Appendix 1
Our Father in Heaven’s Plan of Happiness; the pristine Gospel of Jesus Christ
If you believe you existed before mortal birth and will continue to live after mortal death; that is good, because it is true. Our mortal life is not the totality of our existence. Each person has a divine heritage and destiny.
This earth is our “proving ground.” We enter mortality without memory of our life and relationships before our mortal birth; but we retain our agency to choose. “and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell. And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.”
Our Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are motivated by love. God’s purpose is “… to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”
Everyone will have an opportunity to hear the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; either in mortality or in the world of spirits that follow - and choose for themselves. Those persons who strive to humbly “ask, seek and knock,” will find. God has promised to help each person who does not shut him out by their unbelief.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church) is God’s Church on earth today. It is the only religion that has God’s authority and provides correct answers to life’s great questions; Where did we come from, why are we here, and where are we going? The Church is only source of God-given revelations of truth - that harmonize with true science. (There is no difference between true religion and true science.)
This treatise is largely a sequence of selected Church scriptural and authoritative quotations and narratives that endeavor to profile key elements of God’s Plan of Happiness; with commentaries.
Index
- Our Father in Heaven’s Plan of Happiness – general description
- Love motivates God - and those who want to be like Him
- God’s objective: His family – Make it possible for his children to be like Him
- Father, Son and Holy Ghost; separate individuals - united in purpose
- Our relationship to our Father in Heaven - spirit children
- Jesus Christ - creator of universe and earth - under direction of our Father in Heaven
- Our premortal life - spirit children of heavenly parents
- Agency of man – critical to God; and to us
- Lucifer and his followers’ rebel against God and lose everything
- Creeds – non-scripture attempts to define the Father, Son and Holy Ghost
- Fall of Adam and Eve - mortality begins
- Atonement of Jesus Christ - eternal life for those who desire and repent
- Elijah restores sealing power – Eternal marriage and other Temple ordinances
- After mortal death - world of spirits – Gospel preached
- Second Coming of Jesus Christ
- Millennium – Terrestrial realm - Records in heaven opened – Temple ordinances
- Final judgement
- Resurrection - immortal bodies of flesh, bone and spirit
- Final abode; one of three worlds of glory: Celestial. Terrestrial or Telestial
- Conclusion
Our Father in Heaven’s Plan of Happiness – general description – Our father in Heaven’s Plan of Happiness, also known as the Plan of Salvation or the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - “embraces all of the laws principles, doctrines, rites, ordinances, acts, powers, authorities, and keys necessary to save and exalt men in the highest heaven hereafter. It is the covenant of salvation which the Lord makes with men and women on earth … (it) is a plan of eternal progression. As spirit children, we had progressed as far as we could in our quest to be like our heavenly parents. They had glorified bodies of flesh and bone, we did not. They could be parents of children, we could not … They knew that obeying eternal laws liberates people and allows them to obtain a wonderful eternal destiny, we were yet unproven. We came to earth to obtain a mortal body and gain experiences in an environment away from our Heavenly Family – were we can make choices on our own – whether to choose to follow God’s commandments - or yield to the wicked enticing of Lucifer and his followers. While we were in the pre-mortal world, there were “many meetings, councils, and schooling sessions held among the Gods and their spirit offspring … plans were made for the creation and peopling of the earth and for the redemption and salvation of the offspring of Deity … The three pillars of eternity, the three events preeminent and transcendent above all others, are the creation (God’s creation of this earth to be our proving ground), the fall (Adam and Eve become mortal and begin mortal life on earth) and the atonement (Jesus Christ’s redeeming sacrifice that began in Gethsemane where he sweat blood from every pore and ended on the cross). These three are the foundations on which all things rest … God the Eternal Father … is a glorified and exalted personage. He has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s. In the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He knows all things and has all power – not simply as pertaining to us or in some prescribed sphere or realm – but in the absolute, eternal, and unlimited sense. In the ultimate sense, he is the Creator.” (Apostle Bruce R. McConkie (1915-1985).
The fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the narrow way and strait gate that Jesus Christ described, “Enter ye in at the straight gate … Because straight is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life.” (Matthew 7: 13-14.); and that the prophet Lehi described as “the narrow path and Iron Rod.” (BM, I Nephi 8:24 and 11: 25).
The ancient Apostle Paul said; One Lord, one faith and one baptism … And he gave some Apostles, and some prophets … For the perfecting the saints (believers in Jesus Christ), for the work of the ministry … till we all come to a unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God …”(Ephesians 4: 5 and 11-13). Jesus Christ said, “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3: 26).
Commentary – There is no commonality in the world concerning god or whether there even is a god. Without question, the earth’s many religions, creeds, secular and political ideologies, cultures, beliefs and philosophies are divided. Even today, many of such entities seek to suppress or demean any point of view different from their own. Albeit, there are now substantially fewer countries, religions and cultures who impose prison and death sentences on their philosophical opponents; or in families, conduct “honor killings.”
The God-inspired founding of the United States of America based on principles of individual freedom in the late 1700s was a sea change in a world of monarchies, empires and state religions.
Love motivates God - and those who want to be like Him – Have you ever wondered; why does our Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost do what they do? What motivates them? The answer is love!
“For God so loved the world that is gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever beliveth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3: 16).
Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, to love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37-39).
Jesus Christ said to his Apostles; “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this, all men (and women) may know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John: 13: 34-35).
Love is so integral to the persona of our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ, that the ancient Apostle John wrote, “God is love.” (I John 4: 7-12).
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14: 16).
“Be ye therefore (shall be) perfect, even as your Father, which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5: 48). “Therefore, I would that ye should be perfect (whole and complete) even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect. (BM, 3 Nephi 12: 48).
The ancient prophet Nephi said, “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have (an exciting) eternal life. (BM, 2 Nephi 30:20).
(Eternal life means living in the same family environment as our Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ, our heavenly parents and others who are like them; an exciting and marvelous life where we will have a full dimension of eternal progression.) “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we will see him as he is.” (1 John 3: 2).
“And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (BM, Alma 5: 6).
In this mortal world and the world of spirits that follow; Jesus Christ has commanded us to “ask, seek and knock;” find the truth and repent, forgive and earnestly strive to keep his commandments; thereby enjoying the fullness of his love. (Matthew 7: 7).
The ancient Apostle Paul said: “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither entered into the heart of man (we cannot envision it in mortality), the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2: 9).
“… For he (or she) that receiveth my servants receiveth me (Jesus Christ); And he that receiveth me, receiveth my Father; And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore, all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.” (D&C 84: 36-38).
Commentary – God loves each of his children and is involved in the detail of each life; to the extent we allow it. God’s commandments are a glimpse into the persona of Deity. God’s commandments are not confining; just the opposite; they are liberating. “Adam fell that man might be; and men are that they might have joy.” (BM, 2 Nephi 2: 25).
“… do not procrastinate the day of your repentance to the end …” (BM, Alma 34: 33-34). There are consequences to every choice and action we take; consequences that may not be immediate, but they are sure.
Russian-American writer and philosopher, Ayn Rand (1905-1982) said, “People may ignore reality, but no one can ignore the consequences of reality.”
The fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is reality. We are living in the “dispensation of the fullness of times.” (Ephesians 1: 10 – 13); “the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3: 19-21).
It is imperative that we ask, seek and knock. and find the eternal joy of entering the straight gate and living the narrow way (Matthew 7:7 and 13-14); find the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and “cling (to it) - the Iron Rod.” (BM, I Nephi 8: 24; 11: 25).
God’s objective: His family – Make it possible for his children to be like Him – “For behold, this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (PGP, Moses 1:39).
“Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of his children. All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny … In the Premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their eternal Father and accepted his plan by which his children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally … the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife … Marriage between man and woman is essential to God’s eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity … founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (The Family, A Proclamation to the World. By the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. September 23, 1995).
“Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11: 11).
“And there stood one among them that was like unto God (Jehovah, aka Jesus Christ), and he said unto those who were with him; We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereupon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will (choose to) do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; And they who keep their first estate (premortal) shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate (Lucifer and his followers) shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate (mortal life) shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.” (PGP, Abraham 3: 24-26).
“We are now being tried and tested to see if we will do all of the things the Lord has commanded us to do. These commandments are the principles and the ordinances of the gospel, and they constitute the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every principle and ordinance have a bearing on the whole purpose of our testing, which is to prepare us to return to our Heavenly Father and become more like him … Only the gift of the atonement and our obedience to the Gospel can we return and live with God once again …” (Apostle L. Tom Perry. Ensign, November, 2006).
