Mormon Ooctrine
Bruce R. McConkie
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1972-1985) © 1966 Deseret Book Company
Mormon Doctrine
Bruce R. McConkie
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MORMON DOCTRINE
BRUCE R. McCONKJE
Mormon Doctrine
Bruce R. McConkie 1966 by Bookcraft, Inc.
Mormon Doctrine
Bruce R. McCoiikie
© 1966 Deseret Book Company All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without pennission in writing from the publisher, Deseret Book Company, P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130.
This work is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The views expressed herein are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church or of Deseret Book Company.
Deseret Book is a registered trademark of Deseret Book Company.
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About This Book
(About This Book )
1 . Teaches the doctrines of the gospel in a plain and simple way.
2. Explains the true principles of revealed religion.
3. Interprets a host of hard and difficult scriptural passages.
4. Digests and outlines the important doctrines of the kingdom.
5. Summarizes the fundamental teachings about Christ, salvation, and the kingdom of God.
6. Analyzes what men must do to gain peace here and eternal life hereafter.
7. Covers the whole field of revealed religion.
Mormon Doctrine is the ideal book for all who seek salvation through the knowledge of Him who said: "Teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom. Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you." (D.&C. 88:77- 7.)
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Preface
(Preface )
This work on Mormon Doctrine is designed to help persons seeking salvation to gain that knowledge of God and his laws without which they cannot hope for an inheritance in the celestial city.
Since it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance of God and his laws, and since man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge of Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation, it follows that men are obligated at their peril to leara and apply the tme doctrines of the gospel.
This gospel compendium will enable men, more effectively, to "teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom"; to "be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient" for them "to understand." (D. & C. 88:77-78.)
For the work itself, I assume sole and full responsibility. Salt Lake City, Utah June 1, 1958
- BRUCE R. MCCONKIE
SECOND EDITION
From the time the first copies came from the press, this compendium of Monnon Doctrine has found a wide and gratifying acceptance among doctrinal students in all parts of the Church. In publishing this Second Edition, as is common with major encyclopedic-type works, experience has shown the wisdom of making some changes, clarifications, and additions.
Salt Lake City, Utah September 1, 1966
- BRUCE R. MCCONKIE
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Abbreviations
(Abbreviations )
Scriptural references are abbreviated in a standard and self-identifying way. Other books are cited by author and title, except that the following oft-cited works are referred to by title only:
Little, James A., & Richards, Franklin D., Compendium; Roberts, Brigham H., Outlines of Ecclesiastical History; Smith, Joseph, History of the Church, vols. 1 to 6; Lectures on Faith;
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (cited as Teachings); Smith, Joseph F., Gospel Doctrine;
Smith, Joseph Fielding, Doctrines of Salvation, vols. 1 to 3;
Essentials in Church History;
Man: His Origin and Destiny;
Progress of Man;
Way to Perfection;
Talmage, James E., Articles of Faith;
Taylor, Jolm, Gospel Kingdom;
Mediation and Atonement;
Woodruff Wilford, Discourses of Wilford Woodruff
Young, Brigham, Discourses of Brigham young (cited as Discourses).
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(A )
Aaron
(Aaron )
See AARONIC PRIESTHOOD, AARONITES, LEVI, MELCHIZEDEK, MOSES, PRESIDING BISHOP, PRIESTHOOD, SONS OF MOSES AND AARON.
To Aaron goes the honor - as a perpetual memorial through all generations - of having his name used to identify the lesser, Levitical, or Aaronic Priesthood. (D. & C. 84:18-27; 107:1, 20.) As a possessor of the Melchizedek Priesthood, Aaron held a position of prominence and leadership among the elders. (Ex. 18:12; John Taylor, Items on Priesthood, p. 5.) indeed, with Moses, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel, Aaron saw the God of Israel before the existence of the Aaronic order; and when "Moses went up into the mount of God," Aaron and Hur were left in a position of presidency over the other elders. (Ex. 24.) But when the law of carnal commandments was "added" to the gospel "because of transgressions," then Aaron and his sons were chosen to bear that priesthood by which the lesser law was administered. (Gal. 3.) Aaron's position then became comparable to that of the Presiding Bishop of the Church. (John Taylor, Items on Priesthood, pp. 5-6.)
Also before the institution of the Levitical Priesthood, Aaron was chosen by the Lord to act as a minister with and a spokesman for Moses, his younger brother. (Ex. 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 16.) After the beginning of the Aaronic order, Aaron and his sons after him were anointed priests unto Israel. (Ex. 28; 29; 30; Num. 3; 4.)
Aaron's call to the Levitical ministry stands as the perfect example of the choosing of legal administrators to do the Lord's work; ever since that day, the legality of priestly administration has been
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determined by whether the professing minister was "called of God, as was Aaron" (Heb. 5:4; D. & C. 27:8; 132:59), that is, by revelation and ordination, and with the fiill approval of the body of the Lord's true worshipers.
Aaronic Priesthood
(Aaronic Priesthood )
See AARON, AARONITES, BISHOPS, DEACONS, JOHN THE BAPTIST, KEYS, LAW OF MOSES, LEVITES, MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD, ORDINATIONS, PRIESTHOOD, PRIESTHOOD OF ELIAS, PRIESTHOOD OFFICES, PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS, PRIESTS, QUORUM PRESIDENTS, TEACHERS.
When the Lord first gave the law of carnal commandments, the preparatory gospel, to school Israel for a fiiture time when again they could enjoy the gospel fulness, of necessity a lesser order of priesthood was conferred to administer the lesser law. (Heb. 7:12; Inspired Version, Ex. 34:1-2.) This lesser priesthood (D. & C. 85:11) was conferred upon Aaron and his sons after him (Ex. 28; 29; 30; Lev. 1:11; 3:2; 13:2; Num. 18), as "an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations." (Ex. 40:15; Num. 25: 10-13.) It was also conferred upon substantially the whole house of Levi who were between 30 and 50 years of age. (Num. 3; 4.) Hence it is called the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood; the two names are synonymous. (D. & C. 107:1, 6, 10.)
Aaron and his sons after him held the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood and acted in the full majesty and power of this Levitical order; many of their fiinctions were comparable to those of bishops and priests in this dispensation. Though the rest of the ordained Levites held the fulness of the Aaronic Priesthood (Heb. 7:5) and participated in the offering of sacrifices, they did not hold the keys of the Aaronic ministry; many of their fiinctions were comparable to those of teachers and deacons in this dispensation. (Num. 3; 4; 2 Chron. 29; Mai. 3:3; D. & C. 13; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp. 111-114.)
From Aaron to John the Baptist the hereditary nature of the Levitical Priesthood "was in active operation." (Teachings, pp. 318-319; D. & C. 84:18, 26-27, 30; 107:13.) This priesthood in that day was conferred solely upon worthy members of the special lineage chosen to receive it; it came to individuals by descent, because of father and because of mother, as contrasted with the Melchizedek Priesthood which was "without father, without mother, without descent." (Heb. 7:3.) John the Baptist "was a descendant of Aaron" and held the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood. (Teachings, pp. 272-273.) There was no Aaronic Priesthood among the Nephites prior to the ministry of the resurrected Lord among them, for none of the tribe of Levi accompanied the Nephite peoples to their promised land.
Few members of the tribe of Levi gathered with the fold of Israel in the meridian of time; few have come back to the fold of their fathers in this dispensation; and there were none among the Nephites to whom our Lord ministered. Consequently, beginning in the day of the primitive Church the lesser priesthood was spread out among the body of the people and was no longer confined exclusively to the chosen lineage. When the latter-day kingdom is perfected, and when the other tribes of Israel are gathered and receive their blessings under the hands of Ephraim, the first to gather (D. & C. 133:26-35), then the sons of Levi again will stand forth in the majesty of their calling and "offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." (D. & C. 13.)
John the Baptist, as a resurrected personage, came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on the 1 5th of May, 1829, and made the first conferral of Levitical Priesthood in this dispensation. (D. Sc C. 13; 27:8.) Since then, as the needs of the ministry warranted, the offices of bishop, priest, teacher, and deacon, have all been revealed as part of this Aaronic ministry.
The Priesthood of Aaron "is called the lesser priesthood . . . because it is an appendage to the greater, or the Melchizedek Priesthood, and has power in administering outward ordinances." (D. & C. 107:13- 14.) Though it is a lesser priesthood, it is yet one of great majesty and power. It holds "the keys of the ministering of angels," meaning that those who hold it and are faithful have the key whereby they can open the door to the receipt of visitations from heavenly messengers. (D. & C. 13; 84:26-27; 107:20.) Faith, repentance, and baptism - comprising as they do the preparatory gospel - fall within its province, though the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost is not a prerogative that attends it.
Perfection does not come by the Levitical order, and this lesser priesthood is not received with an oath. (Heb. 7:11, 21; Teachings, p. 323.) But it is a preparatory priesthood, the Priesthood of Ellas, the schooling ministry, which prepares its worthy and faithfiil ministers for the oath and covenant and
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perfection that appertain to the Melchizedek order. That those who train themselves to receive the Melcliizedek Priesthood, by magnifying their callings in the Aaronic Priesthood, must be true and faithful and worthy for the final receipt of the greater priesthood is self-evident. Indeed, one of the reasons the Lord destroyed Korah and his band of Levites was that they, being unworthy, sought "the high priesthood also." (Inspired Version, Num. 16.)
Aaronites
(Aaronites )
See AARON, AARONIC PRIESTHOOD, LEVITES, SONS OF MOSES AND AARON.
Descendants of Aaron, specially honored as the priests of Israel, were called Aaronites. (1 Chron. 12:27; 27:17.) Descent and genealogical proof thereof were of vital importance. "The children of the priests," when the temple was to be rebuilt in Jerusalem, "sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood." (Ezra 2:61-63; Neh. 7:63-65.)
Abaddon
(Abaddon )
See APOLLYON, DESTROYER, DEVIL, HELL.
This expression, of Hebrew origin, was used by John as a name for Satan. (Rev. 9: 1 1 .) It is the same as the Greek ApoUyon and means literally the Destroyer. It was used anciently to mean hell, as shown in the marginal reading of Psalm 88:11.
Abominable Church
(Abominable Church )
See CHURCH OF THE DEVIL.
Abomination of Desolation
(Abomination of Desolation )
See ABOMINATIONS, SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
Daniel spoke prophetically of a day when there would be "the abomination that maketh desolate" (Dan. 11:31; 12:11), and the phrase was recoined in New Testament times to say, "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet." (Matt. 24:15.) Aside from the prophetic setting and relying solely on the plain meaning of words, we would conclude that this phrase (abomination of desolation) would have reference to some great act or status of corruption and befoulment, of contamination and filthiness, which would bring to pass destruction, ruination, devastation, desolation.
Such is the case. These conditions of desolation, bom of abomination and wickedness, were to occur twice in fiilfilment of Daniel's words. The first was to be when the Roman legions under Titus, in 70 A.D., laid siege to Jerusalem, destroying and scattering the people, leaving not one stone upon another in the desecrated temple, and spreading such terror and devastation as has seldom if ever been equalled on earth. Of those days Moses had foretold that the straitness of the siege would cause parents to eat their own children and great loathing and evil to abound. (Deut. 28.)
And of the same events our Lord was led to say: "For then, in those days, shall be great fribulation on the Jews, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, such as was not before sent upon Israel, of God, since the beginning of their kingdom until this time; no, nor ever shall be sent again upon Israel. And except those days should be shortened, there should none of their flesh be saved." (Jos. Smith 1:12-20.)
Then, speaking of the last days, of the days following the restoration of the gospel and its declaration "for a witness unto all nations," our Lord said: "And again shall the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, be fulfilled." (Jos. Smith 1:31-32.) That is: Jerusalem again will be under siege ("For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle"); again the severity of the siege and the exfremities of brutal conflict, bom of wickedness and abomination, will lead to great devastation and
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desolation ("and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity"). (Zech. 14.) It will be during this siege that Christ will come, the wicked will be destroyed, and the millennial era commenced.
In a general sense, this expressive designation, abomination of desolation, also describes the latter-day terrors to be poured out upon the wicked wherever they may be. And so that the honest in heart may escape these things, the Lord sends his missionaries forth to raise the warning voice, to declare the glad tidings of the restoration, lest "desolation and utter abolishment" come upon them. The elders are commanded to reprove "the world in righteousness of all their unrighteous and ungodly deeds, setting forth clearly and understandingly the desolation of abomination in the last days." (D. & C. 84: 1 14, 117.)
Also: "Go forth among the Gentiles for the last time, as many as the mouth of the Lord shall name, to bind up the law and seal up the testimony, and to prepare the saints for the hour of judgment which is to come; That their souls may escape the wrath of God, the desolation of abomination which awaits the wicked, both in this world and in the world to come." (D. & C. 88:84-85.)
Abominations
(Abominations )
See ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, CHURCH OF THE DEVIL, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, SIN, WICKEDNESS.
Those practices which are so vile, hatefiil, and detestable as to excite and deserve loathing are called abominations. Idolatry and every form of sex immorality, for instance, are so classified. (Lev. 18.)
Abrahamic Covenant
(Abrahamic Covenant )
See ADOPTION, CELESTLA.L MARRIAGE, CHILDREN OF THE COVENANT, COVENANTS, EXALTATION, GATHERING OF ISRAEL, HOPE OF ISRAEL, MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD, NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT, RESTORATION OF THE GOSPEL.
Abraham first received the gospel by baptism (which is the covenant of salvation); then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered into celestial marriage (which is the covenant of exaltation), gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase; finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity. (Abra. 2:6- 11; D. & C. 132:29- 50.) Included in the divine promises to Abraham was the assurance that Christ would come through his lineage, and the assurance that Abraham's posterity would receive certain choice, promised lands as an eternal inheritance. (Abra. 2; Gen. 17; 22:15-18; Gal. 3.)
All of these promises lumped together are called the Abrahamic covenant. This covenant was renewed with Isaac (Gen. 24:60; 26:1-4, 24) and again with Jacob. (Gen. 28; 35:9-13; 48:3-4.) Those portions of it which pertain to personal exaltation and eternal increase are renewed with each member of the house of Israel who enters the order of celestial martiage; through that order the participating parties become inheritors of all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (D. & C. 132; Rom. 9:4; Gal. 3; 4.)
To fulfil the covenant God made with Abraham - having particular reference to the fact that the literal seed of his body would be entitled to the blessings of the gospel, the priesthood, celestial martiage, and eternal life (Abra. 2:10-11) - a number of specific and particular things must take place in the last days. The gospel must be restored, the priesthood be conferted again upon man, the keys of the sealing power given again to mortals, Israel gathered, and the Holy Ghost must be poured out upon the Gentiles. All this has, of course, already taken place or is in process of fulfilment. (1 Ne. 14:5-7; 15:12-20; 19:14-17; 22:3- 25; 2 Ne. 6:6-12; 9:1-2; 10:7-15; 11:5; 29:1; 3 Ne. 15; 20; 21; Ether 13:1-13.) This is the veiy day when the identity of those "who are heirs according to the covenant" (D. & C. 52:2), who are "lawllil heirs, according to the flesh" (D. & C. 86:8-1 1), is being made known.
To the Nephites the resurtected Lord proclaimed: "Ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. The Father having raised me up unto you first, and sent me to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities; and this because ye are the children of the covenant - And after that ye were blessed then ftilfiUeth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed - unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost
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through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel. And they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land. Nevertheless, when they shall have received the fulness of my gospel, then if they shall harden their hearts against me I will return their iniquities upon their own heads, saith the Father. And I will remember the covenant which I have made with my people; and I have covenanted with them that I would gather them together in mine own due time, that I would give unto them again the land of their fathers for their inlieritance, which is the land of Jerusalem, which is the promised land unto them forever, saith the Father." (3 Ne. 20:25-29.)
As a sign - "that ye may know the time when these things shall be about to take place" - the Lord said that a free nation would be set up on the American continent, that the gospel would be restored, and that the Book of Mormon would come forth. "And when these things come to pass that thy seed shall begin to know these things - it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fiilfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel." (3 Ne. 21.)
Abrahamic Dispensation
(Abrahamic Dispensation ) See DISPENSATIONS
Abraham's Bosom
(Abraham's Bosom )
See PARADISE, SPIRIT WORLD.
Our Lord, in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, uses the term Abraham's bosom to mean paradise. Abraham, the friend of God, not at that time having been resurrected, was continuing his life in the paradise of God, the same place to which the righteous beggar went. (Luke 16:19-31.) The expression connotes the close fellowship and harmony that exists among the righteous in the paradisiacal sphere of peace and rest.
Abraham's Children
(Abraham's Children )
See ADOPTION, CHILDREN OF THE COVENANT, ISRAEL, TRIBES OF ISRAEL.
"We be Abraham's seed," the Jews said; and so they were in the literal sense. But in the gospel sense Abraham's children are those who do the works of Abraham, for their blood is thereby cleansed and purified as was Abraham's, and they are adopted into his lineage. (Abra. 2:8-11; D. & C. 84:33-41; 132:29-33; Teachings, pp. 149-150.) Hence, our Lord replied to the Jews, "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. ... Ye do the deeds of your father. ... Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do." (John 8:3 1-47.)
Absolution
(Absolution )
See FORGIVENESS.
Abstinence
(Abstinence )
See WORD OF WISDOM.
Abyss
(Abyss )
See BOTTOMLESS PIT.
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Accountability
(Accountability )
See AGENCY, BAPTISM, INFANT BAPTISM, ORIGINAL SIN THEORY, SALVATION OF CHILDREN, TEMPTATION, YEARS OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
Personal accountability for all of one's acts underlies the whole gospel plan and is the natural outgrowth of the law of free agency. Without such personal responsibility free agency could not operate, for neither rewards nor punishments would follow the exercise of agency. And if there were no rewards or punishments, there would be no salvation or damnation, and so the whole plan of salvation would vanish away. (2 Ne. 2:1 1-16.) But contrary to the false doctrine which denies personal responsibility for sin, and says instead that men are predestined to salvation or damnation, the Lord has said that men will be punished for their own sins (Second Article of Faith; Articles of Faith, pp. 52-73), and that they will be judged according to the deeds done in the flesh. (Rev. 20:12.)
Accordingly, men are accountable for all their acts both temporal and spiritual. (D. & C. 42:32; 104:13.) Accountability for civic and governmental acts is included. "We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society." (D. & C. 134:1.) In fact the Lord established the constitution of the United States, "That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment." (D. & C. 101:77-80.)
Acts of God
(Acts of God )
See GOD, JUDGMENTS OF GOD, SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
Common custom designates the calamities of nature as acts of God. In courts of law, for instance, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eniptions, hailstorms, and the like, since they apparently are wholly outside the realm of human control, are called acts of God. This view of things is particularly offensive to those branches of modem Christendom which specialize in the false view that Deity is light, love, and goodness and never manifests himself except tlirough attributes of this sort.
In actuality the hand of the Lord is seen in all things including the calamities of nature. He has given laws unto all things, including the forces of nature; and by these laws those forces are operated, governed, and controlled. (D. & C. 88:42-45.) One of these laws is that the righteousness or wickedness of men directly affects the operation of the forces of nature. Crops grow for the righteous who pay tithing. (Mai. 3:7-12.) The rains come and the productivity of the soil is enhanced when men keep the commandments. (Lev. 26:3-5.) By listening to the whisperings of the Spirit, many righteous persons have been led out of the paths of impending calamities; conversely, when the fiilness of the Lord's wrath has rested upon wicked cities and nations, the inhabitants of those places have been placed in the way of "acts of God" which would destroy them. These things are seen in the whole record of God's dealings with men.
Adam
(Adam )
See ADAM-GOD THEORY, ADAMIC LANGUAGE, ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN, ANCIENT OF DAYS, BATTLE OF THE GREAT GOD, EVE, FALL OF ADAM, FIRST FLESH, FIRST MAN, FORBIDDEN FRUIT, MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, PRE-EXISTENCE, WAR IN HEAVEN.
Our knowledge about Adam, and the exalted station held by him in the eternal providences of the Almighty, begins with an understanding of his pre-existent work and mission. By his diligence and obedience there, as one of the spirit sons of God, he attained a stature and power second only to that of Christ, the Firstborn. None of all the billions of our Father's children equalled him in intelligence and might, save Jesus only. He sat in the council of the gods in the planning of the creation of this earth, and then, under Christ, participated in the creative enterprise. (Abra. 3:22-26.) He was foreordained to come to earth as the father of the human race, and when Lucifer and one-third of the hosts of heaven rebelled.
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Adam (with the exahed title of Michael the Archangel) led the hosts of the righteous in the war in heaven. (Rev. 12:7-9.)
"And the first man of all men have I called Adam," the Lord says, "which is many." (Moses 1 :34; 3:7; 6:45; Abra. 1:3; 1 Ne. 5:11; D. & C. 84:16.) That is, Adam was placed on earth as the first of the human family and given a name which signifies many as pertaining to the greatness of the posterity which should flow from him.
