Any serious student of the Bible knows that the only thing that can bring us salvation is the Grace of Christ, and that his saving Grace is given as a gift to all of those that meet the qualifications. However, the traditional Christian view seems to be that all that is required to qualify for His Grace is to believe in Christ or have faith in Him, or call upon His name, or confess that He is their Saviour. They say the Bible teaches that if you do this then you are converted, and therefore from that moment on you are saved by His Grace. They say that works are not necessary to qualify anyone for salvation. But if they are wrong, imagine all the millions of people that are being deceived into failing to qualify for salvation!
Let’s see what the Bible really says… While it is true that the Bible teaches that the only thing that can bring someone to salvation is the Grace of Christ, it also tells us very clearly that before anyone can be saved by grace there is much required for him/her to DO first. Conversion is only the beginning of the process of qualifying for His gift of Grace. In other words the Bible clearly says that much more is required in order for someone to meet the criteria that our Saviour demands before He will save us by His Grace!
First consider what He taught to the masses during His ‘Sermon on the Mount’. In Matthew 7:21 He told them “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that DOETH the will of my Father which is in heaven.” He clearly teaches here that to be saved it is not enough to call upon Him, or confess His name. He says that one must DO the will of His Father, which also implies that we must LEARN what that will is.
Now consider verses 22 & 23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” It is very clear that here He is describing those that believe in Him, so much, that they are able to prophesy, cast out devils and do many wonderful works in His name. They are obviously people that have great faith in Him, in order to be able to do so much in His name. Yet He rebukes them telling them He never knew them, even saying that they ‘work iniquity’!
Such is apparently the fate of those that believe in Him, have faith in Him, and accomplish good works using His name, but obviously lack one thing… they failed to understand and DO the will of our Father in heaven. But how can someone actually learn what is the will of our Heavenly Father? Our Saviour explains that process very succinctly in the following verse: 7:24 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and DOETH them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”
In other words, ONLY if we study the teachings of our Saviour, and DO them, then we are learning and doing the will of our Father in Heaven. Christ and His Apostles certainly said to believe in Him and have faith in Him and call upon His name, but obviously that is only the beginning. Before we consider some of the specific things He said we must DO let us consider some other scriptures that teach us about this general principle of qualifying for salvation through our Saviour’s gift of grace.
On a certain occasion our Saviour was talking to some Jews that ALREADY BELIEVED in Him. In John 8:31-32 it explains what He told them: “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Upon analysis, it will be seen that here He reinforces that which He previously had taught to the multitudes in Matthew, above. When He said ‘…continue in my word…know the truth…shall make you free’, He is merely restating the other words, ‘…whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them…[is] a wise man… founded upon a rock.’ To continue in His word means to learn what He said and to DO it! Then we will be doing ‘the will of my Father which is in heaven.’ And thus we become eligible by His grace to ‘enter into the kingdom of heaven’ as He said in His sermon quoted above.
On another occasion a man approached our Saviour and actually asked Him what he must DO to be saved. This incident, and the Lord’s answer are recorded in two different gospels, as follows:
“And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and FOLLOWme. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”[Mark 10:17-22]
“And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come,FOLLOWme. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.” [Luke 18:18-23]
Now we know that the original Ten Commandments were only the fundamental, most basic requirements given to Old Testament Israel to act as their ‘schoolmaster’ in order to prepare them for the coming of our Savior. When He came, He would fulfill those with two all-encompassing commandments:
Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt 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, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” [Matt. 22:37-40]
Obviously, our Lord’s message to that man (and all of us) is that we are required to OBEY all of our Father’s commandments BEFORE we might qualify for His Grace unto salvation. That is why He teaches us, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” [John 14:15]
Now consider what else our Saviour has said regarding this subject of salvation. On a certain occasion He was praying to Heavenly Father and He expressed a very important concept. In John 17:3 He said, “And THIS is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” In order to merit the gift of Grace unto eternal life, why does He say it is obligatory FIRST to actually come to ‘know’ the Father and the Son. A little thinking might reveal that this is because He knows that that is the only way that someone might fully understand the will of the Father and the teachings of the Son, and then be able to do them in order to qualify for His gift of eternal life.
Next, take into account the words in the epistle to the Hebrews concerning the requirements for salvation: In Hebrews 5:9 we read, “And being made perfect He became the author of eternal salvation UNTO ALL THEM THAT OBEY him;” Can it be any clearer that, despite what the ‘traditional Christians’ teach about becoming qualified to be ‘saved by grace’, according to the words of Christ and the Bible, BEFORE we can expect to be worthy for our Saviour’s Grace to provide us with salvation, we must first OBEY Him! This means we must DO all He has said, including the following BEFORE we can qualify for His saving Grace:
1. DO The will of our Heavenly Father, which is to KNOW and DO what our Saviour says. [Matt. 7:21-25]
2. CONTINUE in His word to BECOME His disciples and KNOW the truth that makes us free. [John 8:31-32]
3. KEEP His commandments which again means we must OBEY what He has told us to do. [John 14:15]
4. Actually come to KNOW the Father and the Son to become qualified for eternal life. [John 17:3]
5. Obey ALL that Christ has said in order to qualify for His Grace unto salvation. [Hebrews 5:9]
That is what the Bible really says is required for salvation. It should be obvious by now that for someone to be ‘saved’ requires knowledge, actively doing, and obedience to all that our Saviour has said. If you do not believe this, you simply do not believe what is written in the Bible. It is now time to consider some more of these specific things that He taught that we must DO.
1. “Come, follow me.” [Luke 9:59; 18:22; John 1:43; 12:26; 21:19]
2. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” [John 14:6]
These meaning, if we want to be saved by His Grace we must OBEY Him, FOLLOW in His footstep and pattern our lives after the way He lived.
3. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” [Matthew 5:48]
4. “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 shall see him as he is.” [1 John 3:2]
These meaning He expects us to become like Him, and if we want to be saved by His Grace we must FIRST SPEND ALL OF OUR LIVES TRYING to BECOME like Him and our Heavenly Father, even perfect, which is the way that our Saviour has shown by His own life example. This is why our Saviour Himself teaches:
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that ENDURETH TO THE END shall be saved.” [Matt. 10:22]
“But he that shall ENDURE UNTO THE END, the same shall be saved.” [Matt. 24:13]
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall ENDURE UNTO THE END, the same shall be saved.” [Luke13:13]
It is true that people are mortal beings and perhaps cannot expect to achieve total perfection in this life, but that does not mean we should not SPEND OUR LIFE TRYING to do so to the best of our abilities, for that is the teaching of our Saviour and those that desire to be saved by His Grace are expected FIRST to obey Him, for that is the will of our Heavenly Father [Hebrews 5:9; Matt, 7:21-25]. Each individual CAN finally achieve his own degree of perfection and that is enough for Christ to intervene AFTERWARD with His Grace.
And that is why the scripture teaches:
“For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, AFTER ALL WE CAN DO.” [2 Nephi 25:23]
Finally our Saviour taught “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” [ John14:1-2 ] and Paul said, “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 glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead”. [1Cor. 15:40-42]
These are merely indicators that in accordance with the teachings of our Saviour each individual that FIRST OBEY’S HIS WORDS and ENDURES TO THE END may qualify for salvation by His Grace, and be rewarded with a dwelling place in accordance with his personal efforts.
According to the teachings of Christ quoted in this message those ‘traditional Christians’ that teach the kind of ‘salvation’ without the necessary works to qualify for His gift of Grace are not doing enough. They are teaching ‘another gospel’ than that one set forth by Our Saviour and His disciples in the Bible! That is why we are warned, “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” [Matt. 7:14]
What the Bible Really Tells Us About Salvation
Any serious student of the Bible knows that the only thing that can bring us salvation is the Grace of Christ, and that his saving Grace is given as a gift to all of those that meet the qualifications. However, the traditional Christian view seems to be that all that is required to qualify for His Grace is to believe in Christ or have faith in Him, or call upon His name, or confess that He is their Saviour. They say the Bible teaches that if you do this then you are converted, and therefore from that moment on you are saved by His Grace. They say that works are not necessary to qualify anyone for salvation. But if they are wrong, imagine all the millions of people that are being deceived into failing to qualify for salvation!
Let’s see what the Bible really says… While it is true that the Bible teaches that the only thing that can bring someone to salvation is the Grace of Christ, it also tells us very clearly that before anyone can be saved by grace there is much required for him/her to DO first. Conversion is only the beginning of the process of qualifying for His gift of Grace. In other words the Bible clearly says that much more is required in order for someone to meet the criteria that our Saviour demands before He will save us by His Grace!
First consider what He taught to the masses during His ‘Sermon on the Mount’. In Matthew 7:21 He told them “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that DOETH the will of my Father which is in heaven.” He clearly teaches here that to be saved it is not enough to call upon Him, or confess His name. He says that one must DO the will of His Father, which also implies that we must LEARN what that will is.
Now consider verses 22 & 23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” It is very clear that here He is describing those that believe in Him, so much, that they are able to prophesy, cast out devils and do many wonderful works in His name. They are obviously people that have great faith in Him, in order to be able to do so much in His name. Yet He rebukes them telling them He never knew them, even saying that they ‘work iniquity’!
Such is apparently the fate of those that believe in Him, have faith in Him, and accomplish good works using His name, but obviously lack one thing… they failed to understand and DO the will of our Father in heaven. But how can someone actually learn what is the will of our Heavenly Father? Our Saviour explains that process very succinctly in the following verse: 7:24 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and DOETH them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”
In other words, ONLY if we study the teachings of our Saviour, and DO them, then we are learning and doing the will of our Father in Heaven. Christ and His Apostles certainly said to believe in Him and have faith in Him and call upon His name, but obviously that is only the beginning. Before we consider some of the specific things He said we must DO let us consider some other scriptures that teach us about this general principle of qualifying for salvation through our Saviour’s gift of grace.
On a certain occasion our Saviour was talking to some Jews that ALREADY BELIEVED in Him. In John 8:31-32 it explains what He told them: “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Upon analysis, it will be seen that here He reinforces that which He previously had taught to the multitudes in Matthew, above. When He said ‘…continue in my word…know the truth…shall make you free’, He is merely restating the other words, ‘…whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them…[is] a wise man… founded upon a rock.’ To continue in His word means to learn what He said and to DO it! Then we will be doing ‘the will of my Father which is in heaven.’ And thus we become eligible by His grace to ‘enter into the kingdom of heaven’ as He said in His sermon quoted above.
On another occasion a man approached our Saviour and actually asked Him what he must DO to be saved. This incident, and the Lord’s answer are recorded in two different gospels, as follows:
“And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and FOLLOWme. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”[Mark 10:17-22]
“And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come,FOLLOWme. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.” [Luke 18:18-23]
Now we know that the original Ten Commandments were only the fundamental, most basic requirements given to Old Testament Israel to act as their ‘schoolmaster’ in order to prepare them for the coming of our Savior. When He came, He would fulfill those with two all-encompassing commandments:
Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt 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, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” [Matt. 22:37-40]
Obviously, our Lord’s message to that man (and all of us) is that we are required to OBEY all of our Father’s commandments BEFORE we might qualify for His Grace unto salvation. That is why He teaches us, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” [John 14:15]
Now consider what else our Saviour has said regarding this subject of salvation. On a certain occasion He was praying to Heavenly Father and He expressed a very important concept. In John 17:3 He said, “And THIS is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” In order to merit the gift of Grace unto eternal life, why does He say it is obligatory FIRST to actually come to ‘know’ the Father and the Son. A little thinking might reveal that this is because He knows that that is the only way that someone might fully understand the will of the Father and the teachings of the Son, and then be able to do them in order to qualify for His gift of eternal life.
