May 22, 2011
Here at camp I try to walk each day, except Sunday. We have a quarter mile asphalt track circle. When I walk, it’s easy to forget which lap I am currently walking. So I use some techniques to remember. Some walkers place stones along the side of the track, one for each lap they walk. I use our memory method (one is a bun, etc.) or I start each lap recalling the name of a U.S. President, a President of the Church, or an Article of Faith. That way I know which lap I’m on and how much farther I want to go. When walking and remembering which lap I’m on I concentrate a little about whatever method I’m using and try to recall something about the object, the life of the particular President, a Prophet, or details about the specific Article of Faith. Usually I will say what I’m thinking about out loud, because no one else can hear me on the track.
On one particular day as I was walking I was using the Articles of Faith as my memory guide to remember how many laps I had walked. As I expounded on each Article of Faith I was completely amazed at how these different Articles came together to explain the Plan of Salvation. It was as if a light went on in my mind. As a result, I shared what I had said about each Article of Faith with Linda on a recent visit. Ken and Verna Kempton joined us. Then Linda told others what I had said. Now several have requested that I write down what I had so loudly expounded on as I walked the track one day. So being completely obedient to my sweet wife, here are some of the details about what I said as I recall them. I will try to do one Article of Faith each day until completed. Some Articles take a little longer than others and so may carry over to two days.
1. We believe in God the Eternal Father and in His son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
God the Father has a body of flesh and bones as does his son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost is a spirit without a temporal body. Were it not so, he could not dwell in our hearts. One of the names for the Holy Ghost is the Comforter. He is there to comfort us in times of need, of distress, of tribulation. I have noticed His comforting presence here in this camp. The Father is literally the father of our spirits. He loves each of us and wants the best for us. He had a plan for each of us to receive a body of flesh and bone and to grow to be like Him. This required creating an earth on which we could dwell to gain an earthly body and to be tried to see if we would do all things which he commanded us. In a large family home evening in our heavenly abode, God’s plan was presented and accepted by two third’s of the hosts of heaven. One third were disobedient and therefore cast out of God’s presence. Jesus Christ volunteered to go the earth and make it possible for all of God’s children to return to the Father on conditions of obedience and repentance. Lucifer offered to participate in God’s plan and make it so that none of God’s children would be lost due to disobedience and no repentance. They would not be held accountable for their actions. Lucifer’s idea was rejected.
God and his son, Jesus Christ, together with Michael and others found unorganized matter and over a period known as 7 days, they organized this matter to create our earth. They separated the night from the darkness, the water from the dry land, the planets including the sun and moon. They placed all manner of plants on the earth, together with animals, fishes and other mammals. Then they placed the first man on the earth and called his name “Adam.” They decided it was not good for man to be alone and so they created an help meet for him, a woman, and they called her name “Eve.” Adam and Eve lived in a garden where everything was provided for their needs. They called this place “the Garden of Eden.” God and Christ rested on the 7th day. In looking over their creations the called it all “very good.”
Adam and Eve were told that there were 2 rules and conditions for being able to enjoy their garden, God’s creation. First, they were to multiply and replenish the earth. Second, they were not to eat of the “tree of knowledge of good and evil.” If they should eat of that tree they would surely die. They were in a state of innocence and happiness, but they couldn’t know happiness because there was no opposite, no unhappiness. Lucifer, who had opposed God’s plan and was therefore cast out together with those who chose to follow him, saw what had been created. They wanted to thwart God’s plan and so Lucifer appeared to Adam and Eve separately and tried to deceive each of them. Finally Eve was convinced that there was no other way to learn good from evil than to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. She ate of the fruit of that tree and found that it was delicious to the taste and very desirable. She began to understand. She approached Adam, who earlier had been tempted by Lucifer to eat of that fruit and had refused. But Eve made him “see” that she would be cast out of the Garden as Father had said because she had eaten of the fruit of that tree. She reminded Adam that they were also told to multiply and replenish the earth. They wouldn’t be able to do that, because now Adam would be alone in the Garden. Adam now understood and said I see this must be so. He also ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
When God and Christ visited them, they knew that Adam and Eve and eaten of the fruit of the tree of which they were told not to eat. Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden into the lone and dreary world. Now they would have to work for their food and shelter. They were no longer in a state of innocence. They were now mortal being, where before they had been spiritual with bodies of flesh and bone. Now they were quickened by blood. And they would eventually surely die. This is referred to as the fall of Adam which also caused that the earth would fall. It also lost its paradisiacal glory They did die spiritually as they were cast out of Father’s presence. They were told to build an altar and make sacrifices. They were later told that their sacrifices were in similitude of God’s only Begotten Son who would eventually be sacrificed so they could have their sins removed and return to Father’s presence. They began to be fruitful and multiplied to replenish the earth. They taught their children good and evil. Life on this earth began.
