Doctrine and Covenants 129-130

1. Doctrine and Covenants 129-130

2. Doctrine and Covenants 129 It was necessary to educate the Saints that they not be deceived by counterfeit revelations or by the devil appearing as an angel of light (D&C 128:20). As part of the instructions, the Prophet told of a man who came to him “in Kirtland,” saying he had seen an angel and described his dress. “I told him,” the Prophet said, “he had not seen an angel, and that there was not such dress in heaven. He grew mad, and went into the street and commanded fire to come down out of heaven to consume me. I laughed at him, and said, you are one of Baal’s prophets; your God does not hear you; jump up and cut yourself: and he commanded fire from heaven to consume my house” (Smith, HC, 5:267-68).

3. Even earlier than this the Prophet acknowledged, “There have also been ministering angels in the Church which were of Satan appearing as an angel of light. A sister in the state of New York had a vision, who said it was told her that if she would go to a certain place in the woods, an angel would appear to her. She went at the appointed time, and saw a glorious personage descending, arrayed in white, with sandy colored hair; he commenced and told her to fear God, and said that her husband was called to do great things, but that he must not go more than one hundred miles from home, or he would not return; where as God had called him to go to the ends of the earth, and he has since been more than one thousand miles from home, and is yet alive. Many true things were spoken by this personage, and many things that were false. How, it may be asked, was this known to be a bad angel? By the color of his hair; that is one of the signs that he can be known by, and by his contradicting a former revelation” (Teachings, 214).

4. Perhaps it is of more than passing interest that we have ancient stories that have been preserved for us in what is known as the Book of Adam and Eve, or The Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan, in which Satan constantly tries to deceive our first parents in order to obtain the garments they had received from the Lord in Eden. In one of those episodes, Satan “took the form of an angel, and with him two others” in order to imitate a threesome who had come to them from the presence of the Lord. In this story Adam and Eve were initially deceived by them “because, when they came to Adam the first time, there came upon him from them, peace and joy, through their bringing him good tokens; so Adam thought that they were come a second time to give him other tokens for him to rejoice withal. For he did not know it was Satan; therefore, did he receive them with joy and companied with them” (Lost Books of the Bible, 49).

5. Speaking to the newly formed Relief Society on 28 April 1842, the Prophet said that the Church would not be fully organized until the temple was complete. He further spoke of the sisters receiving the “keys,” or knowledge through the priesthood, by which they could “detect everything false” if they would sustain their husbands and those the Lord had called to lead his Church. The Prophet further promised the sisters that in the temple they would learn how to ask of God and how to receive answers. “If you live up to your privileges,” the Prophet promised them, “the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.” Women, he added, “if they are pure and innocent, can come in the presence of God” (Smith, HC, 4:603-7).

6. Doctrine and Covenants 129:4 “If from the devil” He will either shrink back from you or offer his hand, which if he does you will feel nothing, but be deceived. Evil spirits cannot vary from the restrictions placed upon them from the Lord. They have their bounds.

7. Elder Orson F. Whitney commented on this concept as follows: There are bad spirits as well as good, and the vital question is: How can we know the difference between them? Let us at this state consult an expert – for there are such – one who came in contact with spiritual forces to a marvelous extent, not only receiving messages from other worlds, but also interviewing the messengers. Joseph Smith knew the difference between good and evil communicants, and here is his testimony concerning them (129:4-8). In another place, the Prophet said: “Wicked spirits have their bounds, limits and laws, by which they are governed; and it is very evident that they possess a power that none but those who have the Priesthood can control” (HC, vol. 4, 576).

8. The Devil: There’s not one good thing about the devil! Take away the “D” You have “evil” Take away the “E” You have “vil” Take away the “V” You have “il” and this is what you’ll get if you follow him! Take away the “I” and add an English accent to it and that’s where you will go if you follow him! (Hell)

9. Though given in 1843, Wilford Woodruff indicated he learned these keys from Joseph Smith as early as 1839. “Now, I have always said, and I want to say it to you, that the Holy Ghost is what every Saint of God needs. It is far more important that a man should have that gift than he should have the ministration of an angel, unless it is necessary for an angel to teach him something that he has not been taught” (President Wilford Woodruff, Weber Stake Conference, 19 Oct. 1896).