As to the manner in which Adam was placed on earth, the First Presidency of the Church (Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund) has given us this plain statement: "He took upon him an appropriate body, the body of a man, and so became a 'living soul.' . . . All who have inhabited the earth since Adam have taken bodies and become souls in like manner. . . . Man began life as a human being, in the likeness of our Heavenly Father. True it is that the body of man enters upon its career as a tiny germ or embryo, which becomes an infant, quickened at a certain stage by the spirit whose tabernacle it is, and the child, after being bom, develops into a man. There is nothing in this, however, to indicate that the original man, the first of our race, began life as anything less than a man, or less than the human germ or embryo that becomes a man." (Man: His Origin and Destiny, p. 354.)
Adam's great part in the plan of redemption was to fall from the immortal state in which he first existed on earth and thus bring mortality and death into the world. This he did, bringing temporal and spiritual death into the world, from the effects of which deaths the atonement of Clirist was foreordained as a ransom. After the fall, Adam and Eve became the parents of all living. (Moses 5: 1 1 ; D. & C. 27: 1 1 ; 1 Ne. 5:11; 2:23-25.) We are his descendants and there are no persons who have ever lived on earth who have not had this same ancestry. "He is the father of the human family; . . . [the] head of the human family." (Teachings, p. 157.)
Father Adam was one of the most noble and intelligent characters who ever lived. He began his earth life as a son of God, endowed with the talents and abilities gained through diligence and obedience in pre- existence. He is the head of all gospel dispensations (Teachings, pp. 167-169), the presiding high priest (under Christ) over all the earth; presides over all the spirits destined to inhabit this earth (Teachings, pp. 157-159); holds the keys of salvation over all the earth; and will reign as Michael, our prince, to all eternity. (D. & C. 78:16.) He was baptized (Moses 6:64-66), manied for eternity, for death had not yet entered the world (Moses 3:21-25), had the fiilness of the gospel (Moses 5:57-59), and following 930 years of existence after the fall went on to the paradise of God to await a glorious resurrection with Christ and the righteous saints. He has returned to earth in our day, bringing keys and authorities to the Prophet Joseph Smith (D. & C. 128:21); will soon preside at the great Adam-ondi-Ahman council (D. & C. 116); and finally will reign over his righteous posterity in the Patriarchal Order to all eternity. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 90-106.)
Adam-God Theory
(Adam-God Theory)
See ADAM, ANCIENT OF DAYS, BIRTHRIGHT, CELESTIAL MARRIAGE, EXALTATION, GOD, GODHOOD, MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, PATRIARCHAL CHAIN, PATRIARCHAL ORDER, PLURALITY OF GODS.
Cultists and other enemies of the restored truth, for their own peculiar purposes, sometimes try to make it appear that Latter-day Saints worship Adam as their Father in heaven. In support of their false assumptions, they quote such statements as that of President Brigham Young to the effect that Adam is our father and our god and the only god with whom we have to do. This statement, and others of a similar nature, is perfectly consistent and rational, when viewed in fiill gospel perspective and understood in the light of the revelations relative to the patriarchal chain binding exalted beings together. Full and detailed explanations of all important teachings on these points are readily available. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. l,pp. 96-106.)
Faithfiil members of the Church worship the Father, in the name of the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and view Adam in his proper high place as the pre-existent Michael, the first man and presiding high priest (under Christ) over all the earth for all time, and as the one who will again lead the armies of heaven in the final great war with Lucifer. There is a sense, of course, in which Adam is a god. But so also, in the same sense, are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Moses and all the ancient prophets; Peter, James, and John; and all the righteous saints of all ages, including those of both high and low degree.
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All exalted beings become joint-heirs with Christ and inherit the fulness of the Father's kingdom. Having entered in at the gate of celestial maiTiage, and having pressed forward in righteousness, overcoming all things, they pass by the angels and the gods "to their exaltation and glory in all things. . . . Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods. Because they have all power, and he angels are subject unto them." (D. & C. 132: 19-20.) Of all these Adam is the chief, presiding (under Clirist and the Father) in the patriarchal order over all the rest. There is no mystery about this doctrine except that which persons ignorant of the great principles of exaltation and unfriendly to the cause of righteousness have attempted to make.
Adamic Dispensation
(Adamic Dispensation ) See DISPENSATIONS.
Adamic Language
(Adamic Language )
See BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE, GAZELAM, LANGUAGES, TONGUES.
In the beginning God gave Adam a language that was pure, perfect, and undefiled. This Adamic language, now unknown, was far superior to any tongue which is presently extant. For instance, the name of God the Father, in this original language, is Man of Holiness, signifying that he is a Holy Man and not a vague spiritual essence. (Moses 6:57.)
This first language spoken by mortals was either the celestial tongue of the Gods or such adaptation of it as was necessary to meet the limitations of mortality; and Adam and his posterity had power to speak, read, and write it. (Way to Perfection, pp. 60-69.) In writing of the saints in the day of the first man, Moses says: "And a book of remembrance was kept, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration; And by them their children were taught to read and write, having a language which was pure and undefiled." (Moses 6:5-6.) The beauty and power of this Adamic language is indicated by a statement made by Moroni to the Lord about the Brother of Jared (who spoke the original and pure language): "Thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art unto the oveipowering of man to read them." (Ether 12:24.)
During the millennium, it appears that men will again have power to speak and write the Adamic language. Of that day the Lord says he will "turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent." (Zeph. 3:9.) In some instances when the saints speak in tongues, the language impressed upon them by the power of the Spirit is the pure Adamic tongue.
Adam-Ondi-Ahman
(Adam-Ondi-Ahman )
See ADAM, AHMAN, GARDEN OF EDEN, MILLENNIUM, SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
Adam was the first man of all men; Ahman is one of the names by which God was known to Adam. Adam-ondi-Ahman, a name earned over from the pure Adamic language into English, is one for which we have not been given a revealed, literal translation. As near as we can judge - and this view comes down from the early brethren who associated with the Prophet Joseph Smith, who was the first one to use the name in this dispensation - Adam-ondi-Ahman means the place or land of God where Adam dwelt.
Apparently the area included was a large one; at least, the revelations speak of the land, the valley, and the mountains of Adam-ondi-Alnnan. They tell us that Clirist himself "established the foundations of Adam-ondi-Ahman" (D. & C. 78:15-16), and that it included the place now known as Spring Hill, Daviess County, Missouri. (D. & C. 116.)
Far West, Missouri, also appears to be included in the land of Adam-ondi-Ahman. On April 17, 1838, the Lord commanded his saints to assemble at Far West, which place, he said, was holy ground; and there they were to build a city. (D. & C. 115.) By July 8 of that year, William Marks and Newel K. Whitney had not left their temporal concerns in Kirtland, Ohio, and were not assembling with the saints coming to
15
Zion. In rebuking them the Lord said this: "Is there not room enough on the mountains of Adam-ondi- Ahman, and on the plains of Olaha Shinehah, or the land where Adam dwelt, that you should covet that which is but the drop, and neglect the more weighty matters? Therefore, come up hither unto the land of my people, even Zion."
William Maries was told that he was to "preside in the midst of my people in the city of Far West," and Newel K. Whitney was told to "come up to the land of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and be a bishop unto my people." (D. &C. 117.)
The early brethren of this dispensation taught that the Garden of Eden was located in what is known to us as the land of Zion, an area for which Jackson County, Missouri, is the center place. In our popular Latter-day Saint hymn which begins, "Glorious things are sung of Zion, Enoch's city seen of old," we find William W. Phelps preserving the doctrine that "In Adam-ondi-Ahman, Zion rose where Eden was." And in another hymn, written by the same author in the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith, we find these expressions;
This earth was once a garden place. With all her glories common. And men did live a holy race. And worship Jesus face to face. In Adam-ondi-Ahman. We read that Enoch walk'd with God,
Above the power of mammon. While Zion spread herself abroad. And Saints and angels sang aloud. In Adam-ondi-Ahman. Her land was good and greatly blest. Beyond old Israel's Canaan; Her fame was known from east to west.
Her peace was great, and pure the rest
Of Adam-ondi-Ahman. Hosannah to such days to come - The Savior's second coming. When all the earth in glorious bloom. Affords the Saints a holy home. Like Adam-ondi-Ahman.
One of the greatest spiritual gatherings of all the ages took place in the Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman some 5,000 years ago, and another gathering - of even greater importance relative to this earth's destiny - is soon to take place in that same location. Our revelations recite: "Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah who were all high priests with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman and there bestowed upon them his last blessing.
"And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel. And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever. And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation." (D. &C. 107:53-56.)
At that great gathering Adam offered sacrifices on an altar built for the purpose. A remnant of that very altar remained on the spot down tlirough the ages. On May 19, 1838, Joseph Smith and a number of his associates stood on the remainder of the pile of stones at a place called Spring Hill, Daviess County, Missouri. There the Prophet taught them that Adam again would visit in the Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, holding a great council as a prelude to the great and dreadful day of the Lord. (Mediation and Atonement pp. 69-70.) At this council, all who have held keys of authority will give an accounting of their stewardship to Adam. Clirist will then come, receive back the keys, and thus take one of the final steps preparatory to reigning personally upon the earth. (Dan. 7:9-14; Teachings, p. 157.)
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Addresses
(Addresses ) See SERMONS.
Adjuration
(Adjuration ) See EXORCISM.
Administering to the Sick
(Administering to tire Sick ) See ADMINISTRATIONS.
Administrations
(Administrations )
See CONSECRATION OF OIL, FAITH, HEALINGS, LAYING ON OF HANDS.
"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." (Jas. 5:14-16.) These words of James aptly summarize the practice of the Church in all ages where administrations are concerned. (D. & C. 42:43-44;, 66:9; Mark 5:23; 6:5; 16:18; Luke4:40-41; 13:11-13; Acts 28:8.) Administrations are of two parts: anointings and sealings; both performances are accompanied by the laying on of hands.
It is the policy of the Church that administering to the sick should be done at the request of the sick person or someone vitally concerned, so that it will be done in answer to faith. Those called to perform the ordinance should encourage the sick person to rely on the Lord's promise, "Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you." (Moro. 7:26.) If need be the sick person should be encouraged to keep the commandments so that he can have faith and be entitled to the blessings of the Lord.
In the perfoniiance of the administration, one of the elders should anoint the sick person with oil on or near the crown of the head, for the restoration of his health. Ordinarily he should not seal the anointing. Pure olive oil which has been consecrated for the anointing and healing of the sick in the household of faith should be used. Taking consecrated oil internally, or using it for anointing or rubbing afflicted parts of the body, is not part of the ordinance of administering to the sick.
After the anointing two or more elders should lay their hands on the head of the sick person, and with one of them acting as voice, seal the anointing. The one speaking should offer such prayers, pronounce such blessings, give such promises, say such things, and rebuke the affliction - all as the Spirit of the Lord may dictate.
Ordinarily one administration is sufficient for one illness, although in serious cases, or where other circumstances seem to dictate the propriety of such, a sick person may be administered to several times during one illness. It is also the common practice, if a sick person has recently been anointed, for those performing a second administration merely to give the sick person a blessing in the authority of the priesthood, hi an emergency, where only one elder is present or available, he may either give the sick person a blessing or he can both anoint and seal in a formal administration.
Ordinances of administration with actual healings resulting therefrom are one of the evidences of the divinity of the Lord's work. Where these are, there is God's kingdom; where these are not, there God's kingdom is not. Sincere investigators must necessarily beware of the devil's substitutes of the true ordinances.
Adonai
(Adonai )
See CHRIST, LORD.
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In the Old Testament record, Christ is frequently referred to under the Hebrew word Adonai - a term having reference to God, meaning literally my Lord, but usually translated as Lord.
Adoption
(Adoption )
See BORN AGAIN, ISRAEL, JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST, SONS OF GOD, SONS OF MOSES AND AARON.
By the law of adoption those who receive the gospel and obey its laws, no matter what their literal blood lineage may have been, are adopted into the lineage of Abraham. (Abra. 2: 9-11) "The effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile," the Prophet says, "is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of Abraham." Such a person has "a new creation by the Holy Ghost." (Teachings, pp. 149-150.) Those who magnify their callings in the Melchizedek priesthood are promised that they will be "sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham." (D. & C. 84:33-34) Indeed, the faithful are adopted to the family of Christ; they become "the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters"; they are "spiritually begotten," for their "hearts are changed through faith on his name," thus being "bom of him," becoming "his sons and his daughters." (Mosiah 5:7.) Paul explained the doctrine of adoption by saying, "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God," because they receive "the Spirit of adoption," being or becoming Israelites, "to whom pertaineth the adoption." (Rom. 8:14-24; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5.)
Adoration
(Adoration ) See WORSHIP.
Adultery
(Adultery )
See DAMNATION, FORNICATION, SEX IMMORALITY, SIGN-SEEKING, TELESTIAL LAW.
1. "Thou shall not commit adultery." (Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18; D. & C. 42:24.) Sex immorality stands next to murder in the category of personal crimes; it is "most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost." (Alma 39:5.) Anciently the penalty therefor was death; "the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death." (Lev. 20: 10; Deut. 22:21-29.)
In the initial day of judgment, at the Second Coming of our Lord, Christ "will be a swift witness . . . against the adulterers," and they shall be burned as stubble. (Mai. 3:5; 4:1.) Adulterers shall be cast down to hell to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire; and their eventual destiny - after suffering the torments of the damned until the second resuiTection - shall be that of the telestial kingdom. (D. & C. 76:103-106.) They shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-1 1.) Adultery opens the flood gates of wickedness in general. Physical disease, divorce, illegitimacy, violence, broken homes, and a host of evils always attend adulterous acts. There never was an adulterer, for instance, who was not also a liar; the two always go together. Adulterers are sign-seekers (Matt. 12:39; 16:4); their spirits are diseased so as to hinder them in recognizing and accepting the gospel truths and thus becoming heirs of salvation.
Adulterous acts are born spiritually before they are committed temporally; they proceed out of the heart. (Matt. 15:19; Mark 7:21.) As a man "thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Prov. 23:7.) Therefore, "whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matt. 5:27-28; 3 Ne. 12:17-28.) "He that looketh on a woman to lust after her, or if any shall commit adultery in their hearts, they shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith and shall fear." (D. & C. 63:16.)
When the day comes that men live again - as they did in the golden era of Nephite history - the perfect law of marriage, then "whoso shall marry her who is divorced" shall be guilty of adultery. (3 Ne. 12:31- 32; Matt. 5:31-32.) "Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery." (Luke 16:18; Matt. 19:9.)
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Is it possible to repent of adultery and gain forgiveness of sins so as to be saved in the celestial kingdom of God? Yes in most cases; No in some. Forgiveness with resultant celestial salvation depends upon the light and knowledge of the one guilty of the grossly wicked adulterous relationship. Worldly people who repent with all their hearts, accept baptism, and then conform to the Lord's law shall be saved even though guilty of adultery before accepting the truth. (1 Cor. 6:9- 11; 3 Ne. 30.)
Speaking to members of the Church in 1831 - prior to the restoration of the temple covenants and ceremonies - the Lord said: "Thou shalt not commit adultery; and he that committeth adultery, and repenteth not, shall be cast out. But he that has committed adultery and repents with all his heart, and forsaketh it, and doeth it no more, thou shalt forgive; But if he doeth it again, he shall not be forgiven, but shall be cast out." (D. & C. 42:24-26.)
After a person has advanced in righteousness, light, and truth to the point that the ftalness of the ordinances of the house of the Lord have been received so that he has been sealed up unto eternal life, and his calling and election has been made sure, then as expressed in the Prophet's language, the law is: "If a man commit adultery, he cannot receive the celestial kingdom of God. Even if he is saved in any kingdom, it cannot be the celestial kingdom." (History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 81; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, pp. 92-94.)
2. In a spiritual sense, to emphasize how serious it is, the damning sin of idolatry is called adultery. When the Lord's people forsake him and worship false gods, their infidelity to Jehovah is described as whoredoms and adultery. (Jer. 3: 8-9; Hos. 1:2; 3:1.) By forsaking the Lord, his people are unfaithful to their covenant vows, vows made to him who symbolically is their Husband.
Advent
(Advent )
See SECOND COMD>JG OF CHRIST.
Adversary
(Adversary )
See AGENCY, DEVIL, SATAN.
This name for Satan signifies that he is the enemy of all righteousness, opposes every good thing with evil, and is the arch foe of every upright person. Endowed with agency, he came out in open rebellion in pre-existence and has ever since been the chief antagonist of every righteous cause, "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things." (2 Ne. 2:11.) "Be sober, be vigilant," Peter said, "because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Pet. 5:8.)
Adversities
(Adversities )
See AFFLICTIONS.
Advocacy
(Advocacy )
See ADVOCATE, ATONEMENT OF CHRIST, EXPLA.TION, INTERCESSION, MEDLA.TION, PROPITIATION, RECONCILIATION.
Our Lord acts according to the law of advocacy or intercession in pleading the cause of his faithful saints before the tribunals of eternity. (D. & C. 45:3-4.)
Advocate
(Advocate )
See ADVOCACY, ATONEMENT OF CHRIST, CHRIST, EXPIATOR, INTERCESSOR, MEDLA.TOR, PARACLETE, PROPITIATOR, RECONCILER.
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Christ is the Advocate with the Father, meaning that he pleads the cause of the righteous in the courts above. (D. & C. 29:5; 32:3; 62:1; 110:4; Moro. 7:28; 1 John 2:1.) "Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him - Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life." (D. & C. 45:3-5.)
Afflictions
(Afflictions )
See PATIENCE, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, TRIBULATIONS.
Afflictions, including sorrow, adversity, tribulation, calamity, and trouble - all these are the common lot of mankind; they are an essential cart of this probation. "Be patient in afflictions." (D. & C. 31:9; 66:9.)
Frequently afflictions are imposed as a result of disobedience, and they could be avoided by righteousness. If Zion, for instance, "observe not to do whatsoever I have commanded her," the Lord said, "I will visit her according to all her works, with sore affliction, with pestilence, with plague, with sword, with vengeance, with devouring fire." (D. & C. 97:26; 101:1-9.)
Agency
(Agency )
See FREEDOM, KNOWLEDGE, LAW, LIGHT OF CHRIST, PLAN OF SALVATION, PREDESTINATION, PRE-EXISTENCE.
Agency is the ability and freedom to choose good or evil. It is an eternal principle which has existed with God from all eternity. The spirit offspring of the Father had agency in pre-existence and were thereby empowered to follow Christ or Lucifer according to their choice. (Moses 4:3; D. & C. 29:36-37.) It is by virtue of the exercise of agency in this life that men are enabled to undergo - the testing which is an essential part of mortality. (Moses 3:17; 4:3; 7:32; Abra. 3:25-28.)
Four gi'eat principles must be in force if there is to be agency: 1 . Laws must exist, laws ordained by an Omnipotent power, laws which can be obeyed or disobeyed; 2. Opposites must exist - good and evil, virtue and vice, right and wrong - that is, there must be an opposition, one force pulling one way and another pulling the other; 3. A knowledge of good and evil must be had by those who are to enjoy the agency, that is, they must know the difference between the opposites; and 4. An unfettered power of choice must prevail.
Agency is given to man as an essential part of the great plan of redemption. As with all things appertaining to this plan, it is based on the atoning sacrifice of Christ. As Lehi expressed it: "Because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given. Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediation of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." (2 Ne. 2:26-30; 10:23; Alma 13:3; Hela. 14:31.)
Agency is so fundamental a part of the great plan of creation and redemption that if it should cease, all other things would vanish away. "All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence." (D. & C. 93:30.) Expanding and interpreting this revealed principle, Lehi said: "it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, . . . righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor coixuption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility. Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.
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"And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away." (2 Ne. 2:11- 14; D.&C. 29:39.)
Agency is the philosophy of opposites, and because these opposites exist, men can reap either salvation or damnation by the use they make of their agency. If it were not for the law of agency, there could be no judgment according to works and consequently no rewards or punishments. "Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you" (Moses 6:33), is the voice of the Lord to all people of all ages. (Alma30:8; Josh. 24:15.)
Satan "sought to destroy the agency of man" (Moses 4:3), an eventuality which would have made the attainment of salvation impossible, and accordingly he was cast out of heaven. Two great agencies on earth pattern their courses in accordance with Lucifer's program of compulsion and seek to deny the inalienable right of agency to men. These are the church of the devil and the communistic dictatorship, both of which prosper proportionately as they are able to withhold truth from their adherents and compel them through fear to confonn to the "religious" and "party" lines. On the other hand, it is the will of the Lord that all agencies, governments included, should be so ordained "That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment." (D. & C. 101 :78.)
Churches which teach that men are predestined to gain salvation or damnation, according to the election of God, regardless of the acts of the individual, find no place in their theology for the true doctrine of agency. Their reasoning is to this effect: Why is there any need for agency, so as to be able to perform good works leading to salvation, if your salvation is detennined by Deity on the basis of predestination regardless of works? Thus the false doctrine of predestination begets the false doctrine that men are not free to work out their own salvation, as such is made possible through the atoning sacrifice of Christ. The Church of England, for instance, in its Articles of Religion, under the heading of "Free Will," says: "The condition of Man after the fall of Adam is such, that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works, to faith, and calling upon God: Wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will." (Book of Common Prayer, p. 663.)