Which brings us to Article of Faith number two.
May 23, 2011
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
Now understand that by this wording women will not be exempted from punishment for their own sins. In the English language when all mankind, or humankind, is being referred to, the proper noun to use is “men”. Women will also be punished for their own sins.
But no one is subject to what is often called “original sin.” That is a false notion. No one will be punished for the choice that Adam and Eve made to eat of the fruit of that tree. That was taken care of by the “Fall of Man.” “Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy.”
Because they ate of the fruit of that forbidden tree, Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden. The Earth also fell from its position in the universe to its current location and lost its paradisical glory. Its inhabitants were all now subject to death.
But that also meant that Adam and Eve could now bear children, and multiply and replenish the earth. They began to have children.
What is the difference between a sin and a transgression? A sin is an act which by its very nature is inherently wrong. That would include such acts as murder, stealing, bearing false witness, and thing such as that. A transgression is the breaking of a rule that has been imposed, but is not in and of itself an act which is wrong by itself. A transgression would be something like going faster than the posted speed limit. Driving over a speed limit is not wrong in and of itself, but is wrong because it has been prohibited by law.
Sometimes the Courts think something may be a transgression of our complicated laws, when in fact such acts may be perfectly legal! Some laws are there for the protection of mankind from themselves. Eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil was prohibited, but that was not in the nature of a sin.
I believe the best description of the Plan of Happiness which was introduced into the world by Adam and Eve, is found in a talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles. His talk includes these words:
Our understanding of life begins with a council in heaven. There the spirit children of God were taught his eternal plan for their destiny. We had progressed as far as we could without a physical body and an experience in mortality. To realize a fulness of joy, we had to prove our willingness to keep the commandments of God in a circumstance where we had no memory of what preceded our mortal birth.
In the course of mortality, we would become subject to death, and we would be soiled by sin. To reclaim us from death and sin, our Heavenly Father’s plan provided us a Savior, whose atonement would redeem all from death and pay the price necessary for all to be cleansed from sin on the conditions he prescribed (see 2 Ne. 9:19–24).
Satan had his own plan. He proposed to save all the spirit children of God, assuring that result by removing their power to choose and thus eliminating the possibility of sin. When Satan’s plan was rejected, he and the spirits who followed him opposed the Father’s plan and were cast out.
All of the myriads of mortals who have been born on this earth chose the Father’s plan and fought for it. Many of us also made covenants with the Father concerning what we would do in mortality. In ways that have not been revealed, our actions in the spirit world influence us in mortality.
Although Satan and his followers have lost their opportunity to have a physical body, they are permitted to use their spirit powers to try to frustrate God’s plan. This provides the opposition necessary to test how mortals will use their freedom to choose. Satan’s most strenuous opposition is directed at whatever is most important to the Father’s plan. Satan seeks to discredit the Savior and divine authority, to nullify the effects of the Atonement, to counterfeit revelation, to lead people away from the truth, to contradict individual accountability, to confuse gender, to undermine marriage, and to discourage childbearing (especially by parents who will raise children in righteousness).
Maleness and femaleness, marriage, and the bearing and nurturing of children are all essential to the great plan of happiness. Modern revelation makes clear that what we call gender was part of our existence prior to our birth. God declares that he created “male and female” (D&C 20:18; Moses 2:27; Gen. 1:27). Elder James E. Talmage explained: “The distinction between male and female is no condition peculiar to the relatively brief period of mortal life; it was an essential characteristic of our pre-existent condition” (Millennial Star, 24 Aug. 1922, p. 539).
To the first man and woman on earth, the Lord said, “Be fruitful, and multiply” (Moses 2:28; see also Gen. 1:28; Abr. 4:28). This commandment was first in sequence and first in importance. It was essential that God’s spirit children have mortal birth and an opportunity to progress toward eternal life. Consequently, all things related to procreation are prime targets for the adversary’s efforts to thwart the plan of God.
When Adam and Eve received the first commandment, they were in a transitional state, no longer in the spirit world but with physical bodies not yet subject to death and not yet capable of procreation. They could not fulfill the Father’s first commandment without transgressing the barrier between the bliss of the Garden of Eden and the terrible trials and wonderful opportunities of mortal life.
