch as we will keep the commandments of God we will be a free people on this continent. And inasmuch as we do not keep the commandments of God we will be cut off.

It's that simple. Preaching repentance is much more important than preaching against government corruption or individual constitutional issues. SIN is the root of the problem. if the LDS leadership were to preach about government corruption, 911, ect. They would open themselves up for being infiltrated by agent provocateur anarchists and for inciting anti-government and anti-American sentiments just as has been done with Islam.

Fighting the battles to "End the Fed" or "Legalizing Marijuana" or the "Police State" or whatever else Constitutional issue is just treating symptoms but not getting at the root of the problems in America. Yuri Bezmenov (ex-KGB? I think current) talked about demoralization resulting in ideological subversion but made the same mistake in telling America it needed to fight Constitutional issues and said nothing about repentance. But he was correct when he said a demoralized person can't even recognize truth until the boot of reality comes crushing down on their neck.

Ether 8:23 "Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins,"

The Spirit of Elijah

"The dead will be after you, they will seek after you as they have after us in St. George [temple]. They called upon us, knowing that we held the keys and power to redeem them. I will here say before closing, that two weeks before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 19, p. 229, Wilford Woodruff)."

Someone questioned the following quote from Wilford Woodruff who was the 4th Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This person was concerned that this quote advocated the forbidden practice of spiritism or divination. First off, this question is a reflection of an unfortunate misunderstanding of the quote. Pres. Woodruff is not speaking of the living seeking to communicate with the dead, but the dead trying to inspire the living.

Let me be clear from the start that the LDS Church strictly forbids its members from praying to anyone other than Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ or from practicing any type of spiritism or seeking communication from anyone who has died. Any practices of this sort invites evil spirits who will deceive you.

Instead, the spirit that Pres. Woodruff is speaking of is the spirit of Genealogy and Family History work that so many feel to do. This spirit is referred to as the Spirit of Elijah. After completing the temple in St. George Utah, Pres. Woodruff recounts that he was unexpectedly visited by a host of spirits including the Founding Fathers and many great men of the Protestant Reformation. They wanted to know why the LDS church had forgotten them and had not provided them a baptism by vicarious proxy in the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They had faithfully completed the work God has given them to do which made the restoration of the church possible. In response, Pres. Woodruff immediately provided these ordinances for these great pioneers of freedom.

I and many other LDS and non-LDS have been prompted to do genealogy and family history work. Not in the same way as Pres. Woodruff. But the unseen motivation to seek out our dead ancestors is real. This desire to do Genealogy work which is the spirit of Elijah is why so many people are interested in family history research. This spirit is in fulfillment of the prophecy in Malachi which says in the Last Days Elijah will appear and hearts of the fathers will turn to the children and the hearts of the children turn to their fathers.

Mal 4:6 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.
Luke 1:7 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Luke 1:17 is speaking of the mission of John the Baptist to baptize the living before the first coming of Christ while Mal 4:6 is speaking of Elijah himself coming before the great and dreadful day of the Lord to restore the keys of baptism for the dead before the Second Coming of Christ. Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and restored the keys of this work in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836. So, John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah to baptize the living before the First Coming of Jesus Christ and Elijah himself came to baptize the dead before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Since names may be required to resurrect people and call them out of the Earth, it would be useful to do all the genealogy work so that the righteous can be resurrected during the Millennium. Christ could do it all himself. But that is not how he operates. He allows man to participate in this work just like He allows man to participate in the building up of His kingdom on Earth and in doing missionary work.

Aaronic and Melchisedek Priesthoods

LDS are aware that the Aaronic Priesthood is the right of the descendent's of Aaron. Since we don't know specifically who they are yet (Cohen-modal haplotype, patriarchal blessing, genealogy), the priesthood operates within the LDS church until it can be returned to the rightful holders. Not every Jew with the last name of Cohen is "Kohenim" and very few of these are LDS.

While Blood sacrifice is no longer necessary as part of the Aaronic priesthood, sacrifice itself is still a indespensible and integral part of the Aaronic Priesthood and the higher priesthood. Paul says that only the "commandments" of this "unprofitable" and "changeable" yet "preparatory" and "everlasting" priesthood and covenant were disannuled. Therefore the requirements of blood sacrifice had an end and was replaced by water baptism and the Lord's Supper which serve the same purpose to 1. remind us of our sinfulness, 2. remind us of our need for a Savior 3. Bring us to Christ for justification

The Melchisedek priesthood is to draw us near to the Father by Sanctification. Sanctification or Perfection or the Son preparing us to return into the presence of the Father is the purpose of the LDS New Testament Temple and its sanctifying ordinances and covenants (gifts of grace). Many Evangelical churches do a great job preaching our sin nature, grace, justification, and bringing people to Jesus Christ the Son, but these churches neglect the doctrine of empowered sanctification; that Christ would prepare us to come unto, see, and enjoy fellowship with the Father. Many Evangelical churches still preach a corrected OT message but neglect the NT purpose.

Heb 7:11-19 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. . . .For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

People forget that God invited all the Elders of Israel up into the Mountain with Moses. God wanted a sanctified and perfected kingdom of priests, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a peculiar people. But the people feared God and told Moses "You go and speak for us, lest we die." While Moses was away, the people said that Moses delayed his coming, and gave all their filthy lucre (mammon) to Aaron to fashion a golden calf (false religion). Then the voice of God came to Moses and told him to hasten his returning because the people were defiling themselves. (Notice this is an allegory of the Second Coming and the Antichrist). Moses found the people in sin and the people lost the rights to the higher Melchisedek/Abrahamic Covenant. Instead they were given a preparatory covenant. The purpose of the Aaronic/Levitical Priesthood and its associated requirements/commandments (Law of Moses) was to make the people ashamed, remind them of their continual sinfulness, continual need for forgiveness and a Savior/Messiah, and to point them to Jesus Christ. While the preparatory priesthood prepared Israel to receive the Son, the Aaronic priesthood did not sanctify or prefect and therefore did not prepare Israel to progress from the Son to the Father.

This preparatory and changeable covenant and priesthood of Aaron still operates in the Kingdom, remember that only the commandments were disannuled; but the higher Melchisedek Priesthood and its associated ordinances, temple, and covenants promise sanctification through the blood of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Gal. 3: 17 And this I say, that the covenant (higher Abrahamic/Melchisedek), that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law (preparatory Aaronic/Levitical), which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

Early Church Authority

Q: What is the Mormon position about the original church authority? Were the apostles the only real authority? Or were others allowed some? Who was authorized to baptize new believers? Who had the authority to make important decisions? Did everyone have some authority but others had more? Or did new believers have no authority and had to wait to be given it by others who already had it? This is important because (correct me if I'm wrong) the Mormon position is that all such authority was lost and thus in need of a restoration. Therefore, I am wondering what exactly that authority was.

