DOCTRINE & COVENANTS
107-110
Doctrine & Covenants 107
Can you tell me the original name of the Melchizedek
Priesthood?
Why was it named Melchizedek Priesthood?
(Alma 13 and J.S.T. Genesis 14:25-40)
Surely no greater tribute or more
generous adulation could be
mentioned than to be so much like the
Son of God that one’s name could be
substituted for his in the title of the
most powerful force in the universe --the Holy Priesthood, after the Order
of the Son of God.
Melchizedek as a Type or Shadow of
Christ:
1. A great high priest (Doctrine & Covenants 107:2)
2. None were greater (Alma 13:19)
3. Offered the Lord’s Supper (Gen. 14:18-20; JST, Gen. 14:17-20)
4. Established righteousness among his followers (JST, Gen. 14:33-34)
5. Known as the “prince of peace” (JST, Gen. 14:33)
6. Known as the “king of heaven” (JST, Gen. 14:36)
7. Known as the “king of peace” (JST, Gen. 14:36)
8. The holy priesthood was named after him (Doctrine & Covenants
107:2-4)
Doctrine & Covenants 107:1-6
Joseph Smith said all priesthood is Melchizedek, but there
are separate portions or degrees of it (Teachings, 180).
Seniority in the first Quorum of the Twelve:
Thomas B. Marsh 35
David W. Patton 35
Brigham Young
33
Heber C. Kimball 33
Orson Hyde
30
William E. McLellin 29
Parley P. Pratt
Luke S. Johnson
William B. Smith
Orson Pratt
John F. Boynton
Lyman E. Johnson
27
27
23
23
23
23
Thomas B. Marsh was in his thirty-fifth year but did not turn
thirty-five until November – 1835.
At the time David Patten did not know his age; however,
subsequent records show he was actually older than
Thomas, having been born on the 14th of November, 1799.
We do not magnify the Priesthood, we magnify our
office in the Priesthood.
We cannot magnify the greatest power in the Universe
(Romans 11:13).
Doctrine & Covenants 107:23-26
What’s the difference between a “special witness” of Christ
and “especial” witness of Christ?
President Boyd K. Packer said the difference was the letter
“e.”
The real difference is that one holds keys and the other
doesn’t.
President Bednar said that we are now in position with the
five quorums of seventy in place to govern 500 million
members of the Church.
I have heard President Kimball say (and it is something that other
presidents of the Church have said) that while he holds all of the keys
that are upon the earth, there are keys that he does not hold. There
are keys that have not been given to him as president of the Church
because they are reserved for higher power and authority.
For example, he said that he does not hold the keys to the resurrection.
The Lord has them, but He does not delegate them --- neither anciently,
nor to the modern prophets. He mentioned, also, the authority to
command the elements and to walk on the water. The Lord has these
keys, but He has not given them to us (Doctrine of Salvation, comp. Bruce
R. McConkie, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954-56], 1:152).
Doctrine & Covenants 107:41-57
What’s going on here?
Doctrine & Covenants 107:99-100
Learn your duty!
Doctrine & Covenants 107:53-55
“Joseph’s blessing to his father”
These verses were taken from the blessing given by Joseph Smith to
his father, Joseph Smith Sr., when he was ordained the first patriarch
in this dispensation on the 18th of December,1833.
Doctrine & Covenants 107:53
“Adam blessed his posterity”
Joseph Smith told us that Adam blessed his posterity because “he
wanted to bring them into the presence of God” (Teachings, 159).
Doctrine & Covenants 107:57
“The Book of Enoch”
A number of ancient manuscripts attributed to Enoch are still in
existence today. These manuscripts are generally classified as
pseudepigraphic (meaning falsely named).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie observed: “In the pseudepigraphic writing
of Enoch we find visions, prophecies, exhortations, and doctrinal
expositions relative to the Second Coming and the Millennium; the
names and functions of the seven angels (including Raphael,
Michael, and Gabriel); the separation of the spirits of righteous
and wicked men as they await the day of judgment; the coming
judgment of the wicked; the attainment of salvation by the
righteous, etc…
As with the study of apocryphal books, so it is
with the study of the pseudepigraphic writings:
the seeker after revealed wisdom must be
guided by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Bruce
R. McConkie, Mortal Messiah 1:274-75).
We fully expect all of Enoch’s writings to be
restored to us in the purity in which he
originally recorded them.
Doctrine & Covenants 107:77-84
“Church Discipline”
Charges were preferred against Joseph Smith by Sylvester Smith, a
member of the first high council in Kirtland.