For reasons that have not been revealed, this transition, or “fall,” could not happen without a transgression—an exercise of moral agency amounting to a willful breaking of a law (see Moses 6:59). This would be a planned offense, a formality to serve an eternal purpose. The Prophet Lehi explained that “if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen” (2 Ne. 2:22), but would have remained in the same state in which he was created.
“And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin” (2 Ne. 2:23).
But the Fall was planned, Lehi concludes, because “all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things” (2 Ne. 2:24).
It was Eve who first transgressed the limits of Eden in order to initiate the conditions of mortality. Her act, whatever its nature, was formally a transgression but eternally a glorious necessity to open the doorway toward eternal life. Adam showed his wisdom by doing the same. And thus Eve and “Adam fell that men might be” (2 Ne. 2:25).
Some Christians condemn Eve for her act, concluding that she and her daughters are somehow flawed by it. Not the Latter-day Saints! Informed by revelation, we celebrate Eve’s act and honor her wisdom and courage in the great episode called the Fall (see Bruce R. McConkie, “Eve and the Fall,” Woman, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979, pp. 67–68). Joseph Smith taught that it was not a “sin,” because God had decreed it (see The Words of Joseph Smith, ed. Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook, Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1980, p. 63). Brigham Young declared, “We should never blame Mother Eve, not the least” (in Journal of Discourses, 13:145).
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith said: “I never speak of the part Eve took in this fall as a sin, nor do I accuse Adam of a sin. … This was a transgression of the law, but not a sin … for it was something that Adam and Eve had to do!” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954–56, 1:114–15).
May 24, 2011
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
Now that the earth had been created and Adam and Eve placed in the Garden, and had then eaten of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and had been cast out of the Garden, the fall of Adam was complete. Death and sin entered the world. Because no unclean thing could enter the Kingdom of God a way had to be provided to redeem all those who came to the Earth. Because of his fallen nature, man would inevetibly sin. There was only one perfect man. That was Jesus Christ. In that Council in Heaven where God the Father presented His plan, it was explained that a Savior would be needed to redeem man from his fallen state. The one who volunteered to become that Savior was Jesus Christ.
In the meridian of time, Christ came to the Earth to perform His mission. He was born of a virgin in Bethlehem. He fled to Egypt to avoid the menace and death at the hands of Herod the Great. After King Herod’s death, Christ returned with his family to Judea. Christ grew in stature and wisdom and began his ministry in Galilee. He was baptized by John the Baptist. He performed many miracles. The leaders of the Jewish nation, the Great Sanhedrin, became concerned that Christ would be the cause of the loss of their economic and political powers as a nation which had been conquered by Rome. The council of leaders gathered together and prepared a plan to put Christ to death. Christ was betrayed into the hands of these wicked men by one of his own chosen Apostles, Judas.
After teaching his other Apostles of his mission, and leading them in the Passover Last Supper, and washing their feet, Christ led them in one more prayer. He then led them to the Garden of Gethsemane where he went afar off, alone, knelt in prayer, and even prostrated himself on the ground in agonizing prayer. He took upon Himself all the sins of the world. This allowed Him to be in the position to be a Mediator with Heavenly Father on behalf of all those who accepted Him, repented and kept His commandments. He bled from every pore and performed this great Atoning sacrifice. An angel came to support and strenthen Him. When He was finished with taking this cup, He returned to his Apostles and told them it was finished.
As they looked down the path to the Garden, they could see the torches of a band of soldiers and the temple guard, being led by Judas to find the Master. Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss so that those men could know who to arrest. They bound Christ and led him away first to the house of Annas, the previous high priest. Christ was interrogated by Annas but answered him nothing. Christ was then led away to the palace of Ciaphas where a quorum of the Sanhedrin was gathered for a trial. A trial was conducted by them in violation of at least 12 of the Hebrew laws and rules of procedure. (For more information on these trials see “The Illegal Trial of Christ” by Steven W. Allen, 2005).
A second illegal trial was conducted by the Sanhedrin that same night, wherein they all found him guilty of blasphemy and worthy of death. Because Israel was a client state of Rome, they no longer had the right to carry out a death penalty without the approval of the Roman Governor. So the officers of the Sanhedrin led Christ away bound to the palace of that Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate.