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A: To answer the question we need to differentiate between priesthood authority, priesthood keys, and priesthood power.

We know that the original church was organized with a chief apostles Peter at the head of 12 apostles (Eph. 4: 11). The church also had 7 evangelists or presidents and had seventy elders. On the local level we have individual bishops (episcopate) who had authority over elders (presbyter) and deacons (deaconos). We also get a clue from the Bible that Elders were authorized to do things deacons didn't do. When the Bible says who can bless and annoint, it says call upon the elders (James 5: 14).

Clement criticizes those in Corinth who removed their Bishop, and said Bishops were to be appointed by eminent men in the hierarchy and not voted in by the congregation. And then the appointment, Clement said, was to be presented before the church for a vote of consent and sustaining (1 Clem 41:1, 42:5, 44:1-5).

Ignacius tells the church to do nothing without the Bishop including baptisms, lords supper etc. So if there is a priesthood of all believers, there still is the issue of keys (Epistle of Ignatius to Hero: 3,Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans: 8). You should remember that while the sealing authority was given to all the Apostles In Matt 18, only Peter was given Keys (Matt 16:18-19).

Okay, so what's the difference:

Priesthood Authority
Priesthood authority is the authority to act in the name of God and perform an ordinance, sacrament, covenant marriage, Lords Supper that is valid in heaven in the eyes of God.

Priesthood Keys
Priesthood keys are not just the authority to administer an ordinance, but it is the the authority to authorize that a baptism, Lords Supper, or covenant marriage can be done. A person may have the authority to administer the ordinance, but keys are necessary to authorize that the ordinance be done. The concept of keys is genius because it prevents a person from receiving priesthood authority and then splitting off and thinking he can form his own authorized church. All authority is derived from the same keys. And only Peter and all the Apostles together held all the keys.

Priesthood Power
Even with priesthood keys and authority, there still is the issue of power. Just because someone has authority, a person must empower that authority. This empowerment of priesthood authority is based on the atonement of Jesus Christ, repentance, and personal righteousness. And the power of the Priesthood is the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost does not dwell in unholy temples (1 Cor. 3: 16). This is why the Apostles were unable to cast out devils on one occasion and Christ told them these did not come out but by prayer and fasting. There wasn't a problem with authority but empowerment (Matt. 17: 21).

So, after the death of the Apostles and many of the Early Church Fathers and Bishops, the keys of the Priesthood, which are passed down in succession by the laying on of hands (1 Tim. 4: 14), was lost to the Earth. While individual Bishops are given some keys to preside over a local congregation only the Chief Apostles, and the Twelve Apostles as a group hold and exercise all Priesthood keys. Another important aspect of the kingdom of God is its hierarchy. The Bible and the Early Church Fathers made it abundantly clear that church leadership was supposed to be appointed from the top down and not elected from the bottom up. Voting does not represent and does not always reflect the mind and will of God.

Overcoming and Prevailing

The NT tells of the story when the apostles observe someone casting out devils in the name of the Lord Jesus but these people did not follow the Apostles. That is, they did not have the authority. The Apostles themselves were unsuccessful on one occasion trying to cast out a devil even with the correct authority. But Christ taught His apostles the importance of religious freedom and said "Forbid them not". In the OT Aaron and Moses say two elders of Israel without the camp prophesying. Moses was petitioned, "Moses, forbid them." But Moses said, "enviest thou for my sake, would that God would make all men prophets and put His spirit on them" (Num. 11: 25-29 ). So again we are taught that God would never forbid anyone from prophesying or casting out devils in His name even without His priesthood authority and sealing keys.

Mark 9:38-39 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

However, in another place in Acts we have several Jews, who used the name of the Lord Jesus to cast out evil spirits, but it says that the evil spirit lept upon them overcame and prevailed against them. Obviously it is no coincidence the words "prevail" and "overcome" are used here. Christ said if we were built upon His rock the gates of Hell would not prevail against us.

Acts 19:13-15 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

There are other instances of Hell prevailing, overcoming, making war with and killing the saints. The 4th beast or Roman Empire in Dan 7 was foretold to prevail and overcome and change the times and the laws of the gospel. John describes this same beast or kingdom with 10 horns would be given power to prevail and overcome. This same beast makes copies or images of itself and is given a mouth which preaches a false doctrine blaspheming God, his name, his tabernacle, and those in heaven.

Why would Christ permit the Saints to be overcome? Because they are not built upon His rock. And then Christ says there will be those who say Lord Lord and Christ will say He doesn't know them. Even confessing Christ is Lord is not enough to not be overcome and prevailed against. And even in works like prophesying, and casting out devils. So being built upon the rock has more to do with just calling Lord Lord, and more to do with works which Christ forbids none to do. So the only thing left is to look at the words of Christ to Peter and ask what is the rock, what more is necessary to not be overcome and prevailed against. And the answer is the sealing keys of the kingdom given to Peter.

Matt. 27: 21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

And it's the keys of the kingdom given to Peter and the sealing in the forehead spoken of in Revelation that will protect from being overcome in the day of tribulation and the day of judgement because the angel says the 4 angels unleashing the tribulation on the earth, "hurt not the earth, nor the trees, only those men who have not the sealing in their forehead" (Rev. 9: 4). This sealing power and authority is the priesthood restored after the great apostasy to the prophet Joseph Smith and to the 12 Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.

Matt 16:18-19 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Why Temples?

pWhat's the big deal about temples? Why did God command Moses and the Israelites to build a tabernacle in the wilderness, and why did God command Solomon to build the first temple at Jerusalem and later command Zerrubabel to rebuild it? Was the point of the temple just to have a place to perform the required ordinances and ritual sacrifice of the Law of Moses? Was the point of the temple just to create a concrete point of worship for Israel? Some Christians claim that the need for a temple is now obsolete. They say the temple was old school and old testament. Now, since Christ has fulfilled the Law of Moses, our spiritual focus of worship should be Jesus Christ alone and not associated with any building. And besides, God tore the veil from top to bottom and the scriptures say God does not dwell in temples built by men's hands. Christ is our temple now.