George A. Smith gave this recollection of what happened:
“I remember well in Zion’s Camp, Levi W. Hancock made a fife, from a
joint of sweet elder, Sylvester Smith marched his company to the music of
that fife. That fife may be considered almost the introduction of martial
music among the ‘Mormons.’ A dog came out and barked and Sylvester
Smith said he was going to kill the dog. Joseph said he was a good
watch dog and to leave it alone. Sylvester became mad at the Prophet
and again threatened to kill the dog; finally Joseph reproved him sharply,
showing him that such a spirit would not conquer or control the human
family, that he must get rid of it, and predicted that if he did not get rid
of it, the day would come when a dog would gnaw his flesh, and he
would not have the power to resist it.
Some months after the return to Kirtland, Sylvester Smith
preferred to charge against Joseph the Prophet, for having
prophesied lies in the name of the Lord, and undertook to
substantiate that charge on the ground that the Prophet had
said a dog should bite him, if he did not get rid of that spirit,
when he had not power to resist. They were three days and
part of nights, when the High Council in Kirtland, in
investigating this charge; one person spoke three hours in
behalf of the Prophet. Sylvester published a confession,
which can be seen in the Church History, acknowledging his
fault” (Journal of Discourses, 11:7).
Doctrine & Covenants 107:85-88
“12 Deacons, 24 Teachers, 48 Priests”
The only officers on the ward level who hold
keys are the Deacons Quorum President, the
Teachers Quorum President, the Bishop and the
Elders Quorum President.
Doctrine & Covenants 108
Lyman Sherman:
Faithful in Zion’s Camp.
Called as one of the 7 presidents of the seventy.
Called to the Apostleship on January 16th, 1839, but
was not notified or ordained before his death in
February, 1839.
Note the letter from J. H. Martineau to
President John Taylor:
Dear Brother, I trust you will pardon me for this trespassing in your time,
for you are the only one to whom I can apply. I feel anxious that a
work may be done for Lyman P. Sherman, my wife’s father, who died in
Far West in 1838. I would like to have him and his wife received the
1st and 2nd anointing, to have them sealed together, and have their
children sealed to them. My wife’s brother, Albey, the eldest of the
family living, has no desire, apparently, to do anything for his parents,
though I have urged him to do so. He has for years been on the
background and seems to think nothing of these things. I do not wish to
cancel any of his rights, but do wish that a work may be done for his
wife’s parents while the present opportunity exists. My son Lyman, of
Logan, could act for his grandfather, and I could, if approved, receive
the 2nd anointing for him. My daughter acting for her grandmother,
and I could, if approved, receive, whatever your decision.
Doctrine & Covenants 108:4
“Lyman Sherman Williams”
The purpose of solemn assemblies is for the Saints to
worship.
This revelation informed Lyman Sherman that he was
to be numbered among the first to receive the
endowment.
These were those who had proven themselves worthy
of such an honor in Zion’s Camp.
“You shall be remembered with the first of mine elders”
They would be the first elders in this dispensation to be
endowed with power in the Kirtland Temple.
Doctrine & Covenants 108:6
“Right to preach my gospel wheresoever I shall send
you”
Joseph Smith explained, “The endowment was to prepare
the disciples for their missions unto the world” (Teachings,
274).
Doctrine & Covenants 109
1. Dedicatory Prayers are always read:
The dedicatory prayer was pronounced by Joseph Smith in the
afternoon when he announced that Peter the Apostle had been in their
midst to accept the dedication.
We prepared for the dedication of the Lord’s house. I met in the
presidents room. Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Warren Cowdery, and
Elder W. Parrish, and myself assisted in writing a prayer for the
dedication of the house (Oliver Cowdery’s Journal).
2. It cost around $70,000 and took about three years to
build. It was a great sacrifice to the people.
The saints still owed $13,000 on the temple at the day of
dedication and took collections at the door.
$1,000 was raised that day.
Frazier Eaton, who had previously donated $700.00 was
not allowed in the temple because of the lack of seating.
He felt his contribution to the temple should have assure
him a seat and later left the church because of it.
3.
March 27th, 1836, was the day of the
“dedication” of the temple.
4.
It was a partial “endowment” house.
5.
The “Spirit of God” was sung and is now sung at
every temple dedication.
6.
The service lasted 7 hours and no one left. About
800 saints were turned away and went to the
school house and had a meeting of their own.
7.
Joseph read the dedicatory prayer, the
sacrament was passed and Frederick G. Williams
said he saw the Savior.
The Apostle Peter came and sat by Joseph Smith Sr.
Joseph Smith Jr. blessed the congregation and
concluded with the Hosanna Shout.
8.
Later that evening 416 bearers of the priesthood
gathered (more marvelous manifestations).
Doctrine & Covenants 109:1
“The Dedicatory Prayer”
The only other dedicatory prayer for a temple found in holy writ is
offered by Solomon at the dedication of his temple (1 Kings 8:23-61).