Commentary - In the economy of our Father in Heaven, His family is fundamental; we are his “offspring” and members of His eternal family (Acts 17: 26-30). As part of our Father in Heaven’s Plan of Happiness for his children, we come into this “mortal proving ground” without memory of our premortal experiences and relationships, but we have our agency; we are free to choose for ourselves.
Father, Son and Holy Ghost - separate individuals – united in purpose – “But he being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God. and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man, standing on the right hand of God.” (The stoning death of Steven; Acts 7: 55-56)
“Then cometh Jesus … unto John to be baptized of him … And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and lo, the heavens were opened to him and he saw the spirit of God (Holy Ghost) descending like (sign of) a dove and lighting upon him; And lo the voice from heaven, saying; This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3: 13-17).
“… Jesus taketh Peter, James and John … unto a high mountain, apart, and was transfigured before them … and there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him … a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold a voice out of the cloud which said; This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matthew 17: 1-5, also, D&C 110: 11-16).
“… I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me … When the light rested upon me I saw two personages whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spoke unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other – This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him! … I asked the personages … which of all the sects … should I join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; the Personage who addressed me said that their creeds were an abomination in his sight … they teach for doctrines, the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (PGP, Joseph Smith – History 1: 10-20 ).
“The Father has a body of flesh and bones, as tangible as man’s, the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. (D&C 130: 22-23).
“The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one. (D&C 93:36-37).
“The Son of Man (another name for Jesus Christ) must suffer many things and be rejected … and be slain, and be raised the third day.” (Luke 9: 22). “Behold, I am God, Man of Holiness is my name (another name for our Father in Heaven); and Endless and Eternal is my name also.” (Moses 7:35)
“There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine and pure - and can only be discerned by purer eyes.” (D&C 131: 7).
“ … Seest thou that ye were created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this body which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh.” (BM, Ether 3: 15-16)”
Apostle Paul describes the Father and Jesus Christ; “God … spoke in times past unto the fathers by the prophets. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power … sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1: 2-3).
“Phillip said unto him, show us the Father … Jesus said unto Phillip, … he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” (John 14: 8-9)
“For I the Lord God created all things of which I have spoken spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.” (PGP, Moses 3: 5).
At the creation of corporeal bodies for Adam and Eve to house their spirit bodies; there was more than one God present: And God said, let us make man in our image after our likeness.” (Genesis 1: 26). “And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness … So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” (Genesis 1: 26-27 and PGP Abraham 3: 26-28). And I God said unto my Only Begotten Son which was with me from the beginning (Jehovah/Jesus Christ); Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and it was so. (PGP, Moses 2: 26-27; 3:7 and below, “Mortality begins – the necessary Fall of Adam and Eve”).
Jesus Christ said to the Pharisees, “It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. (John 8: 17-18).
Jesus Christ: “Neither pray for these alone (Apostles), but them also that shall believe on me through their word. That they may be one, as thou, Father; art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us … that they may be one, even as we are one.” (John: 17: 20-23).
Jesus Christ said to his apostles; “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26).
Our relationship to our Father in Heaven - spirit children – “All human beings – male and female – are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His Plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine Plan of Happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.” (Excerpts from “The Family, a Proclamation to the World, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” - 1995).
The resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ defined his and our relationship to our Father in Heaven to Mary Magdalene outside the Garden tomb: “Jesus saith to her, touch me not; for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend to my Father, and to your Father, to my God and to your God.” (John: 20: 11-17).
The lyrics to the child’s song, “I am a child of God,” is profound in its simplicity; “I am a child of God, and he has sent me here; has given me an earthy home, with parents’ kind and dear. (Chorus) Lead me guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way; Teach me all that I must do to live with him some day. I am a child of God, and my needs are great; Help me to understand his words, before it grows too late. I am a child of God, rich blessings are in store; If I but learn to do his will, I’ll live with him once more.” (Naomi W. Randall, 1908-2001).
Jesus Christ - creator of universe and earth - under direction of our Father in Heaven – “Jesus Christ was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the new. … He gave his life to atone for the sins of all mankind. He was the great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth. We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, and the Redeemer of the world. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth (and worlds without number) … His priesthood and His Church have been restored to the earth – built upon the foundation of … apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the first cornerstone (Ephesians 2: 20). We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He shall rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts. We bear testimony, as his duly ordained Apostles – that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.” (Excerpts from The Living Christ, The Testimony of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; January 1, 2000).
“We will go down for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereupon these may dwell. And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.” (PGP, Abraham 3: 22-25).
“And God said unto Moses, I AM that I AM; and said, Thus, shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 8: 14). “Jesus said unto them (Pharisees and scribes Jews), Verily, verily I say unto you, Before Abraham was I AM (Jehovah). Then took they up stones to cast at him (They charged him with for blasphemy; for saying he was Jehovah – they didn’t want to believe him and sought to kill him. (John 8: 58-59).
I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the father. (D&C 110: 3-4).
“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophesies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” (BM, 2 Nephi 25: 26).
“In the beginning was the Word (Jesus Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made … He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” (John 1: 1-3 and 10).
And now, verily I say unto you, I (Jesus Christ) was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn (spirit child).” (D&C 93:21).
The Apostle Paul said, “God … spoke in times past unto the fathers by (his) prophets. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds ...” (Hebrews 1: 2-3).
“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created ...” (D&C 76: 24)
Moses said, God created (organized) our earth in six creative periods which he called days, example: “and the evening and the morning was the sixth day.” (Genesis 1: 1-31 and PGP, Moses 2: 1-31). The Apostle Peter and the Psalmist wrote, “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years.” (2 Peter 3: 8 and Psalms 90: 4).
Abraham’s account, however, used the term “time,” as opposed to “day” to describe each creative period; example: “… And the Gods said among themselves, on the seventh time, we will end our work which we have counseled; and we will rest …” (PGP, Abraham 5: 1-3 and 4: 1-31).
Many religions hold to the literal (as opposed to the metaphorical) interpretation of the “1,000 years;” claiming that God created the earth in exactly 6,000 years. However, such doctrine conflicts sharply with most scientists who, using the radiocarbon method of dating organic materials which was discovered in 1946; assert archaeologists have found petrified fossil rocks of organic life that grew on this earth more than three billion years ago.
Our Savior Jesus Christ often spoke in parables and metaphors. One metaphor was his commandment for us to forgive “seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18: 21-22). Few would believe we should keep count and when we had forgiven 490 times, we stop. Why don’t they recognize the term “thousand years” as it relates to creation, is also a metaphor?
“For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I (God) prepared all things - and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.” (D&C 104: 17).
There is much more space in the universe than stars and planets and there is more space in an atom than matter. “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).
“And worlds without number have I created; and I have created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten … But only an account of this earth and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you (Moses).
For there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them … And as one earth shall pass away and the heavens thereof, even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words.”
(PGP, Moses 1:33-35, 38)
“And Enoch said … were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, (suggesting there are millions of earths like this) it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever.” (PGP Moses 7: 29-30).
“… For I the Lord God created all things …, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.” (PGP, Moses 3: 5-9, compare Genesis 2: 5-9).
The book of Moses, was a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, translating Genesis 1:1 through 6:13, in 1830. That 1830 revelation restored important passages lost or deleted from the original Genesis manuscript; a time when the world’s knowledge of astrophysics was miniscule, compared to today.
For example, ecclesiastical and political officials of 1633 ruled Galileo a heretic, a potential capital offence; for publishing his telescope-findings that the earth orbited the sun. The religion-influenced scientific rule of the day was geocentric; believing the earth was the center of the universe. (see commentary below).
In 1924, 94-years after God revealed the book of Moses to his prophet Joseph Smith, astronomer, Dr. Edwin Hubble, looking through the then largest telescope in the world at Mount Wilson Observatory in Pasadena, California; studying nebula outside the Milky Way system; discovered that the nebula he and other astronomers identified (bodies of suspected gasses and dust), were not nebula at all; they were galaxies; each with innumerable stars and planets. Hubble published his findings in 1929; debunking the old theory that the Milky Way “was” the universe.
NASA launched a space telescope named after Dr. Hubble in 1990, 66-years after Hubble made his discovery and 160 years after the book of Moses was revealed. The Hubble Telescope (HST) has been in low orbit around the earth since 1990; taking incredible pictures of deep space. Astronauts living in the International Space Station have intercepted and upgraded the HST since the Space Station became operational in 2009.