Acts 17: 24 (Acts 7: 48) God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Acts 17:24 is being said by Stephen to the Pharisees to remind them that God's presence was not in Herod's temple which wasn't built by the command of God but by the whims of Herod who tore down the second temple of Zarrubabel. Nevertheless, Christ is our temple. There is no denying that. Christ is the main spiritual meaning associated with the sacred structure. But what of the physical building itself. While some say the temple has no more righteous purpose, they misunderstand the major purpose why God himself commands and builds these structures. The problem with discounting the future role of the temple, is that the Bible foretells that God will rebuild His temple in the Last Days. And not just the one temple in Jerusalem, but temples will be built to every nation, kindred, tongue and people (Isa 2:1-2, Micah 4:1-2, Ezek 37:26-28, Rev. 7: 15, Rev 14:6).

But what of the real purpose of the temple? Why would the temple be important after Christ has already come? What could God need with a building? To understand the purpose of the temple, we need to go back to the days of Moses when God was attempting to establish His covenants with the people of Israel. What we see here is God raising up and preparing Moses to lead His covenant people out of bondage in Egypt. But when we look closely at the story, we see God did not intend for Moses to be the only one who would talk with God and everyone else would get God's word second-hand from Moses. What we see before the lesser covenant was made with Israel was that God wanted to establish a personal relationship with each individual person. God wanted everyone to climb the mountain and speak with Him. As Moses confessed, God wanted everyone in Israel to be a prophet, priest and king.

Num. 11: 29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!

Ex. 19: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Unfortunately, a kingdom of prophets, priests, and kings is not what happened. After God invited all the elders up into the mountain with Moses, the people refused. The people feared the Lord and told Moses to go up for them. I am sure our Father in Heaven was disappointed. But not as disappointed as he was at what Israel did next. While Moses was up in the mountain, the people got impatient and said Moses delayeth his coming. Thinking Moses wasn't going to return, Israel convinced Aaron make a golden calf to worship. Upon Moses return, and finding the people worshipping an idol, Moses smashed the plates containing the higher covenant and went back into the mountain and received the lesser or preparatory covenant known as the Law of Moses


Ex. 20: 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

So, what does the story of Moses in the mountain have to do with Latter-day temples? Temples are called by Isaiah, the mountain of the Lords House. In the same way God wanted every Israelite to go up into the mountain and speak with Him face to face, God desires a personal relationship with each of us. God doesn't just want one person to be the preacher and everyone else to get His word second-hand. God wants a kingdom of kings and priests, apostles and prophets. God wants a church of Abrahams and Moseses, Peters and Pauls. What does the temple have to do with this? The temple is where God manifest himself to His people and establishes his covenants with them.

Mark 4: 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

Ezek 43:10-12 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, . . and let them measure the pattern. . . shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.

How does God reveal himself in the temple? The temple teaches the mysteries of God or in other words, the temple teaches us about God, teaches us about who we are, and it teaches us about our relationship with God. But the temple just doesn't come out and say it. Jesus Christ said the mysteries of the kingdom were to be taught by parable. And the temple is exactly that. The temple is one great parable. As was revealed to Ezekiel, everything about the temple, its form, function, ritual symbolism, and ordinances teach something about God and His great plan of happiness for His children.

While studying a Sunday School lesson on the temple, I came across a quote by Joseph Smith who is the great prophet of this last dispensation before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith was called as a prophet like Moses, Abraham and Isaiah and like Moses was commanded to build temples so that God could establish personal relationships and covenants with each of His people individually. Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ at the time of His calling as a prophet, and he had something very interesting to say about the purpose of the temple and its relationship to scripture.

“Could we read and comprehend all that has been written from the days of Adam, on the relation of man to God and angels in a future state, we should know very little about it. Reading the experience of others, or the revelation given to them, can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God. Knowledge of these things can only be obtained by experience through the ordinances of God set forth for that purpose. Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject. … I assure the Saints that truth … can and may be known through the revelations of God in the way of His ordinances, and in answer to prayer.”


Wow, when you ponder what Joseph Smith is saying, his words really ring true. It's not enough to just read about other people's temple experiences, God wants each person to have their own. Temple experiences are just what scriptures are. In the Book of Mormon for example we examples of how the mysteries of God are shown to Lehi and Nephi in what we refer to as their Tree of Life visions. Later we see the people of the Book of Mormon gather around a temple built in America to listen to their prophet King Benjamin and realize the people are having a temple experience. Later on we read of Christ's personal visitation to the Nephites in America and at the temple in the city called Bountiful. There, Christ Himself teaches the same temple principles and covenants that were given to Lehi and Nephi and given to the people of King Benjamin. And there are many more examples like the Brother of Jared, and Moses 1 in the Pearl of Great Price. And while Joseph Smith indicates that while it is both helpful and necessary that we read the experiences that other prophets and Apostles had with God, the temple is a place were each of us can and must have our own personal experiences with God if we are to enjoy the fullness of salvation, eternal life and exaltation.

Allegory of the Apostasy

Many Christians insist that Jesus Christ clearly foretold that His church would never fall into apostasy. However, there are many scriptures which predict a great falling away before the Second Coming of Christ (2 Thes. 2: 3).

Amos foretold of a great spiritual famine in the land of hearing the word of the Lord and a person would search and not find it (Amos 8: 11). When has a person searched from the truth of God and not been able to find it? This is what happened during the Dark Ages.

Isaiah foretold of a marvelous work and a wonder in the last days which would be accompanied by a sealed book which would be revealed by someone who is unlearned. The result being that those who erred in spirit who learn correct doctrine (Isaiah 29).

John spoke of the dragon making war with the woman (church) who brought forth a child who was caught up to heaven (Christ). The dragon was wroth with the woman and made war against her and sent out a flood against her (persecution and apostasy). But God said the church would go into the wilderness for 3 1/2 years (time times and half a time) which refers to the length of time of Elijah's famine. Except this time it is referring to a spiritual famine. Then John says the Earth would help the women. How could the Earth assist the Church of Christ? It would help her through the coming forth of the Book of Mormon which came from out of the Earth. (Rev 12)

Jesus said His church built upon the rock would never fail (Matt. 16: 18). Jesus didn't guarantee that man would always remain built upon His rock. Wicked men rejected the keys and authority of Peter and the Apostles and the right to direct and continued revelation from God to lead His church.

Jesus said the fruit (converts) of the Apostles would remain faithful (John 15: 16). Jesus did not guarantee that the fruit (converts) of the fruit (converts) would remain. That is because there began to be wicked men who took over the church who Christ hadn't chosen and who Christ hadn't ordained.

Jesus said that he would be with his church to the end of the world (Matt. 28: 20). Jesus didn't guarantee that the people would remain with Him. Wicked men entered into the church and began teaching that water baptism was no longer necessary and stopped baptizing by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

John and Daniel both say the Beast (apostasy) would make war against the saints, wear them out, prevail against them, overcome them, and kill them. (Rev. 11: 7, Dan 7:21) and Daniel says the Beast would change the times and laws of the gospel of Christ (Dan 7:25).