Agency, of course, is exercised in accordance with law. Once a final choice has been made, there is no turning back to seek the opposite goal. Men may exercise their agency to repent and turn to the Lord in this life, in which event they will be saved. But if they choose to rebel against the light and work wickedness, they will be damned. And once they are damned, there is no power of choice left whereby they can alter their course and gain salvation. If men choose to commit suicide, for instance, they will continue to have agency in hell, but they will not be able to use it to gain their lives back again. The purpose of this life is to test men, to see if they will take the bodies which have been given them, and by the righteous exercise of agency make those bodies fit abodes for the Spirit of God.
Age of Accountability
(Age of Accountability )
See YEARS OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
Age of Restoration
(Age of Restoration )
See TIMES OF RESTITUTION.
Agnosticism
(Agnosticism )
See APOSTASY, ATHEISM, GOD, INFIDELS.
21
Agnosticism is the doctrine that God is not known and cannot be known. It is the concept that his existence can be neither proved nor disproved, and hence it neither affmns nor denies tliat existence. To the agnostics God is unknown and unknowable because they are unwilling to accept as proof the evidence of revelation and spiritual manifestations. Unless this is done no man can come to a knowledge of God, for "the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. . . . The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. 2:11-14.) Similarly agnosticism rejects any knowledge about the ultimate origin of the universe.
From the gospel standpoint, agnostics are properly classified as being in opposition to the truth. However much they may claim to be neutral by neither affirming nor denying eternal truths, yet that very neutrality makes them enemies of God. In the ultimate analysis there is no such thing as neutrality. "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (Matt. 12:30.)
Ahman
(Ahman )
See GOD, MAN OF HOLINESS, SON OF MAN.
In the pure language spoken by Adam - and which will be spoken again during the millennial era (Zeph. 3:9) - the name of God the Father is Ahman, or possibly Ah Man, a name-title having a meaning identical with or at least very closely akin to Man of Holiness. (Moses 6:57.) God revealed himself to Adam by this name to signify that he is a Holy Man, a tmth which man must know and comprehend if he is to become like God and inherit exaltation. (1 John 3: 1-3; D. & C. 132:19-24.)
"There is one revelation," Orson Pratt said, "that this people are not generally acquainted with. I think it has never been published, but probably will be in the Church History. It is given in questions and answers. The first question is, 'What is the name of God in the pure language?' The answer says, 'Ahman.' 'What is the name of the Son of God?' Answer, son Ahman - the greatest of all the parts of God excepting Ahman.' 'What is the name of men?' sons Ahman,' is the answer. 'What is the name of angels in the pure language?' Angloman.
"This revelation goes on to say that Sons Ahman are the greatest of all the parts of God excepting Son Ahman and Ahman, and that Angloman are the greatest of all the parts of God excepting Sons Ahman, Son Ahman and Ahman, showing that the angels are a little lower than man." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 342.)
Since God revealed himself to Adam by certain names, we might suppose that those names, or variants of them, would be preserved among succeeding generations, even though people coming later developed false religions. It is, also, not uncommon for important names to be earned from one language to another by transliteration rather than translation. Hence, it is of more than passing interest to note that the Egyptians worshiped a deity, considered by them to be supreme, whose name bears a striking resemblance to that of the true God, as his name was recorded in the Adamic language. The Egyptian deity Ammon, or Amon, or Amen (who corresponds to Zeus of the Greeks and Jupiter of the Romans) was first worshiped as the local deity of Thebes; he was shown as a ramheaded god of life and reproduction. Later, united with the sun-god to become a supreme deity, he was known as Amen-Ra, with the other gods as his members or parts.
It is also interesting to note that Amen, a transliterated word which is the same in Egyptian, Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Anglo-Saxon, and English, is one of the names of Christ. Speaking to John on the isle of Patmos, our Lord said: "These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God." (Rev. 3:14.)
Alchemy
(Alchemy )
See MAGIC, OCCULTISM, SORCERY.
Alchemy is the great medieval science which, bordering on magic and sorcery, had as its objectives to transmute base metals into gold, to discover the universal cure for diseases, and to prolong life indefinitely.
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Alcoholic Beverages
(Alcoholic Beverages ) See STRONG DRINKS.
Alleluia
(Alleluia )
See HALLELUJAH.
Almighty
(Almighty )
See ALMIGHTY GOD.
Almighty God
(Almighty God )
See CHRIST, FATHER IN HEAVEN, GOD, LORD, LORD OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPOTENCE.
Both the Father and the Son, being omnipotent Gods, are designated by the name-titles. Almighty (Gen. 49:25; Rev. l:8;2Ne. 23:6; Hela. 10: 1 1; D. & C. 84:96; 121:33), Almighty God (Gen. 17:1;28:3; 1 Ne. 17:48; D. & C. 20:21; 87:6; 88:106), Lord Almighty (D. & C. 84:118; 2 Cor. 6:18), and Lord God Almighty (Rev. 4:8; 11: 17.; 21:22; D. & C. 109:77; 121:4; 1 Ne. 1:14; 2 Ne. 9:46.) These designations signify that these holy beings have all power and unlimited might. A deep sense of reverence is implicit in the use of each name-title.
Almsgiving
(Almsgiving )
See CHURCH WELFARE PLAN, DOLE, EMPLOYMENT, IDLENESS, WORK.
Almsgiving is the contribution of free gifts to relieve the poor; the spirit that attends such a course is of God and finds its highest manifestation in the organized charitable enteiprises of his earthly kingdom. Paul, for instance, in his day, carried alms to the poor saints in Jerusalem (Acts 24:17), he having first assembled the contributions from the saints in Macedonia and Achaia. (Acts 11:29; Rom. 15:25-28.) In modem times the major portion of the almsgiving of the saints is administered through the great church Welfare Plan.
Giving alms is not an optional thing; it is a command of the Lord. (Luke 11:41; 12:31-34.) "verily, verily, I say that I would that ye should do alms unto the poor," our Lord said to his Nephite saints, "but take heed that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father who is in heaven. Therefore, when ye shall do your alms do not sound a trumpet before you, as will hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth; That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly." (3 Ne. 13:1-4; Matt. 6:1-4.)
Prayers are answered for those who freely give alms to the poor, but the heavens are sealed where the petitions of those who do not give alms are concerned. "If ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need - 1 say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith." (Alma 34:28; Acts 10; D. & C. 88:2; 112:1.)
Alpha and Omega
(Alpha and Omega )
See ALPHUS, BEGINNING AND END, CHRIST, ETERNITY TO ETERNITY, EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING, FIRST AND LAST, OMEGUS.
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Christ bears the title Alpha and Omega. (D. & C. 19:1;63:60; 68:35; 75:1; 81:7; 112:34; 132:66; Rev. 1 : 8-17; 21:6; 22:13.) These words, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, are used figuratively to teach the timelessness and eternal nature of our Lord's existence, that is, that "from eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail." (D. & C. 76:4.)
Alphus
(Alphus )
See ALPHA AND OMEGA, CHRIST, OMEGUS.
One of the name-titles of Christ is Alphus (D. & C. 95:17), a derivative of the Greek Alpha. Use of this title emphasizes our Lord's high status of godhood in pre-existence; he was God from eternity; by diligence and obedience, while yet a Spirit Being, he became "like unto God" the Father. (Abra. 3:22-24.)
Altars
(Altars )
See SACRIFICES, TEMPLES.
In the days when sacrifices were required as part of true divine worship, they were offered on raised earth or stone structures called altars. Noah (Gen. 8:20), Abraham (Gen. 12:7), and Lehi (1 Ne. 2:7), for instance, built altars and offered sacrifices upon them. Altars were also found in the temples and perhaps in other holy structures, at which God was worshiped (Alma 15:17), and where the faithful came "to call on his name and confess their sins before him." (Alma 17:4.) Today, as anciently, temples contain altars at which sacred ordinances, including celestial marriage, are performed. John saw a "golden altar" in heaven before the tin-one of God. (Rev. 6:9; 8:3; 9:13.)
Amen
(Amen )
See AHMAN, CHRIST, PRAYER.
1 . In Hebrew amen means tmly, certainly, faithfully; in English it means so be it; and it has always had a distinctively religious usage. Saying amen is a proper means of making solemn affirmation (Rev. 1:18; 22:20); it is an utterance used in confinning agreements (1 Kings 1:36); prayers and sermons are properly so ended (Matt. 6:13); those who hear and concur in prayers and sennons should add their own amen (1 Cor. 14: 16); indeed, by saying amen concurrence is given to any worshipful utterance, sermon, or solemn declaration. (D. & C. 88: 135; Ps. 106:48; Rev. 5:13-14; 19:4.) There are about a score of instances in which the tenn is found in the Bible, nearly twice that many in the Book of Mormon, and nearly every revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants is so closed.
As a result of unrighteousness, it is "Amen to the priesthood" of a man, meaning that his priesthood comes to an end, as far as being a power which would assure the bearer of eternal life is concerned. (D. & C. 121:33-46.)
2. One of Chi'ist's names is Amen (Rev. 3:14), a title given to show that it is in and thi'ough him that the seal of divine affinnation is placed on all the promises of the Father.
America
(America )
See AMERICAN INDIANS, CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, INALIENABLE RIGHTS, SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
America, meaning the United States of America, is the Gentile nation established on the Western Hemisphere in the last days "by the power of the Father," so that the true Church might be set up and preserved among men. The American nation as such - with all its freedoms, rights, and constitutional
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guarantees - came into being and continues to exist so that a proper religious climate would prevail for the restoration and spread of the gospel. (3 Ne. 21.)
American Indians
(American Indians )
See BOOK OF MORMON, JAREDITES, JEWS, MEDICINE MEN, MULEKITES, NEPHITES AND LAMANITES, TRIBES OF ISRAEL.
When Columbus discovered America, the native inhabitants, the American Indians as they were soon to be designated, were a people of mixed blood and origin. Chiefly they were Lamanites, but such remnants of the Nephite nation as had not been destroyed had, of course, mingled with the Lamanites. (1 Ne. 13:30; 2 Ne. 3:1-3; 9:53; Alma 45:13-14; D. & C. 3:16-19.) Thus the Indians were Jews by nationality (D. & C. 57:4), their forefathers having come out from Jerusalem, from the kingdom of Judah. (2 Ne. 33:8-10.)
Thus also they were of the House of Israel. Lehi was of the tribe of Manasseh (Alma 10:3), Ishmael of the tribe of Ephraim, and Mulek of the tribe of Judah. (Hela. 8:20-22.) We have no knowledge of the tribal affiliation of Zoram, and it is possible that other tribes may have been represented in the colony that accompanied Mulek. It was primarily the tribes of Benjamin and Judah which made up the kingdom of Judah, but there may have been a sprinkling of all the tribes intenningled with them.
The American Indians, however, as Columbus found them also had other blood than that of Israel in their veins. It is possible that isolated remnants of the Jaredites may have lived through the period of destruction in which millions of their fellows perished. It is quite apparent that groups of orientals found their way over the Bering Strait and gradually moved southward to mix with the Indian peoples. We have records of a colony of Scandinavians attempting to set up a settlement in America some 500 years before Columbus. There are archeological indications that an unspecified number of groups of people probably found their way from the old to the new world in pre-Columbian times. Out of all these groups would have come the American Indians as they were discovered in the 1 5th century.
Since the days of the Spanish conquests and colonizations of Mexico and South America, there has been farther dilution of the pure Lamanitish blood. But with it all, for the great majority of the descendants of the original inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere, the dominant blood lineage is that of Israel. The Indians are repeatedly called Lamanites in the revelations to the Prophet, and the promise is that in due course they "shall blossom as the rose" (D. & C. 49:24), that is, become again a white and delightsome people as were their ancestors a great many generations ago.
Amusements
(Amusements ) See RECREATION.
Anarchy
(Anarchy )
See SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
Anathema
(Anathema )
See DAMNATION, EXCOMMUNICATION.
Anathema is a Greek word meaning accursed. Hence, a person or thing cursed by God or his authority, as for instance one who has been excommunicated, is anathema. (Rom. 9:3.) "Wo unto them who are cut off from my church, for the same are overcome of the world." (D. & C. 50:8.)
Paul's statement, "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha" (1 Cor. 16:22), probably means, let him be accursed until the Lord comes." Maranatha, an Aramaic word meaning, O our Lord, come, appears to have been used by the primitive saints as a watchword or salutation by which they reminded each other of the promised second Coming. Paul's statement, "The
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Lord is at hand" (Philip. 4:5), and Jolm's, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20), carry the same hope and encouragement.
Anathema Maranatha
(Anathema Maranatha ) See ANATHEMA.
Ancestors
(Ancestors )
See GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH.
Ancient of Days
(Ancient of Days )
See ADAM, ADAM-GOD THEORY, ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN, BIRTHRIGHT, MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, PATRIARCHAL ORDER.
Having particular reference to his position as the patriarchal head of the human family - the first man, "the first and oldest of all, the great, grand progenitor" - Adam is known as the Ancient of Days. (D. & C. 27:11; Teachings, pp. 157-159, 167-169.) In this capacity he will yet sit in formal judgment upon "ten thousand times ten thousand" of his posterity, and before him at Adam-ondi-Ahman will be brought the Son of Man to receive "dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him." (Dan. 7:9-14.)
Angel
(Angel )
See CHRIST, MESSENGER OF SALVATION, MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT.
Our Lord is called The Angel by Jacob in the blessing which he gave to Epliraim and Manasseh. "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day. The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads," he said. (Gen. 48: 15-16.) The Inspired Version makes no change in this statement, although a number of other matters in connection with the same occurrences are changed in that more perfect version. Obviously the meaning is that Christ is the Messenger of Salvation, the Messenger of the Covenant (Mai. 3:1), the One carrying out his Father's will. (Moses 4:2.)
It may be that the King James translators were attempting to use language in the same way when they recorded the experience of Moses at the burning bush in these words: "And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. . . . And . . . God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, ... I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." (Ex. 3:2-6.)
It was not an angel in the usual sense of the word but the Lord Jesus who appeared to Moses in the bush. The passage is more meaningful if the term The Angel is interpreted in the same sense in which Jacob used it. In this instance the Inspired Version concurs by changing the account to read, "The presence of the Lord appeared unto him, in a flame of fire in the midst of a bush" (Inspired Version, Ex. 3:2), thus showing that what the King James Version calls The Angel is The Lord.
Angel of Light
(Angel of Light ) See DEVIL.
Angel of the Bottomless Pit
(Angel of the Bottomless Pit ) See BOTTOMLESS PIT, DEVIL.
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John used this expressive language, angel of the bottomless pit, to describe Satan, having particular reference to his status as the king of hell, the ruling authority over those cast into the pit which is hell. (Rev. 9:11.)
Angels
(Angels )
See ANGEL, ANGEL OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT, ANGLO-MAN, ARCHANGELS, GUARDIAN ANGELS, KEYS OF THE MINISTERING OF ANGELS, MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, MMISTERING OF ANGELS, PLURALITY OF GODS, PRE-EXISTENCE, RECORDING ANGELS, RESURRECTION, SERVANTS OF GOD, SPIRIT CHILDREN, TRANSLATED BEINGS.
God's messengers, those individuals whom he sends (often from his personal presence in the eternal worlds), to deliver his messages (Luke 1:11-38); to minister to his children (Acts 10: 1-8, 30-32); to teach them the doctrines of salvation (Mosiah 3); to call them to repentance (Moro. 7:31); to give them priesthood and keys (D. & C. 13; 128:20-21); to save them in perilous circumstances (1 Ne. 3:29-31; Dan. 6:22); to guide them in the performance of his work (Gen. 24: 7); to gather his elect in the last days (Matt. 24:31); to perform all needful things relative to his work (Moro. 7:29-33) - such messengers are called angels.
These messengers, agents, angels of the Almighty, are chosen from among his offspring and are themselves pressing forward along the course of progression and salvation, all in their respective spheres. The following types of beings serve the Lord as angels:
1 . Pre-existent Spirits. - Before men were first placed on this earth, there was war in heaven. "Michael and his angel fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels." (Rev. 12:7.) All the angels here involved were the spirit children of the Father. The angel who appeared to Adam, the first man, and asked him why he was offering sacrifices apparently was one of these spirits from pre-existence (Moses 5:6-8), for no angels minister to this earth except those who belong to it (D. & C. 130:5), and up to that time no one had been either translated or resurrected.
2. Translated Beings. - Many righteous Persons in the early days of the earth's history were translated. (Inspired Version, Gen. 14:26-36.) Enoch and the whole city of Zion were among these. (Moses 7:18-69.) These translated Personages became "ministering angels unto many planets." (Teachings, p. 170.) Many of the angels who ministered to righteous men anciently, without question, were translated beings. The Three Nephites, after their translation, became "as the angels of God" (3 Ne. 28:30), and have continued to minister and appear unto mortal men from time to time. John the Revelator ministered as a translated being to the Prophet and Oliver Cowdeiy in connection with the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood. (D. & C. 7; 27:12-13.) It could well be that Paul had translated beings in mind when he said that "some have entertained angels unawares." (Heb. 13:2.)
3. Spirits Of Just Men Made Perfect. - Part of the "innumerable company of angels" in "the heavenly place" are the "spirits of just men made perfect." (D. & C. 76:66-69; Heb. 12:22-24) These are the spirits of men who have worked out their salvation, but are awaiting the day of the resuiTcction. (D. & C. 129.)
4. ResuiTccted Personages. - Many instances of ministration by resurrected angels have occurred since the coming forth of our Lord from the tomb. (Matt. 27:52-53; Hela. 14:25.) These angels, having bodies of flesh and bones (D. & C. 129), have played an indispensable part in the restoration of the gospel. Peter, James (D. & C. 27:12-13; 128: 20), John the Baptist (D. & C. 13), Moroni, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael (D. & C. 128:20-21), Moses, Elijah, and Ellas (D. & C. 110:11-16; 133: 54-55) all came to earth as resurrected personages to confer their keys, powers, and authorities again upon men. Moses and Elijah, who the first instance had been translated, "were with Clirist in his resurrection." (D. & C. 133:55.)
It is of these angels, and others of like righteousness, that the revelation says: "Then shall the angels be crowned with the glory of his might, and the saints shall be filled with his glory, and receive their inheritance and be made equal with him" (D. & C. 88:107), meaning that these worthy saints and angels shall receive exaltation. They shall be gods. But those angels who did not abide in the ftilness of the gospel law shall, after their resurrection, continue as "angels of God forever and ever." Such group shall be "ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory." (D. & C. 132:16-17.)
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5. Righteous Mortal Men. - Even certain righteous mortal men are called angels in the revelations. The King James version gives an account of "two angels" rescuing Lot from Sodom. In the account these angels are called "men" and the wicked inhabitants of Sodom so considered them. (Gen. 19.) The Inspired version tells us that actually there were "three angels," and that these "angels of God" in reality "were holy men." (Inspired Version, Gen. 19.)
Also in the King James version, the Lord is quoted as saying such things as, "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write" (Rev. 2:1) such and such, meaning that the message should be written to the bishop or presiding elder, such individual being designated as an angel. (Rev. 2:8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14.) In the Inspired version this rather unusual usage of the name angel is changed so that the quotation reads, "Unto the servant of the church of Ephesus write." (Inspired Version, Rev. 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14.) This inspired rendition more accurately accords with the manner in which we ordinarily use words today.
Angels of the Devil
(Angels of the Devil ) See DEVILS.
Angel's Time
(Angel's Time ) See TIME.
Anger
(Anger )
See GNASHING OF TEETH, INDIGNATION, WRATH.
As with nearly all strong emotions or passions, anger is manifest both in righteousness and in unrighteousness. Always there is a sense of displeasure attending it, and usually this is accompanied by a feeling of antagonism, excited by a sense of injury or insult.
Righteous anger is an attribute of Deity. His anger is everlastingly kindled against the wicked. (D. & C. 1:13; 5:8; 60:2; 63:11, 32; 84:24.) Similarly, an inspired man might speak or act in righteous anger, as when Moses broke the tablets upon which the Ten Commandments were written, or as when our Lord drove the money changers from the temple.
But where man is concerned there is peril in anger, and the fear is ever present that the emotion and passion attending it will be exercised in unrighteousness. "Can ye be angry, and not sin?" Paul asked. (Inspired Version, Eph. 4:26.) "Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause," our Lord said in the Sermon on the Mount, "shall be in danger of the judgment." (Matt. 5:22.)
Anglo-Man
(Anglo-Man )
See AHMAN, ANGELS.
Because angels are of the same race as man and God, it is with perfect logic that in the pure language spoken by Adam, they were designated as Anglo-man. This is in harmony with the Adamic designation of God as Ahman, of the Son as Son Ahman, and of men generally as Sons Airman.
Anguish
(Anguish )
See CONSCIENCE, HELL, REMORSE, SORROW.
Both the righteous and the wicked suffer anguish of soul, meaning excruciating distress and extreme pain of body and mind. The righteous suffer anguish in this life because of the sins and rebellion of their brethren. (1 Ne. 17:47; 2 Ne. 26:7; Mosiah 25:11; Alma 8:14; Morni. 6:16.) Christ himself suffered until blood came from every pore, so great was "his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people." (Mosiah 3:7.)
