An Examination into and an Elucidation of the Great Principle of the Mediation Part 12

CHAPTER XXII.

The Operations of the Priesthood in the Heavens and upon the Earth, in Time and Eternity--The Heirs of the Celestial Kingdom--Those who Die without Law--The Judges of the Earth--Priests and Kings--Christ the King of Kings--Condition of Patriarch Joseph Smith, Apostle David Patten and Others--Moses and Elias--The Visits of Angels and their Testimonies--Peter, James and John--The Angel in the Book of Revelation.

There is something peculiarly interesting in the contemplation of events a.s.sociated with the future destiny of mankind. Among other things it will be seen that there is a very close connection or affinity between the operations of the Priesthood in the heavens and the Priesthood upon earth. In examining this subject we find it written:

"The Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have wilfully rebelled against G.o.d, that have known the commandments of G.o.d, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection."--Mosiah, xv, 26.

But on the other hand it is promised that those who would have received the Gospel if they had had the opportunity shall yet have that privilege. The Prophet Joseph Smith records in his history: "Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying, All those who have died without a knowledge of this Gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of G.o.d; also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom, for I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts."--Deseret News, Vol.

II, No. 22.

With this agree the words of the Apostle Paul, that those who have died without law shall be judged without law; whilst the Lord further reveals to the Prophet Joseph that "that which is governed by law is also preserved by law, and perfected and sanctified by the same. That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment. Therefore they must remain filthy still."

With this teaching is a.s.sociated a grand principle connected with the everlasting Priesthood, which administers in time and in eternity.

When we reflect upon the statement of creatures being judged without law, the question arises as to who are to be their judges. We may here state that Christ is called the judge of the quick and the dead, the judge of all the earth. We further read that the Twelve Apostles who ministered in Jerusalem "shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matt., xix, 28.) Also the following:

"And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, and it hath gone forth in a firm decree, by the will of the Father, that mine apostles, the Twelve who were with me in my ministry at Jerusalem, shall stand at my right hand at the day of my coming in a pillar of fire, being clothed with robes of righteousness, with crowns upon their heads, in glory even as I am, to judge the whole house of Israel, even as many as have loved me and kept my commandments, and none else."--Doc. and Cov., Sec. xxix, 12, p. 143.

And Nephi writes in the Book of Mormon:

"And the angel spake unto me, saying, Behold the twelve disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed. And he said unto me, Thou rememberest the twelve apostles of the Lamb? Behold, they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of them; for ye are of the house of Israel. And these twelve ministers, whom thou beholdest, shall judge thy seed. And, behold they are righteous for ever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of G.o.d, their garments are made white in his blood."--1 Nephi, xii, 8-10.

This exhibits a principle of adjudication or judgment in the hands, firstly, of the Great High Priest and King, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of G.o.d; secondly, in the hands of the Twelve Apostles on the continent of Asia, bestowed by Jesus Himself; thirdly, in the Twelve Disciples on this continent, to their peoples, who it appears are under the presidency of the Twelve Apostles who ministered at Jerusalem; which presidency is also exhibited by Peter, James and John, the acknowledged presidency of the Twelve Apostles; they, holding this Priesthood first on the earth, and then in the heavens, being the legitimate custodians of the keys of the Priesthood, came and bestowed it upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. It is also further stated that the Saints shall judge the world. Thus Christ is at the head, His Apostles and disciples seem to take the next prominent part; then comes the action of the Saints, or other branches of the Priesthood, who it is stated shall judge the world. This combined Priesthood, it would appear, will hold the destiny of the human family in their hands and adjudicate in all matters pertaining to their affairs; and it would seem to be quite reasonable, if the Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem are to be the judges of the Twelve Tribes, and the Twelve Disciples on this continent are to be the judges of the descendants of Nephi, then that the brother of Jared and Jared should be the judges of the Jaredites, their descendants; and, further, that the First Presidency and Twelve who have officiated in our age, should operate in regard to mankind in this dispensation, and also in regard to all matters connected with them, whether they relate to the past, present, or future, as the aforementioned have done in regard to their several peoples; and that the Patriarchs, the Presidents, the Twelve, the High Priests, the Seventies, the Elders, the Bishops, Priests, Teachers and Deacons should hold their several places behind the veil, and officiate according to their calling and standing in that Priesthood.