Acts 19:13-15 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

This is a great allegory of the importance of priesthood authority and a foreshadowing of the coming Apostasy and the falling away. Now if confessing the name of Christ is all that is required to receive the gift of the priesthood of all believers, then why couldn't these Jews cast out the evil spirits? Why did the evil spirit say he recognized the authority of Jesus and Paul but not those who were using the name of the Lord Jesus. The reason why they failed is because they did not have the gift of the priesthood keys and authority which Paul says it given by prophecy and by the laying on of hands (1 Tim. 4: 14).

Consequently this evil spirit overcame these individuals and they fled out of the house (heaven) naked (unworthy) and wounded (sinful). And this is that same spirit that has overcome many professing Christians who have not received the proper baptism by the proper priesthood authority restored to the Earth by Jesus Christ together with a restoration of His word, His temple, and His Church.

Mark 9:38-39 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

Num. 11: 25-29 And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!

Here are two examples of God saying that the authorized servants of God should never forbid others not authorized to prophesy or cast out spirits in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And there are these and other examples which demonstrate that those not authorized with God's priesthood keys and authority have been successful and effective in casting out evil spirits, prophesying, and receiving other gifts of the Holy Spirit. In fact, Matt. 17: 21 gives us an example of the Apostles themselves trying unsuccessfully to cast out an evil spirit. The Apostles asked Christ why they were unsuccessful and Christ responded, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." What Christ was teaching was that the Apostles needed to empower their priesthood authority by inviting a greater portion of the Holy Spirit through prayer and fasting. So, knowing this, does this mean that authority isn't necessary at all? It seems authority meant nothing when it comes to gifts of the spirit.

The truth of what is being taught here is that miracles are a product of faith. Miracles and the gifts of the Spirit can be enjoyed by anyone at any time according to their faith and the will of God. The purpose is that these gifts are how the Father draws men to Christ. Remember that the scriptures say no man commeth unto Christ except the Father draws him. This is how and why Cornelius received the Holy Ghost before being water baptized (Acts 10: 47). Again, the gifts of God are how God draws us to His Son Jesus Christ, and after we have come unto Christ, Christ will empower us to receive the sanctifying works of His church by the proper priesthood authority to prepare us to come unto the Father.

John 6: 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

So, if a person can receive the Holy Ghost and enjoy spiritual gifts without priesthood authority, does that mean that that person has been prepared to enter into the kingdom of God? No, it doesn't. Because Jesus Christ in the following scripture is abundantly clear about the importance of priesthood authority. Here is the scripture in Matt. 27: 21-23 which is discussing how to discern true prophets with God's authority.

Matt. 27: 21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Here Christ is talking about a group of people who claim to know Jesus. These call out to Christ and call him their Lord even by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12: 3). But Christ says that although they think they know Him, He does not know them. Christ has said that only those who do the will of the Father will enter the Kingdom. Knowing this, these unfortunate souls argue their case by listing their works. Pay careful attention to what two works are lists. This cannot be a simple coincidence. These rejected souls say, "Have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?" These were the very two gifts of the spirit that Christ and Moses said no man should forbid another from doing. But apparently, just because a person has been in the business of prophesying and casting out spirits doesn't mean that they meet God's requirement to "do the will of the Father." So what then is lacking? How does a person "do the will of the Father" above and beyond prophesying and casing out devils.

To do the will of the Father, a person must do these good works after receiving the priesthood authority by prophecy and by the laying on of hands (1 Tim. 4: 14). The priesthood is God's authority to act in His name. Therefore, only after a person is properly authorized and empowered by the Holy Spirit, are they truly considered to be doing the will of the Father. Every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is prepared, and invited to receive or claim this priesthood authority which was restored to Earth by the resurrected Peter, James and John to the prophet Joseph Smith. And by God's priesthood authority and by God's Spirit we are blessed to know God and His Son Jesus Christ, and Christ has promised that in that day of judgement He will confess to the Father and to the angels that He knows us (Luke 12: 8, Rev. 3: 5).

Matt. 22: 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
John 15: 16, 19 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Helps and Governments

There are some Christians out there that have developed a kind of "Jesus is the answer" and "Jesus is all I need" doctrine to the extreme to exclude the need for any religious authority other then themselves and their personal interpretation of scripture. Yes, Jesus Christ promised that the Comforter or Holy Ghost could and would dwell in us and guide us into all truth. But Jesus Christ also said the Bible was not meant to be privately interpreted. These say, "There is no church organization, only Jesus, there is no priesthood, no more revelation or scriputure, no more prophets or Apostles, no baptism or communion, just Jesus."

2 Pet. 1: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
And while many deny the need for ordinances like water baptism, and the laying on of hands, or communion of the Lord's Supper, or the need to pay tithing, or an authorized religious governing authority to interpret the Bible and regulate doctrine, the Bible clearly relates that Christ established these institutions before His ascension into heaven.

1 Cor 12: 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Jesus has given us gifts such as helps and governments to help draw us to Him. I will receive all that Christ has given us. Jesus has given and continues to give the Body of Christ; apostles, prophets, teachers, ordinances, priesthood, additional scripture, helps and governments.

Matt 21: 33-41 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

This parable is directed at the leadership of the ancient Jews who sought to kill Jesus. Jesus Christ foretold that the honor of governing the Kingdom of God on the Earth would be given to other husbandmen. Who are these other husbandmen who would render Christ fruits in their season? It seems clear that Christ's appearance and fillfillment of the Law of Moses didn't do away with religious authority and priesthood. According to the parable, there would be other husbandmen, prophets and Apostles. And as Isaiah said, speaking of the Last Days, there would be watchmen called upon Mount Zion who Christ would see eye to eye with at His second coming.

Isa. 52: 8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.

Mosiah the Messiah

Since Elder Ballard invited members of the Church to participate online in defending the doctrines of the Church, I have visited a particular religious forum which is exceptionally antagonistic towards LDS beliefs. In fact, several of my friends had lost interest in investigating the LDS Church because of this very website and forum.

I knew this forum existed and had visited it briefly in the past, but not until Elder Ballard invite members to be more active on line did I really feel good about spending time at all on the site. But since I have I really have to hand it to our LDS critics on this particular website. They really do their homework. And they know LDS doctrine in some respects better than most LDS do. And if you want an obscure quote from the Early LDS Church leaders on any particular subject, they can usually find it for you.