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The wicked and rebellious may suffer some anguish of conscience in this life (Alma 38:8; D. & C. 124:52), but the great penalty for their rebellion is in the future. Of such a person, King Benjamin said: "If that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever." (Mosiah 2:38; Rom. 2:9.)
Animal Magnetism
(Animal Magnetism ) See SPIRITUALISM.
Animals
(Animals )
See CREATION, EVOLUTION, PRE-EXISTENCE, RESURRECTION.
Animals, birds, fowls, fishes, plants, and all forais of life occupy an assigned sphere and play an eternal role in the great plan of creation, redemption, and salvation. They were all created as spirit entities in pre-existence. (Moses 3:1-9.) When first placed on earth in the Garden of Eden, they were immortal. The revealed record, speaking of the edenic day, specifies: "All things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end." (2 Ne. 2:22.) Such would have been the continuing condition had there been no fall of Adam, but Adam and all forais of life were subject to the fall and have been living on earth in their mortal states ever since.
At the Second Coming, when the earth is taken back to its edenic state, "every corruptible thing, both of man, or of the beasts of the field, or of the fowls of the heavens, or of the fish of the sea, that dwells upon all the face of the earth, shall be consumed. . . . And in that day the enmity of man, and the enmity of beasts, yea, the enmity of all flesh, shall cease from before my face." (D. & C. 101:24-26.) Then finally, all these forms of life will come up in the resurrection, "in their destined order or sphere of creation, in the enjoyment of their eternal felicity." (D. & C. 77:3.)
Animal Sacrifices
(Animal Sacrifices ) See SACRIFICES.
Annihilation
(Annihilation )
See CREATION, DEATH, ELEMENTS, SPIRIT ELEMENT.
There is no such thing as amiihilation, no such thing as matter or element of any sort going out of existence. The elements are etemal; they may be organized and reorganized, but they cannot be destroyed. (D. & C. 93:33; Teachings, pp. 350-352.)
Annunciation
(Annunciation )
See CHRIST, MARY, VIRGIN BIRTH.
Gabriel's appearance to Mary to make solemn announcement of the coming birth of our Lord is referred to as the Annunciation. (Luke 1: 26-38.)
Anointed One
(Anointed One )
See CHRIST, MESSIAH.
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Literally interpreted the Hebrew Messiah means Anointed One, and accordingly Christ is the Anointed One. (Ps. 2; Acts 4:23-30.) He was the Anointed of the Father to caiTy the eternal truths of salvation to the living and the dead. (Isa. 61:1-3; Luke 4:16-32; Acts 10:38.)
Anointings
(Anointings )
See TEMPLE ORDINANCES.
Anointing With Oil
(Anointing With Oil ) See ADMINISTRATIONS.
Anthems
(Anthems ) See Music.
Anthropomorphic God
(Anthropomorphic God ) See GOD.
Strictly speaking anthropomorphism is the conception that God has human attributes and characteristics; hence, people who profess to worship a personal God are sometimes said to believe in an anthropomorphic God. Actually, of course, man was created in God's image, not God in man's. But since man is the inheritor of the physical form and, to some extent, the attributes and characteristics of Deity, it follows that Deity has the same form and the fulness of the attributes enjoyed by men, and so in a rather inaccurate sense it may be agreed that the tme God is an anthropomorphic Being.
Anthropomorphism
(Anthropomorphism )
See ANTHROPOMORPHIC GOD.
Antichrists
(Antichrists )
See APOSTASY, CHRIST, CHURCH OF THE DEVIL, DEVIL, FALSE CHRISTS, MAN OF SIN.
An antichrist is an opponent of Christ; he is one who is in opposition to the true gospel, the true Church, and the true plan of salvation. (1 John 2:19; 4:4-6.) He is one who offers salvation to men on some other teims than those laid down by Christ. Sherem (Jac. 7:1-23), Nehor (Alma 1:2-16), and Korihor (Alma 30:6-60) were antichrists who spread their delusions among the Nephites.
"Many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." (2 John 7.) "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?" John asked. "He is an antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." (1 John 2:22.) Though many modem day religionists profess to believe in Christ, the fact is they do not accept him as the literal Son of God and have not turned to him with the full knowledge and devotion necessary to gain salvation. "Whosoever receiveth my word receiveth me," he said, "and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth those, the First Presidency, whom I have sent, whom I have made counselors for my name's sake unto you." (D. & C. 112:20.)
The saints in the meridian of time, knowing there would be a great apostasy between their day and the Second Coming of our Lord, referred to the great apostate church as the anti-christ. "Little children, it is the last time," John said, "and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time." (1 John 2:18.) "And every spirit that confesseth not
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that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of anticlirist, whereof ye have heard that it sliould come; and even now already is it in the world." (1 John 4:3.) This great antichrist which is to stand as the antagonist of Christ in the last days, and which is to be overthrown when he comes to cleanse the earth and usher in millennial righteousness, is the church of the devil (Rev. 13; 17), with the man of sin at its head. (2 Thess. 2:1-12.)
Apocalypse
(Apocalypse )
See BIBLE, ESCHATOLOGY, REVELATION.
Anything viewed as a prophetic revelation is an apocalypse. The name comes from a Greek word meaning revelations; the book of Revelation in the Bible is called the Apocalypse. Much apocalyptic literature is also found in other parts of the Bible as well as in all of the standard works of the Church. Uninspired scholars theorize that apocalyptic writings are attempts on the part of the prophets to escape from reality, to hold out future and ethereal hopes of better things to people who are presently bound down by the tumioil and strife of this life. Actually, of course, these so-called apocalyptic records are not hidden from the understanding of those who have the same spirit of revelation which rested upon the original prophets. (2 Pet. 1:20-21.) They are part of the Lord's revelation of his eternal plan of salvation.
Apocrypha
(Apocrypha )
See BIBLE, CANON OF SCRIPTURE, INSPIRED VERSION OF THE BIBLE, KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE, LOST SCRIPTURE, NEW TESTAMENT, OLD TESTAMENT, SCRIPTURE, STANDARD WORKS.
Scholars and Biblical students have grouped certain apparently scriptural Old Testament writings, which they deem to be of doubtful authenticity or of a spurious nature, under the title of the Apociypha. There has not always been agreement as to the specific writings which should be designated as apocryphal, but the following are now generally so listed: 1st and 2nd Esdras (sometimes called 3rd and 4th Esdras, because in the Douay Bible, Ezra is 1 st Esdras, and Nehemiah, 2nd Esdras); Tobit; Judith; the rest of the chapters of Esther; Wisdom of Solomon; Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus; Bamch and the Epistle of Jeremiah; additional parts of Daniel, including the Song of the Three Holy Children, the History of Susanna, and the History of the Destruction of Bel and the Dragon; Prayer of Manasses; 1st and 2nd Maccabees (called in the Douay Version, 1st and 2nd Maccabees).
These apocryphal writings were never included in the Hebrew Bible, but they were in the Greek Septuagint (the Old Testament used by the early apostles) and in the Latin Vulgate. Jerome, who translated the Vulgate, was required to include them in his translation, though he is quoted as having decided they should be read "for example of life and instruction of manners" and should not be used "to establish any doctrine." Luther's German Bible grouped the apocryphal books together (omitting 1st and 2nd Esdras) at the end of the Old Testament under the heading: "Apocrypha: these are books which are not held equal to the sacred scriptures, and yet are useful and good for reading."
The Apocrypha was included in the King James version of 1611, but by 1629 some English Bibles began to appear without it, and since the early part of the 19th century it has been excluded from almost all protestant Bibles. The American Bible Society, founded in 1816, has never printed the Apocrypha in its Bibles, and the British and Foreign Bible Society has excluded it from all but some pulpit Bibles since 1827.
From these dates it is apparent that controversy was still raging as to the value of the Apocrypha at the time the Prophet began his ministry. Accordingly, in 1833, while engaged in revising the King James version by the spirit of revelation, the Prophet felt impelled to inquire of the Lord as to the authenticity of the Apocrypha. From the answer it is clear that the books of the Apocrypha were inspired writings in the first instance, but that subsequent interpolations and changes had perverted and twisted their original contexts so as to leave them with doubtful value.
Speaking of the Apocrypha the Lord says: "There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly; There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men. Verily, 1 say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should
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be translated. Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth; And whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom; And whoso receiveth not by the Spirit, cannot be benefited. Therefore it is not needful that it should be translated." (D. & C. 91.)
There are certain Oriental Christian churches which have in their Bibles or other ecclesiastical literature some added apocryphal writings of Jewish origin. These books are supposed to have been written between 200 B.C. and 100 A.D. Those written in Hebrew are: Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Psalms of Solomon, Lives of the Prophets. Those written in Ai'amaic are: Jubilees, Testament of Job, Enoch, Martyrdom of Isaiah, Paralipomena of Jeremiah, Life of Adam and Eve, Assumption of Moses, Syriac Baruch, Apocalypse of Abraham. Those written in Greek are: Letter of Aristeas, Sibylline Oracles three, four, and five; 3rd and 4th Maccabees, Slavic Enoch, Greek Baruch.
Obviously, to gain any real value from a study of apocryphal writings, the student must first have an extended background of gospel knowledge, a comprehensive understanding of the standard works of the Church, plus the guidance of the Spirit.
ApoUyon
(Apollyon )
See ABADDON, DESTROYER, DEVIL.
This is one of the names of Satan. It is of Greek origin and means literally the Destroyer. Abaddon is the Hebrew equivalent. (Rev. 9:1 1.)
Apostasy
(Apostasy )
See ABOMINATIONS, AGNOSTICISM, ANATHEMA, ANTICHRISTS, ATHEISM, BLASPHEMY, BROAD-MINDEDNESS, CARD PLAYING, CELIBACY, CHRISTENDOM, CHRISTENING, CHRISTLA.NITY, CHRISTMAS, CHURCH OF THE DEVIL, CLINIC BAPTISMS, CREEDS, DAMNATION, DARK AGES, DARKNESS, DEVIL, DOCTRINE, EASTER, EUCHARIST, EVOLUTION, EXCOMMUNICATION, EXTREME UNCTION, FALLEN MAN, FALSE CHRISTS, FALSE GODS, GAMBLING, GNOSTICISM, GOD AS A SPIRIT, GOSPEL, GOSPEL HOBBIES, GOVERNMENT OF GOD, HELL, HERESY, IDOLATRY, IGNORANCE, INFANT BAPTISM, INQUISITIONS, KINGCRAFT, MAN OF SIN, MINISTERIAL TITLES, MURDERERS, MYTHOLOGY, OBEDIENCE, PERSECUTION, PHILOSOPHY, POLYTHEISM, PRIESTCRAFT, PROFANITY, REBELLION, RELIGIOUS SYNCRETISM, REORGANIZED CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, RESTORATION OF THE GOSPEL, RIGHTEOUSNESS, SCATTERING OF ISRAEL, SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, SECRET COMBINATIONS, SEX IMMORALITY, SHRINES, SIGN OF THE CROSS, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, SIN, SONS OF PERDITION, SORCERY, SPIRITUALISM, TELESTLA.L LAW, TEMPTATION, UNKNOWN GOD, WAR, WICKEDNESS, WITCHCRAFT, WORSHIP OF IMAGES.
From Adam to the present, the whole history of the world has been one recurring instance of personal and group apostasy after another. To Adam the Lord gave the true gospel and the tme government so that all matters pertaining to this mortal sphere could be governed and aiTanged in haraiony with the order of heaven. Apostasy consists in the abandonment and forsaking of these true principles, and all those who do not believe and conform to them are in a apostate condition, whether they are the ones who departed from the truth or whether they inherited their false concepts from their apostate fathers.
Apostate peoples were swept off the earth by the universal flood in Noah's day, but immediately the process of apostatizing began again, and soon there were apostate individuals, groups, peoples, nations, and religions. The Lord's handdealings with men have always been designed to keep the faithful from the treason of apostasy and to encourage those who do not have the fulness of truth to come to the light and reap the blessings of obedience.
Blessings have always attended conformity to true principles, while cursings have been the fruit of apostasy. The scattering of Israel, for example, took place because that people forsook their God and the true principles he had revealed to them. Their gathering takes place as they return to him and begin to live his laws. (Jer. 16:10-21.)
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In the meridian of time our Lord personally restored his gospel and, through the ministry of his apostolic witnesses, offered its saving truths to all men. (Mark 1:14-15; 16:14-18.) He did not, however, restore the true order of political government; that was reserved for a fliture millennial era. (Acts 1:6-8.) Consequently men remained in subjection to man-made governments, but had the opportunity to accept the saving truths of pure religion. The great apostasy which is of importance and concern to men in this day is the one which took place when men departed from the pure Christianity which was restored in the meridian of time.
This universal apostasy began in the days of the ancient apostles themselves (2 Pet. 2:1-2); and it was known to and foretold by them. Paul recorded specifically that the Second Coming would not be until this great falling away took place. (2 Thess. 2:1-12.) He warned of the "perilous times" that should come "in the last days"; times when men would have "a form of godliness," but would deny "the power thereof; times when they would be "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 3:1-7); times in which they would be turned "from the truth . . . unto fables." (2 Tim. 4:1-4.) Our Lord foretold the perplexities, calamities, and apostate wickedness of these same days. (Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21.)
With the loss of the gospel, the nations of the earth went into a moral eclipse called the Dark Ages. Apostasy was universal. "Darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become corrupt before my face." (D. & C. 1 12:23.) And this darkness still prevails except among those who have come to a knowledge of the restored gospel. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp. 265-326.)
No better descriptions are to be found of the conditions of false latter-day churches than those recorded prophetically by Nephite prophets. Nephi said: "In the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles - yea, behold all the nations of the Gentiles and also the Jews, both those who shall come upon this land and those who shall be upon other lands, yea, even upon all the lands of the earth, behold, they will be drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations." (2 Ne. 27:1.) He spoke in detail of the many churches; of their pride, worldly learning, and denial of miracles; of their "envyings, and strifes, and malice"; of the secret combinations of the devil which commit murders and iniquities; of their priestcrafts and iniquities (2 Ne. 26:20-29); of the ministers who "shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance"' and of their "false and vain and foolish doctrines." (2 Ne. 28.)
Moroni described the direful apostasy that would prevail in the day of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. That volume "shall come in a day," he said, "when the power of God shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts, even to the envying of them who belong to their churches. . . . Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations; when there shall be many who will say. Do this, or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last day. But wo unto such, for they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity. Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be churches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins.
"O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts. For behold, ye do love money, and your substance and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted. O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that gi'eater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies - because of the praise of the world? Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not? Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground for vengeance upon your heads?" (Morm. 8:28-41.)
To the extent that worldliness false doctrine, and iniquity are found among the saints, they too partake of the spirit of the great apostasy. Speaking of men in the last days Nephi said: "They have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men." (2 Ne. 28:14.) It follows that if members of the Church believe false doctrines; if they accept false educational theories; if they fall into the practices
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and abominations of the sectarians; if they use tea, coffee, tobacco or liquor; if they fail to pay an honest tithing; if they find fault with the Lord's anointed; if they play cards; if they do anything contrary to the standards of personal righteousness required by the gospel - then to that extent they are in personal apostasy and need to repent.
Since truth is always in harmony with itself, and since all true saints "speak the same thing," have "no divisions" among them, and are "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Cor. 1:10-13), it follows that where there are divisions and contention there apostasy is present.
If modem churches do not confomi to the New Testament pattern of the true Church, then the non- conforming organizations are apostate. This simple test of the authenticity of any church claiming to be the Lord's may be made by finding answer to such questions as: Where is there a church that has (according to the New Testament pattern) some combination of the names of Christ as its name? Where is there a church claiming to have priesthood of both the Aaronic and Melchizedek orders, as set forth in the New Testament? Where are there apostles, prophets, seventies, and all the officers put in the Church by our Lord? Where do we find all of the gospel ordinances, among others - baptism for the dead, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and administering to the sick?
Where are the true New Testament doctrines taught: That the plan of salvation consists in faith, repentance, baptism, gaining the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring in good works to the end; that there are degrees of glory in the eternal worlds; that the gospel is preached in the spirit world; that there was to be a universal apostasy, followed by an era of restoration; that the gospel was to be returned to earth by angelic ministration; that Israel was to be gathered in a day subsequent to New Testament times; and so forth? Where are all these New Testament doctrines taught? And above all, where are the gifts of the Spirit, the signs, visions, miracles, and marvelous works that, without respect of persons, "shall follow them that believe"? (Mark 16: 17.) For those who are honest and sincere in their search, it is not difficult to find out whether there has been a imiversal apostasy, and if so, where the truth is today.
Apostate Cults
(Apostate Cults ) See SECTS.
Apostates
(Apostates ) See APOSTASY.
Apostle
(Apostle )
See APOSTLES, CHRIST.
Christ is the great Apostle of the Church. (Heb. 3:1.) This means, not that he held the ordained office of apostle in the Melchizedek Priesthood, but that he himself stands as a special witness of his own divine mission. "I am the Son of God" is the witness he bears of himself (John 10:36; D. & C. 45:52.)
Apostles
(Apostles )
See APOSTOLIC FATHERS, APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION, DISCIPLES, JUDGES, MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD, PRIESTHOOD, PRIESTHOOD OFFICES, PROPHETS, TESTIMONY.
1 . An apostle is a Special witness of the name of Christ who is sent to teach the principles of salvation to others. He is one who knows of the divinity of the Savior by personal revelation and who is appointed to bear testimony to the world of what the Lord has revealed to him. Every elder in the Church is or should be an apostle; that is, as a minister of the Lord and as a recipient of personal revelation from the Holy Ghost, every elder has the call to bear witness of the truth on all proper occasions. Indeed, every
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member of the Church should have apostoHc insight and revelation, and is under obligation to raise the warning voice. (D. & C. 88:81; Mosiah 18:9.)
In September, 1832, (nearly two and a half years before there were any ordained apostles in the Church) the Lord said to certain missionaries: "You are mine apostles, even God's high priests." (D. & C. 84:63-64) In fact, Joseph Smith became an apostle in the spring of 1820, as a result of the First Vision, even before priesthood was conferred upon him through the ministration of Peter, James, and John; and after the Church was established, the Lord ordained (meaning decreed) that he continue to serve in this high apostolic station. (D. & C. 20:1-4; 21:1; 27:12; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp. 144-149.)
Men are saved by giving heed to the words of the prophets and apostles sent among them and are damned for failure to heed the inspired testimony. (D. & C. 1:14.) And as with nearly all things, the devil offers a spurious substitute to deceive men. These "are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforaiing themselves into the apostles of Christ." (2 Cor. 11:13.) But faithfiil members of the Church have the assurance that they shall sit in judgment, "And liars and hypocrites shall be proved by them, and they who are not apostles and prophets shall be known." (D. & C. 64:37-39; Rev. 2:2.)
2. In the ordained sense, an apostle is one who is ordained to the office
of apostle in the Melchizedek Priesthood. Ordinarily those so ordained are also set apart as members of the Council of the Twelve and are given all of the keys of the kingdom of God on earth. This apostleship caiTies the responsibility of proclaiming the gospel in all the world and also of ministering the affairs of the Church. Christ "chose twelve, whom also he named apostles" (Luke 6:13) and upon their shoulders the burden of the kingdom rested after he ascended to his Father. (1 Cor. 12:28.) The original Twelve in latter days were selected by revelation by the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon. (D. & C. 18:26-47)
The Twelve disciples among the Nephites ministered in an ordained apostolic capacity. (3 Ne. 18; 19; 27; 28.) In writing about the Book of Mormon, the Prophet said that it "tells us that our Savior made his appearance upon this continent after his resurrection; that he planted the gospel here in all its fulness, and richness, and power, and blessing; that they had apostles, prophet, pastors teachers, and evangelists; the same order, the same priesthood the same ordinances, gifts, powers, and blessings as were enjoyed on the eastern continent." (History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 538.)
Apostles Creed
(Apostles Creed )
See APOSTASY, ATHANASIAN CREED, CREEDS, NICENE CREED.
According to tradition - the source of authority for so many false doctrinal and historical conclusions for which there is neither evidence nor proof - this creed dates back to apostolic times. The legend is that it was formulated by the Twelve Apostles "on the day of Pentecost, while still under the direct inspiration of the Holy Ghost," each of the group contributing to the final result. As to the actual origin of the creed, however, some Catholic historians trace it to a baptismal confession in use in Southern Gaul not earlier than the latter part of the 5th century. Others claim to find indications that an older form of the creed was in use in Rome as early as the middle of the 2nd century.
The creed professes to recite briefly "the fiindamental tenets of Christian belief." There have been many versions in many places, all differing somewhat from each other. (Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 1, pp. 629-632.) The modem version, as published in Catholic manuals of devotion is:
"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, bom of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was cmcified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; ftom thence He shall coine to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Catholic Church; the coimnunion of Saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; the life everlasting. Amen."
Apostleship
(Apostleship ) See APOSTLES.