Because of the HST, astrophysicists now know there are upwards of two trillion galaxies in the seeable universe and hundreds of billions of stars and planets in our Milky Way Galaxy. Our sun is but one of billions of stars, many with their own solar system.
NASA, in partnership with the European and Canadian space agencies, launched the incredibly complex James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) on December 25, 2021. The JWST is a hundred times more powerful than Hubble and will orbit our sun. It has a sunshield the size of a tennis court to protect it from the sun’s intense heat and light. The JWST is designed with infrared technology that allow it to see deeper into space with greater clarity and definition than possible for the HST.
Commentary – There is no difference between true religion and true science! Conflict occurs when one or both espouse doctrines or postulate theories that are false – which is often the case.
The history of most religions in the world can be characterized by ecclesiastical and political power supporting each other or being the same. The scientific method has left a boneyard of theories replaced by one more.
The shock many people will experience when they die is finding they are still alive! The only thing that died is their mortal body and their exposed false beliefs about death. (BM, 2 Nephi 28 and 29).
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Church) is the only religion on earth that comprises the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, including God’s authority and revelation needed to guide his Church on earth.
As science discovers truth, an informed unbiased observer will see harmony between scientific truth and the teachings of the Church. The HST’s remarkable discoveries about the vast expanse of the cosmos are consistent with the revelations God gave to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
God did indeed create the earth and its flora and fauna; but it was done in six creative phases of unspecified and overlapping lengths of time. Astronomers are still trying to come up with a plausible theory that cracks the conundrum of how the earth became positioned “just right” in our solar systemin so as to be protected from flying space objects and with an atmosphere where a diverse and abundant plant and animal life can grow and flourish.
Members of the “scientific community” who theorize the organization of earth’s creation and origin of the vast variety of life on earth emerged from chaos without intelligent intervention, should consider Apostle Paul’s prophesy that in the last days, people would be “Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3: 7).
Anthropologist, writer, and BYU professor, Dr. Hugh Nibley (1910-2006) said, “Every time men in their wisdom have come forth with the last word (about creation), other words have promptly
followed.”
In order for the earth to be “full, and enough and to spare” (D&C 104: 17); it took time for the right space materials with concentrations of different mineral deposits to collide with a growing earth-mass. It took time for oceans, rivers and streams to form; for plant and animal life to grow; plants in sufficient density and variety to produce earth’s massive fossil fuel deposits in numerous places. It took a lot of time to produce concentrations of vast varieties of animals, fish, birds and insects of innumerable species.
Up until the 1700s, the Catholic Church taught the geocentric theory of creation; that the earth is the center of the universe and the sun and planets orbit around it. Some religions taught God created the earth ex nihilo; out of nothing. Anyone caught opposing state-church doctrine were deemed heretics, a potential capital offence. (Appendix 2)
Nicene Christianity (Catholic) officially became the “state church” of the Roman Empire in 380AD; the Roman empire fell circa 476AD. Subsequently, national governments and their territories filled the void, each retaining the Catholic Church as their state religion; a condition where monarchies and clergy sustained each other; the clergy coronated kings and queens – implication: anyone who opposes the monarchy are fighting against God; kings and queens in-turn enforced or approved enforcement of church law, including the execution of people the church ruled to be heretics.
The Catholic church conducted “inquisitions” to forcibly control the thoughts and actions of their nation’s citizens; to root out and punish anyone who did not adhere to their doctrines and taboos. The Spanish inquisition was the last, ending in 1834.
As part of an Italian inquisition, the church found Galileo Galilei guilty of heresy in 1633 for publishing his telescope-findings that the earth orbited the sun; a finding in direct conflict with the Catholic Church’s geocentric falsity.
Galileo was sentenced to prison and torture. However, before his sentence was carried out, he was offered a lesser sentence if he would recant. Galileo publicly apologized and was sentenced to house arrest for the remainder of his life; dying ten years later. On October 31, 1991, Pope John Paul II publicly acknowledged that the church erred in condemning Galileo Gabelli.
Our premortal life - spirit children of heavenly parents – “… If you believe you existed before mortal birth and will continue to live after mortal death; that is good, because it is true. Each person has a divine heritage and destiny. … (Our) mortal life is not the totality of (our) existence.” (Dedication).
“… All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally …” (The Family, A proclamation to the world, by the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; September 23, 1995).”
“There were many meetings, conferences, councils and schooling sessions held among the Gods and their spirit offspring in our pre-mortal life. Among other things … we were taught the terms and conditions of our eternal Father in Heaven’s Plan of Salvation – we would come to mortal earth without a memory of our pre-earth life so as to gain experience and prove ourselves - whether we would (use our agency to) choose God or not.” (Apostle Bruce R. McConkie (1915-1985), Mormon Doctrine, page 163-4).
“For man is spirit. The elements are eternal and spirit and element, inseparately connected, receive a fullness of joy. And when separated, man cannot receive a fullness of joy.” (D&C 93: 33-34).
“There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but is more fine and pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes. We cannot see it, but when our bodies ae purified, we will see that it is all matter.” (D&C: 131: 7-8).
God asked Job about his premortal life: “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth (and presented his Plan of Salvation to his spirit children) … when the morning stars [female spirits] sang together and all the sons of God [male spirits] shouted for joy.” (Job 38: 4 and 7).
“Now the Lord has shown me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these were many of the noble and great ones. And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said, These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me; Abraham, thou art one of them, thou was chosen before thou were born. (PGP, Abraham 3: 22-23).
God told Jeremiah about his premortal foreordination; “Then the word of the lord came unto me saying, before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee and before thou came fourth out of the womb I sanctified thee and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jeremiah 1:4-5).
“And there stood one among them that was like unto God (Jesus Christ), and he said unto those who were with him; We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereupon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will (choose to) do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
And they who keep their first estate (premortal estate) shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate (Lucifer and his followers) shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate (mortality) shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.” (PGP, Abraham 3: 24-26; see Final judgement and Resurrection, below).
“And the lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man (Jesus Christ): Here am I, send me. And another answered (Lucifer) and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. And the second was angry and kept not his first estate; and at that day, many followed after him.” (PGP, Abraham 3: 27-28 and see below “Lucifer and his followers rebel and lose everything).
“And the angels which kept not their first estate; but left their own habitation (Lucifer and his followers), he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day.” (Jude 1:6).
During the time Jesus Christ’s mortal body was in the tomb, he “… preached to the spirits in prison.” (I Peter 3: 18-19).
“For for this cause was the Gospel preached also unto them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to men in the spirit.” (I Peter: 4: 6).
“I observed that they (prophets, apostles and other righteous people who had lived previously on earth) were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God. Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.
I beheld that the faithful elders (and sisters) of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.
The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God (Temples). And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions and washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation.
Thus, was the vision of the redemption of the dead revealed to me, and I bear record, and I know this record is true, through the blessing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, even so, Amen.” (D&C 138: 56-60).
“And his disciples asked him (Jesus Christ), saying, who sinned, this man (in the premortal world) or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered; Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him … (then Jesus Christ opened the eyes of the blind man). (John 9: 2-41).
Commentary – Under our Father in Heaven’s Plan, every person who has ever lived in mortality will have the opportunity to hear the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and use their agency to choose - whether to accept it or not. They will hear it either in mortality or the world of spirits (see below, After mortal death – world of spirits – Gospel preached).
Our memory of our premortal life will not be restored until our resurrection; when the elements of our mortal body and our spirit body are inseparately reunited and we are assigned to our eternal world of abode based on our desires and the life we chose.
Agency of man – critical to God; and to us – In the premortal world, Lucifer sought to take away our God-given agency to make our own choices: “… Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God had given him, and also that I give unto him mine own power, by the power of the Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down (to earth); … ” (PGP, Moses 4: 3, also Revelations 12: 7-9).
“And they (all) are free to choose liberty and eternal life through the great Mediator of all men (Jesus Christ); or to choose captivity and death according to the captivity of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” (BM, 2 Nephi 2: 27).
“For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare, yea, I prepared all things and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.” (D&C 104: 17).
“For behold, I God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not (choose to) repent, they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit – and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink – Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. Wherefore, I command you again to repent …” (D&C 19: 16-20, Luke 22: 42-44).
Commentary - Many men and women were foreordained or fore-designated in the pre-mortal world to come to mortal earth at a specified time and place to accomplish tasks that further God’s purposes. A veil was placed over our mind at birth, so that we do not remember our premortal life. Thus, mortality is a fair proving ground; “And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.” (PGP, Abraham 3:25).