10. D&C 130 On the 2nd of April, 1843, the Prophet Joseph Smith attended a meeting at which Orson Hyde spoke and, alluding to the coming of the Savior, said, “When He shall appear, we shall be like Him, etc. He will appear on a white horse as a warrior, and may be we shall have some of the same spirit. Our God is a warrior. It is our privilege to have the Father and Son dwelling in our hearts.”

11. At dinner time the Prophet called the attention of Orson Hyde to these statements and told him that he would offer some corrections. Orson Hyde replied that they would be thankfully received, whereupon the prophet gave the explanations contained in verses 1-17. Later that evening he answered additional questions and gave instruction found in verses 18-23. No wonder the early Saints found it a joy to be in the Prophet’s company!

12. Doctrine and Covenants 130:2 Elder Orson Pratt has provided insight to some aspects of the “conditions of sociality” that might be experienced in Heaven: It is, indeed, comforting to know whence we came, and have a correct understanding in regard to our future. This interesting and most important knowledge is only to be obtained by divine revelation. God has abundantly revealed these things that man might rejoice in them. There are no people upon the earth who have so great reasons to rejoice as the Saints; for to them God has spoke, and plainly manifested much concerning both the past and the future; and hence, they know what kind of an existence to pray for, what blessings to hope for, and where they shall receive their everlasting inheritance.

13. A Saint, who is one in deed and truth, does not look for an immaterial heaven but he expects a heaven with lands, houses, cities, vegetation, rivers, and animals; with thrones, temples, palaces, kings, princes, priests, and angels; with food, raiment, musical instruments, etc. all of which are material. Indeed the Saints; heaven is a redeemed, glorified, celestial material creation, inhabited by glorified material beings, males and female, organize into families, embracing all the relationships of husbands and wives, parents and children, where sorrow, crying, pain, and death will be known no more. Or to speak still more definitely, this earth, when glorified, is the Saints’ eternal heaven. On it they expect to live, with body parts, and holy passions: on it they expect to move and have their being; to eat, drink, converse, worship, sing, play on musical instruments, engage in joyful, innocent, social amusements, visit neighboring towns and neighboring worlds: indeed, matter and its qualities and properties are the only being or things with which they expect to associate (Orson Pratt, Millennial Star, vol. 28, 722, November 17, 1866).

14. Doctrine and Covenants 130:5 “Angels who administer to this earth” The Prophet said, “Many have supposed that the doctrine of translation was a doctrine whereby men were taken immediately into the presence of God, and into an eternal fullness, but this is a mistaken idea. Their place of habitation is that of the terrestrial order, and a place prepared for such characters He held in reserve to be ministering angels unto many planets, and who as yet have not entered into so great a fullness as those who are resurrected from the dead” (Teachings, 170).

15. Doctrine and Covenants 130:9 “This earth is its sanctified and immortal state” Brigham Young said, “This earth, when it becomes purified and sanctified, or celestialized, will become like a sea of glass; and a person, by looking into it, can know things past, present, and to come; though none but celestialized beings can enjoy this privilege. They will look into the earth, and the things they desire to know will be exhibited to them, the same as the face is seen by looking into the mirror” (JD, 9:87).

16. “If the people could fully understand this matter,” Brigham Young said, “they would perceive that it is perfectly reasonable and has been the law to all worlds. And this world, so benighted at present, and so lightly esteemed by infidels, as observed by Brother Clements, when it becomes celestialized, it will be like the sun, and be prepared for the habitation of the Saints, and be brought back into the presence of the Father and the Son. It will not be an opaque body as it now is, but it will be like the stars of the firmament, full of light and glory; it will be a body of light. John compared it, in its celestialized state, to a sea of glass” (JD, 7:163).