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Apostolic Dispensation
(Apostolic Dispensation ) See DISPENSATIONS.
Apostolic Fathers
(Apostolic Fathers )
See APOSTASY, APOSTLES, APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION, SCRIPTURE, STANDARD WORKS.
Those religious writers who followed closely on the heels of the early apostles are called the apostolic fathers. They did not write by way of revelation or coimnandment, as the apostles did, and their writings are not scripture. But because they had opportunity to record their views on church government, organization, and doctrine in a day when the apostasy was not yet complete, such views are of real value in the study of primitive Christianity.
"In addition to the New Testament books, a certain number of writings of the first two hundred years of the Christian Era of authors who had known the apostles, the 'Church Fathers,' have survived. They include (1) The Letter of Clement of Rome, anonymous, but attributed to Clement, written about 96 A.D.; (2) The Letters of Ignatius of Antioch, martyred, according to Eusebius, 108 A.D.. in Rome; (3) The Teachings of the Twelve or the Didache, anonymous discovered by Bryennios in 1875 in the Patriarchal Library of Jerusalem at Constantinople; (4) The Letter of Barnabas, really anonymous, written probably during the first century; (5) The Letter of polycarp, martyred, according to Eusebius, in 166-167 A.D.; (6) The Shepherd of Hermas, written by Hennas, brother of Pius who was bishop of Rome about 148 A.D.; and (7) Fragments of Papias.
"The difference in value between the books of the New Testament and the writings of the Apostolic Fathers is very striking. It is difficult to understand how so great a change could have occurred in so short a time. 'Until the death of the Apostles the deposit of revelation was progressively enriched, as Saint Paul writes: "the mystery of Christ has not been made known in other ages to the sons of man so clearly as it has now been revealed to the holy apostles and prophets (Eph. 3:45)"; after the death of the apostles, no new enrichment will be made.' (Lebreton et Zeiller (Catholique), L'Eglise primitive, p. 321.)" (James L. Barker, Protestors of Christendom, pp. 23-24.)
Apostolic Letters
(Apostolic Letters ) See EPISTLES.
Apostolic Succession
(Apostolic Succession )
See APOSTLES, APOSTOLIC FATHERS, ASSISTANT PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH, FIRST PRESIDENCY, KEYS OF THE KINGDOM.
Every apostle who is set apart as a member of the Council or Quorum of the Twelve is given the keys of the kingdom. (D. & C. 1 12: 14-32; Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, pp. 71-77.) Since keys are the right of presidency and the kingdom of God on earth is the Church, it follows that each apostle so set apart receives the inherent power and authority to preside over the Church and direct all of its affairs. The fulness of these keys can be exercised only in the event an apostle becomes the senior apostle of God on earth, for unless he does there will always be someone above him to direct his labors. The senior apostle is always chosen and set apart as the President of the Church, and through this system of apostolic succession, the Lord has made provision for the continuation and preservation of his kingdom on earth. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp. 144-159.)
The quomm of the First Presidency is the supreme governing body of the Church, but the Twelve form a quorum "equal in authority and power" to them, meaning that when there is no First Presidency of three men, then the Twelve become the First Presidency in that they can then exercise all of the power and authority previously reserved to the Presidency. In the same sense the Seventy (meaning the first quorum
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of the Seventy, a body of 70 men) form a quoram equal in authority to that of the Council of the Twelve. (D. & C. 107:22-30.)
"The duty of the Twelve Apostles of the Church," President Joseph F. Sinith said, "is to preach the gospel to the world, to send it to the inhabitants of the earth and to bear testimony of Jesus Christ the Son of God, as living witnesses of his divine mission. That is their special calling, and they are always under the direction of the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when that presidency is intact, and there is never at the same time two equal heads in the Church - never. The Lord never ordained any such thing, nor designed it. There is always a head in the Church, and if the Presidency of the Church are removed by death or other cause, then the next head of the Church is the Twelve Apostles, until a Presidency is again organized of three presiding high priests who have the right to hold the office of First Presidency over the Church." (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., pp. 177-178.)
Apostolic succession was also the Church order in the meridian of time. The New Testament records, however, are so fragmentary that we cannot trace the events in detail which transpired in that day. But enough has been preserved to give a reasonably clear picture of what took place. Our Lord called and ordained the original Twelve, giving the keys of the kingdom to each member of the quorum. (Matt. 16:19; 18:18; John 15:16.) Paul taught plainly that the apostles were to continue in the true Church until the millennial era, that age in which all men will be converted and in which the necessity will no longer exist for sending the gospel message to the world. (Eph. 4:11-16; Jer. 31:31 -34.)
Matthias replaced Judas in the Council of the Twelve. (Acts 1:15-16.) "Paul was an ordained apostle, and without question he took the place of one of the other brethren in that Council." (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p. 153; 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11; Tit. 1:1.) Barnabas (Acts 14:14) and "James the Lord's brother" (Gal. 1:19), neither of whom were numbered among the original Twelve, are also named apostles.
With the coming of the great apostasy, vacancies no longer were filled in the Council of the Twelve, and when the last apostle ceased to minister among mortals, the keys of the kingdom no longer were exercised, and the so-called Christian Church was no longer the Lord's Church. Vacancies were also filled in the Nephite Twelve until the day in which apostasy overtook that branch of the house of Israel. (4 Ne. 14.)
Apparitions
(Apparitions ) See GHOSTS.
Appendages to the Priesthood
(Appendages to the Priesthood ) See PRIESTHOOD OFFICES.
Archangels
(Archangels )
See ANGELS, GABRIEL, MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, RAPHAEL.
An archangel is a chief angel. Michael (Adam) is the only one so designated in the scriptures proper. (D.&C. 29:26; 88:112; 107:54; 128:21; 1 Thess. 4:16; Jude 9) And certainly he is the chief of all angels, the head (under Christ) of the heavenly hierarchy.
The Hebrew celestial hierarchy, however, is said to consist of seven archangels. The names of two of these, Michael and Gabriel, are found in the Bible and in latter-day revelation. (Jude 9; Luke 1:5-38; D. & C. 128:21.) The name of a third, Raphael, is found in the apocryphal book of Tobias and in the Doctrine and Covenants. (Tob. 12: 15; D. & C. 128:21.) The names of the other four - Uriel, Raguel, Sariel, and Jerahmeel - are found in the so-called Book of Enoch, a noncanonical apocalyptic work. (Enoch 21.) Apocryphal sources give the names of the last three as Izidkiel, Hanael, and Kepharel.
In reality, we know very little about the organization that exists among angelic beings; that a perfect, proper, and complex organization does exist is obvious, but the positions held by the various ministers in that celestial hierarchy have not been revealed in our day.
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Archenemy
(Archenemy ) See DEVIL.
Arguments
(Arguments )
See CONTENTION.
Ark of Noah
(Ark of Noah )
See FLOOD OF NOAH.
Armageddon
(Armageddon )
See BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
Armies of Heaven
(Armies of Heaven )
See GOD OF BATTLES, MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, WAR, WAR IN HEAVEN.
Those who follow Christ and fight for righteousness in the great battles of eternity are soldiers in the armies of heaven. Michael led these forces in pre-existence when Lucifer rebelled and there was war in heaven. (Rev. 12:7-8; D. & C. 29:36-38.) Our Lord himself is described by John as leading "the armies which were in heaven" in the great battle of Armageddon. (Rev. 19:11-21.)
It is Michael who "shall gather together his armies, even the hosts of heaven" so they can fight "the battle of the great God," in which Lucifer and his angels shall be cast out eternally. (D. & C. 88:1 1 1-1 16.) In a sense, those who are fighting for righteousness here and now are also soldiers in the armies of heaven; though, for the moment, they are fighting a losing battle against the forces of sin, eventual triumph is assured.
Article on Marriage
(Article on Marriage )
See CELESTIAL MARRIAGE, DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS, MANIFESTO, PLURAL MARRIAGE, SCRIPTURE.
As early as 1832 the Lord revealed to the Prophet the doctrine of celestial mamage, including also the principle of plurality of wives. This was before the restoration of the sealing keys, and so the Lord did not command either the practice of eternal marriage or the practice of the added order of plurality of wives at that time. Monogamy and civil marriage remained and were, at that time, the order of the Church. The revelation setting forth the higher law of temple marriage was not recorded; the doctrine was not taught except in private to some of the leading brethi'en of the Church; and it was not practiced.
In 1835, in connection with the approval of the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants for publication, and in the absence of the Prophet, Oliver Cowdery wrote an article on marriage. The article, dealing with civil and monogamous marriage that is, with the then accepted marriage discipline of the Church - though not particularly a wise and proper presentation of the Church's views even on matters pertaining to civil marriage, was accepted by the people and approved for publication in the same book with the revelations. It was clearly understood by all concerned, however, that the article on marriage was not a revelation, that it contained Oliver Cowdery's views and not necessarily those of the Prophet, and that it was merely a statement of policy bearing on the system of civil marriage then prevailing in the Church and in the world.
When the Prophet returned and learned of the action taken relative to the publication of the article on marriage, he was greatly troubled. However, knowing that up to that date the new and everlasting
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covenant of marriage had only been revealed in principle, that there was as yet no command to practice it, and that the power and keys had not been restored whereby mamages could be solemnized so they would endure for eternity, he let the action stand. The higher order was to come later.
Then in 1836 Elijah came and restored the sealing power, the power to bind on earth and have it sealed eternally in the heavens. (D. & C. 110:13-16; 132:45-47.) At a still later date, temple endowments and other ordinances were revealed - all of which are a necessary prelude to the performance of an eternal maiTiage, a mamage between one man and one woman, or between one man and more than one women, as the case may be. After these things the practice of celestial mamage, including plurality of wives, was commanded. In 1 843 the previously revealed doctrine of celestial marriage (including plurality of wives) was recorded for the first time; added truths were also stated in the revelation as finally recorded, as for instance a reference to the fact that the keys of sealing now had been given and also special instruction to Eimna Smith relative to plural marriage. (D. & C. 132:45-47, 51-55.)
There was, of course, no opportunity to add the revelation on mamage to a new edition of the Doctrine and Covenants until after the saints came west. Temple endowments, celestial marriage, and plural marriage had all been practiced in Nauvoo, but being higher, sacred ordinances their practice had not as yet been announced to the world. After the saints came west the restored order of marriage discipline was taught publicly, and in due course the revelation on marriage was published. Obviously it was good sense to delete from the Doctrine and Covenants the article on marriage because it had application to a lesser order, an order that prevailed before the flill law had been restored.
The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has tried to make it appear that the article on marriage was the only approved order of the Church and that the revelation on marriage was a spurious one authored by Brigham Young. The facts, of course, destroy their specious claims. An understanding of the historical sequences involved and of the doctrinal principles relative to the sealing power make the tmth very clear. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp. 195-198.)
Articles of Faith
(Articles of Faith )
See CREEDS, FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE GOSPEL, PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, SCRIPTURE.
Joseph Smith wrote 1 3 brief statements which have become known as the Articles of Faith, statements which summarize some of the basic doctrines of the Church. These Articles of Faith are scripture and are published as part of the Pearl of Great Price.
For brevity, clearness, and forthrightness of doctrinal presentation, they are unexcelled. When compared with the muddied creeds formulated by the supposedly greatest religious thinkers of Christendom - creeds bom amid the strife, bitterness, and debates of councils that stmggled at length over every word and comma - the AiUcles of Faith, coming forth as the spontaneous and inspired writing of one man, are a marked evidence of the spirit of revelation that rested upon the Prophet.
These articles, of course, do not attempt to summarize all of the basic doctrines of the gospel. Indeed, one of the articles itself specifies that God "will yet reveal many great and important things" pertaining to his kingdom. (Ninth Article of Faith.) For example, the Articles of Faith are silent on such things as celestial mamage, salvation for the dead, temple work in all its phases, the resurrection, and degrees of glory in the eternal worlds.
Ascension Day
(Ascension Day )
See CHRIST, ASCENSION OF CHRIST, EASTER.
Since our Lord ascended in dramatic manner to his Father 40 days after his resurrection, it has become traditional among sectarians to celebrate the Thursday, 40 days after Easter, as ascension day. But since Easter is only the traditional day of his resurrection, it follows that ascension day is not the actual day of his formal return to his Father.
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Ascension of Christ
(Ascension of Christ )
See ASCENSION DAY, CHRIST, SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
Our Lord, after his resurrection, ascended to his Father and received the glory which was his befijre the world was. (John 16:28; 17:5.) Immediately following his resurrection, he said to Mary: 'Touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17.) Thereafter he appeared to the disciples in the upper room and said, "Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (Luke 24:39), from which it is supposed that during the interval he had ascended to his Father.
During the period of 40 days while he continued to minister as a resurrected Being among his disciples in Jerusalem (Acts 1:3), it is presumed that he ascended to his Father many times. But the particular instance which is commonly refeiTcd to as the ascension of Christ is that formal occasion on the mount of Olivet when he took leave in dramatic form from his disciples. "While they beheld," the record avers, "he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said. Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-1 1.)
It should be noted particularly that he here ascended as a tangible Being, a Personage having that body of flesh and bones which those who beheld him go up had theretofore handled and felt and which had eaten food in their presence. (Luke 24:36-43.) After this fonnal ascension, our Lord ministered personally again on earth both to Paul and others in the old world and to chosen prophets in modem times. (Acts 9:1- 9; 22:6-16; Rev. 1:13-18; Jos. Smith 2:16-20; D. & C. 110:1-10.)
The Book of Mormon record says "that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto" the Nephites. (3 Ne. 10:18; 11:12.) It would appear that from the manner in which Book of Monnon prophets speak of the ascension (Mosiah 18:2; Alma 40:20), that they have reference to his ascension immediately following his resurrection and not to that formal occasion 40 days after which later became known among Christian peoples as the ascension. Viewing the time differences between the old and new worlds, there would be no reason why he should not have ministered as a resuiTccted Being among the Nephites during the same interval in which he was continuing his resuiTccted walk with his followers in Jerusalem.
Ashes
(Ashes )
See SACKCLOTH AND ASHES.
Ashtoreth (Ashtaroth)
(Ashtoreth (Ashtaroth) )
See BAAL (BAALIM), FALSE GODS.
As Baal was the supreme male deity of the Phoenician and Canaanitish nations, so Ashtoreth (Ashtaroth) was their supreme female deity. She was the so-called goddess of love and fertility, whose licentious worship pleased Israel in her apostate periods. (Judges 2:13; 10:6; 1 Sam. 7:3-4; 12:10.)
Assemblies
(Assemblies )
See SOLEMN ASSEMBLIES.
Assistant President of the Church
(Assistant President of the Church )
See APOSTLES, APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION, FIRST PRESIDENCY, LAW OF WITNESSES, PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.
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Oliver Cowdery was with the Prophet when the priesthood and keys necessary for the full restoration of the gospel and the establisliment of the dispensation of the fiilness of times were confen'ed. (D. & C. 13; 27:12; 1 10:1 1-16.) He held the keys jointly with the Prophet. At the formal organization of the Church the Prophet was sustained as the first elder and Oliver Cowdery as the second elder (D. & C. 20:2-3), that is, they were first and second from the standpoint of pre-eminence, or presiding authority. Then as the Church grew, and when the fiill organization was revealed, Oliver Cowdery was made the Assistant (or Associate) President of the Church.
As the Assistant President, Oliver ranked second in authority to the Prophet. He stood ahead of the Counselors in the First Presidency and ahead of the Council of the Twelve. In explaining the nature of the office of Assistant President, the Prophet said: "The office of Assistant President is to assist in presiding over the whole Church, and to officiate in the absence of the President, according to his rank and appointment viz.: President Cowdery, first; President [Sidney] Rigdon, second; and President [Frederick G.] Williams, third, as they were generally called. The office of this priesthood is also to act as spokesman, taking Aaron for an example. The viitue of the above priesthood is to hold the keys of the kingdom of heaven or of the Church militant." (Manuscript History of the Church, Book A, Chap. 1; Essentials in Church History, pp. 179-180.) Thus if the Prophet had died, Oliver Cowdery would have been the President of the Church.
After Oliver Cowdeiy fell from his high status, Hyrum Smith the Patriarch was chosen by revelation to succeed to the position of Assistant President and to stand as a joint witness with the Prophet of the truth of the restoration. (D. & C. 124:94-96.) When these two joint Presidents of the Church sealed their testimonies with their blood, the full operation of the keys of the kingdom rested with the Twelve, and Brigham Young, the senior apostle became the ranking officer of the Church. Since the kingdom was then fully established and the two witnesses had left a binding testimony, it was no longer necessary to continue the office of Assistant President. Accordingly the office is not found in the Church today. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 210-222.)
Assistants to the Twelve
(Assistants to the Twelve )
See GENERAL AUTHORITIES, HIGH PRIESTS, PRIESTHOOD OFFICES.
From time to time as the needs of the ministiy require those holding the keys of the kingdom call worthy and qualified brethren to serve in administrative positions in the Church. Assistants to the Twelve, with appointments to serve as General Authorities have been so called. They are high priests, not apostles, and serve pursuant to the revelation which says: "Other officers of the church, who belong not unto the Twelve, neither to the Seventy, are not under the responsibility to travel among all nations, but are to travel as their circumstances shall allow, notwithstanding they may hold as high and responsible offices in the church." (D. & C. 107:98.)
Associate President of the Church
(Associate President of the Church )
See ASSISTANT PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.
Astrologers
(Astrologers ) See ASTROLOGY.
Astrology
(Astrology )
See ASTRONOMY, DIVINATION, FORTUNE TELLING, SORCERY.
A forai of divination and fortune telling akin to sorcery, astrology is a pseudo science that pretends to divulge the influence of the stars upon human affairs; it is a false science that claims to foretell earthly events by means of the positions and aspects of these heavenly luminaries. It is, of course, one of Satan's
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substitutes for the trae science of astronomy and for tiie true principle of receiving revelation of future events from divine sources.
Ancient uninspired peoples were frequently deluded by the snares of the astrologers among them (Isa. 47; Dan. 1:20; 2:27; 4:7; 5:7), but it is difficult to understand why people in modem and supposedly enlightened and civilized nations should submit to these same stargazing absurdities. Enlightened people in and out of the Church shun them for the abominations they are.
Astronomy
(Astronomy )
See CREATION, EARTHS.
Astronomy is the science which treats of the celestial bodies, their creation, magnitudes, motions, constitution, and the like. It is falsely supposed in the world that this is a modem science, that through our telescopes and by other means we have discovered for the first time some of the great truths relative to the sidereal heavens and the infinite number of spheres that roll through them. In reality the greatest astronomers of all time lived in the early ages of the earth and received their knowledge by revelation from the Creator, Maker, and Organizer of all things.
Moses saw many earths - all created by Deity; all rolling in space at his command; all controlled by his law, "by which they move in their times and their seasons" (D. & C. 88:7-13, 41-50); all inhabited by men and women who are redeemed with immortality and offered etemal life through the power of the Father. (Moses 1:27-39.) Enoch was equally aware of these endless creations and their equally endless inhabitants. (Moses 7:29-36.) Perhaps many prophets and righteous men have known of these things.
But, as far as our records reveal, Abraham stands pre-eminent as the greatest astronomer of all the ages. He saw, recorded, and taught the truths relative to the creation of the earth; of the movements and relationships of the sun, moon, and stars; and of the positions and revolutions of the various spheres in the sidereal heavens. (Abra. 3; 4; 5; History of the Church, vol. 2, p. 286.) When the Lord comes again, he will reveal all things (D. & C. 101 :32-34); then the perfect knowledge of astronomy will be had again, and the faithful will know all things about all the creations of him who is omnipotent.
Athanasian Creed
(Athanasian Creed )
See APOSTASY, APOSTLES CREED, CREEDS, NICENE CREED.
Of all the major creeds, the so-called Athanasian is by far the most incomprehensible and difficult to understand. Of it Elder James E. Talmage says: "It would be difficult to conceive of a greater number of inconsistencies and contradictions expressed in words as few." (Articles of Faith, p. 48.)
Strangely, it is the one creed which its defending apologists feel called upon to praise for its clarity, lucidity, and plainness. Their official statement describes it as "a short, clear exposition of the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation, with a passing reference to several other dogmas." They promulgate it as a "summary of Catholic Faith," and as a document that "is approved by the Church as expressing its mind on the flmdamental tniths with which it deals." They eulogize "the compactness and lucidity of its statements," which "make it highly prized," and say that it "states in a very plain and precise way what the Catholic Faith is conceming the important doctrines of the Trinity and the Incamation." Authorship of the creed is unknown, although Catholic authorities lean to the view that it was written by some less prominent person sometime after the day of Athanasius (296-373 A.D.).
Enlightened persons can judge for themselves whether this creed sheds light upon or blankets with darkness the tmths it attempts to define. This is the official Catholic version of the creed:
"Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all One, the Glory Equal, the Majesty Co-Etemal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father Uncreate, the Son Uncreate, and the Holy Ghost Uncreate. The Father Incomprehensible, the Son Incomprehensible and the Holy Ghost Incomprehensible. The Father Etemal, the Son Etemal, and the
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Holy Ghost Eternal and yet they are not Three Eternals but One Eternal. As also there are not Three Uncreated, nor Three Incomprehensible but One Uncreated, and One Incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not Three Almighties but One Almighty.