In fact, the Priesthood is called an everlasting Priesthood; it ministers in time and in eternity. Moses speaks of the Levitical Priesthood as an everlasting Priesthood. (Ex., xl, 15.) Paul refers to the Melchizedek Priesthood as being "without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life."

(Heb., vii, 3.) Whilst the Prophet Joseph Smith states that this "Priesthood continueth in the Church of G.o.d in all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years." (Doc. and Cov., Sec.

lx.x.xiv, 17, p. 290.)

This being the case, it necessarily follows that those holding the Priesthood on the earth continue in the exercise of that Priesthood in the heavens, their operations being changed from this to another state of existence; and when the dead, small and great, shall be judged, while G.o.d stands at the head, and Jesus is the great High Priest of our profession, all those who have ever lived who are worthy will stand in their proper positions, according to their callings, Priesthood, ordinations or quorums. It is written that they without us can not be made perfect, and that we without them can not be made perfect. We have commenced to build temples, and to administer in them according to the decrees, purposes and foreknowledge of G.o.d. When we have got through with our personal affairs connected with our individual families and interests, so far as we can legitimately trace them, then it becomes a question as to the position of those that are behind the veil of whom we have no personal knowledge. Does it not seem consistent that to the ancient as well as the modern Patriarchs, Prophets, Presidents, Apostles, Seventies, High Priests, Elders, Bishops and others would be committed the manipulation and judgment of those who are behind the veil; and with whom we, at present, have nothing to do? And if temples are to be built here and ordinances performed in them in the interest of those who have died without law, and in the adjudication of all these matters, that the Priesthood behind the veil, to whom is committed the judgment of these things, should communicate with the Priesthood upon the earth, that they may be administered for by proxy in the temples erected by us, and those who shall follow after us; that all things may be done according to equity, law, and justice, and that none but those worthy to receive those great blessings and high exaltations can partic.i.p.ate in the same; being thus sanctioned by the Priesthood in heaven and the Priesthood upon the earth? Hence, while they are saviors, preach to the spirits in prison and judge the dead, we build temples and administer for them upon the earth, and thus become, as it is written, "saviors upon Mount Zion;" operating and cooperating with the Priesthood behind the veil, in the interest, happiness, salvation and exaltation of the human family. Thus shall we also become legitimately and by right, through the atonement and adoption, Kings and Priests--Priests to administer in the holy ordinances pertaining to the endowments and exaltations; and Kings, under Christ, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to rule and govern, according to the eternal laws of justice and equity, those who are thus redeemed and exalted.

In corroboration of these ideas is the statement, in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, that Father Joseph Smith, who was the first Patriarch to the Church in this dispensation, is now at the right hand of Abraham, who was also a presiding Patriarch. The pa.s.sage reads:

"That I may receive him unto myself, even as I did * * * my aged servant, Joseph Smith, sen., who sitteth with Abraham at his right hand, and blessed and holy is he, for he is mine."--Doc. and Cov., cxxiv, 19, p. 431.

It is also stated of David Patten, one of the Twelve Apostles, who was slain by the mobbers in Missouri, that "David Patten I have taken unto myself; behold, his Priesthood no man taketh from him; but, verily I say unto you, another may be appointed unto the same calling."--Doc.

and Cov., cxxiv, 130, p. 445.

The same is said of Seymour Brunson, one of the High Council, and of Edward Partridge, the first Bishop of the Church, both of whom were dead:

"Seymour Brunson I have taken unto myself, no man taketh his Priesthood, but another may be appointed unto the same Priesthood in his stead."--Doc. and Cov., Sec. cxxiv, 132, p. 445. "That when he shall finish his work, that I may receive him unto myself, even as I did my servant David Patten, who is with me at this time, and also my servant Edward Partridge."--Doc. and Cov., Sec. cxxiv, 19, p. 431.

We read that Moses and Elias came to administer to Jesus, on the Mount, while Peter, James and John were with him. Who were this Moses and this Elias? Moses was a great Prophet, appointed by the Lord to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage, and lead them to the promised land; and he held the keys of the gathering dispensation, which keys he afterwards conferred upon Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple. Who was Elias? Elijah; which name in the old Scriptures is made synonymous with Elias; and who held, according to the testimony of Joseph Smith as elsewhere stated, the keys of the Priesthood. These men, who held those keys and officiated upon the earth, having left the earth, now come, a.s.sociated with Jesus, to administer to Peter, James and John, and confer upon them the Priesthood which they hold; and these three ancient Apostles conferred the Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in this dispensation. This principle is very clearly ill.u.s.trated in the following quotation from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. cxxviii, 20, 21, p., 457:

"And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from c.u.morah! 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 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.