Pilate conducted a Roman trial and found no fault in Christ. When he then found out that Christ had come from the province of Galilee, he sent him to the palace in Jerusalem of King Herod, who was the Jewish King of Galilee. Herod was in Jerusalem to observe the feast of the Passover. Herod was, however, outside of his jurisdiction. He asked Christ several questions. Christ, knowing his rights, answered him nothing. A frustrated King Herod sent Christ back to Pontius Pilate.
Pilate conducted another trial. Again found no fault in Him. Tried to release Him. As was the tradition at a Jewish holiday, Pilate offered to release a prisoner as a sign of mercy. He offered to the crowd a seditionist and murderer named Barabbas, or the accused before him, Jesus Christ. The crowd assembled outside Pilates palace by the Sanhedrin, cried out for the release of Barabbas and for the prisoner, Jesus Christ to be crucified.
In an attempt to sway the crowd, Pilate sent Christ down to be scourged, or whipped 39 times with a cat of nine tails. After the scourging Pilate again presented Christ with a purple robe and a crown of thorns, to the crowd saying once again he found no fault in Him. The crowd shouted out again to crucify Him. We have no king but Caesar, they yelled. Pilate (fearing the wrath of Tiberius Caesar, a paranoid Emperor, should he find out that Christ claimed to be a King) then turned him over to be crucified, hung on a cross in public, until His death. Here Christ completed his Atoning sacrifice and provided a way for all mankind to be saved. After several hours on the cross, He cried out “It is finished” and gave up the ghost. His atoning sacrifice was completed. Because of His tremendous sacrifice, Christ was now in the position to ask for Mercy for those who would follow in commandments. Mercy cannot rob justice. Now the price had been paid by Christ. That price would be sufficient to pay the cost of justice and receive mercy at the Judgment bar of Christ.
Christ was taken down from the cross and buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimithea. He lay in the tomb for three days. When Mary and Martha arrived at the tomb on the following Sunday, they found it empty. An angel announced that “He is not here, He is risen.” Christ died, was resurrected, and by His actions had overcome the bounds of death. “As in Adam, all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” The Atonement and Resurrection were now perfected. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
More on obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel tomorrow.
May 25, 2011
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. (continued)
Notice that even though Christ has performed and perfected the Atonement and the Resurrection, to take advantage of his saving grace, all must obey the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. It is true that the Resurrection is a free gift for all, that all will be resurrected. One will be resurrected, however, to that heavenly Kingdom for which he has qualified. One qualifies for Kingdoms of glory according to the law which that person has obeyed in his lifetime. Many seem to believe in the false notion that since Christ died for us, all one needs to do to be saved is to believe in Christ and love others. The laws and ordinances must be obeyed.
It was interesting that as I was preparing to write this section, I read in the Book of Mormon, Second Nephi, chapter 2. This chapter explains the Plan of Happiness presented by God to Lehi. I would recommend that anyone reading this take some time to review again this chapter of scripture. Lehi makes it clear that God has a law which must be obeyed to receive His greatest blessings. If there was no law, there would be no sin. If there were no sin, there would be no punishment. If there were no punishment, there would be no misery. If there were no misery, there could be no happiness. Then without the law, God would cease to be God, and the Atonement of Christ would not have been necessary. Anyone denying that there is a law which must be followed to take part in God’s plan of redemption then does not understand the need for an Atonement, and so the need for Jesus Christ. Jesus said “if ye love me, keep my commandments.”
When asked the question by the lawyer at the temple the last week of his life “Which is the great commandment?” Christ answered: “This is the first commandment that ye love God with all your heart, might, mind and strength. And the second is like unto it: thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Please forgive me if that’s not an exact quote, I am speaking from memory.)
In addition to obeying the laws, one must also take part in the ordinances which have been prescribed for salvation. Ordinances such as baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, the ordinance of the Sacrament, and others pretaining to Kingdoms of Glory.
One quote that I love pertaining to God’s love, and therefore His laws and ordinances, was given by Marion D. Hanks, who said: “To believe in God is to know that all the rules are fair, and there will be some wonderful surprises.”
May 26, 2011
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Church are: first-faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ; second-repentance; third-baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and fourth-the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Principles are the main laws or doctine of the organization, and ordinances are actions to symbolize or make effective the principles represented. Notice that the first principle of the Church is “Faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.” Faith is the belief in things hoped for but not seen, which are true. That belief must be anchored in the Lord, Jesus Christ. In other words, it is not just faith, but it is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. To have faith in something, one must have a knowledge or understanding of the characteristics of that “thing,” person or principle. In order to have faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, you must know that He is a person of flesh and bone and has been on earth, died and is now a resurrected being. A faith in something intangible, or in a false notion of who Christ is, is not real faith. It is a misplaced belief. Such faith will not lead to the Kingdom of God.