Next, take into account the words in the epistle to the Hebrews concerning the requirements for salvation: In Hebrews 5:9 we read, “And being made perfect He became the author of eternal salvation UNTO ALL THEM THAT OBEY him;” Can it be any clearer that, despite what the ‘traditional Christians’ teach about becoming qualified to be ‘saved by grace’, according to the words of Christ and the Bible, BEFORE we can expect to be worthy for our Saviour’s Grace to provide us with salvation, we must first OBEY Him! This means we must DO all He has said, including the following BEFORE we can qualify for His saving Grace:
1. DO The will of our Heavenly Father, which is to KNOW and DO what our Saviour says. [Matt. 7:21-25]
2. CONTINUE in His word to BECOME His disciples and KNOW the truth that makes us free. [John 8:31-32]
3. KEEP His commandments which again means we must OBEY what He has told us to do. [John 14:15]
4. Actually come to KNOW the Father and the Son to become qualified for eternal life. [John 17:3]
5. Obey ALL that Christ has said in order to qualify for His Grace unto salvation. [Hebrews 5:9]
That is what the Bible really says is required for salvation. It should be obvious by now that for someone to be ‘saved’ requires knowledge, actively doing, and obedience to all that our Saviour has said. If you do not believe this, you simply do not believe what is written in the Bible. It is now time to consider some more of these specific things that He taught that we must DO.
1. “Come, follow me.” [Luke 9:59; 18:22; John 1:43; 12:26; 21:19]
2. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” [John 14:6]
These meaning, if we want to be saved by His Grace we must OBEY Him, FOLLOW in His footstep and pattern our lives after the way He lived.
3. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” [Matthew 5:48]
4. “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 shall see him as he is.” [1 John 3:2]
These meaning He expects us to become like Him, and if we want to be saved by His Grace we must FIRST SPEND ALL OF OUR LIVES TRYING to BECOME like Him and our Heavenly Father, even perfect, which is the way that our Saviour has shown by His own life example. This is why our Saviour Himself teaches:
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that ENDURETH TO THE END shall be saved.” [Matt. 10:22]
“But he that shall ENDURE UNTO THE END, the same shall be saved.” [Matt. 24:13]
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall ENDURE UNTO THE END, the same shall be saved.” [Luke13:13]
It is true that people are mortal beings and perhaps cannot expect to achieve total perfection in this life, but that does not mean we should not SPEND OUR LIFE TRYING to do so to the best of our abilities, for that is the teaching of our Saviour and those that desire to be saved by His Grace are expected FIRST to obey Him, for that is the will of our Heavenly Father [Hebrews 5:9; Matt, 7:21-25]. Each individual CAN finally achieve his own degree of perfection and that is enough for Christ to intervene AFTERWARD with His Grace.
And that is why the scripture teaches:
“For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, AFTER ALL WE CAN DO.” [2 Nephi 25:23]
Finally our Saviour taught “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” [ John14:1-2 ] and Paul said, “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 glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead”. [1Cor. 15:40-42]
These are merely indicators that in accordance with the teachings of our Saviour each individual that FIRST OBEY’S HIS WORDS and ENDURES TO THE END may qualify for salvation by His Grace, and be rewarded with a dwelling place in accordance with his personal efforts.
According to the teachings of Christ quoted in this message those ‘traditional Christians’ that teach the kind of ‘salvation’ without the necessary works to qualify for His gift of Grace are not doing enough. They are teaching ‘another gospel’ than that one set forth by Our Saviour and His disciples in the Bible! That is why we are warned, “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” [Matt. 7:14]
Friday, September 10, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
What The Bible Really Says About Life After Death
This subject is pondered by mankind perhaps more than any other, yet it seems to remain a mystery to the minds of most of us. Of course every religion seems to have an answer of some kind, and all of them have certain elements in common. I will show you that the Bible reveals a very clear picture of what we can expect to experience when we leave this life. These things were taught from the beginning of earth’s adamic creation period, to Adam and Eve and were perpetuated by the prophetic patriarchs that followed them, and they remain in the Bible today.
A little historical examination seems to reveal that over the generations, as men began to multiply and spread across the earth, and as they began to rebel and to separate from the patriarchal leaders chosen by our Heavenly Parents, each group began to modify and change the true knowledge with which they were originally endowed to conform to their own personal preferences. Thus we have the various philosophies of Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Muslim, Judaism and Christianity, to name a few that are among the most well-known religions that have survived to the modern era.
Each of these philosophies has preserved certain truths and each has developed certain spiritual powers in conformity with their chosen points of emphasis. But they have all lost so much knowledge as a result of their rebellion against the Spirit of Truth. Even amongst the several Christian sects there is much variation as to their teachings and beliefs regarding that which awaits us when we leave the world of mortality. Based on their unique own interpretations of the scriptures some believe that when a man dies, unless he is properly baptized, he must go to a place of suffering. Others think that man has no individual soul, so he ceases to exist until the resurrection.