However, If it is God involved in the detail of our life; no one is compelled to act; it is always our choice. We are commanded to use our agency to repent, but it is still our choice; different consequences will result, whichever choice we make.
Today, people can choose from hundreds of versions pf Christianity. However, only one can be true. The Apostle Paul said, “One Lord, one faith and one baptism” (Ephesians 4: 5).
He described the structure and purpose of Jesus Christ’s church this way, “And he gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; - - Till we all come to a unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man; unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. - - That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” (Ephesians 4: 11-14). (Appendix 2).
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only Christian church with prophets and twelve living apostles at its head!
Lucifer and his followers’ rebel against God and loose everything – “And I, the Lord God spoke unto Moses, saying; That Satan … is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying – ‘Behold, here am I. send me, I will be thy (only begotten) son, and I will redeem all mankind, that not one soul will be lost, and surely, I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor. But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me, Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever. Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I the Lord God had given him, and also that I should give unto him mine own power, by the power of my Only Begotten, I caused that he (and his followers) should be cast down (to earth); And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken to my voice” (Moses 4: 1-4).
“And the lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man (Jesus Christ): Here am I, send me. And another answered (Lucifer) and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. And the second was angry and kept not his first estate; and at that day, many followed after him.” (PGP, Abraham 3: 27-28).
“And there was war in heaven: Michael (the premortal Adam, D&C 107: 54) and his angels fought against the dragon (Lucifer); and the dragon fought and his angels (followers), and prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. … and Satan which deceiveth the whole world (and his followers) were cast out into the earth.” (Revelations 12: 7-9).
“And his tail drew a third part of the stars of heaven (a part of unspecified numbers that followed Lucifer) and did cast them to the earth. (Revelations 12:4).
“… for behold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me saying; Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also, a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency. And they were thrust down and thus came the devil and his angels.” (D&C 29: 36-37).
“And the angels that kept not their first estate (Lucifer and followers), but have left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day.” (Jude 1: 6)
“And they that keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate (Lucifer aka Satan, Devil, Serpent and his followers) shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate (the period of time that includes mortality and the world of spirits that immediately follows mortal death) shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.” (PGP, Abraham 3:26). (We will go to one of three degrees of glory; Celestial, Terrestrial or Telestial – see Final abode, below).
“And it came to pass that when Moses had said these words, behold, Satan came tempting him … and commanded, saying I am the Only Begotten, worship me … Moses (said) Depart from me …” (PGP, Moses 1: 12-22).
“For behold at that day shall rage in the hears of the children of men and stir them up to anger against that which is good (Lucifer during the last days). And others he will pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say … all is well … and thus, the devil cheateth their souls and leadeth them away carefully down to hell. And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them, there is no hell, and he saith unto them; I am no devil, for there is none – and thus he whispereth in their ears until he grasps them with his awful chains, from which there is no deliverance.” (2 Nephi 28: 20-23).
Lucifer’s stealth, as stated by British author and theologian, C.S. Lewis (1898-1963): “Indeed the safest road to hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
Regarding people who do not do as Jesus Christ commanded, and ask, seek and knock; C.S. Lewis’s devil character, Screwtape, said to his nephew, Wormwood, “It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: when our best work is done by keeping things out.”
Lucifer and his followers knew Jesus Christ and his mission before they rebelled against God and lost their first estate; “… there met him (Jesus Christ) two (men) possessed with devils … And behold they (the devils) cried out, saying, what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus, thou Son of God? Art, thou come hither to torment us before the (Second Coming) time?” (Matthew 8: 28-29).
“… and because he had fallen from heaven and had become miserable forever, he sought the misery of all mankind.” (BM, 2 Nephi 2: 18).
“Wherefore, men (and women) 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 mediator 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. (BM, 2 Nephi 2: 27).
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations … For thou hast said in thine heart, I ascend into heaven, will exalt my throne above the stars of God … I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shall be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee, shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying is this the man that made the earth to tremble, and did shake kingdoms? (Isaiah 14: 12-16).
Commentary - All people born into mortality kept their first estate. In the premortal world, we were free to accept or reject our Father in Heaven’s Plan of Salvation and His selection of Jesus Christ, (who had volunteered) to be Our Father in Heaven’s Only Begotten Son – to bear unimaginable pain to pay the price for the sins and transgressions of all those who would repent. (D&C 19: 16-20). And made possible the resurrection of all. (see Resurrection, below and 1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
The war that Lucifer and his followers started in premortal world has not ended. However, the location of the conflict has changed to earth, where it has taken on the additional dimension available in mortality; where Lucifer and his followers have enormous influence to persuade people to do evil; pride, power, greed; despotic rulers, horendous wars, modern-day “Gadianton Robbers” who incite leaders of governments, institutions and families to stay in power by using everything at their disposal; murder, fear, lies, bribes, obfuscation, etc. (BM, Helaman 6: 18–41).
“Third part” means there were at least three “parts;” divisions or classifications of (spirit) people in our premortal world. The number of spirits in each classification is unspecified. The group that followed Lucifer is termed a “third part.” Albeit, some readers of those two scriptures have overlooked the term “part” and essentially assert that precisely 33 1/3 percent of the hosts of heaven followed Lucifer. The scriptures do not reveal/define who were included in the first and second “parts.” However, the first part could have been those born on mortal earth (The same earth where rebellious Lucifer and his followers were dispatched). The second part may be people to be born with mortal bodies on other earths, free from Lucifer’s influence, but for whom Jesus Christ’s redeeming sacrifice applies.
All those who accepted our Father in Heaven’s Plan of Salvation in the premortal world, kept their “first estate” and will or have already come to earth at different times and places; their bounds of habitation based on merit or God’s will. As the Apostle Paul said, “God … hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth (all colors of skin and ethnicity), and hath determined the times, before appointed (in our premortal world) and the bounds of their habitation.” (Acts, 17:24-26).
All who are born into mortality will be eventually resurrected with a corporeal, immortal body of flesh, bone and spirit. “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15: 21-23, 29).
Lucifer and all of the people that followed him in his rebellion against our Father in Heaven, lost their “first estate” and therefore are not subject to Jesus Christ’s redeeming sacrifice. They will remain forever as spirits; sons of perdition who will never receive a body of flesh and bone to house their spirit; never being able to receive “a fullness of joy.” (D&C 76: 32)
Creeds – non-scripture attempts to define the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Appendix 2) – When the boy Joseph Smith went into the grove of trees near Palmyra, New York in April, 1820 - to pray and ask God which church he should join; our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ appeared. “… I was answered that I must join none … their creeds were an abomination in his sight … they teach for doctrines, the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (PGP, Joseph Smith – History 1: 10-20).
Today, almost all of the hundreds of Christian denominations in the world have adopted one or more of three similar creeds as their doctrinal definition of our Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost: Nicene, Athanasian and Apostles Creeds. Leaders of such Christian denominations often call their creeds the “Trinity” and “Traditional Christianity.”
The Nicene Creed is the oldest of the three creeds and was likely the pattern for the other two. It was authorized by pagan Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (272-337) in 325AD.
Constantine holds a unique place in history. The Roman empire had been persecuting Christians since 64AD, a time when Roman Emperor Nero ordered their arrest, confiscation of property, burning of scriptures and records and killing Christians in the arenas for sport.
Nero had made the relatively small number of believers in Jesus Christ, a scapegoat for allegedly diverting attention from his own arson; the burning of the city of Rome. Succeeding emperors continued such persecution until Constantine, 248 years later.
Constantine become a public advocate for Christianity in 312AD, albeit, he did not renounce his pagan beliefs. He was fighting a civil war when he announced he had a dream wherein he saw a cross in sunlit clouds with the words “In this sign, conquer.” Constantine immediately ordered the sign of the cross painted on his soldiers shields and vestments and won the battle at Milvian Bridge.
With his victory and military behind him, Emperor Constantine immediately changed Christianity from being a persecuted religion to one of privilege; operating under his management and control.
One of the political challenges Constantine faced in taking such action was convincing his principally pagan citizenry; Plato and Aristotle cultures that worshiped multiple gods; to accept his decrees supporting Christians. He obviously felt that unifying his empire under s common definition of God would be key; a creed, written so broadly, it could be acceptable to Christian and pagan.
The Nicene Creed was crafted in 325AD by a council of fewer that 300 Catholic Bishops meeting in the Greek city of Nicaea (now, Iznik, Turkey). Constantine called, financed and presided over the council.
