Doctrine & Covenants 129130
Doctrine & Covenants 129
It was necessary to educate the Saints that they not be
deceived by counterfeit revelations or by the devil
appearing as an angel of light (Doctrine & Covenants
128:20).
As part of the instructions, the Prophet told of a man who
came to him “in Kirtland,” saying he had seen an angel
and described his dress. “I told him,” the Prophet said,
“he had not seen an angel, and that there was not such
dress in heaven. He grew mad, and went into the street
and commanded fire to come down out of heaven to
consume me. I laughed at him, and said, you are one of
Baal’s prophets; your God does not hear you; jump up
and cut yourself: and he commanded fire from heaven to
consume my house” (Smith, History of the Church, 5:26768).
Even earlier than this the Prophet acknowledged,
“There have also been ministering angels in the Church which
were of Satan appearing as an angel of light. A sister in the
state of New York had a vision, who said it was told her that if
she would go to a certain place in the woods, an angel would
appear to her. She went at the appointed time, and saw a
glorious personage descending, arrayed in white, with sandy
colored hair; he commenced and told her to fear God, and
said that her husband was called to do great things, but that
he must not go more than one hundred miles from home, or
he would not return; where as God had called him to go to
the ends of the earth, and he has since been more than one
thousand miles from home, and is yet alive. Many true things
were spoken by this personage, and many things that were
false. How, it may be asked, was this known to be a bad
angel? By the color of his hair; that is one of the signs that he
can be known by, and by his contradicting a former
revelation” (Teachings, 214).
Perhaps it is of more than passing interest that we have
ancient stories that have been preserved for us in what is
known as the Book of Adam and Eve, or The Conflict of
Adam and Eve with Satan, in which Satan constantly tries
to deceive our first parents in order to obtain the
garments they had received from the Lord in Eden. In
one of those episodes, Satan “took the form of an angel,
and with him two others” in order to imitate a threesome
who had come to them from the presence of the Lord. In
this story Adam and Eve were initially deceived by them
“because, when they came to Adam the first time, there
came upon him from them, peace and joy, through their
bringing him good tokens; so Adam thought that they
were come a second time to give him other tokens for
him to rejoice withal. For he did not know it was Satan;
therefore, did he receive them with joy and companied
with them” (Lost Books of the Bible, 49).
Speaking to the newly formed Relief Society on 28
April 1842, the Prophet said that the Church
would not be fully organized until the temple was
complete. He further spoke of the sisters
receiving the “keys,” or knowledge through the
priesthood, by which they could “detect
everything false” if they would sustain their
husbands and those the Lord had called to lead
his Church. The Prophet further promised the
sisters that in the temple they would learn how to
ask of God and how to receive answers. “If you
live up to your privileges,” the Prophet promised
them, “the angels cannot be restrained from
being your associates.” Women, he added, “if
they are pure and innocent, can come in the
presence of God” (Smith, History of the Church,
4:603-7).
Doctrine & Covenants 129:4
“If from the devil”
He will either shrink back from you or offer
his hand, which if he does you will feel
nothing, but be deceived.
Evil spirits cannot vary from the restrictions
placed upon them from the Lord.
They have their bounds.
Elder Orson F. Whitney commented on this concept as follows:
There are bad spirits as well as good, and the vital question is:
How can we know the difference between them? Let us at this
state consult an expert – for there are such – one who came in
contact with spiritual forces to a marvelous extent, not only
receiving messages from other worlds, but also interviewing the
messengers. Joseph Smith knew the difference between good
and evil communicants, and here is his testimony concerning
them (129:4-8).
In another place, the Prophet said:
“Wicked spirits have their bounds, limits and laws, by which they
are governed; and it is very evident that they possess a power
that none but those who have the Priesthood can control” (History
of the Church, vol. 4, 576).
The Devil:
There’s not one good thing about the devil!
Take away the “D”
You have “evil”
Take away the “E”
You have “vil”
Take away the “V”
You have “il”
and this is what you’ll get if you follow him!
Take away the “I” and add an English accent to it and that’s
where you will go if you follow him!
(Hell)
Though given in 1843, Wilford Woodruff indicated
he learned these keys from Joseph Smith as early
as 1839.
“Now, I have always said, and I want to say it to
you, that the Holy Ghost is what every Saint of
God needs.
It is far more important that a man should have
that gift than he should have the ministration of
an angel, unless it is necessary for an angel to
teach him something that he has not been
taught” (President Wilford Woodruff, Weber Stake
Conference, 19 Oct. 1896).