"And again, the voice of G.o.d 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, the archangel; the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, 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."

Hence their Priesthood was everlasting, it administered in time and in eternity. In consonance with the same idea is a remark made by a mighty angel, to be found in the Revelation received by St. John on the Isle of Patmos. After this angel had communicated to John many great and important events yet to transpire, the Apostle was so overawed by his presence that he fell at his feet to worship him; whereas the angel said, "See that thou do it not; I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have kept the testimony of Jesus: worship G.o.d; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

(Rev., xix, 10.) In other words, he had held the holy Priesthood on the earth and had officiated therein; he had been subjected to all the obloquy, contumely and reproach which the Prophets of G.o.d generally suffered. But now the scene was changed; he was officiating in another sphere, and was revealing unto the Apostle John, who had a peculiar mission on the earth, some of the great and important truths or events that should be developed in the accomplishment of the purposes of G.o.d.

All of these men, having held the everlasting Priesthood on earth, still retain the power and authority conferred upon them, and stand forth as prominent examples of the perpetuity of the everlasting Priesthood, administering on the earth or in the heavens, as the purposes of G.o.d and the fulfilment of their duties render necessary, or the circ.u.mstances require.

CHAPTER XXIII.

The Laws of G.o.d Unchangeable, Universal and Eternal--Examples and Definitions--Evolutionists--Kingdoms and Light--Christ the Creator, etc.--Deviations from General Laws--Every Kingdom has a Law Given.

There is an inexorable law of G.o.d that requires from His professed followers the principles of virtue, honor, truth, integrity, righteousness, justice, judgment and mercy, as exhibited in the following Scriptures:

"Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face."--Psalm lx.x.xix, 14.

"Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore G.o.d, thy G.o.d, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."--Psalm xlv, 7.

"Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoreth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved."--Psalm xv, 1-5.

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the G.o.d of his salvation."--Psalm xxiv, 3-5.

"Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil. He shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure."--Isaiah, x.x.xiii, 14-16.

There are eternal, unchangeable laws a.s.sociated with G.o.d, and with all His plans, His works and ways, the requirements of which must be met; nor can they be evaded or changed, except on certain principles provided for and contained in the laws themselves. When man had transgressed, an atonement had to be made commensurate with the act, and fully adequate to meet the inexorable demands of justice; so that, as stated, justice might be satisfied, which, if it had not been, the law pertaining to this matter could not have been carried out, and must necessarily have been violated.

All the works of G.o.d connected with the world which we inhabit, and with all other worlds, are strictly governed by law. So accurate are the movements of the heavenly bodies that even with our limited knowledge we can compute, after the departure of most of these bodies, the time of their return to a minute. The sun rises and sets with great regularity, and we can tell to a moment, by calculating the revolution of the earth, at what time it will make its appearance in the morning and disappear in the evening; the same rule applies to the moon, the whole of the solar system, and to all bodies that can be reached by our instruments. There is perfect regularity, exact.i.tude and order a.s.sociated with all worlds; a departure from which would produce incalculable evil and irretrievable destruction and ruin. With regard to the matter of which the earth is composed, it is also governed by strict, unchangeable laws; matter possessing the same properties under the same conditions, in all parts of the world. The various gra.s.ses, herbs, plants, shrubs, flowers, minerals, metals, waters, fluids or gases, when under the same conditions, are subject to or governed by unchangeable laws; and by those laws chemists or scientists are enabled to apply tests to demonstrate the properties of the various elements in nature, which they find are always immutable, and the same degree of accuracy applies to the laws and various formations of crystallization, under the same circ.u.mstances. The animal and vegetable creations are governed by certain laws, and are composed of certain elements peculiar to themselves. This applies to man, to the beasts, fowls, fish and creeping things, to the insects and to all animated nature; each one possessing its own distinctive features, each requiring a specific sustenance, each having an organism and faculties governed by prescribed laws to perpetuate its own kind. So accurate is the formation of the various living creatures that an intelligent student of nature can tell by any particular bone of the skeleton of an animal to what cla.s.s or order it belongs.