Constantine had invited all of the 1,800 Bishops scattered across the vast Roman empire to attend; many of whom he had effectively appointed. However, his invitation was obviously not required, because only a small fraction of the Bishops came. As a practical matter, any number attending would have been acceptable to Constantine, because he was presiding and he would get what he wanted in any case. He obviously wanted a broadly-written (confusing) creed defining God, the Father Son and Holy Ghost. The council studied and debated for about four weeks before settling on the words of a creed they named Nicene.
The language of that Creed stood until it was revised by a council that met in Constantinople in 381AD (Constantine named the city after himself in 324AD; informally calling it “New Rome”). The Constantinople council made editorial revisions to the original creed but kept the name; “Nicene.”
The revised Nicene Creed states in part; “One Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father … is of the essence of the Father; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father.”
The Athanasian Creed was ostensibly taken from the writings of Athanasius of Alexandria (died 373 AD). The Athanasian creed did not begin to receive general acceptance in the Catholic Church until the beginning of the sixth century. The Apostles Creed found general acceptance a century later.
One Christian scholar wrote, “Question: What is God? Answer: God is a spirit, eternal, independent, infinite, and immutable, who is present everywhere, who seeth all things and governs the universe. Question: Why do you say he is a spirit? Answer: Because he is a supreme intelligence, who has neither body, nor figure, nor color and who cannot fall under the senses. (Rev. P. Collot, Doctrine and Scriptural Catechism).
Historian James L. Barker said, “These creeds, and the term “trinity” are not found in biblical scripture. They were largely influenced by the beliefs of the pagan cultures, Plato and Aristotle.”
(Apostasy from the Devine Church, page 229.)
Christians of all denominations owe Constantine a debt of gratitude for ordering a search for Christian writings (likely handwritten copies of copies), that survived two centuries of Roman persecution and destruction. He directed that the surviving scriptures be authenticated and compiled into what would become the New Testament. Constantine had 50 Bibles written in Greek in 331AD and distributed to the bishops in Constantinople.
Unfortunately, the New Testament only contains a fraction of the letters written by the Apostles and other credible authors. It is highly improbable that “… not more than four accounts of the life of the Savior was written; only one brief and incomplete account of the activities of the Apostles; that Paul did not write more than thirteen letters, Peter more than two, James more than one, or John more than three and The Revelation; Jude a very short letter and the rest of the apostles wrote none.” (James L. Barker, Apostasy from the Devine Church, page 12).
In 380AD, then Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius and the two co-Western Roman Emperors Valentinian and Gratian issued the Edict of Thessalonica Valentinian; making “Nicene Christianity” the state religion of the Roman empire. The edict specified that all subjects of the Empire were to profess the faith of the Bishops in Rome and Alexandria – authorizing punishment of non-believers and prohibition of pagan icons and rituals.
Catholic priest, Jerome, completed translation of the Holy Bible into Latin in 382AD. Subsequently, all Catholic Church services were conducted in Latin. The Catholic Church prohibited anyone, except church leaders, from reading, interpreting or possessing the Holy Bible or any part of it. Translation of the Holy Bible into any language was strictly prohibited’ offenders were deemed heretics.
The Roman Empire fell in 476AD. However, the Catholic Church survived during the Middle or Dark Ages as the state religion of each of many European and eastern monarchies that eventually filled the void. Most of these state-religions conducted “inquisitions” to find and punish anyone who opposed the Catholic doctrines. Those found guilty were charged with heresy, a capital offence with punishment often carried out by secular authority – many “heretics” were burned at the stake. The Reformation started circa 1500AD. (Encyclopedia Britannica - Alliance between church and state – Constantine the Great; and Appendix 2).
The Catholic church started by Roman Emperor Constantine in 312AD, split in 1053AD; the Roman Catholic Church headquartered in Rome on the west and on the east, the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church, then headquartered in Constantinople. The split, known as the Great Schism, resulted in the leaders of the two religions excommunicating each other.
The Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church never accepted the Athanasian and Apostles Creeds. It only accepts as doctrine, the Nicene Creed that was revised by the Constantinople Council in 381AD.
Commentary – The non-scriptural Nicene Creed certainly had the approval of Emperor Constantine. But, based on Jesus Christ’s evaluation that he gave to his boy-prophet, Joseph Smith; all of the creeds were an “abomination.” The creeds presented a description of Deity that not only failed to accurately describe our Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, the creeds essentially dismissed the personal attributes and relationships of each member of Deity; their individual immortal body of flesh and bone; gender, passions, fatherhood or motherhood - literal family and children.
How people envision, mental image, of the God they worship often determines how they view themselves and the way of life they choose. If your mental image of God is a glorified person, you will strive for that; “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5: 48).
Constantine was more concerned about his empire and preserving his position as emperor than trying to find and preserve the pristine Gospel of Jesus Christ. His primary objective in calling the council at Nicaea was clearly self-serving; an effort to unify his empire under one religion with a common definition of god.
He undoubtedly appointed himself to preside over the council at Nicaea, because he wanted to control the outcome; to make sure the creed would be broad and imprecise enough to be acceptable the multi-god pagan supermajority of his empire.
On the other hand, Constantine had one huge accomplishment. He gave public legitimacy to all versions of Christian belief to a pagan world - that would last for millennia.
It is apparent that Pagan Constantine was inspired by God to preserve the name and idea of Jesus Christ. Such inspiration was similar to that of pagan Persian Emperor Cyrus (circa 590-529BC) who Isaiah (740-701BC) had prophesied about, by name, a century and a half before Cyrus lived. He said that Cyrus would preserve the Jews and aid them in rebuilding their Temple in Jerusalem (Isaiah 44: 28 and 45:1).
Because of Constantine keeping the name and idea of Jesus Christ alive; when God inspired the founding of United States of America, based on principles of freedom, fifteen centuries later - there was sufficient freedom and knowledge of Jesus Christ for the restoration of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to find footing and survive. (Appendix 5)
Fall of Adam and Eve - mortality begins – “And there stood one among them that was like unto God (Jesus Christ), and he said unto those who were with him; We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereupon these may dwell;
And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will (choose to) do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; And they who keep their first estate (our premortal world) shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate (Lucifer and his followers) shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate (our mortal life) shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.” (PGP, Abraham 3: 24-26; see Final judgement and Resurrection, below).
And I, God said unto my Only Begotten, which was with me from the beginning; Lets us make man in our image, after our likeness; and it was so. (PGP, Moses 2: 26).
“Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam …” (The term “man,” as used in the scriptures, is generally generic, means man and woman). (Geneses 5:2).
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat; for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2: 16-17).
“And … she (Eve) took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her and he did eat.” (PGP, Moses 4:12 and Genesis 3: 6).
“And behold if Adam had not transgressed, he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the Garden of Eden. And all things … must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created … and they would have no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. But behold all things have been done in the wisdom of him that knoweth all things.” (BM, 2 Nephi 2: 22-24).
“Adam fell that man might be and men are that they might have joy.” (BM, 2 Nephi: 2:25).
“And … Adam (said), Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened and, in this life, I will have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God. (PGP, Moses 5: 10).
“And Eve … (said), Were it not for our transgression, we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.” (Moses 5: 11)
“God that made the world and all things therein … And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth (all skin colors and ethnicity), and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.” (God determined when and where we would be born on mortal earth while we were living in our premortal world). (Acts 17: 24 -26).
“For in him, we live and move and have our being, as certain also your own poets have said; For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” (Acts 17: 28-29).
“And the Messiah cometh in the fullness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because they were redeemed from the fall, they have become free forever, knowing good from evil, to act for themselves and not be acted upon; save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments 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 Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeks that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” (BM, 2 Nephi 2: 26-27).
“For behold this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God, yea, the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. …I beseech of you that you do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; … Ye cannot say when ye are brought to that awful crisis that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay ye cannot say this; for the same spirit which possesses your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.” (BM, Alma 34: 32-36).
“For God sent not his son to condemn the world; but the world through him might be saved.” (John 3: 17). “Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me. (BM, Mosiah 26: 30).
Commentary - We live on earth without memory of our pre-mortal life. God placed a veil over our mind at birth. When our mortal body dies, we (our spirit) separate from our lifeless mortal body; analogous to removing a lifeless glove from a living hand. (see below, After death, world of spirits).
God has prepared our mortality to be an abundantly fair proving ground. Under our Father in Heaven’s Plan, we are free to make our own choices depending upon our desires; free of any influence from our premortal experiences and relationships.
What greater evidence of our premortal life is there than what we see around us almost every day. Everyone is different, even people from the same family. Each has a somewhat unique appearance, disposition and personality. Why? It is a carryover from our premortal life as spirit children of heavenly parents.