"So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not Three Gods, but One God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not Three Lords but One Lord. For, like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord, so are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say, there be Three Gods or Three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
"So there is One Father, not Three Fathers; one Son not Three Sons; One Holy Ghost, not Three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore or after Other, None is greater or less than Another, but the whole Three Persons are Co-etemal together, and Co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity.
"Fuifhermore, it is necessary to everlasting Salvation, that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Clirist. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man.
"God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the substance of His mother, bom into the world. Perfect God and Perfect Man, of a reasonable Soul and human Flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His Manhood. Who, although He be God and Man, yet He is not two, but One Christ. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into Flesh, but by taking of the Manhood into God. One altogether, not by confiision of substance, but by Unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one Man, so God and Man is one Christ. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into Hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, He sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting, and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfiilly and firmly, he cannot be saved." (Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 2, pp. 33-34.)
Atheism
(Atheism )
See AGNOSTICISM, APOSTASY, DEISM, GOD, INFIDELS, THEISM.
Atheism is the disbelief in or denial of the existence of God. Such takes various forms, and there are many degrees of atheism. In the absolute sense, it is doubtful if there is such a person as an atheist, for even though one denies the traditionally taught concept of Deity, yet he probably worships at some other shrine as, for instance, the shrine of false intellectuality. At the other extreme, those who profess belief in the sectarian God are in a position at least akin to atheism for their God is defined in effect as an immaterial nothing.
Reasoning along this line Orson Pratt wrote: "There are two classes of atheists in the world. One class denies the existence of God in the most positive language; the other denies his existence in duration or space. One says 'There is no God'; the other says 'God is not here or there, any more than he exists now and then.' The infidel says 'God does not exist anywhere.' The immaterialist says 'He exists nowhere.' The infidel says. There is no such substance as God.' The immaterialist says 'There is such a substance as God, but it is without parts.' The atheist says 'There is no such substance as spirit.' The immaterialist says 'A spirit, though he lives and acts, occupies no room, and fills no space in the same way and in the same manner as matter, not even so much as does the minutest grain of sand.' The atheist does not seek to hide his infidelity; but the immaterialist, whose declared belief amounts to the same thing as the atheist's, endeavors to hide his infidelity under the shallow covering of a few words. The immaterialist is a religious atheist; he only differs from the other class of atheists by clothing an indivisible unextended nothing with the powers of a God. One class believes in no God; the other believes that Nothing is god and worships it as such." (Cited, Articles of Faith, p. 465.)
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Athletic Games
(Athletic Games ) See RECREATION.
Atonement of Christ
(Atonement of Christ )
See ADVOCACY, ADVOCATE, BLOOD ATONEMENT DOCTRINE, CHRIST, ETERNAL LIFE, EXPLA.TION, EXPIATOR, FALL OF ADAM, GOSPEL, GRACE OF GOD, IMMORTALITY, INTERCESSION, MEDIATION, PROPITIATION, PROPITIATOR, RECONCILIATION, RECONCILER, REDEMPTION, REPENTANCE, SACRAMENT, SACRIFICES, SALVATION, SALVATION BY GRACE, SYMBOLISMS.
Nothing in the entire plan of salvation compares in any way in importance with that most transcendent of all events, the atoning sacrifice of our Lord. It is the most important single thing that has ever occun'ed in the entire history of created things; it is the rock foundation upon which the gospel and all other things rest. Indeed, all "things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it," the Prophet said. (Teachings, p. 121.)
The doctrine of the atonement embraces, sustains, supports, and gives life and force to all other gospel doctrines. It is the foundation upon which all truth rests, and all things grow out of it and come because of it. Indeed, the atonement is the gospel. In recording the Vision, the Prophet wrote: "And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us - That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness; That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him." (D. & C. 76:40-42.) To the Nephites the resurrected Lord spoke similarly: "Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you - that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me. And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross." (3 Ne. 27:13-14.)
Salvation comes because of the atonement. Without it the whole plan of salvation would be frustrated and the whole purpose behind the creating and populating of the earth would come to naught. With it the eternal purposes of the Father will roll forth, the purpose of creation be preserved, the plan of salvation made efficacious, and men will be assured of a hope of the highest exaltation hereafter. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. l,pp. 121-138.)
"Redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah," Lehi taught, "for he is full of grace and truth. Behold he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved." (2 Ne. 2:6-9.)
One of the greatest seraions of all the ages, preached by an angel from heaven on the subject of the atonement, includes these words: "As in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins. And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; . . . salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his Father." (Mosiah 3:16-19.)
A knowledge of two great truths is essential to an understanding of the doctrine of the atonement: 1. The fall of Adam; and 2. The divine Sonship of our Lord.
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Adam's fall brought spiritual and temporal death into the world. Spiritual death is to be cast out of the presence of the Lord (2 Ne. 9:6) and to die as peilaining to things of righteousness, or in other words things of the Spirit. (Hela. 14:15-18.) Temporal death or natural death is the separation of body and spirit, the body going back to the dust from which it was created and the spirit to a world of waiting spirits to await the day of the resurrection.
To atone is to ransom, reconcile, expiate, redeem, reclaim, absolve, propitiate, make amends, pay the penalty. Thus the atonement of Christ is designed to ransom men from the effects of the fall of Adam in that both spiritual and temporal death are conquered; their lasting effect is nullified. The spiritual death of the fall is replaced by the spiritual life of the atonement, in that all who believe and obey the gospel law gain spiritual or eternal life - life in the presence of God where those who enjoy it are alive to things of righteousness or things of the Spirit. The temporal death of the fall is replaced by the state of immortality which comes because of the atonement and resun'ection of our Lord. The body and spirit which separated, incident to what men call the natural death, are reunited in immortality, in an inseparable connection that never again will permit the mortal body to see conniption. (Alma 11:37-45; 12:16 18.) Immortality comes as a free gift, by the grace of God alone, without works of righteousness. Eternal life is the reward for "obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." (Third Article of Faith.)
"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy," Lehi says. "And the Messiah Cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall." (2 Ne. 2:25-26.) "The atonement," King Benjamin explains, "was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world." (Mosiah 4:7.)
And Moroni taught that God "created Adam, and by Adam came the fall of man. And because of the fall of man came Jesus Christ, even the Father and the Son; and because of Jesus Christ came the redemption of man. And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God when the trump shall sound; and they shall come forth, both small and great, and all shall stand before his bar, being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death, which death is a temporal death. And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them; and then cometh the time that he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that is righteous shall be righteous still; he that is happy shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy shall be unhappy still." (Monn. 9:12-14.)
And thus the Lord says that because of the atonement, and following the "natural death," man is "raised in immortality unto eternal life, even as many as would believe; And they that believe not unto eternal danmation; for they cannot be redeemed from their spiritual fall, because they repent not." (D. & C. 29:43-44.)
If there had been no atonement of Christ (there having been a fall of Adam!), then the whole plan and purpose connected with the creation of man would have come to naught. If there had been no atonement, temporal death would have remained forever, and there never would have been a resuiTection. The body would have remained forever in the grave, and the spirit would have stayed in a spirit prison to all eternity. If there had been no atonement, there never would have been spiritual or eternal life for any persons. Neither mortals nor spirits could have been cleansed from sin, and all the spirit hosts of heaven would have wound up as devils, angels to a devil, that is, as sons of perdition.
Jacob, brother to righteous Nephi, has left us these inspired words: "For as death hath passed upon all men, to fiilfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resun'ection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord. Wherefore it must needs be an infinite atonement save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incomiption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more. O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more. And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself" (2 Ne. 9:6-9; D. & C. 29:39-41.)
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Children and others who have not arrived at the years of accountability are automatically saved in the celestial kingdom by virtue of the atonement. "Little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin," the Lord says, "wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them." (Moro. 8:8; D. & C. 29:46-50; Mosiah 15:25; Teachings, p. 107.) The curse of Adam includes both temporal and spiritual death, and accordingly neither of these is binding upon children and those who have "no understanding" (D. & C. 29:50), that is, those who are not accountable. All such will be raised in immortality and unto eternal life.
Christ is the only person ever to be bom in the world who had power to bring to pass the resurrection of himself or anyone else and to atone for the sins of any living being. This is because he had life in himself; he had the power of immortality by divine inheritance. The atonement came by the power of God and not of man, and to understand it one must believe that our Lord was literally the Son of God (an immortal Personage) and of Mary (a mortal woman). From his mother he inlierited moilality, the power to lay down his life, to die, to perniit body and spirit to separate. From his Father he inherited the power of immoilality, the power to keep body and spirit together, or voluntarily having pennitted them to separate, the power to unite them again in the resurrected state.
This power he exercised, becoming the firstfruits of them that slept, and in a way incomprehensible to mortal man, he had the power to pass the effects of this resurrection on to all living creatures. "I lay down my life, that I might take it again," he said. "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (John 10:17-18.)
Amulek bore this testimony: "I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it. For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made. For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice. Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will stone for the sins of another. . . . Therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world." (Alma 34:8-12.)
When the prophets speak of an infinite atonement, they mean just that. Its effects cover all men, the earth itself and all forms of life thereon, and reach out into the endless expanses of eternity. "The word atonement," it is written in the Compendium, "signifies deliverance, through the offering of a ransom, from the penalty of a broken law. The sense is expressed in Job 33:24: 'Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.' As effected by Jesus Clirist, it signifies the deliverance, through his death and resurrection, of the earth and everything pertaining to it, from the power which death has obtained over them through the transgression of Adam. Redemption from death, through the sufferings of Christ, is for all men, both the righteous and the wicked; for this earth, and for all things created upon it." (Compendium pp. 8-9.)
Because of the atonement and by obedience to gospel law men have power to become the sons of God in that they are spiritually begotten of God and adopted as members of his family. They become the sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ of the fulness of the Father's kingdom. (D. & C. 39:1-6; 76:54-60; Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 3:1-7; 1 John 3:1-4; Rev. 21:7.) Now our Lord's jurisdiction and power extend far beyond the limits of this one small earth on which we dwell. He is, under the Father, the Creator of worlds without number. (Moses 1:33.) And through the power of his atonement the inliabitants of these worlds, the revelation says, "are begotten sons and daughters unto God" (D. & C. 76:24), which means that the atonement of Christ, being literally and truly infinite, applies to an infinite number of earths.
Those who have ears to hear, find this doctrine taught in the following scripture: "And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness," the Prophet says in recording the Vision, "And saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever. And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father - That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God." (D. & C. 76:20-24.)
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In addition to tlie plain meaning of this passage, we have an explanation of it given by the Prophet Joseph Smith. He paraphrased, in poetical rhyme, the entire record of the Vision, and his words covering this portion were:
"I beheld round the throne holy angels and hosts.
And sanctified beings from worlds that have been.
In holiness worshipping God and the Lamb,
For ever and ever. Amen and amen.
"And now after all of the proofs made of him.
By witnesses truly, by whom he was known.
This is mine, last of all, that he lives; yea, he lives! And sits on the right hand of God on his throne. "And I heard a great voice bearing record from heav'n. He's the Saviour and Only Begotten of God,
By him, of him, and through him, the worlds were all made. Even all that careen in the heavens so broad. "Whose inhabitants, too, from the first to the last,
Are sav'd by the very same Saviour of ours;
And of course, are begotten Gods daughters and sons By the very same truths and the very same powers" (Millennial Star, vol. 4, pp. 49-55.)
Attributes of God
(Attributes of God ) See FAITH.
Austere Man
(Austere Man )
See CHRIST, JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH, JUSTICE.
In the parable of the pounds, the slothful servant who did not put his money to usury justified himself because he feared the Lord who was an austere man. In answer the Lord - who is Christ, the Judge of all the earth - agreed that he was an Austere Man, a man who would mete out justice to all men and impose severe penalties for sins of omission as well as those of commission. (Luke 19: 12-27.)
Authorities
(Authorities )
See GENERAL AUTHORITIES.
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Authority in the Ministry
(Authority in the Ministry ) See PRIESTHOOD.
Authorized Version of the Bible
(Authorized Version of the Bible )
See KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE.
Author of Salvation
(Author of Salvation )
See ATONEMENT OF CHRIST, CHRIST, PLAN OF SALVATION, SALVATION.
Christ is the Author of Salvation. This means that he made salvation available to all men in that he worked out the infinite and eternal atonement. Paul's statement that Christ is "the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:9), as the marginal reading shows, means that he is the "cause" thereof; that is, salvation is possible because of his atoning sacrifice; without this sacrifice there would be no salvation. Paul's other statement that Christ is "the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:2), also according to the marginal reading, means that he is the "leader" in the cause of salvation.
Christ is not the Author of Salvation in the sense that he created the plan of salvation, nor in the sense that he supposedly presented a plan of his own in the councils in heaven, which plan the Father supposedly adopted in preference to a less desirable one fomiulated by Lucifer. Rather the Father is the Author of the plan of salvation, a plan which began to operate long before Christ was ever chosen to be the Redeemer.
Thus when the Father presented his own plan in the pre-existent council, he asked for volunteers from whom he could choose a Redeemer to be bom into mortality as the Son of God. Lucifer offered to become the Son of God on condition that the teiTns of the Father's plan were modified to deny men their agency and to heap inordinate reward upon the one working out the redemption. Clirist, on the other hand, accepted the Father's plan in full, saying, "Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever." Our Lord was then foreordained to a mission which in due course he fulfilled, which mission enabled him to make salvation available to all men. (Moses 4:1-4; Abra. 3:22-28.)
Auxiliary Organizations
(Auxiliary Organizations )
See CHURCH ORGANIZATION, GENERAL AUXILIARY OFFICERS, MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS, PRIESTHOOD, PRIMARY ASSOCIATION, RELIEF SOCIETY, SUNDAY SCHOOL.
There are in the Church the following auxiliary organizations: Relief Society, Sunday School, Primary, Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, and Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association. These units of church government are aids and helps to the priesthood. (1 Cor. 12:28.) They serve in a subsidiary, subordinate, subservient, and ancillary position to the priesthood; their purposes are to supplement the work being done by the priesthood quorums. (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., pp. 383-400.)
Auxiliaiy organizations are created to meet particular needs and problems that exist from time to time. Much of their work is temporary in that it ceases when the particular need ceases, or it will be absorbed in due course by the priesthood organizations. "We expect to see the day, if we live long enough (and if some of us do not live long enough to see it, there are others who will)," President Joseph F. Smith said, "when every council of the priesthood in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will understand its duty; will assume its own responsibility, will magnify its calling, and fill its place in the Church, to the uttermost, according to the intelligence and ability possessed by it. When that day shall come, there will not be so much necessity for work that is now being done by the auxiliary organizations, because it will be done by the regular quorums of the priesthood. The Lord designed and comprehended it from the beginning, and he has made provision in the Church whereby every need may be met and satisfied through the regular organizations of the priesthood. It has truly been said that the Church is perfectly organized.
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The only trouble is that these organizations are not fully alive to the obligations that rest upon them. When they become thoroughly awakened to the requirements made of them, they will fiilfil their duties more faithflilly, and the work of the Lord will be all the stronger and more powerful and influential in the world." (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., pp. 159-160.)
(B )
Baal (Baalim)
(Baal (Baalim) )
See ASHTORETH (ASHTAROTH), BEELZEBUB, FALSE GODS.
Numerous Old Testament references recite apostate Israel's worship of Baal and Baalim (plural of Baal). It was the priest of Baal, for instance, with whom Elijah had his dramatic contest in the days of Ahab and Jezebel. (1 Kings 18.) Baal was the supreme male deity of the Phoenician and Canaanitish nation. It is likely that there were, in practice, many Baals or gods of particular places, the worship of whom was licentious in nature, Baalzebub (the same name as Beelzebub or Satan) was the name of the god of one particular group. (2 Kings 1:3.)
Babel
(Babel )
See JAREDITES.
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Babe of Bethlehem
(Babe of Bethlehem )
See CHRIST, CHRIST CHILD.
It is common among Christian people to refer to the Infant Jesus as the Babe of Bethlehem, an appellation applied because of his birth in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2; Matt. 2:1-10; Luke 2:1-20.)
Babies
(Babies )
See STILLBORN CHILDREN.
Babylon
(Babylon )
See CHURCH OF THE DEVIL, SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, WORLD.
Anciently Babylon was the chief and capital city of the Babylonian empire. Founded by Nimrod and built astride the Euphrates, it is claimed to have been one of the largest and most magnificent cities of all time. The name is the Greek form of Babel and means confusion. The city was taken by Cyrus and again by Alexander the Great and has now become a desolate heap as prophesied by Isaiah and Jeremiah. (Isa. 13:19-22; Jer. 51.)
As the seat of world empire, Babylon was the persistent persecutor and enemy of the Lord's people. It was to escape the imminent destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian hordes that Lehi and his family were led to the new world. To the Lord's people anciently, Babylon was known as the center of iniquity, carnality, and worldliness. Everything connected with it was in opposition to all righteousness and had the effect of leading men downward to the destruction of their souls.
It was natural, therefore, for the apostles and inspired men of New Testament times to apply the name Babylon to the forces organized to spread confusion and darkness in the realm of spiritual things. (Rev. 17; 18; D. & C. 29:21; Ezek. 38; 39.) In a general sense, the wickedness of the world generally is Babylon. (D. & C. 1:16; 35:11; 64:24; 133:14.)
As Babylon of old fell to her utter destruction and ruin, so the great and abominable church together with all wickedness shall be utterly destroyed when the Lord comes. Before that great day the servants of the Lord are calling, "Go ye out from Babylon" (D. & C. 133:5, 7), for the time is not far distant when "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMMATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Rev. 17:5) shall receive her foreordained doom, and an angel shall proclaim the fateful judgment: "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." (Rev. 14:8.)
Backbiting
(Backbiting ) See GOSSIPING.
To backbite is to slander one who is not present. It is a wicked, evil practice, hated of God and fostered by Satan. (Ps. 15:3; Rom. 1:30; 2 Cor. 12:20.) It is the express appointment of the teachers in the Aaronic Priesthood - as part of their mission to do home teaching - to see that there is no backbiting in the Church. (D. & C. 20:54.)
Backsliding Israel
(Backsliding Israel ) See APOSTASY.
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Baptism
(Baptism )
See ACCOUNTABILITY, BAPTISMAL FONTS, BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD, BAPTISM OF FIRE, BORN AGAIN, CHRIST, CLINIC BAPTISMS, FAITH, GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST, HOLY GHOST, INFANT BAPTISM, JOHN THE BAPTIST, ORIGINAL SEsI THEORY, PLAN OF SALVATION, REDEMPTION, REPENTANCE, SACRAMENT, SALVATION, SALVATION OF CHILDREN, YEARS OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
Baptism by iimnersion under the hands of a legal administrator, one empowered to bind on earth and seal in heaven, is the initiatory ordinance into the Church on earth and the celestial kingdom in the world to come. (D. & C. 20:68-74; 2 Ne. 9:23-24.) It is of two kinds: I. Baptism in water by the power of the lesser or Aaronic Priesthood; and 2. Baptism of the Spirit by the power of the greater or Melchizedek Priesthood. (Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:16; Acts 19:1-6; D. & C. 20:38-60; Articles of Faith, pp. 120-170.) The gospel is the new and everlasting covenant by means of which God, on his own teims, offers salvation to man. Baptism is the foraially appointed means and ordinance which the Lord has provided so that man can signify his personal acceptance of all of the terms and conditions of the eternal gospel covenant. Thus in baptism, which as part of the gospel is itself a new and an everlasting covenant (D. & C. 22), man covenants to abide by all of the laws and requirements of the whole gospel.
As summarized by Alma at the waters of Mormon, the contractual obligations assumed by men as part of the covenant of baptism are: 1. "To come into the fold of God," that is, to join the Church of Jesus Christ, the Church which is God's kingdom on earth; 2. "To be called his people," meaning to "Take upon you the name of Christ" (D. & C. 18:17-25); 3. "To bear one another's burdens, that they may be light"; 4 "To mourn with those that mourn"; 5. To "comfort those that stand in need of comfort"; 6. "To stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death"; and 7. To agree to serve God and keep his commandments.
The Lord, as his part of the bargain, covenants that if men will do these things, then he will: 1. "Pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon" them, that is, they will receive the baptism of fire and the companionship of the Holy Ghost; and 2. They shall "be redeemed of God, . . . numbered with those of the first resurt'ection," and "have eternal life." (Mosiah 18:7-10.)
Baptism serves four puiposes: 1. It is for the remission of sins. (D. & C. 13; 19:31; 20:37; 33:11; 49:13; 68:27; 84:27, 64, 74; 107:20.) 2. It admits the repentant person to membership in the Church and kingdom of God on earth. (D. & C. 20:37, 71-74.) 3. It is the gate to the celestial kingdom of heaven, that is, it starts a person out on the straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life. (2 Ne. 9:23-24; 31:13- 21.) 4. It is the means whereby the door to personal sanctification is opened. "Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name," the resuiTected Lord proclaimed to the Nephites, "that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day." (3 Ne. 27:20.)