These principles do not change, as represented by evolutionists of the Darwinian school, but the primitive organisms of all living beings exist in the same form as when they first received their impress from their Maker. There are, indeed, some very slight exceptions, as for instance, the a.s.s may mix with the mare and produce the mule; but there it ends, the violation of the laws of procreation receives a check, and its operations can go no further. Similar compounds may possibly be made by experimentalists in the vegetable and mineral kingdoms, but the original elements remain the same. Yet this is not the normal, but an abnormal condition with them, as with animals, birds, etc.; and if we take man, he is said to have been made in the image of G.o.d, for the simple reason that he is a son of G.o.d; and being His son, he is, of course, His offspring, an emanation from G.o.d, in whose likeness, we are told, he is made. He did not originate from a chaotic ma.s.s of matter, moving or inert, but came forth possessing, in an embryotic state, all the faculties and powers of a G.o.d. And when he shall be perfected, and have progressed to maturity, he will be like his Father--a G.o.d; being indeed His offspring. As the horse, the ox, the sheep, and every living creature, including man, propagates its own species and perpetuates its own kind, so does G.o.d perpetuate His.

There are different organisms possessing different qualities, from which the same results are uniformly obtained. The body of a sheep produces wool, that of a goat produces hair, the flesh of certain kinds of fish produces scales, the flesh of birds produces feathers, and by the coverings of the various kinds of animals, birds and fishes, may their originals be known. It is true that some of these coverings may be slightly changed by a removal of the creature from the arctic to the torrid zone, or vice versa; wool may a.s.sume a nearer approach to hair in length and texture, or hair may become more woolly, but these modifications are slight, and this covering of the animal is predisposed to return to its original qualities when the creature is replaced in his natural habitat. Paul, in speaking on the resurrection, refers to the different qualities of flesh as follows:

"But G.o.d giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds."--1 Cor., xv, 38, 39.

These different qualities seem to be inherent in the several species, as much so as the properties of silver, gold, copper, iron and other minerals are inherent in the matter in which they are contained, whilst herbs, according to their kind, possess their specific properties, or as the leading properties of earth, air, and water, are distinct from one another; and hence, on physiological grounds, this principle being admitted, and it cannot be controverted, it would be impossible to take the tissues of the lower, or, indeed, of any order of fishes, and make of them an ox, a bird, or a man; as impossible as it would be to take iron and make it into gold, silver, or copper, or to produce other changes in the laws which govern any kind of matter.

And when the resurrection and exaltation of man shall be consummated, although more pure, refined and glorious, yet will he still be in the same image, and have the same likeness, without variation or change in any of his parts or faculties, except the subst.i.tution of spirit for blood.

This principle of exact.i.tude in all the works of G.o.d represents the principles that dwell in G.o.d Himself. He is called in Scripture the I AM, in other words, I AM THAT I AM, because of those inherent principles, which are also eternal and unchangeable; for where those principles exist, He exists; and when speaking of the worlds by which we are surrounded, it is said, "Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any, or the least of these, hath seen G.o.d moving in his majesty and power."--Doc. and Cov., sec. lx.x.xviii, 47, p. 310.

And again it is written:

"He comprehendeth all things, and all things are before him, and all things are round about him: and he is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and all things are by him, and of him, even G.o.d, for ever and ever. And again, verily I say unto you, he hath given a law unto all things, by which they move in their times and their seasons."--Ibid., 41, 42, p.

309.

And again, in the same revelation, we read:

"As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made. As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made.

And the earth also, and the power thereof; even the earth upon which you stand. And the light which now shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light, that quickeneth your understandings; which light proceedeth forth from the presence of G.o.d to fill the immensity of s.p.a.ce. The light which is in all things; which giveth life to all things: which is the law by which all things are governed: even the power of G.o.d who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things."--Ibid., 7-13, p. 306.

The world was made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made, and, therefore, having made all things He has given to all things a law; and hence those laws which we have briefly alluded to, are the productions of His comprehensive, intelligent, and infinite mind: He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Fountain of all life, of all light, of all truth, of all intelligence, of all existence. He is also the sustainer of all life and all light in all created beings; in Him all animal life of every form has its being.