In order to arrive at a true and accurate understanding of what the Bible really reveals regarding this or any other theme, according to our Saviour at least three things are required: 1] a perpetual dedication to the study of the Bible and of things related thereto (If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32); 2] reliance on guidance from the Spirit of Truth (Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:3) and 3] living so as to be available to the guidance of the Spirit of Truth (Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:20-21); But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (1 Cor. 2:14-15)
With these things in mind and practice, you can learn many things from the Bible about life after death. However, in order to do so it is also often necessary to revert back to the original language of the Bible scribes to discover the accurate meanings of the words that have sometimes been loosely translated into English. This is in order to avoid the weaknesses that often accompany the arm of flesh. Take for example the two Old Testament Hebrew words, Sheol or sheole and qeber or qebuwrah. Both of these words are often interpreted in English to mean grave, sepulcher or burying place, but in reality they have two very distinct meanings. Sheol actually means underworld, abode of the dead, or place of punishment or exile, while the meaning of qeber is clearly known to be burial place, grave, sepulchre or burial site.
The diverse nuances of these two words give them obviously very different meanings. Qeber plainly refers to the place where a dead and lifeless body is buried, but Sheol, although also often translated as 'hell', evidently illustrates a vastly different situation, described as a separate ‘under’world where sentient beings, whatever their nature, may reside for a time and experience the consequences of censure and discipline.
This same differentiation is found in the Greek scriptures of the New Testament. There, the two Greek words that are often translated into the English word ‘grave’ are Hades and mnemeion, but as in the case of the Hebrew translations, these two words actually have very different meanings. The word mnemeion does mean place of interment, grave, sepulchre or tomb as does the Hebrew qeber, but the word Hades means unseen place or abode or state of departed souls or spirits, which is very similar to the meaning of the Hebrew Sheol.
From the above research one can come to the clear realization that upon the departure from mortality, man becomes separated into two entities. The body which is left lifeless goes to the grave (qeber or mnemeion), and the soul or spirit which remains conscious and goes to the unseen abode of departed souls (Sheol or Hades).
In pursuit of an understanding of these things, as you study the scriptures, you will discover that the Hebrew Sheol and the Greek Hades are both frequently interpreted into the English hell. Why should the place where departed spirits dwell be referred to as hell? There is actually a very good explanation for this, and you can find answers in several places in the New Testament.
First consider the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, found in Luke 16:19-31. There we find that upon death these two men immediately went to very different circumstances where they were both conscious and sentient. Lazarus died first and was taken by angels to a good place described as ‘Abraham’s bosom’. But when the rich man died we are told he found himself in hell [Hades]. Now according to what we have learned so far, the spirits of both of these men were in the place called Sheol or Hades, so how could the rich man be described as suffering in ‘hell’ while Lazarus is in comfort if they are both essentially in Sheol or Hades?
To clarify the situation consider also the words of our Saviour to the thief while they were both dying side by side on crosses. Shortly before his dying we are told: And Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) and we are further told by Peter that when Christ died he went to preach to the ‘spirits in prison’, referring to those that had been disobedient and had drowned during the great flood. Peter declared, “For Christ also hath 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 also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.(1 Peter 3:18-20)
Thus it is clearly shown in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, and also in the death of Christ, himself, the the dwelling place of spirits after they die, known as Sheol or Hades, is divided into two parts. One part is reserved for the repentant and the righteous and is known in scripture as the ‘bosom of Abraham’ and as ‘paradise’. The other part is the abode of those that are disobedient to the laws of God. In the Bible that place is translated both as ‘hell’ and as ‘spirit prison’.
It must be remembered, however, that even though the paradise section of this spirit world is sometimes called heaven and the prison section is often referred to as ‘hell’, both of these places are only temporary dwellings. There are numerous scriptures that talk about a great and final day of judgment. John describes it like this, “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 dead 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)
Our Saviour talks about the heavens saying, “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2-3)
Paul also gives us some insights regarding the nature of the next life telling us, “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 glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1 Cor. 15:40-44)
You can see that both the Lord and Paul have described a future place in the heavens that is very diverse in nature, Christ saying there are ‘many mansion’ and the apostle tells us that the stars all differ in glory, saying ‘so also is the resurrection of the dead.’ But we do not go to this future place until after we have first spent some time in Sheol/Hades, and until after that great day of judgment. But hopefully we have learned that the time spent in that spirit world is certainly not wasted.
We must realize that not only is the period of our mortality a time of learning and preparation, but it appears that the time that we spend in Sheol/Hades, whether it is in the spirit prison section or the paradise section, must also be a time of learning and preparation. Why else would the rich man in ‘hell’ have carried on the conversation with Abraham, and why else would the Lord have gone and preached to the spirits in prison right after he was crucified. Peter gives a good clarification for this when he explains that Christ went and preached to those spirits of the dead, and Peter then continues saying, “For 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.” (1 Peter 4:6)
Those in the temporary ‘hell’ of spirit prison were taught by Christ, but it also appears that they had access to such righteous men as Abraham. But those in ‘paradise’ certainly must be learning and progressing as well, because being ‘good’ is not sufficient. Did not Christ also say “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32) and “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48) Are these things no longer expected goals one we arrive at the life to come? We must continue progressing at least until the final judgment
Just because we have arrived at paradise obviously does not mean we have acquired a sufficient knowledge of the truth, and until we do we cannot become perfect as is our Father which is in heaven, and as the Lord has told us, we cannot be free until we do. So we can be sure that we must continue in his word, and continue to learn and continue to prepare ourselves in the next life. As Paul told the pagan Greeks, we are all the ‘offspring [kindred stock]of God’ (Acts 17:26-29).
A little historical examination seems to reveal that over the generations, as men began to multiply and spread across the earth, and as they began to rebel and to separate from the patriarchal leaders chosen by our Heavenly Parents, each group began to modify and change the true knowledge with which they were originally endowed to conform to their own personal preferences. Thus we have the various philosophies of Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Muslim, Judaism and Christianity, to name a few that are among the most well-known religions that have survived to the modern era.