Doctrine & Covenants 130
On the 2nd of April, 1843, the Prophet
Joseph Smith attended a meeting at
which Orson Hyde spoke and, alluding
to the coming of the Savior, said,
“When He shall appear, we shall be
like Him, etc. He will appear on a
white horse as a warrior, and may be
we shall have some of the same spirit.
Our God is a warrior. It is our privilege
to have the Father and Son dwelling in
our hearts.”
At dinner time the Prophet called the
attention of Orson Hyde to these
statements and told him that he would
offer some corrections. Orson Hyde
replied that they would be thankfully
received, whereupon the prophet gave
the explanations contained in verses 1-17.
Later that evening he answered
additional questions and gave instruction
found in verses 18-23.
No wonder the early Saints found it a joy
to be in the Prophet’s company!
Doctrine & Covenants 130:2
Elder Orson Pratt has provided insight to some aspects of
the “conditions of sociality” that might be experienced in
Heaven:
It is, indeed, comforting to know whence we came, and
have a correct understanding in regard to our future. This
interesting and most important knowledge is only to be
obtained by divine revelation. God has abundantly
revealed these things that man might rejoice in them.
There are no people upon the earth who have so great
reasons to rejoice as the Saints; for to them God has
spoke, and plainly manifested much concerning both the
past and the future; and hence, they know what kind of
an existence to pray for, what blessings to hope for, and
where they shall receive their everlasting inheritance.
A Saint, who is one in deed and truth, does not look for an
immaterial heaven but he expects a heaven with lands,
houses, cities, vegetation, rivers, and animals; with thrones,
temples, palaces, kings, princes, priests, and angels; with
food, raiment, musical instruments, etc. all of which are
material. Indeed the Saints; heaven is a redeemed,
glorified, celestial material creation, inhabited by glorified
material beings, males and female, organize into families,
embracing all the relationships of husbands and wives,
parents and children, where sorrow, crying, pain, and death
will be known no more. Or to speak still more definitely, this
earth, when glorified, is the Saints’ eternal heaven. On it
they expect to live, with body parts, and holy passions: on it
they expect to move and have their being; to eat, drink,
converse, worship, sing, play on musical instruments, engage
in joyful, innocent, social amusements, visit neighboring
towns and neighboring worlds: indeed, matter and its
qualities and properties are the only being or things with
which they expect to associate (Orson Pratt, Millennial Star,
vol. 28, 722, November 17, 1866).
It is the terrain one traverses which is the
true test of his life? If so, should those of us
who travel in the jet age view with
condescension the mileage logged by
Jesus during his mortal ministry? In those
days “from Dan to Beersheba” seemed
sweeping, yet it involved only a little over
a hundred miles. One day our travels
about this planet will seem quite provincial
too when we are wafted (gentle floating) from planted to planet (Neal A.
Maxwell, Grounded, Rooted, Established,
and Settled, 18).
Doctrine & Covenants 130:5
“Angels who administer to this earth”
The Prophet said, “Many have supposed that the
doctrine of translation was a doctrine whereby men
were taken immediately into the presence of God, and
into an eternal fullness, but this is a mistaken idea.
Their place of habitation is that of the terrestrial order,
and a place prepared for such characters He held in
reserve to be ministering angels unto many planets, and
who as yet have not entered into so great a fullness as
those who are resurrected from the dead” (Teachings,
170).
Doctrine & Covenants 130:9
“This earth is its sanctified and immortal
state”
Brigham Young said,
“This earth, when it becomes purified and sanctified, or
celestialized, will become like a sea of glass; and a
person, by looking into it, can know things past, present,
and to come; though none but celestialized beings can
enjoy this privilege. They will look into the earth, and the
things they desire to know will be exhibited to them, the
same as the face is seen by looking into the mirror”
(Journal of Discourses, 9:87).
“If the people could fully understand this matter,”
Brigham Young said, “they would perceive that it
is perfectly reasonable and has been the law to
all worlds. And this world, so benighted at present,
and so lightly esteemed by infidels, as observed
by Brother Clements, when it becomes
celestialized, it will be like the sun, and be
prepared for the habitation of the Saints, and be
brought back into the presence of the Father and
the Son. It will not be an opaque body as it now
is, but it will be like the stars of the firmament, full
of light and glory; it will be a body of light. John
compared it, in its celestialized state, to a sea of
glass” (Journal of Discourses, 7:163).
Doctrine & Covenants 130:10-11
“A New Name”
“A new name symbolically suggests that they are ready
to enter into a new life on a higher stage of existence.”
“The White Stone”
The custom observed by judges in ancient times in
announcing their decision as to guilt or innocence was
to give the accused either a white or black stone. The
white stone meant they had been pardoned or found
innocent. The black stone meant guilt and
condemnation (Clarke, Clarke’s Commentary, 3:979).