Blood was introduced into our bodies when Adam and Eve, still immortal, ate the fruit that caused a chemical reaction in their mortal bodies; blood, not a spiritual substance, coursed through their veins. Thus, their mortal body would “surely die.”
“Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God …” (1 Corinthians 15:47-52). However, the resurrected bodies of flesh, bone and spirit (no blood), like Jesus Christ (Luke 24: 39), can and will inherit the Kingdom of God; and receive a “fullness of joy.”
Atonement of Jesus Christ – eternal life for those who desire and repent – The atonement of Jesus Christ “is the most important event in world history. Under the Father’s great eternal Plan, it is the Savior (Jesus Christ) who suffered. It is the Savior who broke the bonds of death. It is the Savior who paid the price for our sins and transgressions and blots them out on condition of our repentance. It is the Savior who delivers us from physical and spiritual death. (It is the Savior who made it possible for us to) live with hope in this life and gain eternal life (life with God) in the world to come.” (God’s prophet, Russell M. Nelson, General Conference, April 2017)
Jesus Christ, volunteered to redeem mankind: “But behold my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me – Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever (PGP, Moses 4: 1-4).
In the Garden of Gethsemane, “(Jesus Christ) … kneeled down and prayed, Saying Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22: 39-44).
On the cross at Golgotha: “he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost.” (John: 19:30). “I have finished the work which thou gave me to do.” (John 17: 4)
The prophet Helaman (circa 30BC): “… remember to keep the commandments of God … remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ … remember he cometh to redeem … his people … not to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins … - - remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation - - that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, - - it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless woe, because of the rock upon which ye are built (Jesus Christ), which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fail.” (BM, Helaman 5: 6-12)
A vision given to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in 1832: “And now after the many testimonies which we have been given of him (Jesus Christ), 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, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters of God.” (D&C 76: 22-24)
Elijah restores sealing power – Eternal marriage and other Temple ordinances - “Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers, least I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4: 5-6 and 3 Nephi 25: 5-6; 26: 1-2).
“… Elijah the prophet … , stood before us, (April 3, 1836 - the time of the Passover) and said: Behold the time has fully come which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi – testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent , before the great and dreadful day of the Lord (the Second Coming of Jesus Christ). To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, least the whole earth be smitten with a curse – Therefore the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands ...” (D&C 110: 13-16 – and Appendix 5).
“He (angel Moroni) … quoted the next verse (Malachi 4: 6) differently: And he (Elijah) shall plant in the hearts of the children, the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming (Second coming of Jesus Christ).” Joseph Smith – History 1:39).
Elijah also returned to earth on the “Mount of Transfiguration;” to confer the sealing authority on Peter James and John; who, in turn, conferred it on the other apostles. (Matthew 17: 1-11).
Jesus Christ described the sealing authority to his 12 Apostles this way, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18: 18).
“Following Elijah’s appearance in 1836 (and conferring the sealing power to bind in Heaven all ordinances performed on earth), Temple construction and genealogical research became a priority for the Church. Jesus Christ directed Joseph Smith and succeeding prophets to begin an aggressive program of building Temples, sacred edifices where His saving ordinances could be performed and covenants made. (D&C 124: 27-28).
He directed Church members to perform their own Temple ordnances, then perform genealogical research to identify their ancestors; take their authenticated vital statics to the Temple and by proxy, perform the critical ordinances on their behalf. Ordinances and covenants that include marriage for time and eternity for the living - and for the dead, proxy ordinances of baptism, marriage and the sealing children to parents.
Today, there are over 200 beautiful, generally architecturally-different, Temples that are either operating, under renovation or announced in cities and countries across the globe where there is sufficient Church membership and adequate religious freedom.
(Since Elijah came,) millions of people, young and old, have an innate desire to do genealogical research for the vital statistics of their progenitors; and, to the extent information is available, assemble life histories of the times, character and persona of their progenitors – and writing their own biographies.” (see Preface - It helps Elijah’s mission).
After mortal death - world of spirits – Gospel preached - “There is no such thing as death in the sense of annihilation, in the sense that matter ceases to exist or that living things cease to have a conscious identity. Mortal or temporal death was introduced with the fall of Adam and Eve. It is merely a change from one status or sphere of existence to another – the body returns to the elements from which it was crested and the spirit goes to the world of spirits to await the resurrection.” (Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, page 184)
“Now concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection – Behold it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then it shall come to pass that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from their troubles and from all care and sorrow. … the spirits of the wicked (those who have not have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or chose wickedness when they lived in mortality) … for behold they have chosen evil works rather than good … (they) shall remain in a state of misery (termed prison) … and thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of the resurrection.” (BM, Alma 40: 11 – 14).
“For Christ once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit; by which he also went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” (I Peter 3: 18-19)
“For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh but live according to God in the spirit.” (I Peter 4: 6)
“…The Lord (Jesus Christ) went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them (During the three days his body was in the tomb); But from the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority; and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead. …
Foreshadowing the great work to be done in the temples of the Lord in the dispensation of the fullness of times, for the redemption of the dead, and the sealing of the children to their parents …
Thus, was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets. These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (D&C, 138: 11 – 60).
“And he (the thief on the cross) said unto Jesus, Lord. Remember me when thou come into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, today shall thou be with me in paradise (more accurately translated ‘world of spirits’). (Luke 23: 39-43).
Lazarus and the rich man parable; “There was a rich man … and there was a beggar named Lazarus … (Lazarus) died, and was carried to Abraham’s bosom; the rich man also died … And in hell he lift his eyes, being in torments, and seeing Abraham afar off, and Lazarus … he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus … (bring) water … for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, … remember … in thy lifetime (you) received good things, and Lazarus evil … and besides … between us and you there is a great gulf fixed (the divide between paradise and prison in the world of spirits – Jesus Christ’s redeeming sacrifice that was yet to come, bridged the gulf and started the process of teaching the spirits in prison – see above) … (thus, those) which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us … (The rich man then pleaded) please send him (Lazarus) to my father’s house; for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them; least they also come into this place of torment. Abraham said … They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them … (The rich man responded) Nay Father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. (Abraham replied), if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 13: 19-31).
“… the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell … he has also said that the righteous shall set down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the blood of the lamb.” (BM, Alma 34: 36)
Commentary - Immediately after our mortal body dies, we all go to the world of spirits with only the memory of our experiences in mortal life; with no direct memory of our premortal life.
Under our Father in Heaven’s Plan of Happiness, every person who has ever lived in mortality will have the opportunity to hear the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and use their agency to choose - whether to accept it or not. If they do not hear his pristine Gospel in mortality, they will hear it in the world of spirits. People in Paradise will teach the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to those in prison.
The memory of our premortal life will not be restored until our resurrection; when the elements of our mortal body and our spirit body are inseparately reunited and we are assigned to our world of glory. (see Final Judgement, Resurrection and Final abode, below).
Second Coming of Jesus Christ – Forty days following his resurrection, Jesus Christ and his 11 apostles were on the Mount of Olives – it was time for our Savior to leave mortal earth: “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, 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: 9-11 and Appendix 5).
“For behold the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch (ancestors or posterity).” (Malachi 4: 1)
“… But of that day and hour (of Jesus Christ’s Second Coming) knoweth no man, no, not the angels in heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24: 36).
Lucifer and his followers knew Jesus Christ and his mission in the premortal world when they rebelled against God and lost their first estate; “… there met him (Jesus Christ) two (men) possessed with devils … And behold they (the devils) cried out, saying, what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus, thou Son of God? Art, thou come hither to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8: 28-29).
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens will pass away with great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up … what manner of persons ought ye to be … Looking for … the coming of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved? Nevertheless, we, according to the promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3: 10-18).
Nine key events that must occur before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ:
1. General apostasy from the Church of Jesus Christ – Done; by circa 100AD, the last of the Apostles and their successors had been killed or taken (Christian churches generally believe the Holy Bible contains all of God’s revelations): “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ … that ye should not be … troubled … as that day of Christ (Second Coming) is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there be a falling away first (general apostacy from the Church of Jesus Christ) and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (Lucifer).” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 and Appendix 2).
2. The Church of Jesus Christ and the fullness of his Gospel must be restored – Done; it began when our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ appeared to their boy prophet Joseph Smith in 1820: “Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which was before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3: 19-21).
Wherefore, the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near to me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” (Isaiah 29: 13-14).