Each of these philosophies has preserved certain truths and each has developed certain spiritual powers in conformity with their chosen points of emphasis. But they have all lost so much knowledge as a result of their rebellion against the Spirit of Truth. Even amongst the several Christian sects there is much variation as to their teachings and beliefs regarding that which awaits us when we leave the world of mortality. Based on their unique own interpretations of the scriptures some believe that when a man dies, unless he is properly baptized, he must go to a place of suffering. Others think that man has no individual soul, so he ceases to exist until the resurrection.
In order to arrive at a true and accurate understanding of what the Bible really reveals regarding this or any other theme, according to our Saviour at least three things are required: 1] a perpetual dedication to the study of the Bible and of things related thereto (If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32); 2] reliance on guidance from the Spirit of Truth (Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:3) and 3] living so as to be available to the guidance of the Spirit of Truth (Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:20-21); But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (1 Cor. 2:14-15)
With these things in mind and practice, you can learn many things from the Bible about life after death. However, in order to do so it is also often necessary to revert back to the original language of the Bible scribes to discover the accurate meanings of the words that have sometimes been loosely translated into English. This is in order to avoid the weaknesses that often accompany the arm of flesh. Take for example the two Old Testament Hebrew words, Sheol or sheole and qeber or qebuwrah. Both of these words are often interpreted in English to mean grave, sepulcher or burying place, but in reality they have two very distinct meanings. Sheol actually means underworld, abode of the dead, or place of punishment or exile, while the meaning of qeber is clearly known to be burial place, grave, sepulchre or burial site.
The diverse nuances of these two words give them obviously very different meanings. Qeber plainly refers to the place where a dead and lifeless body is buried, but Sheol, although also often translated as 'hell', evidently illustrates a vastly different situation, described as a separate ‘under’world where sentient beings, whatever their nature, may reside for a time and experience the consequences of censure and discipline.
This same differentiation is found in the Greek scriptures of the New Testament. There, the two Greek words that are often translated into the English word ‘grave’ are Hades and mnemeion, but as in the case of the Hebrew translations, these two words actually have very different meanings. The word mnemeion does mean place of interment, grave, sepulchre or tomb as does the Hebrew qeber, but the word Hades means unseen place or abode or state of departed souls or spirits, which is very similar to the meaning of the Hebrew Sheol.
From the above research one can come to the clear realization that upon the departure from mortality, man becomes separated into two entities. The body which is left lifeless goes to the grave (qeber or mnemeion), and the soul or spirit which remains conscious and goes to the unseen abode of departed souls (Sheol or Hades).
In pursuit of an understanding of these things, as you study the scriptures, you will discover that the Hebrew Sheol and the Greek Hades are both frequently interpreted into the English hell. Why should the place where departed spirits dwell be referred to as hell? There is actually a very good explanation for this, and you can find answers in several places in the New Testament.
First consider the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, found in Luke 16:19-31. There we find that upon death these two men immediately went to very different circumstances where they were both conscious and sentient. Lazarus died first and was taken by angels to a good place described as ‘Abraham’s bosom’. But when the rich man died we are told he found himself in hell [Hades]. Now according to what we have learned so far, the spirits of both of these men were in the place called Sheol or Hades, so how could the rich man be described as suffering in ‘hell’ while Lazarus is in comfort if they are both essentially in Sheol or Hades?
To clarify the situation consider also the words of our Saviour to the thief while they were both dying side by side on crosses. Shortly before his dying we are told: And Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) and we are further told by Peter that when Christ died he went to preach to the ‘spirits in prison’, referring to those that had been disobedient and had drowned during the great flood. Peter declared, “For Christ also hath 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 also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.(1 Peter 3:18-20)
Thus it is clearly shown in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, and also in the death of Christ, himself, the the dwelling place of spirits after they die, known as Sheol or Hades, is divided into two parts. One part is reserved for the repentant and the righteous and is known in scripture as the ‘bosom of Abraham’ and as ‘paradise’. The other part is the abode of those that are disobedient to the laws of God. In the Bible that place is translated both as ‘hell’ and as ‘spirit prison’.
It must be remembered, however, that even though the paradise section of this spirit world is sometimes called heaven and the prison section is often referred to as ‘hell’, both of these places are only temporary dwellings. There are numerous scriptures that talk about a great and final day of judgment. John describes it like this, “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 dead 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)
Our Saviour talks about the heavens saying, “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2-3)
Paul also gives us some insights regarding the nature of the next life telling us, “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 glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1 Cor. 15:40-44)
You can see that both the Lord and Paul have described a future place in the heavens that is very diverse in nature, Christ saying there are ‘many mansion’ and the apostle tells us that the stars all differ in glory, saying ‘so also is the resurrection of the dead.’ But we do not go to this future place until after we have first spent some time in Sheol/Hades, and until after that great day of judgment. But hopefully we have learned that the time spent in that spirit world is certainly not wasted.
We must realize that not only is the period of our mortality a time of learning and preparation, but it appears that the time that we spend in Sheol/Hades, whether it is in the spirit prison section or the paradise section, must also be a time of learning and preparation. Why else would the rich man in ‘hell’ have carried on the conversation with Abraham, and why else would the Lord have gone and preached to the spirits in prison right after he was crucified. Peter gives a good clarification for this when he explains that Christ went and preached to those spirits of the dead, and Peter then continues saying, “For 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.” (1 Peter 4:6)
Those in the temporary ‘hell’ of spirit prison were taught by Christ, but it also appears that they had access to such righteous men as Abraham. But those in ‘paradise’ certainly must be learning and progressing as well, because being ‘good’ is not sufficient. Did not Christ also say “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32) and “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48) Are these things no longer expected goals one we arrive at the life to come? We must continue progressing at least until the final judgment
Just because we have arrived at paradise obviously does not mean we have acquired a sufficient knowledge of the truth, and until we do we cannot become perfect as is our Father which is in heaven, and as the Lord has told us, we cannot be free until we do. So we can be sure that we must continue in his word, and continue to learn and continue to prepare ourselves in the next life. As Paul told the pagan Greeks, we are all the ‘offspring [kindred stock]of God’ (Acts 17:26-29).