I love the story about John Wesley, who said something like: “To get faith, you must preach faith, and when you preach faith, you will get it.” Then he went on to say that his knowledge of the gospel was weak until he understood that faith alone is not enough. “Faith must be faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.” And that is the first principle. Faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Second, repentance. Repentance means a knowledge and true sorrow for sin, and commitment not to return to such sin, and then turning your whole countenance to Jesus Christ. Some will teach, and actually believe that all you need is love in order to be “saved.” (As in the Beatles song: “All you need is love.”) As discussed earlier, that is true to a point. All men are saved from death, which entered the world through the Fall of Adam. Death was conquered by and because of Christ’s death and resurrection. But to be saved in the Kingdom of God one must constantly repent of misdeeds. All will be required to stand before the judgment bar of Christ and give a report of their stewardship on earth. Sins that have not been repented of will have to be paid for by the sinner. Christ told us that he performed his atoning sacrifice for the benefit of those who believe on His name and repent of their sins. Those who have not done so will have to suffer “even and I, God, the greatest of all, suffered and would that I should not take of the bitter cup and trembled and bled at every pore.” (Please excuse any misquoted words, but that’s the gist of it.) Christ said to teach nothing but repentance to this generation.
Third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. Baptism means immersion. Baptism then means to be placed totally under water and then be brought up again out of the water. The Lord has said that the age of accountability is eight. A child up to that age is innocent and has no need of baptism. Baptism of infants and by sprinking is an affront to the principles of the gospel and is in effect a denial of the atonement of Christ, and so is an abomination. Being buried in the water and being raised up again is symbolic of death and burial, and then of being brought up or resurrected to a new and clean life. Jesus while on earth, told Nicodemus that a man cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven unless he is born again. Born again means being baptised for a remission of sins and being brought forth having been cleansed of sins. It is not just a feeling in the heart or mind that a person has been accepted of God and is now “saved.”
Fourth, the laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost. After baptism, a person is qualified to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. That means he is entitled to the constant companionship of the third member of the Godhead. He is entitled to receive light and knowledge through revelation. This ordinance is performed by someone with the Priesthood authority to perform this ordinance. It is conducted by the laying on of hands of the person so authorized. Joseph Smith acknowledge that this particular ordinance is one of the principles that differentiates members of the Church of Jesus Christ from any other Church.
May 25, 2011
5. We believe that a man must be called of God by prophesy and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
The House of God, and His earthly Church is a House of Order. God and Christ want only those with the proper calling and authority to act in their name and on their behalf. As the Apostle Paul taught the Saints of the Church which Christ set up while
He was upon the earth, those called to act in the Church must be chosen by one who has the authority to act in the name of Christ. No man may take upon himself the honor or authority except he be called of God as was Aaron. Christ set this pattern
Himself when He chose his twelve Apostles. The ones chosen to act in the Name of the Lord will be called by prophesy and inspiration by the one in the line of authority to make such a calling. One does not take this calling upon oneself. That is one of
the violations of the commandment “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain.” Naming oneself to a calling without such a chain of authority and calling is taking the name of the Lord in vain.
The procedure of “laying on of hands” was the means in the early Church to confer blessings, callings, The Gift of the Holy Ghost, and the Priesthood. Those in authority to do so, place their hands on the head of the one being blessed and pronounce the blessing or ordinance or confer the Priesthood. Christ has proclaimed this method and He has said that He will lay his hands on the one to receive the calling, ordinance, or Priesthood, through the hands of the one conducting this procedure.
As an attorney preparing estate plans and helping people with their decedent’s estates, I had an interesting chain of events occur. A lady, whose husband had passed away came to me for help with their estate. One of the assets she had was a nice life insurance policy. Her deceased husband was the insured and she was the beneficiary. The insurance policy named an insurance company, listed the amount of the death benefit, had the policy number, looked like it had been officially issued, and everything looked fine. I contacted that insurance company to file a claim. They, of course, asked us to send in the policy. I did. The company notified me back that the policy we submitted was not their form of policy. It looked and sounded nice and had their name on it. But it wasn’t issued by their company. The agent listed had never been authorized to sell insurance for the company. The policy number was bogus. They declined to pay. There we no death benefits for this widow. None.