When the Church and kingdom is fully organized and operative, one baptism suffices for any one person. There is no need for and no ordinance of rebaptism in the Church. Excommunicated persons must of course be baptized a second time if they are to be restored to fellowship in the kingdom. If there were no record or proof that a person had been baptized, it would be necessary to perfonn the ordinance over again. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were, of course, baptized for the remission of sins on May 15, 1829 (Jos. Smith 2:66-75), and were baptized again for admission to the Church on April 6, 1830. (History of the Church, vol. 1, pp. 75-78.) Their first baptism could not admit them to membership in an organization which did not exist at the time the ordinance was performed. A similar situation once prevailed among the Nephites. (3 Ne. 7:18-26; 19:7-15.) Many of the saints in this dispensation were baptized a second time after they anived in the Salt Lake Valley. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, pp. 332- 337.)
Some different reasons exist as to the need for baptism in the case of our Lord, he being without sin and in need of no repentance. His expression to John was, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." (Matt. 3:15.) Nephi explains that Clirist did fiilfil all righteousness in being baptized in that: 1. He humbled himself before the Father; 2. He covenanted to be obedient and keep the Father's commandment; 3. He had to be baptized to gain admission to the celestial kingdom; and 4. He set an example for all men to follow. (2 Ne. 31:4-11.) Our Lord's baptism "showeth unto the children of men the straightness of the path, and the naiTowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the
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example before them." (2 Ne. 31:9.) If even the King of the kingdom could not return to his high state of pre-existent exaltation without complying with his own eternal law for admission to that kingdom, how can any man expect a celestial inheritance without an authorized and approved baptism? Indeed, so unvarying is the eternal law which states, "Except a man be bom of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5), that this holy baptismal ordinance must be performed vicariously for accountable persons who departed this life unbaptized but who would have complied with the law had the privilege been afforded them. Hence we have the doctrine of baptism for the dead. (1 Cor. 15:29.)
As an everlasting covenant, baptism began on this earth with Adam (Moses 6:64-67) and has continued ever since whenever the Lord has had a people on earth. (D. & C. 20:23-28; 84:26-28.) It was not a new rite introduced by John the Baptist and adopted by Christ and his followers. The Jews were baptizing their proselytes long before John, as is well attested from secular sources. The Inspired Version of the Bible, the BookofMoses being a part thereof contains ample evidence of the practice of baptism in Old Testament times. The part of the Book of Monnon of the pre-Christian Era contains some of the best information we have relative to this eternal law.
As with other doctrines and ordinances, apostate substitutes of the real thing are found both among pagans and supposed Cliristians. Perverted fornis of baptism were common among the mystery religions of the old world. (Milton R. Hunter, Gospel Through the Ages, pp. 192-226.) Some of the churches of modem Christendom deny the necessity of baptism and talk in temis of salvation coming by the mere act of confessing Christ with one's lips. Others, not comprehending the mercies of Christ and the power of his atonement, enlarge the doctrine to include children who have not arrived at the years of accountability.
Tme water baptisms are performed by legal administrators who immerse the candidate in water. The symbolic representation thus adhered to bears record of the death, burial, and resun'ection of Clirist. (Rom. 6:1-12.) Baptism is also symbolical of a new birth, with the same elements - water, blood, and spirit - being present as are found in the first birth. (Moses 6:59-60) These elements were also present in the circumstances surrounding the atoning sacrifice of our Lord. (John 19:28-37; 1 John 5:5-12.) Thus through this ordinance attention is also focused on that most transcendent of all events. It goes without saying that sprinkling or pouring, where supposed baptisms are concemed, do not conforai to the Lord's law.
Baptismal Fonts
(Baptismal Fonts )
See BAPTISM, BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD.
Any appropriate body of water of sufficient size - be it stream, lake, ocean, or artificial body - may properly be used for baptismal purposes. Baptisms in a bath tub are not proper; there must be ample room for both parties to go down into the water. Many Latter-day Saint church buildings have especially built baptismal fonts. Artistic paintings and archaeological discoveries both in the Americas and in the old world show such fonts as having been in use in ancient times also. (Milton R. Hunter, Archaeology and the Book of Momion, vol. I, pp. 89-92.)
In our day, baptisms for the dead can be performed only in temples. (D. & C. 124:28-35.) Fonts for such purposes should be constmcted only in the basements or lower portions of such buildings. (D. & C. 128:12-13.)
Baptism for the Dead
(Baptism for the Dead )
See BAPTISM, PLAN OF SALVATION, SALVATION, SALVATION FOR THE DEAD, SECOND CHANCE THEORY, SPIRIT PRISON, SPIRIT WORLD, TEMPLE ORDINANCES, TEMPLES, VICARIOUS ORDINANCES.
Based on the etemal principle of vicarious service, the Lord has ordained baptism for the dead as the means whereby all his worthy children of all ages can become heirs of salvation in his kingdom. Baptism is the gate to the celestial kingdom, and except a man be bom again of water and of the Spirit he cannot gain an inheritance in that heavenly world. (John 3:3-5.) Obviously, during the frequent periods of apostate darkness when the gospel light does not shine, and also in those geographical areas where legal
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administrators are not found, liosts of people live and die without ever entering in at the gate of baptism so as to be on the path leading to eternal life. For them a just God has ordained baptism for the dead, a vicarious-proxy labor. (D. & C. 124:28-36; 127; 128; 1 Cor. 15:29.)
Baptisms for the dead were not performed in pre-meridian dispensations. But since our Lord preached to the spirits in prison, organizing his kingdom among them, these and other vicarious temple ordinances have been perforaied. The dispensation of the fulness of times is the great era of vicarious ordinance work, a work which will continue during the millennial era until it has been performed for every living soul entitled to receive it. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, pp. 100-196.)
Baptism of Fire
(Baptism of Fire )
See BAPTISM, BORN AGAIN, GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST, HOLY GHOST, SANCTIFICATION, SANCTIFIER.
To gain salvation every accountable person must receive two baptisms. They are baptism of water and of the Spirit. (John 3:3-5.) The baptism of the Spirit is called the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost. (Matt. 3:11; Luke 3: 16; 2 Ne. 31:13-14; 3 Ne. 11:35; 12:1-2; Morm. 7:10 D. &C. 20:41; 33:11; 39:6.) By the power of the Holy Ghost - who is the Sanctifier (3 Ne. 27: 1 9-2 1 ) - dross iniquity, carnality, sensuality, and every evil thing is burned out of the repentant soul as if by fire; the cleansed person becomes literally a new creature of the Holy Ghost. (Mosiah 27:24-26.) He is born again.
The baptism of fire is not something in addition to the receipt of the Holy Ghost; rather, it is the actual enjoyment of the gift which is offered by the laying on of hands at the time of baptism. "Remission of sins," the Lord says, comes "by baptism and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost." (D. & C. 19:31; 2 Ne. 31:17.) Those who receive the baptism of fire are 'filled as if with fire" (Hela. 5:45.)
There have been, however, exceptional and miraculous instances when literal fire has attended the baptism of the Spirit. After the baptism of the Nephite disciples, "they were filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire. And behold, they were encircled about as if it were by fire; and it came down from heaven, and the multitude did witness it, and did bear record." (3 Ne. 19: 13-14.) Similar manifestations occurred on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) and among a gi'oup of Lamanite converts. (Hela. 5; 3 Ne. 9:20.)
Baptist
(Baptist )
See JOHN THE BAPTIST.
Bastards
(Bastards )
See SONS OF GOD.
Since a bastard is an illegitimate child, one bom out of wedlock, Paul aptly and pointedly uses the term to describe those who are not sons of God, who have not been adopted into the family of God as joint-heirs with Clirist. (Heb. 12:5-8.) According to his tenninology there are sons on the one hand and bastards on the other. The sons inherit the fulness of the Father's kingdom; the bastards - never having been bom of God - are cast out of the etemal family as though they were illegitimate; they become "servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an etemal weight of glory." (D. &C. 132:16.)
Battle of Armageddon
(Battle of Annageddon )
See GOG AND MAGOG, MILLENNIUM, SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, SUPPER OF THE GREAT GOD, WAR.
Some 60 air miles north of Jemsalem lies the ancient city of Megiddo (now called Tell el-Mutesellim). In its north-central Palestinian location, Megiddo overlooks the great plain of Esdraelon, an area of some
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20 by 14 miles in which many great battles took place anciently. Megiddo is the older Hebrew form of Armageddon or Har-Magedon meaning the Mount or Hill of Megiddo, or the Hill of Battles; it is "the valley of Megiddon" mentioned in Zechariah. (Zech. 12:1 1.)
At the very moment of the Second Coming of our Lord, "all nations" shall be gathered "against Jerusalem to battle" (Zech. 11; 12; 13; 14), and the battle of Armageddon (obviously covering the entire area from Jerusalem to Megiddo, and perhaps more) will be in progress. As John expressed it, "the kings of the earth and of the whole world" will be gathered "to the battle of that great day of God Almighty, into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." Then Christ will "come as a thief," meaning unexpectedly and the dramatic upheavals promised to accompany his return will take place. (Rev. 16:14- 21.) It is incident to this battle of Armageddon that the Supper of the Great God shall take place (Rev. 19:1 1-18), and it is the same battle described by Ezekiel as the war with Gog and Magog. (Ezek. 38; 39; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p. 45)
Battle of the Great God
(Battle of the Great God )
See GOD OF BATTLES, GOG AND MAGOG, MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, WAR.
After the millennium Satan "shall be loosed for a little season, that he may gather together his amies. And Michael, the seventh angel, even the archangel, shall gather together his armies, even the hosts of heaven. And the devil shall gather together his armies; even the hosts of hell, and shall come up to battle against Michael and his amies. And then cometh the battle of the great God; and the devil and his amies shall be cast away into their own place, that they shall not have power over the saints any more at all." (D. & C. 88:1 1 1-115.) This final great battle, in which evil spirits, mortal men, and resurrected personages all participate, will be the end of war as far as this earth is concerned. Then the earth shall be celestialized and become the abode of the righteous forever. (D. & C. 88:16-3 1, 1 16.)
Bearing False Witness
(Bearing False Witness )
See GOSSIPING, LAW OF WITNESSES, LIARS, TEN COMMANDMENTS.
1. "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." (Ex. 20:16.) "Thou shall not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness." (Ex. 23:1.) Witnesses who wilfully testify falsely are liars and perjurers and will be rewarded accordingly. Many false witnesses came forth to testify against Jesus when the Jews sought his life. (Mark 14:53-65.) Gossiping and the spreading of false and idle rumors about a person is a form of bearing false witness.
2. To testify falsely about the truths of salvation, or to claim truth and verity for a false system of salvation, is also to bear false witness. According to the Lord's system, almost all things are established in the mouths of witnesses. Apostles and seventies, for instance, are given the special calling of standing as especial witnesses of the name of Christ. Every member of the Church is obligated to be a witness of the restoration. Those, however, who teach false doctrines are bearing false witness; and those who claim, falsely, that salvation is found in some system other than the very one ordained by Deity are bearing record of that which is not true - and along with all false witnesses will be rewarded according to their deeds.
Beelzebub
(Beelzebub )
See BAAL (BAALIM), DEVIL.
This name for Satan signifies his position as the prince or chief of the devils. It is the same name (Baalzebub) as was given to an ancient heathen god. (2 Kings 1:3.) In their rebellion against light, the ancient Jews applied the name Beelzebub to Christ (Matt. 10:25), and also said that he cast out devils by the power of Beelzebub. (Matt. 12:22-30.)
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Beggars
(Beggars )
See ALMSGIVING, CHURCH WELFARE PLAN, POOR.
Kindness and help toward bears is a basic principle of pure religion. It frequently happens that temporal prosperity has no relationship to righteousness or the lack of it. Wars, disasters, calamities, prolonged illness, or any of a number of circumstances beyond human control, might turn the most affluent persons into beggars.
In the Lord's view, men are judged by what they are and not what they have. Blind Bartimaeus, who begged on the Jericho road, and the beggar at the pool of Siloam both had faith to receive their sight. (Mark 10:46-52; John 9.) Upon his death the beggar Lazarus was carried by the angels to the paradise of Abraham's bosom. (Luke 16:19-31.) And it was a beggar, lame from his mother's womb, who obeyed Peter's God-given command: "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." (Acts 3; 4.) Poor people have ever been the recipients of special prophetic solicitude, and the law made special provision for their poverty and destitute circumstances. (Lev. 19:10; 25:25; Ps. 69:33.)
King Benjamin spoke feelingly to his people of their responsibility to love and serve God and their fellow men, saying that if they did, then, "Ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish. Perhaps thou shall say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just - But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God. For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain?" (Mosiah 4: 16-20.)
Beginning
(Beginning )
See BEGINNING AND END, CREATION, PRE-EXISTENCE.
There is no such thing as an ultimate beginning, a time prior to which there was nothing, any more than there ever can be an ending, a time past which there will be nothing. "The elements are eternal." (D. & C. 93:33.) Spirit element (that is, "the intelligence of spirits") always existed. "Is it logical to say that the intelligence of spirits is immortal, and yet that it had a beginning?" the Prophet asked. "The intelligence of spirits had no beginning, neither will it have an end. That is good logic. That which has a beginning may have an end." (Teachings, pp. 353-354.)
Such scriptural assertions as, "I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn; ... Ye were also in the beginning with the Father" (D. & C. 93:21-23), simply mean that all the spirit offspring of the Father were with him in pre-existence. Spirit entities as such, in their organized foim as the offspring of Deity, have not existed as long as God has, for he is their Father, and he begat them as spirits.
Thus there are two principles: 1. That "man was also in the beginning with God," meaning that the spirits of men were created, begotten, and organized, that they came into being as spirits at the time of their spirit birth; and 2. That "intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be" (D. & C. 93:29), meaning that spirit element, "the intelligence of spirits," the substance from which they were created as entities, has always existed and is as eternal as God himself. This is the connect meaning and purport of the scriptures and of the Prophet's explanation of the immortal spirit, as found in the King Follett Sernion. (Teachings, pp. 352-354.)
Similarly, the expression, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen. 1:1), means there was a time of commencement as far as the earth in its present organized or created form is concerned. But the elements from which the creation took place are eternal and therefore had no beginning.
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Beginning and End
(Beginning and End )
See ALPHA AND OMEGA, CHRIST, ETERNITY TO ETERNITY, EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING, FIRST AND LAST.
Christ is the Beginning and the End. (D. & C. 35:1; 38:1; 45:7; 54:1; 61:1; 84:120; Rev. 1:8-17; 21:6; 22:13.) These are English words having substantially the same meaning as the Greek Alpha and Omega. The thought conveyed is one of timelessness, of a being who is the Beginning and the End because his "course is one eternal round, the same today as yesterday and forever." (D. & C. 35:1.) He was God "in the beginning" (John 1:1-3); he is God now; he will be God in the "end," that is to all eternity. The beginning is the pre-existent eternity that went before; the end is the immortal eternity that is to come.
Bel
(Bel )
See BAAL (BAALIM), FALSE GODS.
Bel was the chief god of Babylon probably the sun god of both the Assyrians and the Babylonians. He was essentially identical with the Phoenician and Canaanitish god Baal, also called Belus. The Lord promised to confound and punish Bel (Jer. 50:2; 51:44) "for I am God, and there is none else. (Isa. 45:22; 46:1-2.)
Belial
(Belial )
See DEVIL, FALSE GODS, SONS OF BELIAL.
Belial is one of the names of Satan and has particular reference to the fact that he is the personification of evil and lawlessness. The literal meaning of the tenn is worthlessness with an especial connotation of recklessness and lawlessness. Paul made use of this name of Satan in this persuasive language: "What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?" (2 Cor. 6:14-18.)
Belief
(Belief )
See BELIEVERS, CHRIST, FAITH, GOD, MIRACLES, OBEDIENCE, REPENTANCE, SALVATION, TESTIMONY, TRUTH.
1. In nearly every instance, the scriptures use belief as a synonym for faith. The two temis are interchangeable they mean the same thing, are gained in the same way, and the same effects flow from them. The prophet adopted this usage in the Lectures on Faith; and accordingly, no one has faith in Christ who does not believe that he is the Son of God, nor does a person believe in Christ in the fiill sense without having faith in him. Faith is belief, and belief is faith. To illustrate: Two blind men besought Jesus to restore their sight. "Believe ye that 1 am able to do this?" he asked; and deceiving an affirmative, "Yea, Lord," in reply, "Then touched he their eyes, saying. According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened." (Matt. 9:27-31: Rom. 10:13-17.)
Belief in Christ is essential to salvation. (John 12:34-50; 17:21; Rom. 9:33; 10:8-9; Heb. 10:39; D. & C. 20:29; 29:43-44; 84:74; Moses 6:52.) The gifts of the Spirit come because of belief (Mark 16:16-18; D. & C. 58:64; 68:8-12; 84:64-74); miracles are wrought and the dead are raised because of it (Matt. 8:13; Mark 5:35-43; John 11:1 1-46); and "all things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9:23-24. "He that believeth on me," the Lord said, "the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; 14:12.) In this connection it is important to note the explanation the prophet that "the greater work which those that believed on his name were to do were to be done in eternity, where he was going and where they should behold his glory." (Lectures on Faith, p. 66.)
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"Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me," Christ said in summarizing the plan of salvation, "and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name." (Ether 4: 18.)
Belief in the various truths must be accepted if salvation is to be won, cannot be parceled out in such a way as to accept one essential truth and reject another. All phases of the doctrines of salvation are so intertwined with each other that it is not possible to believe one pai1 without also believing all parts of which knowledge has been gained. Thus no one can believe in Christ without believing in his Father also. (Matt. 11:27; John 5:23; 6:44; 12:44-46; 14:1, 6.) And no one can accept Christ without accepting the prophets who testify of him. "He that believeth not my words believeth not my disciples," the Lord said. "But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. ... He that will not believe my words will not believe me - that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me." (Ether 4:10-12.)
"Had ye believed Moses," he also said, "ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (John 5:46-47.) "Believe in Christ and deny him not," Nephi said, "for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law." (2 Ne. 25:28.) To prosper, the saints must both "believe in the Lord" and also "believe his prophets." (2 Chron. 20:20; John 15:1-11.)
No one in our day who has an understanding of the Book of Mormon can believe in Clirist unless he also believes the Book of Mormon. Speaking of that record, Nephi says: "If ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ." (2 Ne. 33:10.) Similarly, people who have an understanding of both the Book of Mormon and the Bible caimot believe the one without believing the other also. In speaking of the Bible and Book of Mormon, the Prophet Mormon said, "If ye believe that ye will believe this also." (Morm. 7:8-9.)
The same principle applies to the acceptance of Joseph Smith as a Prophet. President Brigham Young taught: "There is not that being that ever had the privilege of hearing the way of life and salvation set before him as it is written in the New Testament, and in the Book of Monnon, and in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, by a Latter-day Saint, that can say that Jesus lives, that his gospel is true, and at the same time say that Joseph Smith was not a Prophet of God. That is strong testimony, but it is true. No man can say that this book [laying his hand on the Bible] is tme, is the word of the Lord, is the way, is the guideboard in the path, and a charter by which we may learn the will of God; and at the same time say, that the Book of Monnon is untrue; if he has had the privilege of reading it, or of hearing it read, and learning its doctrines. There is not that person on the face of the earth who has had the privilege of learning the gospel of Jesus Christ from these two books, that can say that one is true, and the other is false. No Latter-day Saint, no man or woman, can say the Book of Mormon is true, and at the same time say that the Bible is untrue. If one be true, both are; and if one be false, both are false. If Jesus lives, and is the Savior of the world, Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God, and lives in the bosom of his father Abraham. Though they have killed his body, yet he lives and beholds the face of his Father in Heaven; and his garments are pure as the angels that surround the throne of God; and no man on the earth can say that Jesus lives, and deny, at the same time, my assertion about the Prophet Joseph. This is my testimony, and it is strong." (Discourses, new ed., p. 459.)
2. In a few scriptural instances, belief is used to signify mental assent to a proposition whether the matter assented to is true or false. This usage gives belief no similarity whatever to faith. This kind of belief may or may not be predicated on truth, and salvation does not result from it. Thus the devils "believe, and tremble" (Jas. 2:19), for they know who Christ is and await with awfiil foreboding their destined fate. And thus also an apostate world has turned to "strong delusion," as for instance by accepting the false doctrines of the day, causing them to "believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess. 2:11-12.)
Beliefs
(Beliefs )
See DOCTRINE.
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Believers
(Believers )
See BELIEF, BELIEVING BLOOD, BRETHREN, CHRISTIANS, CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, DISCIPLES, HEATHENS, MORMONS, PROPHETS, SAINTS, TESTIMONY, TRUTH.
1 . Those who believe in Christ, who accept his doctrines, and who cleave unto the disciples whom he sends to declare those doctrines and to administer the ordinances of salvation are called believers. All others are unbelievers or nonbelievers. Believers have views founded on truth; acceptance of apostate doctrines, of false scientific theories, or of error in any field, makes a person a nonbeliever. Believers accept the fulness of the gospel and reject all theories and views inharmonious with it; they are the saints of God, members of the sheepfold of Christ.