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Does the Bible Reveal a Mother in Heaven/Goddess, Companion to God the Father?
The Answers Have Always Been There. They were just hidden by traditional Christian mindsets. Take a fresh look!
Does the Bible Reveal a Mother in Heaven/Goddess, Companion to God the Father?
The answer to this depends on whether or not you translate the Hebrew language precisely, as the Hebrew/Aramaic words for Heavenly Mother/Goddess [Eloahh and Elahh] appear at least 131 times in the Old Testament. If the English and German Bibles had first been translated by Catholic or Orthodox scholars, who have always believed in a Mother in Heaven, perhaps she would be common knowledge today. But the first translations of the Bible were accomplished by anti-Catholics, and the Protestant influence against the Catholic corruptions and worship of the Virgin has had such a strong and lasting influence that the Hebrew Goddess of the Old Testament has become unknown among traditional Christians.
However, assuming that you believe that the scriptures really mean what they say, there are many verses in the Old Testament where our Heavenly Mother is well-described, and even verses where she counsels us and gives us wise advice. We will now consider those following significant verses whose deeper meanings seem to have been so much ignored for so long by so many Bible scholars.
Throughout the book of Proverbs is mentioned a certain feminine entity, the Hebrew word represented in alpha characters as ‘Chokmah’ and translated into the English word ‘Wisdom’. When you consider that there are numerous other Hebrew words used throughout the Old Testament to denote wisdom, such words as sekel, tushiyah, leb, biynah, chakam, tabuwn, ormah, and teham, all signifying wisdom in its various aspects, it becomes significant to note that the one word ‘Chokmah’ is used in such a special way as to represent a divine feminine being with very singular qualities. The following examples are presented for consideration:
In Proverbs 1:20 to 2:2 she is represented as a compassionate feminine spirit-being that is a bearer of knowledge and understanding and who is concerned for the ignorance and stubborn nature of man and continually offers to all mankind the safety of her wise words of counsel and invites her children to escape destruction and desolation through hearkening to her words and understanding with their hearts:
1:20 “Wisdom [Chokmah] crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
1:21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love
simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make
known my words unto you. 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 1:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;"
We learn much more about this goddess when we consider the words found later, in Proverbs 8:22-36, where we learn that from the beginning this feminine being was with the creator, she was his companion even before he began his creation of the earth; that she was already with him when he was preparing the heavens. She was ‘as one brought up together with him’; and she was his daily delight, rejoicing with him in the earth and delighting in the children of men. She asks her children to hearken unto her and they will be blessed if they keep her ways and wait daily for her instruction. Those that do so will find life, but all those that reject her damage their souls and desire death.
8:22 "The LORD possessed [Hebrew–qanah –kä-nä’ –get, acquire, obtain] me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. 8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death."
However, as previously mentioned above, there is another name used in many places in the Old Testament to identify this Goddess consort of our Heavenly Father. In order to adequately discuss her further, we must first consider the four distinct Hebrew words found in the Old Testament that are all translated into the one English word, ‘god’:
1. ‘El’, meaning the strong, mighty, a mighty one, a hero, and is usually used together with the adjectives ‘Most High’ or ‘Almighty God’, when referring to the one divine being that we commonly think of as ‘God the Father’]. This word occurs 213 times in the Old Testament.
2. ‘Elowahh’ or ‘Eloahh’, the ‘El’ root above modified with ‘ahh’ feminine suffix, meaning by implication ‘Goddess’ or perhaps ‘Mother in Heaven’ It has 52 occurrences in the Old Testament.
3. ‘Elahh’, an Aramaic variation of ‘Eloahh’ above, also meaning Goddess or Mother in Heaven, having 79 occurrences in the Old Testament.
4. ‘Elohiym’ This word was a construction resulting from the combination of the feminine ‘Eloahh with the masculine plural suffix ‘iym, thus creating a name which describes and refers to by implication at least two gods, and of both the masculine and the feminine genders. Thus Elohiym might be interpreted as ‘the God and the Goddess’, or perhaps ‘Father and Mother in Heaven”. It occurs 2,346 times in the Old Testament.
Thus you can see there is a specific Hebrew Goddess mentioned in at least 131 places in the Old Testament (Elowahh 52 times and Elahh 79 times). But the significance and meaning of these verses mentioning this goddess have become gradually obscured over time because the Israelites were specifically assigned by God, the Father to his Son, Jehovah as an inheritance, and so they were commanded by him to worship him above all others (no other Gods before me).
Some very revealing verses to consider in the assignment of Israel to Jehovah, in this regard can be found at Deuteronomy 32:8-9, which explains:
”When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. For the LORD's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.”
This reveals that there was a time when the Most High God (Hebrew-El) divided the nations, separating the various racial descendants of Adam, setting their boundaries, and taking into consideration the size of the nation of Israel. He then assigns to the LORD (YHWH or Jehovah) who is his son, the people of Jacob (Israelites) for his inheritance.
This scripture also provides a rather obvious illustration of the fact that the Most High God and Jehovah are two distinct beings. Then the Christian translators have compounded the confusion in our understanding of the nature of the gods by interpreting the feminine words for ‘Goddess’ [Eloahh and Elahh] into the English masculine word, ‘God’.