Isn’t that a good analogy for those acting in the name of God without being called by prophesy and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinaces thereof? When approached by someone without His authority, Christ was told that they had cast out devils, healed the sick and performed other miracles in His name. He responded, you had no authority or calling, I never knew you. And they were left without excuse and without the blessing.
My House is a house of order.
Christ’s Church continued on the earth after his death. After the death of Judas, Mattias was chosen by revelation and the laying on of hands to replace him in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. However, as the apostles continued their travels to teach the Word of Christ, they were killed or martyred for the cause. The other members of the Twelve could not reconvence to properly replace the deceased apostles. The Church slowly lost its line of authority and died. The Catholic Church claims their authority back to Peter, but when you read history it wasn’t so. There came a falling away, just as Christ had prophesied.
This falling away was not recognized by some of the church reformers. But it was recognized by others. John Wesley realized this conundrum and thought not to organize a new church, but only a society to study the scriptures together. That society continued after John’s death because he had filed official articles in England, and it became the Methodist Church. John’s brother also recognized this lack of authority and he wrote the couplet: “John his hands on Coke hath layed, but who layed hands on him?” No one can claim this high priestly authority of himself. He must be called of God by prophesy and by the laying on of hands by one who has the authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
May 28, 2011
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, namely: apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.
When Christ was on the earth He established His Church (hence the primitive church). He called his twelve apostles, the main governing body of His Church. Jesus Christ himself was the chief cornerstone. This was organized to be the Church to lead people to the gospel of Christ with baptism and other laws and ordinances, until “all come to a unity of the faith.”
After Christ was crucified, the apostles were called to go into all the world baptizing in the name of Christ. Bishops and others were called to lead the congregations of the saints. Yes, saints is the name by which members of His Church were known. The apostles were spread out over the land until one by one they were all martyred. Even Peter, the chief apostle was crucified (upside down) for his preaching of the gospel of Christ. The apostles couldn’t get back together to fill the vacancies in their quorum as they had when Judas had killed himself. Slowly the leaders, the foundation, of the Church was gone. There were still bishops and other leaders it is true, but they didn’t have the authority of the apostles. And so the Church fell and slowly disintegrated.
Christ had warned that there would be a “falling away” or an apostasy in the Church. And He wouldn’t return again until after an apostasy and then an eventual restoration or re-establishment of His Church. The falling away occurred. There was no unity of the faith. Some reformers argued that some of the actions of the universal church were incorrect and didn’t comply with Christ’s teachings. Several splinter groups formed and became other churches. All with no apostles or prophets. There was no unity of faith.
In 1820 a young man by the name of Joseph Smith was concerned with the total dis-unity of Christian churches. In his town there were Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and others who were all crying out “join here” or “join there” and there was much dissention over religion in the neighborhood. Joseph decided to put the charge of James (James 1:5) to the test, that if any lack wisdom they should ask of God. He went to the woods to pray. He received a remarkable vision. A vision reminiscent of Moses, of Samuel, of David, of Peter, James and John. The Father and His Son, Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph in answer to his prayer. They told him he must join none of the churches. They drew near to Christ with their words but their hearts were far from him.
Joseph Smith was called to start again the Church patterned after the early Church which Christ had established. In 1830 the Church of Christ was restored to the earth. It was named The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. It was the Church of Jesus Christ. It was of latter day saints to differentiate it from the former day saints. The saints in the day of Christ, of Peter, of Paul. The chief cornerstone of this Church is Jesus Christ Himself. He called some apostles, some prophets, some pastors or bishops, some teachers, some evangelists. Called by prophecy and by the laying on of hands by those in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. This Church was organized with 6 members on April 6, 1830. Now there are more than 14million members. It is the fastest growing Christian Church in the world and is now world wide.
There is no other Church built on a foundation of which Christ is the chief cornerstone and with apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.
May 29, 2011
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophesy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
Some of these gifts of God can be read about in the New Testament, especially in 1 Corinthians 12. These are gift of God through Christ by the Holy Ghost. We believe that these gifts are still available to men and women today. They are activated by action of faith. I will give an example of one of the gifts that was given to me. Since the first gift named is the gift of tongues, I will talk a little of this gift.
As a young man of 19, I was called of God by revelation and by the laying on of hands by one who had authority to preach the gospel and administer the ordinances thereof. I was directed to travel to Germany and there to preach the gospel. As a missionary I was entitled to be “set apart” by the laying on of hands. I went to Salt Lake City, Utah, where I was introduced into the presence of an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. His name was Delbert L. Stapley. After a short visit and conversation, Elder Stapley laid his hands upon my head and gave me the above mentioned authority and with it a blessing. He specifically blessed me with the gift of tongues, among other things.