And every once in a while they really come up with a post that is very inspiring and profound. Such was the case tonight with a great post by Joshua Lee who points out that it is curious in the Book of Mormon how that while the people of Zarahemla descended from Judah and had the blood of the son of King Zedekiah through Mulek, that the people appointed King Mosiah to be both their king and their priest. In this way, Mosiah becomes a Messianic figure.

Joshua Lee says:

"Why did the people of Zarahemla, who had a claim to the throne of Judah, accept Mosiah as their king, who was from the tribe of Manasseh? This is odd, especially in light of the people of Zarahemla having just learned from Mosiah of the "record of the Jews," during which years of warfare had been fought and recorded between Israel and Judah over this very controversy. However, in spite of this, the story goes:

Omni 1:12 Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla ...13 And it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had commanded him. And they departed out of the land into the wilderness ... until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla. 14 And they discovered a people, who were called the people of Zarahemla. ... the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews. 15 Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon.

Omni 1:18 But it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they should be taught in his language. And it came to pass that after they were taught in the language of Mosiah, Zarahemla gave a genealogy of his fathers, according to his memory; and they are written, but not in these plates. 19 And it came to pass that the people of Zarahemla, and of Mosiah, did unite together; and Mosiah was appointed to be their king.

Even the verse selected below from Isaiah for inclusion in the Book of Mormon seems to highlight this dilemma:

Isaiah 9:21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
2 Nephi 19:21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

But that's not all - here we see that the people of Zarahemla are now to be numbered with the Nephites, the descendants of Manasseh:

Mosiah 25:13 And now all the people of Zarahemla were numbered with the Nephites, and this because the kingdom had been conferred upon none but those who were descendants of Nephi.
What does all of this portend?Well, according to the blessing of Jacob, that Mosiah has become "Messiah" (a nice touch with the name cognate here, BTW), because he has fulfilled this promise:
Gen 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Of course, this presents a bit of a problem within the scope of the promise to David.So, to sum up, I see this usurping by a "false Mosiah" as a big problem within the Book of Mormon. Thoughts?"

My response was:

Wow, I love you guys. What a great post on how Mosiah as a type of Christ. Your post was very beautiful and inspiring and has increased my faith in the Book of Mormon. Remember that both Ephraim and Judah will be given a birthright inheritance in the Last Days. Ephraim is given a birthright in the New World, and Judah is given a birthright to govern in the Old World. When Christ comes and all land is one, Ephraim and Zion will be the center of religious teaching and Jerusalem will be the center of Government and Christ will be King of kings and Lord of lords. Since King Mosiah is a type of the Messiah as all prophets are, he is both a king and a priest over the people. The people wisely saw that the birthright should go to him with the priesthood and the spiritual gifts.

Matt. 20: 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Isa. 11: 13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

Ezekiel 37: Restoration of Ephraim and Judah

Ezekiel 37 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones alive? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. The Lord uses the reality of the resurrection as an allegory of the gathering of Israel in the Last Days.

The Bible is both literal and figurative. There will be an actual physical resurrection and there will be a literal restoration of the house of Israel and restoration of the 12 tribes.

15 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.

Ephraim and Judah represent the lead tribes of the northern and southern kingdoms respectively, and Ephraim represents the Gentiles who are brought into or adopted into the Abrahamic covenant just as Ephraim was adopted by Abraham and made the birthright son after Joseph. Ephraim represents the Gentiles in another ways as the Samaritans who declared descendency from Ephraim had mixed blood with the Gentiles.The restoration of the House of Israel (restoration of the covenant, church, temple) would be accompanied by the restoration an bringing together of 2 records; the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph in the hand of Ephraim. Both records of scripture would serve to clarify doctrine and point the House of Israel to a true belief about God and Christ. Isaiah 29 also talks about a book coming forth and calls this God's "Marvelous Work and a Wonder."

Isa 29:14,24 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. . . They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.

21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and cone king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.

Ephraim and Judah will be restored to their lands. Judah is given the Land of Israel as an everlasting inheritance and according to the Book of Mormon, the Gentiles who are adopted into the tribe of Ephraim are given America as their inheritance.Remember there is a parallel between Abraham and Joseph in Egypt and America in the Last Days. Joseph is sold into Egypt and delivered from jail by receiving a vision and being able to interpret Pharaoh's dream and preparing Egypt for the famine or tribulation to come (Sealing of the forehead). Then we see how Joseph or the Gentiles prove to be the salvation of the rest of the family of Abraham by saving them from the famine or apostasy (Amos 8:11).

In the last days the Gentiles who first receive the restored everlasting covenant and gospel will dispense it to the rest of Israel. And we see that Abraham dwelt in Egypt before Israel was miraculously restored to their lands of inheritance many years later with Moses. Similarly, the Jews who have been in America have been and will be miraculously restored to Israel after a long 40-year sojourn in the wilderness because of disobedience.

Interesting how Israel has the Sea of Galilee flowing into the Dead Sea via the Jordan River and in Salt Lake City we have Utah Lake flowing into the Great Salt Lake via another Jordan River.And there will be a political as well as religious unification. And they will have one belief in Christ who is their shepherd and they will be sanctified and cleansed and not just declared clean, but be made clean in actual fact.

26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

As part of the restoration, God will establish His everlasting covenant with the church and establish the 3rd Temple. But the 3rd Temple will not be like Solomon's or Zarubabbel's. The 3rd Temple will not administer the Law of Moses and the covenant of Justification, but will administer the covenant of sanctification, consecration, and the promise of perfection. The 3rd Temple will be not be after the Levitical Priesthood but will be a Christian temple after the order of the Melchesidek Priesthood. And this temple will not just be given to one Land, and one tribe, and one nation. But the 3rd Temple and covenant will be given according to John in Revelations to every kindred, nation, tongue and people.

And after the everlasting temple has been established to every kindred, nation, tongue and people, then it will be restored to Israel; and the first shall be last and the last shall be first. This is why it is fulfillment of prophecy that the 3rd Temple be built not just in Israel but many of the same temple built all over the Earth and then finally in Israel itself. When Christ initially came he came only to the House of Israel, and then it was revealed with Cornelius that the gospel was to go to the Gentiles. But after the restoration, the gospel would then first go to the Gentiles and then last to the Jews.

Luke 12:28-30 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first (Gentiles), and there are first which shall be last (Jews).

Isaiah 11:12-13 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

Malachi says the sons of Levi will offer an offering in righteousness again. But this offering will be of a broken heart and a contrite spirit and will be the offering of their whole souls in the higher and everlasting covenant of consecration. Animal sacrifice is not a offering in righteousness. Animal sacrifice is an offering in sin, to be declared clean and justified.The offering that the Levites will make one day is the higher and everlasting covenant which promises sanctification. Note the language that Christ promises to purify and purge sin from us like silver and gold. The new model, purpose and covenant of the restored temple is sanctification.