But now consider that final word for God, ‘Elohiym’, which occurs 2,346 times in the OT, far more than the others. This perhaps implies that it is most important that we should ultimately learn to worship God as ‘Heavenly Mother and Father’ together. This concept is especially illuminating when considering the meaning of Genesis 1:27 which as now interpreted into English says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Using the correct grammatical interpretation this verse would be translated to say, “So the God and the Goddess [or Heavenly Father and Mother] created mankind in their own image; male and female created they them”
Let us now return to consider more of those scriptures in Proverbs using the Hebrew name ‘Chokmah’ to refer to our Heavenly Mother. You can see that she is described there as such a compelling advocate of truth, understanding, knowledge, justice, judgment, equity and instruction that, since ancient times her name has become a synonymous with one of the Hebrew meanings for ‘wisdom’.
However, much depiction is also given of her love for mankind and her continuous desire to reach her children with proper instruction and understanding. As you read the following verses, notice that the pronoun used for ‘understanding’ is always ‘it’, connoting a concept, while the pronouns used when referring to ‘wisdom’ are usually ‘she’ and ‘her’, and ‘I’, ‘me’ and ‘my’, which connote a ‘living being’.:
In Proverbs 3:13-18 we are instructed that having an ongoing relationship with her is worth more than earthly treasure and is the way to long life, happiness wealth and peace:
3:13 "Happy is the man that findeth Wisdom [Chokmah], and the man that getteth understanding. 3:14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 3:15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her."
In Proverbs 4:5-13 we are advised to seek a relationship with her and to be faithful to her, to love her and exalt her, to listen to her and let her teach us and allow her to guide us. We are promised that if we do these things she will preserve us, bring us honor, allow us a long life, and lead us in the right path.
4:5 "Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 4:6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 4:7 Wisdom [Chokmah] is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 4:8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 4:9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. 4:11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 4:12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life."
In Proverbs 8:1-11 we are instructed that this goddess Chokmah, puts forth her voice and calls to all the children of men in all places to listen and understand with their hearts and she will teach them of that which is excellent and right and true, that she only speaks righteousness and never wickedness. She says that those that seek understanding and knowledge rather than riches will find that her words are true and easy to understand and beyond compare:
8:1 "Doth not Wisdom [Chokmah] cry? and understanding put forth her voice? 8:2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. 8:3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. 8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. 8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. 8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. 8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. 8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it."
In Proverbs 8:12-21 we learn that she lives prudently and seeks after that which is clever, that she and the Lord both hate evil, pride, arrogance and the rebellious; she is wise, understanding and strong; and she allows princes, kings and nobles to rule with justice; that those who seek her early shall find her and obtain riches and honor and righteousness and she shall lead them in paths of judgment and promises treasure to those that love her:
8:12 "I wisdom [Chakmowth] dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. 8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. 8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. 8:18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 8:20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures."
We also find in the New Testament certain occasions when the word ‘Wisdom’ is used by our Saviour to refer to His [and our] Mother in Heaven. When Jesus found himself harshly judged in the face of his good works, he made reference to ‘Wisdom’ [Greek –Sophia]as his mother, and the mother of mankind, saying:
“The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But Wisdom is justified of her children.” (Matt.11:19; Luke 7:34-35)
The modern-day religions of the 'traditional Christian' churches seem to be totally oblivious to the existence of our Heavenly Mother in the Bible. If it were not for the Roman Catholics, the Greek Orthodox and the Mormons, she might be totally ignored by Christianity! What a shame.
Joseph Smith also knew there is a Heavenly Mother but he only discussed her with his close friends, such as Eliza R. Snow. Thus we have reference to her in the hymn ‘O My Father’. The reason she could not be widely taught in the restored church was apparently due to the strong Protestant traditions that the converts brought into the church against the Catholic belief of praying to Mary, the mother of Jesus. As Joseph Smith expressed it, "There has been great difficulty in getting anything into the heads of this generation. It has been like splitting hemlock knots with a corn-dodger for a wedge, and a pumpkin for a beetle. Even the saints are slow to understand. I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the saints prepared to receive the things of God; but we frequently see some of them, after suffering all they have for the work of God, WILL FLY TO PIECES LIKE GLASS as soon as anything comes that is CONTRARY TO THEIR TRADITIONS: they cannot stand the fire at all. How many will be able to abide a celestial law, and go through and receive their exaltation, I am unable to say, as many are called, but few are chosen." DHC 6:183-185
Does the Bible Reveal a Mother in Heaven/Goddess, Companion to God the Father?
The answer to this depends on whether or not you translate the Hebrew language precisely, as the Hebrew/Aramaic words for Heavenly Mother/Goddess [Eloahh and Elahh] appear at least 131 times in the Old Testament. If the English and German Bibles had first been translated by Catholic or Orthodox scholars, who have always believed in a Mother in Heaven, perhaps she would be common knowledge today. But the first translations of the Bible were accomplished by anti-Catholics, and the Protestant influence against the Catholic corruptions and worship of the Virgin has had such a strong and lasting influence that the Hebrew Goddess of the Old Testament has become unknown among traditional Christians.
However, assuming that you believe that the scriptures really mean what they say, there are many verses in the Old Testament where our Heavenly Mother is well-described, and even verses where she counsels us and gives us wise advice. We will now consider those following significant verses whose deeper meanings seem to have been so much ignored for so long by so many Bible scholars.