Doctrine & Covenants 130:14
William Miller a Baptist preacher had
prophesied that the 2nd Coming
would be on April 3rd, 1843 and
many of the Saints believed. Joseph
inquired about it and the Lord told
Joseph not to worry about it.
Past False Prophecies:
May 21st, 2011 at 6:00 PM sharp Pacific
Standard Time: Harold Camping an old
civil engineer, 89 years old. He also
predicted the same thing in 1994.
1988, a major book titled 88 Reasons Why
Christ Will Return in 1988, by Edgar
Whisenant. The following year he
published 89 Reasons Why Christ Will
Return in 1989, claiming to have been
slightly off on his calculations.
1914:
Jehovah Witnesses have set several dates for the
prophetic end – 1914, 1915, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1925, 1941,
1975, and 1994.
1792:
Shakers predicted the end of the world.
1715:
Isaac Newton thought Christ would return.
1556:
Martin Luther felt this might be the year.
February 1, 1524: Panicked by predictions made by a group of
London astrologers, some 20,000 people abandoned their homes
and fled to high ground in anticipation of a second great flood
that was predicted to start from the Thames.
1284: Pope Innocent III predicted Christ’s second coming would
occur in this year. He based his prediction on the date of the
inception of the Muslim faith, then added 666 years to that.
Second Coming A.D.: The Montanists, founded around A.D. 155
by a man called Montanus, were perhaps the first recognizable
Christian end-of-the-world cult. They believed that Christ’s
triumphant return was imminent and established a base in
Anatolia (699 A.D.), central Turkey, where they anxiously waited
for doomsday.
2800 B.C.: The oldest surviving prediction of the world’s imminent
demise was found inscribed upon an Assyrian clay tablet which
stated, “Our earth is degenerate in these latter days. There are
signs that the world is speedily coming to an end. Bribery and
corruption are common.” Wherever more than two people over
30 are gathered together, expect to hear remarkably similar
sentiments.
Doctrine & Covenants 130:18-19
I am especially grateful for the doctrine that we shall go on,
throughout the endless ages, far beyond the comprehension of
man. I am indeed grateful that all has not been revealed today,
because if we are to go on, today and tomorrow and throughout
all time to come, then we shall be continually learning and
increasing in knowledge. I find men occasionally who are very
fond of discussing the unrevealed truths of the gospel. To them
everything must be explained; there must be no mystery. This is
completely out of harmony with the great principle of eternal
progression, one of the cornerstones of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I
am thankful that I know for a certainty that on the tomorrow, when
this life is passed, or perhaps before it is over, new light and
knowledge may be given me (John A. Widstsoe, Conference
Report, April 1925, Afternoon Session, 28).
If we ponder just what it is that will rise with us in
the resurrection, it seems clear that our
intelligence will rise with us, meaning not simply
our IQ but also our capacity to receive and
apply truth. Our talents, attributes, and skills will
rise with us; certainly also our capacity to learn,
our degree of self-discipline, and our capacity to
work. Our precise form of work here may have
no counterpart there, but the capacity to work
will never be obsolete (Neal A. Maxwell, We Will
Prove Them Herewith, 45).
Doctrine & Covenants 130:20
The developmental dues of discipleship
must be paid before all of the blessings
are received (Neal A. Maxwell, Not My
Will, But Thine, 6).
We Cannot count all our blessings
everyday, but we can carry over the
reassuring bottom line from the last
counting (Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, May
1989, 64).
Doctrine & Covenants 130: 21-21
The question was asked, What effect did our pre-mortal
life have on our position and condition in this life?
To which the answer is, the same effect that we do in this
life will have on who and what we are in the world to
come. If there is a God in heaven, it can be no other
way. We begin each day where we left off the previous
day. The principle is immutable. We cannot begin a
journey from where we are not or from where we wish we
were. All journeys must begin from where we are; all that
we learn is based upon what we already know; all that
we can do will be the result of what we have previously
done. So it was in our pre-mortal life, so it is here, and so it
will be in the worlds to come.
Doctrine & Covenants 130:23
“Man can neither predict nor program the Spirit of the
Lord”
We simply cannot force spiritual things!
“The presentation of ‘gift’ of the Holy Ghost,” President
Joseph F. Smith explained, “simply confers upon a man
the right to receive at any time, when he is worthy of it
and desires it, the power and light of truth of the Holy
Ghost, although he may often be left to his own spirit and
judgment” (Gospel Doctrine, 60-61).
That is to say, the Holy Ghost “may be conferred upon
men, and he may dwell with them for a while, or he may
continue to dwell with them in accordance with their
worthiness, and he may depart from them at his will”
(Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 466).