Mal. 3: 3 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 an offering in righteousness.

Many claim that the temple will only be restored to the Jews. But doesn't Christ say that all things would be restored; first to the Gentile and then to the Jews "and the first will be last and the last will be first" (Luke 12:28-30). Why would God only restore the temple to the Jews when He promised to restore His fullness to the Gentiles? Did God say He would withhold part of His gospel and kingdom from the Gentiles? No, there is nothing about Christ's gospel that He is holding in reserve for just the Jews that He hasn't made available to all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples. This includes the temple.

Acts 3:19-21 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Eph. 1: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Eventially there will be no more temple, when the work and purpose of the Temple is complete and the sanctification of the people is compelete. John says after the Millennium there is no temple there but Christ is the temple. So, that day will come. But it is not yet.

Acts 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands.

Solomons temple and Zerubbabel's temple were built by they hand of God and not of man. When God commands a temple to be built He authorizes and ordains priesthood holders to act in His name. Whatever these servants of God do in the name of the Lord it is as if God has done it Himself with His own hand.

Hag. 1: 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.

When Christ came to the Earth, the Jews didn't recognize their Messiah because they had misinterpreted the scriptures and were looking for a different Savior. In the same way many Gentiles believe in the restoration of God's temple but do not recognize that it has already been restored because they are looking for a different temple than the one prophesied in the Bible.

The Wedding Garment

The other day, a friend of mine asked me about the LDS practice of wearing what we call "garments" which constitute a set of modest-conservative, white underclothes. So, what are they? Why do LDS wear them?

The garment is meant to be a reminder of your devotion to God. But unlike jewelry, only the person wearing them knows about it. Therefore, the garment is not meant to be pretentious, but a private outward expression of an inward commitment. In this way they are a spiritual protection in that they they remind the wearer of their covenant with Jesus Christ. The garment is patterned after the garment made by God for Adam and Eve when they realized they were naked in the Garden of Eden. It also figuratively represents the atonement of Christ which serves to cover our unworthiness and sinfulness before our Heavenly Father. And again, the garment serves as a reminder that Christ's grace will not only save us in our sins, but also from our sins. For, by His power, we will become fully sanctified and perfected. Sanctification is the new everlasting purpose, pattern and covenant of the restored temple.

Gen. 3: 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Rom. 13: 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Gal. 3: 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

The garment is patterned after the undergarment given to Aaron as a priest. Paul said that no man taketh the honour of the priesthood unto himself save he is ordained or called as was Aaron. The undergarment was part of Aaron's ordination.

Ex. 28: 2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.

Ex. 28: 42 And thou shalt make them linen breeches (undergarments) to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:

Lev. 16: 4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches (undergarments) upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.

Heb. 5: 4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

When John in Revelations talks about Gods people in the Last Days before the tribulation, he says an angel arises to stop the 4 angels and says " hut not the earth until we have sealed the servants of God in their forehead." Later John says that the 4 angels are not given power to hurt those who are "sealed in their forehead". So we see that while Satan is marking his people with the "mark of the beast" God is "sealing" his servant in the forehead. This angel mentioned in Revelations is the angel depicted on top of LDS temples.

Rev. 7: 2-3 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Rev. 9: 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Isa. 11: 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

Rev. 14: 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

What is this "sealing in the forehead?". John says those sealed will be made kings and priest unto God and they will be "called, chosen and faithful". Instead of being from one tribe they will be from every kindred nation tongue and people. This "sealing" is the everlasting covenant and ordinance that Christians make and receive in the restored Christian temple. LDS also refer to this ordinance and covenant as receiving an "endowment."

Rev. 1: 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev. 5: 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Rev. 17: 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Remember in the parable that Jesus Christ gives regarding how God calls for the invited guests (Israel) to the wedding but they don't come. So God tells his servants to invite any who will show up both bad and good (Gentiles). But those who show up without the garment are bound and thrown out. This suggests that just because someone calls themselves Christian, LDS, or wear the garment doesn't mean that they are good in God's eyes. The white garment also represents the believers love, compassion, and good works which if they accept the grace of Christ will be empowered to do by Christ as a manifestation of their true belief and faith.

Matt. 22: 1-14 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. . . But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: . . . Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: . . . Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.

Those who are called and chosen as John says must be called as was Aaron as Paul says. Therefore, the temple "sealing" is like a priestly ordination and kingly coronation and like Aaron those who are called and chosen are washed. Anointed, and clothed in white robes and undergarments.

Ex. 40: 12-13 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

Heb. 5: 4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

Why white? Many don't realize that OT temple priests didn't dress in white. Their robes were multicolored like Joseph's coat of many colors. Aaronic priest robes were red, purple, blue and yellow. But in Revelations the angel asks "who are all these dressed in white robes?". And the answer is that they have been washed or sanctified in the blood of Jesus Christ and serve Christ in his temple.

Ex. 28: 2-6 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.

Rev. 7: 9-15 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; . . . And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Rev. 3: 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Rev. 19: 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Where is this temple? It's not in heaven because there is no temple in heaven. There is no place set aside in heaven as holy. All heaven is holy. Remember that John sees the Earth in it's heavenly glory and says " there is no temple there" but in the Last Days and in the Millennium Christ will give us the temple if the new and everlasting covenant, until Gods people have completed the work of complete sanctification and the temple or mountain of the Lords house fills the whole Earth.

Ezek. 20: 40 For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

Dan. 2: 33-34, 44 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. . . and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. . . And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Isa. 2: 2-3 (Micah 4: 1-2) And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Joel 3: 17-18 So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. And it shall come to pass in that day (Last Days), that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

Ezek. 37: 26-28 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

Mal. 3: 1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

Ezek. 47: 1, 8 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house (temple); and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house (temple) stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house (temple), at the south side of the altar. . . Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea (Dead Sea): which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.

Rev. 21: 1, 22 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. . . And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

But, please do not misunderstand. The wearing of white clothes in the temple or the receiving of the "sealing" that John talks about is not what sanctifies by itself. Remember that it is only Christ's grace that saves and sanctifies. Also, remember that John in Revelations reminds us what the white clothing represents. John says in Rev. 19: 8 "the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." And this is what God expects. If a believer has truely accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, and they are born again and are filled with the love, grace and spirit of Christ, then they will be empowered to many good works and a godly walk.