“The dedicatory prayer is addressed to the Father, as all prayers
should be; it is addressed to the “One” whose original command it was
that the house be built, which direction had been revealed to the
builders by the Son through whom all revelation comes” (Bruce R.
McConkie, Promised Messiah, 561-62).
Why Temples?
Doctrine & Covenants 109:5
That the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his
people.
Doctrine & Covenants 109:6-9
A house of learning.
Doctrine & Covenants 109:10-14
When dedicating a building, we present it officially as our gift to the
Lord. This means that tomorrow morning when anyone enters this
building, they come here as guests of the Lord. It then belongs to Him
(Boyd K. Packer).
Doctrine & Covenants 109:20
“Ordinances Performed”
These rites were performed on the third floor of the temple.
It was only after temples were built in the territory of Utah
that recommends signed by priesthood leaders were
required of those desiring to enter the temple.
Doctrine & Covenants 109:35-37
The Lord’s acceptance
Doctrine & Covenants 109:44
Thy will be done!
Doctrine & Covenants 109:36-37
“Let the Anointing of thy ministers be sealed upon them.”
Preparatory to the anticipated outpouring of the Spirit at the
dedication of the temple, the Prophet and the “first elders” were
washed and anointed. Joseph Smith records as follows, on 21
January 1836: “About three o’clock, p.m., I dismissed the school,
and the Presidency retired to the attic story of the printing office,
where we attended the ordinance of washing our bodies in pure
water. We also perfumed our bodies and our heads, in the name
of the Lord.
“At early candle-light I met with the Presidency at the
west school room, in the Temple, to attend to the
ordinance of anointing our heads with holy oil; also
the Councils of Kirtland and Zion met in the two
adjoining rooms, and waited in prayer while we
attended to the ordinance. I took the oil in my left
hand, Father Smith being seated before me, and the
remained of the Presidency encircled him round
about. We then stretched our right hands toward
heaven, and blessed the oil, and consecrated it in the
name of Jesus Christ.
“We then laid our hands upon our aged Father Smith, and invoked the
blessings of heaven. I then anointed his head with the consecrated oil, and
sealed many blessings upon him. The Presidency then in turn laid their
hands upon his head, beginning at the oldest, until they had all laid their
hands upon him, and pronounced such blessings upon his head, as the Lord
put into their hearts, all blessing him to be our Patriarch, to anoint our
heads, and attend to all duties that pertain to that office. The Presidency
then took the seat in their turn, according to their age, beginning at the
oldest, and received their anointing and blessing under the hands of Father
Smith. And in my turn, my father anointed my head” (History of the Church,
2:379-80).
During the weeks that preceded the dedication of the temple, others of the
brethren participated in the biblical ritual of washing and anointing.
Doctrine & Covenants 109:39
“Come forth to Zion, or to her stakes”
And every stake becomes the place of gathering for the
saints who live in the area involved” (Bruce R. McConkie,
Millennial Messiah 294-95).
Doctrine & Covenants 109:60
“Identified with the Gentiles”
As used in the Bible, the word Gentile means nation
– a collective body.
Any nation that does not have prophets at its head,
revelation as its constitution, and the Messiah as its
king is a gentile nation.
Doctrine & Covenants 109:61-64
“Tribe of Judah to return to old Jerusalem”
As part of the promises of the Lord to be fulfilled before the coming
of the Son of Man, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “the tribe of
Judah will return to old Jerusalem” (Teachings, 17).
Jerusalem had not been under Jewish control since the Roman
destruction of the holy city in 70 AD.
Doctrine & Covenants 109:79
“Mingle our voices with shining seraphs singing”
“The veil is very thin in the temples,” explained Dallin H. Oaks, “especially
when we join in worshiping through music. At temple dedications I have seen
more tears of joy elicited by music than by the spoken word. I have read
accounts of angelic choirs joining in these hymns of praise, and I think I have
experienced this on several occasions. In dedicatory sessions featuring
beautiful and well-trained choirs of about thirty voices, there are times when I
have heard what seemed to be ten times thirty voices praising God with a
quality and intensity of feeling that can be experienced but not explained.
Some who are listening today will know what I mean” (Conference Report,
October 1994, 11).
Doctrine & Covenants 109:79-80
The word hosanna as we know it originated from two Hebrew
words found in Psalm 118:25, and roughly means, “Save us, we
beseech thee.”
According to Elder Bruce R. McConkie, the two most important
things you can do in this life are:
1.
Marry the right person in the right place, by the right
authority, the temple.
2.
Keep the covenants made in the temple.
Just for fun!
Which temple is the largest?
1.
Salt Lake City
253,015 sq. ft.
2.
Los Angeles
190,614 sq. ft.
3.
Washington D.C.
160,000 sq. ft.
4.