3. The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, must be translated and published – Done; the first edition was published March 26, 1830: “And the word of the Lord came unto me saying, Moreover thou son of man take the one stick (papyrus scroll) and write upon it for Judah and for the children of Israel his companions (Holy Bible); and take another stick and write upon it for Joseph, the stick of Ephraim (The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ) and for all the house of Israel his companions. And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall be one in thy hand. … Thus, saith the Lord God; Behold I will take the stick of Joseph which is in the hand of Ephraim … and will put them with … the stick of Judah and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.” (Ezekiel 37: 15-20).
(Speaking of an ancient civilization in the new world that is held in the same esteem as Ariel aka, Jerusalem): And thou shall be brought down, and speak out of the ground (the buried record written on gold plates from which the Prophet Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ), and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be as one that that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust. … And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men (Martin Harris) deliver to one that is learned (Professor Charles Anthon), saying read this I pray thee; and he sayeth, I cannot, for it sealed. And the book is delivered to him that is not learned (Prophet Joseph Smith) saying read this I pray thee; and he sayeth, I am not learned … And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek shall also increase their joy in the Lord and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 29: 4, 11-12 and 18-19 and Appendix 5).
4. Elijah must return – Done; it happened on the Passover, April 3, 1836: “… Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord (The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be a great time for the righteous; dreadful for the wicked): And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, least I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4: 5-6 and Preface - Elijah’s mission).
“… And he (Elijah) shall plant the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.” (Joseph Smith – History 1: 38-39).
And after this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet … stood before us, and said; Behold the time has fully come which was spoken by the mouth of Malachi – testifying that he (Elijah) should be sent before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come - to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, least the whole earth be smitten with a curse … Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands.” (D&C 110: 13-16, “above: Elijah restores sealing power” and Appendix 5).
5.The fullness of the Gospel must be preached throughout the world – In-process; “And the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (or the destruction of the wicked). (Matthew 24:14).
For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fullness of the Gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this [power, by the administration of the Comforter (Holy Ghost), shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (D&C 90: 11).
Ever since the Church of Jesus Christ was restored in the early 1800s, “the missionary effort has increased until now tens of thousands of missionaries (generally volunteering to serve two-year, full-time missions) preach the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in many countries (in the country’s own language) … Before the Second Coming and during the Millennium, the Lord will provide ways to bring the truth to all nations (There are many state-religion countries today that by their law prohibit proselyting. One day the Lord will cause those barriers to come down).” (Gospel Principles, Chapter 43).
6.Lehi’s descendants will prosper – In-process: “But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose.” (D&C 49” 24).
There are presently over 5-million members of the Church in Mexico and Latin America who are receiving all of the blessings of the Gospel, including Temple ordinances.
7.New Jerusalem will be built – Has not happened yet: “… (they) will build a city, which shall be called New Jerusalem.” (3 Nephi 21: 23-25). “And righteousness will I send down out of heaven and truth will I send fourth out of the earth, to bear testimony of my Only Begotten … to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth unto a place which I shall prepare an Holy City … and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem … and for the space of a thousand years, the earth shall rest.” (PGP, Moses 7: 62-64).
“Yea, the word of the Lord … for the gathering of the saints … which shall be in the city of New Jerusalem … Which city shall be built … in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri …” (D&C 84: 2-3).
8. Evil must reach an apex: “And in that day, shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion; and men’s hearts shall fail them … And the love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound … but my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die. And there shall be earthquakes also in diverse places and many desolations; yet men will harden their hearts against me and they will take the sword one against another, and they will kill one another … Before the day of the Lord shall come, the sun will be darkened and the moon turned into blood and the stars fall from heaven … and the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations.” (D&C 45: 26-75 and 88: 84-91).
“… for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations.” (D&C 52: 14)
9. Seismic changes must occur: “And he (Jesus Christ) shall utter his voice out of Zion, and he shall speak from Jerusalem, and his voice shall be heard among all people; And it shall be a voice as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder, which shall break down the mountains, and the valleys shall not be found. He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries, and the islands shall become one land; - - And the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, - - and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided. - - And the Lord, even the Savior, shall stand in the midst of his people, and shall reign over all flesh.” (D&C 133: 21-25).
The earth was originally one continent - “And unto Eber were born two sons; the name of one was Peleg for in his days the earth was divided.” (Genesis 10: 25, 1 Chronicles 1:19).
“German meteorologist and geophysicist Alfred Wegner (1880-1930) was first to formulate the complete statement on the continental drift hypothesis (termed Pangea – unrelated to scriptural references); one supercontinent incorporating almost all of the landmass on earth; breaking apart (plate tectonics) that he said happened about 200 million years ago. There are many maps showing how continents may have fit together before they were divided. (Encyclopedia Britannica).
“For I will reveal myself from heaven with power and great glory … and dwell in righteousness with men on earth a thousand years, and the wicked shall not stand.” (D&C 29: 11)
Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill shall be made low …And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed; and all flesh shall see it together …” (Isaiah 40: 4-5).
The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ will be, “… in the beginning of the seven thousand years … (D&C 77: 12 and 6).
Commentary – When Jesus Christ came to earth the first time, the premortal creator of the universe, the great I AM and Only Begotten Son of our Father in Heaven, was born in a manger, meek and lowly; coming into a wicked world to do his Father’s will.
When he comes the Second time, he will come in his full majesty, with power and glory, destroying the wicked and changing the geology and geography of the planet into a single landmass or continent; as it was in the days of Adam and Eve - and usher-in a thousand years of peace during which time temple ordinance work will be completed, by proxy, for all of the dead, and prior to the final judgement and resurrection of all men and women and assignment to their eternal abode.
Millennium – Terrestrial realm - Records in heaven opened – Temple ordnances –
“… This earth, according to divine plan, is passing through a mortal or temporal existence of seven millenniums or 7,000 years. During the first six of these (… 6,000-years from the fall of Adam and Eve), conditions of carnality, corruption, evil, and wickedness of every sort have prevailed upon the earth. Wars, death, destruction and everything incident to the present telestial state of existence having held sway over the earth and all life on its face. (At the beginning of the 7th thousand years) … radical changes will take place both in the earth itself and in the nature and type of existence enjoyed by all forms of life on its face. This will be the long hoped for age of peace when Christ will reign personally on the earth; when the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory; when corruption, death and disease will cease; and when the kingdom of God on earth will be fully established in all its glory, beauty and perfection. This is the period known to the saints of all ages as the Millennium. Important events and conditions will precede, attend and follow the Millennium … .” (Apostle Bruce R. McConkie (1915-1985), Mormon Doctrine, page 492 - He describes 18, a few of which are referenced herein).
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4).
“There will be two great works for the members of the Church during the Millennium: temple work and missionary work. Temple work involves the ordinances that are necessary for exaltation … baptism … the Gift of the Holy Ghost … the endowment, temple marriage and the sealing together the of family units … People on the earth must perform these ordinances (for all those who have died without receiving) them. This work is now being performed in temples of the Lord. There is too much work to finish before the Millennium begins, so it will be completed during (the Millennium. (The books kept in heaven will be opened) - Resurrected beings will help correct the mistakes (mortals) have made doing their research … They will also help find information (needed) to complete (the work for all others who have died). … all living at least a terrestrial law … (of) honesty, uprightness, and integrity will be able to abide the day of the Lord’s coming, there will be … (people of all religions and persuasions) on earth during the Millennium (to which missionaries will teach the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ).” (Joseph Fielding Smith, [1876-1972], Doctrines of Salvation).
“Missionary work (will) be a little different (from today, because) Christ will “reign personally upon the earth” ,,, all people on the earth will come to (see and) know who He is. Eventually there will be no need to teach others the first principles of the gospel because “they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord.” (Jerimiah 31:32, Gospel Principles manual chapter 45).
“We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, the earth will be renewed and received its paradisiacal glory.” (PGP, Articles of Faith 10).
The Lord Jesus Christ will usher in the Millennium at his Second Coming; “… the beginning of the seven thousand years …” (D&C 77: 12 and 6).
“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed for a little season.” (Revelations 20: 1-3).
“Wherefore children shall grow up until they become old; old men shall die; but they shall not sleep in the dust, but they shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye.” (D&C 63:51).
“And the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years (Millennium) were finished …” (Revelation 20: 5 and Resurrection, below).
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind … and … weeping shall be no more heard in (Jerusalem), nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more hence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his day; for the child shall die a hundred years old …” (Isaiah 65: 17-20).
“Yeah, verily I say unto you, in that day when the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all things— Things which have passed, and hidden things which no man knew, things of the earth, by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereof— Things most precious, things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven.” (D&C 101: 32-34)
“We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.” (Excerpt from The Living Christ, The Testimony of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; January 1, 2000).