Isa. 52: 1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

(photos from http://www.whiteelegance.com/)

Priesthood, Covenants, and Temple

Some Christians question the LDS Church for out belief that God has restored the Old Testament (OT) Levitical or Aaronic Priesthood and covenant. Our critics are correct in pointing out that the Bible teaches that the OT Levitical covenant and priesthood was fulfilled and changed because we see that the outward rites and ordinances associated with the covenant and priesthood were abolished and not continued in the NT church. So if this is true, how is it that the LDS has an Aaronic Priesthood?

John the Baptist appeared to Joseph Smith and conferred the Aaronic Priesthood on him by the laying on of hands months before Peter James and John conferred the Melchezidek priethood and the authority of the Apostleship. John the Baptist specifically told Joseph Smith that he acted under the direction and authority of Peter James and John.

The LDS church does claim a restoration of the Levitical and Aaronic Priesthood but not a restoration of the Levitical commandments of the Law of Moses. The Levitical is considered to be an appendage, part or subset of the Aaronic and the Aaronic being an appendage of the Melchizedek now as it exists in it's current form. That said, the LDS Church does not claim a restoration of the OT commandments, ritual or requirements associated with the OT version of the Aaronic priesthood. The OT commandments and requirements of the priesthood were annulled, fulfilled, canceled, voided etc. Remember that while God says the Aaronic Priesthood is everlasting, Paul says it is a changeable priesthood. But being changeable doesn't mean the priesthood would stop being everlasting. What Paul says in Heb 7:18 would be canceled or annulled is the commandments associated with the priesthood but not the purpose, covenant or priesthood itself.

Now many here rightly point out that priesthood is all about offering sacrifice. And that is exactly what the priesthood is about today. However, since the requirements of the priesthood have changed no one offers animal sacrifice but the body and blood of Christ's infinite and last sacrifice. And those of the church offer a broken heart and contrite spirit and their whole souls in consecration to God. And like the OT Priests the Bishop judges ritual purity to determine if a person is worthy to offer sacrifice and participate in ordinances of sacrifice.

The Bishop has no official duty to preach the word necessarily. That is why when you attend an LDS sacrament meeting, the sermons and Sunday School lessons are given by the membership. For the preacher is no better than the listener. And the membership has primary responsibility to shepherd and care for one another. And that is why membership visit one another through the program of home and visiting teaching. The responsibility of the Bishop is to offer the communion of the Lord's Supper and to determine ritual purity to participate in and receive this and other rites and offerings of covenant sacrifice.

Is there is evidence that a division of responsibility existed in the NT church? Yes there is. You will remember that despite there being a priesthood of all believers male membership was called to be either deacons or presbyters who acted under the direction and keys of the bishop. The Bible makes a clear distinction between responsibility and authority of deacons and presbyters. James says that the sick were to call upon the Presbyters for an anointing and blessing and Paul says to Timothy that he should neglect not his gift (referring to the gift of the Holy Ghost or baptism of fire) which was given by the laying on of hands by the presbytery. And we should remember that John the baptist whose authority parallels the Aaronic authority had responsibility for water baptism but john said he did not have authority to baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost.

So we see here a distinction in the NT church and everlasting covenant where deacons were likely given authority to administer baptism and assist in the administration of the Lords Supper both of which are rites involved with the reception and continual renewal of justification and the remission of sins, while the higher division of the presbytery had authority over sanctifying ordinances of the baptism of fire and in the restored Melchizedek Priesthood Christian temple and the everlasting "sealing in the forehead" covenant of complete consecration to God.

Some claim that there is no need for the OT temple any more . However most all Christians accept that the Bible prophesies the literal rebuilding of the temple. Isaiah 2, Micah 2, Dan 2 and Ezekiel 37 all talk about that the sanctuary, tabernacle, or mountain of the Lord will be among Israel and God will establish his everlasting covenant to sanctify Israel. And what about Johns words when the angels ask who all the people were who were dressed in white robes and the answer says that these are they who cane out of the tribulation and have washed their robes white in the blood of the lamb and serve in the temple.

It is true that eventually there will be no temple as John foresees because the whole earth and all those on it will become fully sanctified. Remember what Ezekiel says about the purpose of the temple is for sanctification. It provides an eternal pattern and celestial perspective. The idea of the temple is scalable that begins with the soul and then a building, then temple city, holy nation, then celestial earth. And when the stone cut out of the mountain in Daniels dream becomes a mountain (temple) and fills the whole earth, then finally there will be no more need for a place set aside as holy for God because when the Earth becomes part of heaven, everywhere and everyone on it will be holy.

Remember that Paul criticized the law of Moses and Levitical priesthood and covenant because it didn't make anything perfect or sanctified. The law just reminded You that you had to continually repent and offer animal sacrifice to be justified for sin. But through the transformative power and grace of Christs spirit and atonement, the higher covenant promises sanctification and perfection. And the temple is given by God to administer this everlasting covenant of sanctification or "sealing in the forehead" until the whole Earth is sanctified and Christ saves us from our sins and not just in our sins.

Many Christians claim that they do not recognize the operation of the priesthood in the NT because priesthood is all about sacrifice and they do not see sacrifice in the NT. While there may not be any animal sacrifice in the NT, the whole NT is all about sacrifice. Here we see the NT saints giving all they have in consecration and setting it at the feet of the Bishop in the United Order. And we see the Christian martyrs making the ultimate sacrifice by giving their very lives for their testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. The message of NT is all about sacrifice and therefore it is all about priesthood.

In the OT the Aaronic priest made judgments in the name of the Lord about who was clean and able to make animal sacrifice in the temple. In the NT, the bishop served as a priest to judge ritual purity of the Saints to participate in the covenant sacrificial rites such as who is worthy to receive the communion of the Lord's Supper.

While God says the Aaronic priesthood is everlasting, In the NT Paul says the commandments and requirements of the Aaronic priesthood and covenant had been annulled, canceled, and changed. Jesus Christ said the Law of Moses and animal sacrifice was fill filled. But the purpose of the covenant, the blessings of the covenant, and the principle of sacrifice are the same. Christ has taught that the only acceptable sacrifice is our whole will and a broken heart and contrite spirit to God. While the changeable covenant and priesthood justifies, cleanses us from sin; it reminds us that we need the higher everlasting and unchangeable covenant of sanctification to be perfected as Christ has commanded us.

The everlasting covenant is the complete consecration of our hearts and minds and all we are to God. The covenant of perfection was given by Christ when the rich young man had said he had observed the Law of Moses from his youth. In response the Savior invited the young man to sell all that he possessed and come and follow Him. This is the everlasting and sanctifying covenant after the order of the unchangeable Melchizedek priesthood.