I studied the German language, and as I arrived in Germany, I could converse only a little bit. But after I had been there for only a few months, I became fluent and conversant in the language. I was able to preach the gospel to the German people in their own language. I indeed felt I had received a true gift of tongues. Now you will notice that one of the gifts mentioned above is the interpretation of tongues. This is necessary in order for those who speak in tongues to be understood by those who are being spoken to. This gift of tongues in not a gift to allow someone to speak in gibberish and nonsense. It is a gift given to allow conversations to take place for the understanding of the gospel and the Glory of God. I found that people could understand clearly what I was trying to explain. After a while I was so competent in the language, I began to be mistaken for a native.
In addition to this gift, I have been blessed in my life to experience each of the other gifts mentioned in the Seventh Article of Faith. I could share numerous personal experiences to testify that these gifts of God are still with us on the earth today. Seek after the best gifts and your life and the lives of others will be blessed by them.
May 30, 2011
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
We are partial to the King James translation of the Bible. The language of that Bible is beautiful and expressive. There have been some corrections over the years, going back to original manuscripts, but still some errors have crept in or plain and precious information has been left out because it didn’t comply with the beliefs of those doing the translating.
The Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is an account of the family of a prophet who was warned to flee Jerusalem at the time of the prophet Jeremiah (about 600 B.C.) because Jerusalem was about to be destroyed. This prophet, Lehi, took his family as directed to the land near the great waters where they were directed to build a ship and proceed to a “promised land.” The book then tells of time, trials and tribulations of the decendants of Lehi for the next 1000 years. It contains accounts of the prophecies, the blessings, the disputes,the wars, and the eventual destruction of the people keeping this record until they are all killed off. The book contains a description of a visit to the people living on this continent by Jesus Christ after the time of his crucifixion at Jerusalem. He gives them his gospel teachings and heals their sick. The last prophet among these people is directed to bury his record in the earth to come forth at a later time.
On September 21, 1823 this last prophet, Moroni, visited the young man, Joseph Smith, and told him where to find the plates on which this record was kept. He was instructed to translate this record, which he did by the gift and power of God. The translation is correct and became the Book of Mormon, named after one of the last prophets to write upon the plates. The gold plates were shown to three, and then to eight witnesses who verified that they saw the record and held it, before it was given back to the angel, Moroni.
This marvelous testament of Jesus Christ contains a promise to those who will read it. When you have received this book, if you will read it and ask God, with real intent and having faith in Christ, He will manifest the truthfulness of the book to you by the power of the Holy Ghost.
May 31, 2011
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
God has not stopped speaking to his prophets. “Then the Lord God will do nothing save he reveal his secrets to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:5) He spoke to His prophets in the Old Testament and again in the New Testament. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. There is no reason that He should stop speaking now when we seem to need Him as much as ever, maybe more. We believe He does speak to His prophets today. An earlier Article of Faith expounds how we believe in the same organization that Christ established in His Church. That organization includes prophets and apostles. That Church is on the earth today. It is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. He has given us by revelation new scriptures: The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price.
Of late, His prophets have been told to make the Melchizedek Priesthood available to all worthy males regarless of race, heritage or culture. His prophets have warned us about the attack on the family with their published statement: “The Family: A Proclaimation to the World.” The prophets continue to give us timely warnings and advice in General Conferences to the Church held twice a year.
The world doesn’t need more prophets. What it needs is more listening ears.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the ten tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
That’s quite a statement. It is actually in 3 parts. About the first part, “we believe in the literal gathering of Israel,” some people wonder what that means. In the Old Testament times, Abraham had a son name Isaac who had a son named Jacob. Jacob was a righteous man who was also promised the blessings of Abraham. Because he was so faithful, God gave him a new name: Israel, meaning “one who prevails with God”. Jacob, or Israel, had 12 sons, who are referred to as the 12 tribes of Israel. They were promised certain blessings also if they remained faithful. They were warned, however, that if they didn’t obey the commandments they would be scattered among all people. Dispite this warning, they broke the commandments and were divided into two separate kingdoms. Ten of the twelve tribes lived in what was called the Northern kingdom. They soon went into apostacy and were eventually conquered and then scattered and are now known as the ten lost tribes. Two tribes, Judah and Benjamin stayed in or near Jerusalem.