Commentary – Mary Kay asserted that the “beginning” of the seventh thousand years could mean any time between 2000 and 2500. But she quickly emphasized that we should be less concerned about when the Second Coming and Millennium occurs than we are about whether we are striving to keep all of God’s commandments at the time of our death - “do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end.” (BM, Alma 34: 32-34).
Final judgement – “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelations 20: 12-15).
“… to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body.” (BM, Alma 5: 15).
“And every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given un to him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.” (D&C 101: 78).
“There is a law, irrevocably declared in heaven before the foundation of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated – and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” (D&C 130: 20-21)
“For behold this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; … this life is the day for men to perform their labors … therefore … do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor preformed.
Ye cannot say when ye are brought to that awful crisis that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay ye cannot say this; for the same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. For behold if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his, therefore, the spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.” (Alma 34: 32-35).
Commentary - The first death is the physical death of the mortal body. The second is a spiritual death; forever separated from the light and truth of God.
Hell is sometimes described as when the person we have become meets the person we could have been. Thankfully, because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can have our sins and transgressions blotted out, free from the past wrongdoings - if we seek and find the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, repent, forgive and strive to keep all of God’s commandments, covenants and ordinances. “Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me. And ye shall also forgive one another …” (BM, Mosiah 26: 30-31).
Resurrection: immortal bodies of flesh, bone and spirit – “The resurrection is the (creation) of an immortal soul; it is an event wherein the elements of the mortal body which has died with the (elements of the) immortal spirit is in-separately connected throughout the balance of eternity; in a state of incorruption – no longer subject to physical aging and death that we experienced in our mortal bodies.” (Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, page 637).
Jesus Christ appearing to 10 of his apostles following his resurrection: “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them; why are ye troubled and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet that is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. … and they gave him a piece of boiled fish and honeycomb …and he did eat before them.” (Luke 24: 36-43).
“But Thomas, one of the twelve … was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples (Apostles) said unto him; We have seen the Lord - Thomas said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20: 24-25).
“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and Jesus stood in their midst, as said, Peace be unto you. Then saith to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John: 20:26-29).
The resurrected Lord walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus - they did not recognize him until; “… their eyes were opened and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us … and opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24: 13-35).
“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose. And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27: 52-53).
“… heard a voice … Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name – hear ye him … (and) they saw a man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe, and he came down and stood in the midst of them … Behold, I am Jesus Christ who the prophets testified shall come into the world. Arise and come forth unto me and that ye may thrust your hand into my side and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet that ye may know that I am the God of Israel and the God of the whole earth and have been slain for the sins of the world … and when they had all gone forth and witnessed for themselves … they cried out … Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the most high God! And they fell down at the feet of Jesus and did worship him.” (BM, 3 Nephi 11: 3-17).
Verily, I say unto you … that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were many saints who should arise from the dead and should appear unto many … was it not so? (3 Nephi 23: 9).
“Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it shall rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life, through his diligence and obedience than another, he (man or woman) will have so much the advantage in the world to come. (D&C 130: 18-19).
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and became the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man (Adam and Eve) came death, by man (Jesus Christ) came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive … Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they baptized for the dead?” (I Corinthians 15: 21-23 and 29).
“… and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For the corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality … Oh death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ... But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 15: 52 and 57).
“… all that are in the graves shall hear his voice. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John: 5: 28-29).
“And many of them (all) that slept in the dust of the earth shall awake, some unto everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12: 2).
Ancient Apostle Paul “… there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” (Acts 24: 15).
“If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” (Job 14:14-22).
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another ...” (Job 19: 25-27).
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power. (Revelation 20: 6).
“Nothing is more absolutely universal than the Resurrection. Though all people will be resurrected, not all will be resurrected at the same time … technically, there are four resurrection periods:
1.The Morning of the First Resurrection began with Christ’s Resurrection and continues through the Millennium … it is reserved for those who are heirs of the celestial kingdom. (Thus, what does it mean in a patriarchal blessing that promises the recipient they will “come forth in the morning of the First Resurrection? … it means if you are true to your covenants, you will be exalted … a promise that, through your faithfulness and through Christ’s Atonement, you are going to make it to the celestial kingdom, where you will preside over your posterity for eternity, doing what God does, because you will have become what He is. Could there be any greater promise that God could make to any of His children?)
2.The Afternoon of the First Resurrection starts once the Millennium has begun and will carry on throughout the thousand years of the Millennium. It is reserved for those who have lived good lives but were not necessarily valiant. This resurrection is reserved for those who are destined to inherit the terrestrial kingdom.
3.The Morning of the Second Resurrection begins at the end of the Millennium and is reserved for those who have lived sinful lives … contrary to the dictates for their conscience and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Those who come forth in this resurrection will inherit the telestial kingdom, the lowest of the three degrees of glory. Those who inherit this glory will not spend eternity in the presence of Satan and his minions. However, they will be eternally shut out of the presence of God and Christ.
4.The Afternoon of the Second Resurrection will take place after all others have been resurrected. It is reserved for the sons and daughters of perdition, for those who will spend eternity with the devil and his angels because, in mortality, they did the work of the devil and his angels. It is the only one of the four resurrections that provides its recipients with no glory whatsoever. Hence, the eternal abode for those who come forth in this resurrection is known as “outer darkness” (Alma 40:13), where God’s light never shines. (D&C 88:6–13).”
(Apostle Bruce R. McConkie (1915-1985).
Final abode – One of three worlds of glory – Celestial, Terrestrial or Telestial - “… There are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is one and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one body of the sun [celestial] and another of the moon [terrestrial] and another glory of the stars [telestial]; for (as) one star differs from another star in glory, so also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.” (I Corinthians: 15: 39-42).
“In my Father’s house are many mansions … I go to prepare a place for you … that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14: 2-3)
(Celestial) “… (those) who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just … (they) received the testimony of Jesus … by keeping the commandments … washed and cleansed from all their sins and … sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise … (to come forth) in the first resurrection.” (D&C 76: 50-70).
(Terrestrial) “… these are they ... whose glory differs from (Celestial) … even as the moon differs from the sun … These are they who are honorable (men and women) … who were blinded by the craftiness of men … who (will) receive the presence of the Son but not of the fullness of the Father … bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ from glory as the moon differs from the sun. These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus …” (D&C 76: 71-80).
(Telestial) “… which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differ from that of the glory of the moon … they who received not the Gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus … who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection (and the Lord) shall have finished his work … liars and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers … they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven or as the sand upon the seashore …” (D&C 76: 81-112).
(Sons of Perdition) “… the angel … who rebelled … was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son … was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him – he was Lucifer, the son of the morning. … those who suffered themselves (to be) overcome (by the power of the Lucifer) are … sons of perdition … (they are) doomed to suffer the wrath of God with the devil and his angels in eternity … (They are those who) denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves … These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone (metaphor for the eternal torment of the dammed – the cessation of their eternal progression) - … with the devil and his angels … (and shall) not be redeemed (by the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ) …” (D&C 76: 25-38).
Conclusion - Each person can learn for themselves if the forgoing is true. God has asked us to seek him, to read, study and pray. He has promised If we ask in the name of Jesus Christ; with real intent, having faith in Christ, He will reveal the truthfulness unto us by the power of the Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead, the Comforter, who reveals the truth of all things. We will know it is true because we will feel his answer; “it will begin to swell (within us) … (it will) enlarge (our) soul, … enlighten (our) understanding, Yea it begins to be delicious (to us) ...” (BM, Alma 32-28, Moroni 10: 4, John 14: 26 and 15: 26).
Striving to be obedient to God makes us free (John 8: 31) and, if we desire to follow Him, the atonement of Jesus Christ will make us clean.
Mary Kay and I are among those who have sought for and received spiritual witnesses of these truths. We are far from perfect, but over many decades of living and spiritual confirmation, we have learned that the best way to find joy in life is to desire to love God and all people, laugh, hope, repent, forgive, serve; seek to be “… anxiously engaged in a good cause … (and) bring to pass much righteousness” (D&C 58: 27); constantly striving to be more like our Lord and Savior, Redeemer, Exemplar and Friend, Jesus Christ.
We have learned that as we first seek to do His will, “seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33), as opposed to pursuing worldly self-serving desires, He has helped us in a manner that is best for us – even making “our weak things strong” (BM, Ether 12:27). We attest that He will do the same for everyone; and “With God’s Help, All Things Are Possible” (Matthew 19:26).