Jordan River Utah
148,236 sq. ft.
5.
Provo Utah
128,325 sq. ft.
…
95. Colonia Juarez Chihuahua Mexico
(1995)
6,800 sq. ft.
Doctrine & Covenants 110
After this meeting, Fast Sundays began. Prior to this time
period they were held on the first Thursday of every month.
The Kirtland Temple was used for many meetings besides
the performing of sacred ordinances. Active and worthy
Saints as well as less active Saints were invited to attend
meetings held.
Children were also allowed to enter the Temple.
April 3rd, 1836, the Jews were expecting Elijah and he indeed came!
It was Easter Sunday, Passover Sunday.
President Joseph Fielding Smith noted an interesting aspect of Elijah’s
return to the earth on April 3rd, 1836.
“Edersheim in his work, The Temple, says: ‘To this day, in every Jewish
home, at a certain part of the paschal service (i.e., when they drink the
“third cup”) – the door is opened to admit Elijah the prophet as
forerunner of the Messiah, while appropriate passages are at the same
time read which foretell the destruction of all heathen nations. It is a
remarkable coincidence that, in instituting his own Supper, the Lord Jesus
connected the symbols, not of judgment, but of his dying love, with his
“third cup.”’
“It was, I am informed, on the third day of April,
1836, that the Jews in their homes at the
Paschal feast, opened their doors for Elijah to
enter. On that very day Elijah did enter – not in
the home of the Jews to partake of the
Passover with them – but he appeared in the
house of the Lord in Kirtland, and there
bestowed his keys to bring to pass the very
things for which these Jews, assembled in their
homes, were seeking” (Doctrines of Salvation,
2:100-01).
Doctrine & Covenants 110:1
“The veil was taken from our minds”
Such was the experience of Joseph Smith and
Oliver Cowdery on this occasion as the veil was
lifted, allowing them to stand in the presence of
the God of Israel and receive his instruction
(Alma 19:6).
Doctrine & Covenants 110:2
“We saw the Lord”
Like Joseph and Oliver, John Murdock also saw the Lord. He recorded:
“The visions of my mind were opened, and the eyes of my understanding were
enlightened, and I saw the form of a man, most lovely! The visage of his face was
sound and fair as the sun. His hair, a bright silver gray, curled in most majestic form,
His eyes, a keen penetrating blue, and the skin of his neck a most beautiful white, and
He was covered from the neck to the feet with a loose garment, pure white, whiter
than any garment I have ever before seen. His countenance was most penetrating,
and yet most lovely! And while I was endeavoring to comprehend the whole
personage, from head to feet, it slipped from me, and the Vision was closed up. But it
left on my mind the impression of love, for months, that I never before felt, to that
degree” (Karl Ricks Anderson, Joseph Smith’s Kirtland, 109-10).
Doctrine & Covenants 110:1-10
The Lord’s acceptance
Jesus Christ:
Although we do not normally think of the Lord as
bestowing keys on this occasion, as did the other
heavenly visitors, Orson Pratt informs us that He did
indeed give “keys of instruction and counsel and
authority to his servants.”
Moses:
The main object was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could
reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of
His Kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation; for there are
certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and
practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose
(Temple ordinances).
Elias:
The gospel of Abraham was one of celestial marriage… This power
and commission is what Elias restored (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon
Doctrine, 219-20).
Elijah:
Elijah restored the sealing power that comes with the fullness
of the Melchizedek Priesthood (Joseph Smith, Teachings, 330).
Three fold mission of the Church:
1. Perfect the Saints, Gospel of Abraham, Elias
2. Missionary Work, Gathering of Israel, Moses
3. Redeem the Dead, Sealing Power, Elijah
Doctrine & Covenants 110:11-16
All of this brings us to a most interesting comparison between
the activities that took place at the Kirtland Temple pulpits
during the visions we have discussed and those that
transpired on the Mount of Transfiguration.
(Matt.17:1-9; Mark 9:2-9; Luke 9:28-36)
-
The location was a secluded and high mountain.
-
The Savior was engaged in prayer.
-
The Savior’s clothing was white.
-
The angels who appeared on the holy mountain
were the very same ones that visited the Kirtland
Temple.
-
A cloud appeared that veiled the Father and
through which his voice was heard.
-
The Father gave his Son “honor and glory,”
which may have reference to the keys of the
priesthood (Doctrine & Covenants 124:34, 95).
-
The Savior received the fullness of the
Melchizedek Priesthood.
-
The apostles received the “more sure word of
prophecy”
-
A vision was seen of the earth in its paradisiacal
state.
-
A charge was given by the Savior not to reveal
what had been experienced.
If one considers that the Kirtland Temple pulpits
somewhat resemble a miniature mountain, then the
parallels are even more striking.