We believe that these 12 tribes of Israel will be, and are now being restored and gathered into the true Church of Jesus Christ. Missionary efforts around the world are beginning this gathering process. They will not be fully gathered until the Lord, Jesus Christ, comes again. But they will be gathered and restored as the twelve tribes of Israel.
The second part is that we believe that Zion, or the New Jerusalem, will be built on the American continent. There will then be a Jerusalem in Israel, and a New Jerusalem in America. We believe this because of a revelation received at the time of the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ. Christ told the prophet that a New Jerusalem would be built in America. The part of the American continent which is designated to become the New Jerusalem has its center point in Missouri. We believe that this area was actually the original location of the Garden of Eden.
Which brings us to part three. We believe that Christ will reign personally upon the earth and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory. This will not happen until the Millenium is ushered in. Christ will return at his second coming, the wicked will be burned as stubble, and Christ will take his place as the Lord and King over all the earth and rule for 1,000 years. During this time the devil will be bound, and Christ will lead those of His Church to complete the work that must be done to save his people.
The earth will also be renewed at the time of the 1,000 year reign. To be renewed means it will once again take upon it the glory which is described and which existed in the Garden of Eden before the Fall of Adam. All things will be beautiful. The lion will lie down with the lamb. The saints will learn war no more. There will be no sickness or disease. It will be a glorified earth. This in one of the blessings that we are looking forward to, and are waiting for.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, who, or what they may.
The United States of America was founded on this particular freedom, freedom of Religion. Prior to becoming a nation, most countries had a state religion which was prescribed by the King or Emperor or other national leader. For example, many of our first inhabitants or pilgrims left England or Europe to gain the opportunity to worship God according to their own conscience. This was forbidden in England. You worshipped in the Church of England. In France and Germany it was the Catholic Church. One of the founding principles in America was that there would be no State Religion. Men were free to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience.
Because of this freedom of religion, America was set to become the place where Christ could come once again and build again His Church. Because of the death of His apostles after Christ’s death, and the changing of His doctrine, there was a great apostacy and the authority to act in the Name of God was taken from the earth. His Church had become corrupt due to political power of rulers and the infighting of religious leaders. There are still disputations as to His doctrine and we have not all come to a unity of the faith, the purpose of Christ’s original Church. Christ restored His Church through Joseph Smith, the prophet. The true Church of Jesus Christ is once again on the earth with the proper organization, authority and doctrine. We allow all men to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience. We do, however, invite all people to bring what good they have in their own beliefs, and see if we can add to it.
12. We believe in being subject to Kings, Presidents, Rulers, Magistrates, and in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.
We are good citizens. We follow the law. It is a part of our teachings and nature. A good example of this is the building of a temple by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in East Germany, before the two Germanys were reunited. The Church was well established in East Germany. The members of the Church followed the law, even though it was difficult at times. The leaders of the Church abided by their promises and obligations. They didn’t come out against the harsh realities of the Communist regime. Members of the Church were not allowed to leave the country to participate in our Church Temple ceremonies.
When the Church leaders went to the leaders of the government to ask that members be allowed to travel to Switzerland where a temple was operating, the government leaders, knowing the reputation of the Church and its members, asked why don’t you built a temple in East Germany and allow your members the privileges of the temple without leaving the country. It was unheard of, but the leaders of East Germany made it possible for the Church to buy a plot of ground on which to build the new temple in Frieberg. They made certain that the project was approved, materials were available, and workers were on hand. When the temple was complete, the leaders enthusiastically attended the public open house. When they were informed that once the temple had been dedicated, only recommend worthy members would be allowed inside the temple, no public access would be available. That was also approved. A temple was built in the Eastern block country because the Church was known for its support of the local governments and for the honesty and committment of its members.
For a more complete description of the position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints you may want to review that part of our cannonized scripture known as the Doctrine and Covenants. The section which describes our position is Section 134. We believe in being subject to the laws of the land in which we abide.
13.We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul–We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
We are seeking to improve ourselves in all things and at all times. Rather than becoming course, vulgar, lacking in morals, and less than honest in our dealings with our fellow men, we seek to be better in all things. We want to be more refined, cultured, knowledgeable, virtuous, and charitable. Like Benjamin Franklin who worked on a lifelong “Project for Moral Perfection,” we want to improve ourselves. We take Christ’s charges seriously: “Do unto others and you would have others do unto you” and “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” Or as one of our Church prophets said: “You people are so good, you really should be better than you are.”