17. Doctrine and Covenants 130:10-11 “A New Name” “A new name symbolically suggests that they are ready to enter into a new life on a higher stage of existence.” “The White Stone” The custom observed by judges in ancient times in announcing their decision as to guilt or innocence was to give the accused either a white or black stone. The white stone meant they had been pardoned or found innocent. The black stone meant guilt and condemnation (Clarke, Clarke’s Commentary, 3:979).

18. D&C 130:14 William Miller a Baptist preacher had prophesied that the 2nd Coming would be on April 3rd, 1843 and many of the Saints believed. Joseph inquired about it and the Lord told Joseph not to worry about it.

19. Past False Prophecies: May 21st, 2011 at 6:00 PM sharp Pacific Standard Time: Harold Camping an old civil engineer, 89 years old. He also predicted the same thing in 1994. 1988, a major book titled 88 Reasons Why Christ Will Return in 1988, by Edgar Whisenant. The following year he published 89 Reasons Why Christ Will Return in 1989, claiming to have been slightly off on his calculations.

20. 1914: Jehovah Witnesses have set several dates for the prophetic end – 1914, 1915, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1925, 1941, 1975, and 1994. 1792: Shakers predicted the end of the world. 1715: Isaac Newton thought Christ would return. 1556: Martin Luther felt this might be the year. February 1, 1524: Panicked by predictions made by a group of London astrologers, some 20,000 people abandoned their homes and fled to high ground in anticipation of a second great flood that was predicted to start from the Thames. 1284: Pope Innocent III predicted Christ’s second coming would occur in this year. He based his prediction on the date of the inception of the Muslim faith, then added 666 years to that.

21. Second Coming A.D.: The Montanists, founded around A.D. 155 by a man called Montanus, were perhaps the first recognizable Christian end-of-the-world cult. They believed that Christ’s triumphant return was imminent and established a base in Anatolia (699 A.D.), central Turkey, where they anxiously waited for doomsday. 2800 B.C.: The oldest surviving prediction of the world’s imminent demise was found inscribed upon an Assyrian clay tablet which stated, “Our earth is degenerate in these latter days. There are signs that the world is speedily coming to an end. Bribery and corruption are common.” Wherever more than two people over 30 are gathered together, expect to hear remarkably similar sentiments.

22. Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19 I am especially grateful for the doctrine that we shall go on, throughout the endless ages, far beyond the comprehension of man. I am indeed grateful that all has not been revealed today, because if we are to go on, today and tomorrow and throughout all time to come, then we shall be continually learning and increasing in knowledge. I find men occasionally who are very fond of discussing the unrevealed truths of the gospel. To them everything must be explained; there must be no mystery. This is completely out of harmony with the great principle of eternal progression, one of the cornerstones of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am thankful that I know for a certainty that on the tomorrow, when this life is passed, or perhaps before it is over, new light and knowledge may be given me (John A. Widstsoe, C.R., April 1925, Afternoon Session, 28).

23. Doctrine and Covenants 130: 21-21 The question was asked, What effect did our pre-mortal life have on our position and condition in this life? To which the answer is, the same effect that we do in this life will have on who and what we are in the world to come. If there is a God in heaven, it can be no other way. We begin each day where we left off the previous day. The principle is immutable. We cannot begin a journey from where we are not or from where we wish we were. All journeys must begin from where we are; all that we learn is based upon what we already know; all that we can do will be the result of what we have previously done. So it was in our pre-mortal life, so it is here, and so it will be in the worlds to come.

24. Doctrine and Covenants 130:23 “Man can neither predict nor program the Spirit of the Lord” We simply cannot force spiritual things! “The presentation of ‘gift’ of the Holy Ghost,” President Joseph F. Smith explained, “simply confers upon a man the right to receive at any time, when he is worthy of it and desires it, the power and light of truth of the Holy Ghost, although he may often be left to his own spirit and judgment” (Gospel Doctrine, 60-61). That is to say, the Holy Ghost “may be conferred upon men, and he may dwell with them for a while, or he may continue to dwell with them in accordance with their worthiness, and he may depart from them at his will” (Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 466).