There are, of course, many devout people in all churches who believe in Christ and seek to do his will, insofar as their knowledge of him pennits them so to do. But until they receive the tmth and light revealed in latter-days and until they gain the personal revelation which follows enjoyment of the gift of the Holy Ghost, their belief and understanding cannot be perfected.
Thus, in the full sense, the faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the only true believers in the world today, just as the apostolic converts of the early Christian Era were the only true believers in that day. (D. & C. 74:5.) Similarly, the Nephites in their day (4 Ne. 36) and the saints in the various dispensations have been the true believers. Men are saved by belief, damned by unbelief (D. & C. 68:9; 84:74; 1 12:29), or in other words believers are saved, unbelievers are dainned.
2. As used by so-called Christian people generally, the term believers means those who accept what the world considers Christianity to be without reference to the truth or falsity of the divergent doctrines and views espoused. In a like sense, one could speak of believers in Mohammedanism, or in evolution, or in communism, or in any philosophy which is or serees as a religion to the person accepting it.
Believing Blood
(Believing Blood )
See ADOPTION, BELIEF, FAITH, FOREORDINATION, ISRAEL, PRE-EXISTENCE.
This is a figurative expression commonly used to designate the aptitude and inclination of certain persons to accept and believe the principles of revealed religion. In general the Lord sends to earth in the lineage of Jacob those spirits who in pre-existence developed an especial talent for spirituality and for recognizing truth. Those bom in this lineage, having the blood of Israel in their veins and finding it easy to accept the gospel, are said to have believing blood.
Since much of Israel has been scattered among the Gentile nations, it follows that millions of people have mixed blood, blood that is part Israel and part Gentile. The more of the blood of Israel that an individual has, the easier it is for him to believe the message of salvation as taught by the authorized agents of the Lord. This principle is the one our Lord had in mind when he said to certain Jews: "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:14, 26-27.]
Beloved
(Beloved )
See BELOVED SON.
Beloved Son
(Beloved Son )
See CHRIST, ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, SON, SON OF GOD.
"This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" (Jos. Smith 2:17.) These are the words by which the Father introduces the Son and commands men to hearken to his teachings. (Matt. 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; Luke
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3:22; D. & C. 93:15; 2 Ne. 31:11; 3 Ne. 11:7; 21:20.) Christ is the Beloved Son, which signifies his favored, preferential, Chosen, and Beloved status (Moses 4:2), and also his divine Sonship.
Benediction
(Benediction ) See PRAYER.
Bereavement
(Bereavement ) See MOURNING.
Betrothal
(Betrothal ) See ESPOUSAL.
Betting
(Betting )
See GAMBLING.
Bible
(Bible )
See APOCALYPSE, APOCRYPHA, BOOK OF MORMON, CANON OF SCRIPTURE, DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS, EPISTLES, GOSPELS, INSPIRED VERSION OF THE BIBLE, LOST SCRIPTURE, MORMON BIBLE, NEW TESTAMENT, OLD TESTAMENT, PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, SCRIPTURE, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, STANDARD WORKS, STICK OF EPHRAIM.
That portion of the writings of inspired men in the old world which, in the providences of the Almighty, has been handed down from age to age until modern times is called the Bible. These writings in their original foim were perfect scripture; they were the mind and will of the Lord, his voice to his chosen people and to all who would hear it. (D. & C. 68:4.) That they have not come down to us in their perfect form is well known in the Church and by all reputable scholars. Only a few fanatics among the sects of Christendom close their eyes to reality and profess to believe in what they call verbal revelation, that is, that every word and syllable in some version or other of the Bible is the exact word spoken by Deity.
"1 believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers," the Prophet said. "Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and coniipt priests have committed many errors." (Teachings, p. 327; Eighth Article of Faith.) Nephi recorded that the Bible, in its original form, "contained the plainness of the gospel of the Lord." After it had passed through the hands of "a great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches," however, he saw that "many plain and precious things "were deleted, in consequence of which error and falsehood poured into the various churches. (1 Ne. 13.)
Yet with it all, the Bible is a book of books. It has enlightened and influenced the Christian world generally as no other book has ever done. Such measure of truth as was preserved in its pages (as soon as this truth became known to people generally) was instrumental in bringing to pass the Renaissance and of laying the foundation for the restoration of the gospel. When the Bible is read under the guidance of the Spirit, and in harmony with the many latter-day revelations which interpret and make plain its more mysterious parts, it becomes one of the most priceless volumes known to man. "He who reads it oftenest will like it best, and he who is acquainted with it, will know the Hand [of the Lord] wherever he can see it," the Prophet taught. (Teachings, p. 56.)
In its present forni, the Bible is divided into Old and New Testaments and has a total of 66 books within its covers. These books contain doctrinal, historical, prophetic, and poetic materials of transcendent worth. Members of the Church are commanded to teach the principles of the gospel "which are in the Bible." (D. &C. 42:12.)
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One of the great heresies of modem Christendom is the unfounded assumption that the Bible contains all of the inspired teachings now extant among men. Foreseeing that Satan would darken the minds of men in this way, and knowing that other scripture would come forth in the last days, Nephi prophesied that unbelieving Christians would reject the new revelation with the cry: "A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible."
And then he recorded this answering proclamation from the Lord: "Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews? Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even Upon all the nations of the earth? Wherefore murmur ye because that ye shall receive more of my word?" (2 Ne. 29.)
Bible Versions
(Bible Versions )
See KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE.
Bigamy
(Bigamy )
See SEX IMMORALITY.
Bigotry
(Bigotry )
See TOLERANCE.
Bigotry - that is, blind, obstinate, intolerant, and unreasoning adherence to a particular view - has no place among the true saints. They have the truth; their doctrines will bear investigation; there is no reason to close the mind against light and inquiry where any principle of the gospel is concerned.
Bill of Divorcement
(Bill of Divorcement ) See DIVORCE.
Bill of Rights
(Bill of Rights )
See CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, FREEDOM, INALIENABLE RIGHTS, LIBERTY.
The first 10 amendments to the constitution of the United States are called the bill of rights. Their purpose is to protect men in their inalienable rights (such as life and liberty) by guaranteeing civil rights (such as trial by jury). Federal guarantees of freedom of speech, of worship, and of the press are found in the bill of rights. Obviously the establishment and spread of the gospel is facilitated by such legal guarantees.
Binding
(Binding ) See SEALINGS.
Birds
(Birds )
See ANIMALS.
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Birth
(Birth )
See BEGINNING, BIRTH CONTROL, BIRTHDAYS, BIRTHRIGHT, BORN AGAIN, SPIRIT CHILDREN, STILLBORN CHILDREN.
All men were first bom in pre-existence as the literal spirit offspring of God our Heavenly Father. This birth constituted the beginning of the human ego as a conscious identity. By the ordained procreative process our exalted and immortal Father begat his spirit progeny in pre-existence. "All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity," President Joseph F. Smith and his associates in the First Presidency declared. (Improvement Era, vol. 13, pp. 75-81.)
True, as Joseph Smith taught, man "is a self-existent being," for "the intelligence of spirits is immortal," and "had no beginning." (Teachings, pp. 352-354.) That is to say the bodies of Deity's spirit children were created from the existing spirit element just as the spirit bodies of the progeny of future exalted beings will be organized from the same substance. Abraham referred to the spirit children of our Father as "the intelligences that were organized before the world was." (Abra. 3:22.)
Christ, destined to be the Only Begotten Son in mortality, was the first spirit offspring in pre- existence. He "is the Firstborn among all the sons of God - the first begotten in the spirit, and the Only Begotten in the flesh. He is our elder brother." (Improvement Era, vol. 13, pp. 75-81.) "I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn; ... Ye were also in the beginning with the Father," he has revealed. (D. & C. 93:21-23.)
When the spirit children of the Father pass from his presence into this mortal sphere, a mortal birth results. Again by the ordained procreative process a body is provided, but this time it is made from the dust of this earth, that is, from the natural elements which appertain to this temporal sphere. Three things are necessary to effect every mortal birth. They are: water, blood, and spirit - the same elements found in every rebirth into the fellowship of God's kingdom. (Moses 6:59.)
Since Adam, all who have been bom into the world have come as the offspring of mortal parents, excepting only the Lord Jesus. He came into the world as the Son of a mortal mother and an Immortal Father, thus inheriting the power both to lay down his life and to take it again in immortality. (John 10:10- 18.)
Birth into this life is a great blessing in that it furthers the etemal advancement of the obedient. Those who fight the tmth and come out in open rebellion against God, however, would have remained better off had they never been bom. (D. & C. 76:32.) Their punishment will be so severe that the privilege of progression offered through mortal birth becomes a curse unto them.
"And wo be unto him that will not hearken unto the words of Jesus, and also to them whom he hath chosen and sent among them; for whoso receiveth not the words of Jesus and the words of those whom he hath sent receiveth not him; and therefore he will not receive them at the last day; And it would be better for them if they had not been bom. For do ye suppose that ye can get rid of the justice of an offended God, who hath been trampled under feet of men, that thereby salvation might come?" (3 Ne. 28:34-35) These, also, would have been better off to have remained in pre-existence, never chancing the probation of mortality.
Birth Control
(Birth Control )
See BIRTH, SPIRIT CHILDREN.
In the begiiming the Lord commanded man to be fraitful and multiply and fill the earth with posterity, thus providing bodies for the hosts of pre-existent spirits. (Gen. 1:28.) "Marriage is ordained of God . . . that the earth might answer the end of its creation; And that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation before the world was made." (D. & C. 49:15-17.)
President Brigham Young stated the position of the Church relative to birth control in these words: "There are multitudes of pure and holy spirits waiting to take tabernacles, now what is our duty? To prepare tabemacles for them; to take a course that will not tend to drive those spirits into the families of the wicked, where they will be trained in wickedness, debauchery, and every species of crime. It is the
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duty of every righteous man and woman to prepare tabernacles for all the spirits they can." (Discourses, new ed., p. 197.)
President Joseph F. Smith has said in relation to this question: "Those who have taken upon themselves the responsibility of wedded life should see to it that they do not abuse the course of nature; that they do not destroy the principle of life within them, nor violate any of the commandments of God. The command which he gave in the beginning to multiply and replenish the earth is still in force upon the children of men. Possibly no greater sin could be committed by the people who have embraced this gospel then to prevent or to destroy life in the manner indicated. We are bom into the world that we may have life, and we live that we may have a fulness of joy, and if we will obtain a fulness of joy, we must obey the law of our creation and the law by which we may obtain the consummation of our righteous hopes and desires - life eternal." (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., pp. 276-277.)
Also: "I regret, I think it is a crying evil, that there should exist a sentiment or a feeling among any members of the Church to curtail the birth of their children. I think that is a crime wherever it occurs, where husband and wife are in possession of health and vigor and are free from impurities that would be entailed upon their posterity. I believe that where people undertake to curtail or prevent the birth of their children that they are going to reap disappointment by and by. I have no hesitancy in saying that I believe this is one of the greatest crimes of the world today, this evil practice." (Rel. Soc. Mag., vol. 4, p. 318.)
Today the cry is heard in some quarters that these statements calling upon parents to provide bodies for the spirit hosts of heaven are outmoded. Massive birth control programs are being sponsored on a national and international scale. Fears are expressed that the earth cannot support the number of people that unrestricted births will bring. But God's decree and the counsel of the prophets remain unchanged. The real need is not to limit the number of earth's inhabitants, but to learn how to care for the increasing hosts which the Lord designs should inhabit this globe before the last allocated spirit has been sent here to gain a mortal body. Amid all the cries and pressure of the world, the position of the true Church remains fixed. God has commanded his children to multiply and fill the earth, and the earth is far from full.
Birthdays
(Birthdays )
See BIRTH, FAMILY REUNIONS.
The custom of having special celebrations on the anniversaries of one's birth appears to have originated in most ancient times. Biblical reference is made to the birthday celebrations of the Egyptian Pharaoh who honored Joseph (Gen. 40:20) and of King Herod (Matt. 14:6), who ordered the beheading of John the Baptist.
Quite likely the custom of commemorating birthdays started with divine approval in the days of Adam. At least Adam and all the ancient prophets, knowing the importance of man's stepping from pre- existence into mortality, might well have taken occasion to cement family solidarity and renewed desires for righteousness in connection with birthdays. Family reunions - which ofttimes serve the same purpose and also are a means of encouraging genealogical research - are frequently and appropriately held on the birthday anniversaries of a prominent member of the family.
Importance of accurate knowledge of the time of one's birth is seen in the command that the saints are to have their children baptized when eight years of age. (D. & C. 68:25.) It is the practice of the Church, also, to ordain worthy young men to certain offices in the priesthood at specified ages. Similarly, in ancient times, the divine order was to name and perfomi the rite of circumcision on the 8th day after birth. (Gen. 17:11; Luke 2:21.)
Birthright
(Birthright )
See BIRTH, FOREORDINATION, PRE-EXISTENCE, PRIESTHOOD.
It appears that anciently under the Patriarchal Order certain special blessings, rights, powers, and privileges - collectively called the birthright - passed from the father to his firstborn son. (Gen. 43:33.) In later ages special blessings and prerogatives have been poured out upon all the worthy descendants of some who gained special blessings and birthrights anciently. (3 Ne. 20:25-27.) Justification for this system
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in large part, lies in the pre-existent preparation and training of those bom in the lines destined to inherit preferential endowments.
Clirist, the Firstborn among all the spirit offspring of the Father attained the eminence of godhood while yet in pre-existence and was there foreordained as the Savior and Redeemer of mankind. Adam, Abraham, Moses, Joseph Smith, and all the prophets numbered among the noble and great in the pre- existent eternities, were also foreordained and sent to earth in the lineage and at the times when their talents and abilities were most needed in the flirtherance of the plans of the Almighty. Indeed, as taught by Moses, the whole house of Israel was so chosen and so sent to earth. (Deut. 32:7-8.)
From Adam to Noah the presiding representative of the Lord on earth held the joint office of patriarch and high priest - a calling conferred successively from father to son. Similar rights were held by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and others of the patriarchs in their respective days. Abraham was promised that from his day on all who would receive the gospel would be accounted his seed and that his descendants after him would have right, by lineage, to the same priesthood he had gained. (Abra. 2:6-11.) Certain righteous persons were thus destined to receive the priesthood because they were "lawful heirs according to the flesh." (D. & C. 86:8-10.) It was their birthright Special birthright blessings and priesthood pre-eminence have remained in the lineage of Jacob. Reuben, his firstborn, lost the birthright because of iniquity, and it passed to Joseph (1 Chron. 5:1-2) and through him to Ephr'aim. "I am a father to Israel," the Lord said, "and Ephraim is my firstborn." (Jer. 31:9.) This preferential status enjoyed by Ephraim among his fellow tribes in Israel has continued to our day. Predominantly Ephraim, among all the tribes of Israel, has so far been gathered into the fold of the true Shepherd. When the lost tribes return, they shall come to the children of Ephraim to receive their crowns of glory. (D. & C. 133:26-34.)
From Aaron to the coming of John the Baptist, the high priests in Israel served in their presiding offices (of the Aaronic order) because they were descendants of Aaron. The office of Presiding Bishop in the Church today is of comparable hereditary nature, although the Lord has not so far designated the lineage in which the right to such office rests. (D. & C. 68:14-24.) The right to hold the Levitical Priesthood anciently was limited to the sons of Levi, who thus gained their priesthood prerogatives by birth. In the meridian of time our Lord altered this system and spread this Aaronic order of authority among worthy male members of the Church generally. (1 Tim. 3:1-13.)
The office of Patriarch to the Church is also a hereditary office. It is confen'cd upon "the oldest man of the blood of Joseph or of the seed of Abraham" (Teachings, p. 151), that is, the oldest man of the exact patriarchal lineage in Israel. Joseph Smith, Sr., father of the Prophet, was the first to hold this office in latter-day Israel, with Hymm, his oldest living son, gaining the birthright upon his father's death. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp. 162-169.)
Lineage alone does not guarantee the receipt of whatever birthright privileges may be involved in particular cases. Worthiness, ability, and other requisites are also involved. Jacob prevailed over his older brother Esau because "Esau despised his birthright." (Gen. 25:24-34; 27; Rom. 9:10-12.) The Lord placed Ephraim (the younger) before Manasseh to fulfil his own purposes (Gen. 48); and Nephi, junior in point of birth to Laman and Lemuel, was made a ruler and a teacher over them, a circumstance that became the cause of much contention for many generations. (1 Ne. 2:22; 16:37-38; 18:10; 2 Ne. 5:3; 19; Mosiah 10:11-17.)
Civil and governmental prerogatives have also been determined down through the ages on the birthright principle. Many of the kings of Israel and of Judah rose to their positions of temporal eminence by inheritance from their fathers. King Mosiah, on this continent, prevailed upon his people to adopt a system of rule by judges to avoid the evils of this system of civil mle. (Mosiah 29.) Monarchies and empires in general have had laws of succession patterned after the ancient patriarchal system, and problems of property rights in feudal and caste systems have often been regulated in accordance with laws of primogeniture.
Bishop
(Bishop )
See CHRIST, GOOD SHEPHERD, OVERSEERS.
Christ is "the Shepherd and Bishop" of the souls of the saints, by which is meant that he is the Overseer who has led the saints to salvation through his atoning sacrifice. (1 Pet. 2:21-25.)
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Bishopric
(Bishopric )
See BISHOPS, OVERSEERS, PRESIDING BISHOP, PRIESTHOOD OFFICES.
1. Any office or position of major responsibility in the Church, any office of overseership under the supervision of which important church business is administered is a bishopric. Thus the church affairs administered by a bishop are his bishopric. Thus, also, members of the Council of the Twelve - who hold the keys of the kingdom and are empowered to regulate all the affairs of the Church - serve in their bishopric. (D. & C. 114; Acts 1:20.)
2. A ward bishopric, a quorum of three high priests consists of a bishop and two counselors. They are set apart to preside over and direct the affairs of the kingdom in a particular ward. (D. & C. 107:74) They are "to feed the church of God." (Acts 20:28.) Ward clerks are not members of bishoprics. In the absence of a literal descendant of Aaron, the presiding Bishopric consists of three high priests of the Melchizedek priesthood. (D. & C. 68:14-24; 107:13-17, 68-76.)
Bishops
(Bishops )
See AARONIC PRIESTHOOD, BISHOP, BISHOPS COURT, BISHOPS STOREHOUSES, BRANCH PRESIDENTS, JUDGES IN ISRAEL, OVERSEERS, PASTORS, PRESIDING BISHOP, SHEPHERDS.
One of the ordained offices in the Aaronic priesthood is that of bishop. (D. & C. 20:67.) Those so ordained and set apart to serve either in the Presiding Bishopric or as ward bishops are called to preside over the Aaronic priesthood. A ward bishop is the president of the Aaronic priesthood in his ward and is also the president of the priests quorum. (D. & C. 107:87-88.) The office of a bishop is also an appendage "belonging unto the high priesthood." (D. & C. 84:29.)
In his Aaronic priesthood capacity a bishop deals primarily with temporal concerns (D. & C. 107:68); as the presiding high priest in his ward, however, he presides over all ward affairs and members. A bishop is a common judge in Israel (D. & C. 107:74); it is his right to have the gift of discernment, the power to discern all other spiritual gifts, "lest there shall be any among you professing and yet be not God." (D. & C. 46:27.)
"A bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." (Tit. 1:7-9; I Tim. 3:1-7.)
Bishops Court
(Bishops Court )
See BISHOPS, CHURCH COURTS, DISFELLOWSHIPMENT, ELDERS COURT, EXCOMMUNICATION, JUDGES IN ISRAEL.
As common judges in Israel, bishops sit in judgment on their ward members. (D. & C. 42:78-93; 64:40; 102:2; 107:71-75.) Not only do they discern the personal righteousness of their ward members - calling them to positions of responsibility, approving them for temple recommends, priesthood ordinations, and the like - but when iniquity arises they are bound to hear confessions and to call in question the fellowship and membership of such members. When a formal bishops court is held, the bishop is the judge, with his counselors concurring in the judgment unless some iniquity is manifest in it.
Bishops Storehouses
(Bishops Storehouses )
See BISHOPS, CONSECRATION, UNITED ORDER, CHURCH WELFARE PLAN.
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To help bishops discharge their obligation to care for the temporal needs of the poor the Lord has directed the building, stocking, maintenance, and use of bishops storehouses. (D. & C. 42:30-36; 51:9-20; 58:24, 37; 70; 72:9-16; 78:3-7; 82:15-24; 83; 90:22-23; 101:96.) These are operated as part of the Church Welfare Plan.
Black Magic
(Black Magic ) See MAGIC.
Blasphemy
(Blasphemy )
See APOSTASY, CHRIST, PROFANITY, REVERENCE, UNPARDONABLE SIN.
Blasphemy consists in either or both of the following: 1 . Speaking irreverently, evilly, abusively, or scurrilously against God or sacred things; or 2. Speaking profanely or falsely about