Some question why tithing is required for an LDS member to enter the temple. It this a form of coercion? The Bishop, as a high priest offers the flesh and blood of Christs infinite and last sacrifice. And the Bishop as a high priest has responsibility to determine ritual purity. Tithing is one requirement of ritual purity to enter the Melchizedek priesthood temple and receive the everlasting covenant of sanctification. Now why would it make sense to want to make a covenant with God of 100% devotion and consecration when you can't even part with 10%.

But there is also a deeper significance here. And that is giving the person who pays a full tithe a hope of a future complete sanctification from all sin and perfection in all righteousness. And that hope springs from the realization that while there may be many commandments we are not sanctified in, after being declared a full tithe payer by the Bishop who serves as a judge in Israel in the name of the Lord, I know that I have been perfected and sanctified in keeping that commandment. And through this process ,the everlasting temple covenant, and the transformative power and grace of the Holy Ghost and Christs atonement,Christ will sanctify and perfect me in all things.

The bread and water cup of the Holy Communion of the Lord's Supper parallel the sacrificial rites done in the OT temple. But the message, covenant, and blessing of the OT temple and the emblems of the Lords Supper is that we are sinners, and we continually need the justification of Christ for remission of sins. But the key here was that the lesser covenant points us towards the need for sanctification and perfection in Christ through the higher covenant.

The Temple covenant today is a promise of sanctification and does not just carry the same message of justification as the OT temple. The higher and everlasting temple covenant promises us complete sanctification and perfection in righteousness. Not just that we are called clean by the grace and mercy of Christ, but clean in very being through the transformative power after Christ's Spirit. The higher covenant is that Christ will save us from our sins and not in our sins.

The teaching of the fall was that man became sinful. An angel was placed before the tree of life so Adam couldn't partake of the tree and live forever in his sins. Even though Adam was sorry for his transgressions and sins and accepted Christ who was speaking to him, he couldn't just go ahead and eat the fruit of the Tree of Life again and live forever because Adam was still sinful. And although his acceptance of Christ made it possible for Christ to still talk to Adam after sinning; by justification, Adam still needed to live 1000 years before he had become sanctified and perfected in righteousness by the power and transformative grace of Christ such that he was ready to partake of the tree of life again, ready to stand before the Father and dwell in the Celestial Kingdom.

The higher covenant and promise is that Christ really has the power to fully sanctify a perfect man "in this world." That is right. In LDS theology man will be perfected and sanctified by Christ in this world before being admitted into the presence of the Father. This is the new model for the new temple. We cannot enter the presence of the Father without first being sanctified and perfected by Christ here "in this world". It took Adam 1000 years and it will take us the rest of the Millennium but at the end Jesus Christ will yield up His work unto the Father.

Do you not believe that the grace and power of Christ can overcome, perfect and sanctify our sinful natures and the flesh in this world? I say yes for all things are possible with God. The flesh will be changed from corruptible to incorruptible, flesh and blood will become flesh and bone, but as Job said, “yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Philip. 3: 21, 1 Cor. 15: 51-52, Job 19: 26).

When we compare the OT covenants with the NT covenant, we see the first and most important covenant is the covenant of obedience. Obedience involves accepting all those things God has asked us not to do. The next covenant is Sacrifice, which involves all those commandments God has asked His people to do. We know that obedience is better than sacrifice because Samuel tells Saul “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15: 22). To break the law of obedience is considered a sin of commission. To break the law of sacrifice is considered a sin of ommission.

Now that all have sinned who have reached the age of accountability because "where there is no law, sin in not imputed.” But Paul reminds us that even the Gentiles can sin, because a portion of the law and the light of Christ is given to them. Therefore all those who are accountable have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Therefore we are commanded to repent and receive the the covenant of the gospel. The Good News of the covenant of the gospel are the conditions of repentance.

However, receiving the covenant of the gospel and repentance doesn't get us any farther than the OT covenant, because the OT covenant was a continual reminder of our need for continual repentance and acceptance of Christ for Justification by His merits and mercy. So, the final and ultimate covenant is that of sanctification and consecration. Remember Christ to the rich young man who had kept the commandments from his youth. Christ said, that if he desired to made perfect and sanctified, he was to sell all that he possessed, and come and follow Jesus Christ. Consecration is the covenant of sanctification and perfection, and it is the covenant of the NT and the restored temple.

The purpose of the temple which Christ has given us is for sanctification. And until Gods people are totally without sin, the temple will still be needed. The process of sanctification will not be complete until the end of the Millennium. Remember that Christ will suddenly come to His temple. Mal 3:1. The purpose of the Christian temple and the everlasting covenant is to sanctify Israel according to Ezek 37:26-29 because the unrighteous cannot dwell with God and Christs atonement is not just grace that sweeps our sins under the rug. Christ's atonement is transformative power to change us, purify us like silver, turn us away from sin and change our heart such that we have no more disposition to do evil but to do good continually. You and I admit that we are not completely sanctified yet. The Melchizedek priesthood temple will help complete that process of grace and power here and in the Millennium.

Because we are not fully sanctified and perfected 100% at the moment we accept Christ. At the moment we accept Christ, we are fully and 100% justified at the time we accept Christ which makes it possible for the Holy Ghost to enter in us at all. Because the Holy Ghost cannot dwell inunholy temples. But that doesn't mean we are perfect. But through the transformative power of the Spirit and grace of Christ the Holy Ghost will begin to change us. As we receive a greater portion of the Holy Ghost and grow from grace to grace the light and love of Christ grows in us until the perfect day which may not be realized until the end of the Millennium but begins in this world.

How does the Christian temple, the higher covenant or the "sealing in the forehead" help the believer become perfected in Christ and sanctifed?
#1. It reveals to man who they are and their relationship to God. When a person has a spiritual epiphany or realization of the love of God for them and the great potential and future responsibility as priests and kings to God, the light of this knowledge and eternal possibility makes the enticings of sin pale in comparison.

#2. The temple provides an eternal prospective that goes through the stages of the plan of salvation including the pre-existence, creation, the fall, the millennium, judgment and hope of eternal life. By going through the progression of the plan of salvation and understanding where our lives fit into eternity we realize again how brief this life is and what the purpose is to accept Christ and His word. Again when we see how short life is in perspective of the whole of eternity, sin loses any attractiveness.

#3. The Christian temple is a space set aside as holy and pure from the world. As a quiet and reverent place set aside, a person is enabled to enjoy and experience the light and power of the Holy Ghost and the infinite love of Jesus Christ for them then you are strengthened against sin and any brief pleasure that comes from sin pales in comparison to a taste of eternal glory and happiness.

The eternal perspective the temple is why the scriptures refer to the temple as the Mountain of the Lords House. Yes you could get all this at home theoretically, the temple is a blessing until the Earth is fully sanctified and perfected.