Throughout the book of Proverbs is mentioned a certain feminine entity, the Hebrew word represented in alpha characters as ‘Chokmah’ and translated into the English word ‘Wisdom’. When you consider that there are numerous other Hebrew words used throughout the Old Testament to denote wisdom, such words as sekel, tushiyah, leb, biynah, chakam, tabuwn, ormah, and teham, all signifying wisdom in its various aspects, it becomes significant to note that the one word ‘Chokmah’ is used in such a special way as to represent a divine feminine being with very singular qualities. The following examples are presented for consideration:
In Proverbs 1:20 to 2:2 she is represented as a compassionate feminine spirit-being that is a bearer of knowledge and understanding and who is concerned for the ignorance and stubborn nature of man and continually offers to all mankind the safety of her wise words of counsel and invites her children to escape destruction and desolation through hearkening to her words and understanding with their hearts:
1:20 “Wisdom [Chokmah] crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
1:21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love
simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make
known my words unto you. 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 1:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;"
We learn much more about this goddess when we consider the words found later, in Proverbs 8:22-36, where we learn that from the beginning this feminine being was with the creator, she was his companion even before he began his creation of the earth; that she was already with him when he was preparing the heavens. She was ‘as one brought up together with him’; and she was his daily delight, rejoicing with him in the earth and delighting in the children of men. She asks her children to hearken unto her and they will be blessed if they keep her ways and wait daily for her instruction. Those that do so will find life, but all those that reject her damage their souls and desire death.
8:22 "The LORD possessed [Hebrew–qanah –kä-nä’ –get, acquire, obtain] me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. 8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death."
However, as previously mentioned above, there is another name used in many places in the Old Testament to identify this Goddess consort of our Heavenly Father. In order to adequately discuss her further, we must first consider the four distinct Hebrew words found in the Old Testament that are all translated into the one English word, ‘god’:
1. ‘El’, meaning the strong, mighty, a mighty one, a hero, and is usually used together with the adjectives ‘Most High’ or ‘Almighty God’, when referring to the one divine being that we commonly think of as ‘God the Father’]. This word occurs 213 times in the Old Testament.
2. ‘Elowahh’ or ‘Eloahh’, the ‘El’ root above modified with ‘ahh’ feminine suffix, meaning by implication ‘Goddess’ or perhaps ‘Mother in Heaven’ It has 52 occurrences in the Old Testament.
3. ‘Elahh’, an Aramaic variation of ‘Eloahh’ above, also meaning Goddess or Mother in Heaven, having 79 occurrences in the Old Testament.
4. ‘Elohiym’ This word was a construction resulting from the combination of the feminine ‘Eloahh with the masculine plural suffix ‘iym, thus creating a name which describes and refers to by implication at least two gods, and of both the masculine and the feminine genders. Thus Elohiym might be interpreted as ‘the God and the Goddess’, or perhaps ‘Father and Mother in Heaven”. It occurs 2,346 times in the Old Testament.
Thus you can see there is a specific Hebrew Goddess mentioned in at least 131 places in the Old Testament (Elowahh 52 times and Elahh 79 times). But the significance and meaning of these verses mentioning this goddess have become gradually obscured over time because the Israelites were specifically assigned by God, the Father to his Son, Jehovah as an inheritance, and so they were commanded by him to worship him above all others (no other Gods before me).
Some very revealing verses to consider in the assignment of Israel to Jehovah, in this regard can be found at Deuteronomy 32:8-9, which explains:
”When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. For the LORD's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.”
This reveals that there was a time when the Most High God (Hebrew-El) divided the nations, separating the various racial descendants of Adam, setting their boundaries, and taking into consideration the size of the nation of Israel. He then assigns to the LORD (YHWH or Jehovah) who is his son, the people of Jacob (Israelites) for his inheritance.
This scripture also provides a rather obvious illustration of the fact that the Most High God and Jehovah are two distinct beings. Then the Christian translators have compounded the confusion in our understanding of the nature of the gods by interpreting the feminine words for ‘Goddess’ [Eloahh and Elahh] into the English masculine word, ‘God’.
But now consider that final word for God, ‘Elohiym’, which occurs 2,346 times in the OT, far more than the others. This perhaps implies that it is most important that we should ultimately learn to worship God as ‘Heavenly Mother and Father’ together. This concept is especially illuminating when considering the meaning of Genesis 1:27 which as now interpreted into English says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Using the correct grammatical interpretation this verse would be translated to say, “So the God and the Goddess [or Heavenly Father and Mother] created mankind in their own image; male and female created they them”
Let us now return to consider more of those scriptures in Proverbs using the Hebrew name ‘Chokmah’ to refer to our Heavenly Mother. You can see that she is described there as such a compelling advocate of truth, understanding, knowledge, justice, judgment, equity and instruction that, since ancient times her name has become a synonymous with one of the Hebrew meanings for ‘wisdom’.
However, much depiction is also given of her love for mankind and her continuous desire to reach her children with proper instruction and understanding. As you read the following verses, notice that the pronoun used for ‘understanding’ is always ‘it’, connoting a concept, while the pronouns used when referring to ‘wisdom’ are usually ‘she’ and ‘her’, and ‘I’, ‘me’ and ‘my’, which connote a ‘living being’.:
In Proverbs 3:13-18 we are instructed that having an ongoing relationship with her is worth more than earthly treasure and is the way to long life, happiness wealth and peace:
3:13 "Happy is the man that findeth Wisdom [Chokmah], and the man that getteth understanding. 3:14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 3:15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her."
In Proverbs 4:5-13 we are advised to seek a relationship with her and to be faithful to her, to love her and exalt her, to listen to her and let her teach us and allow her to guide us. We are promised that if we do these things she will preserve us, bring us honor, allow us a long life, and lead us in the right path.
4:5 "Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 4:6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 4:7 Wisdom [Chokmah] is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 4:8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 4:9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. 4:11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 4:12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life."
In Proverbs 8:1-11 we are instructed that this goddess Chokmah, puts forth her voice and calls to all the children of men in all places to listen and understand with their hearts and she will teach them of that which is excellent and right and true, that she only speaks righteousness and never wickedness. She says that those that seek understanding and knowledge rather than riches will find that her words are true and easy to understand and beyond compare:
8:1 "Doth not Wisdom [Chokmah] cry? and understanding put forth her voice? 8:2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. 8:3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. 8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. 8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. 8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. 8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. 8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it."
In Proverbs 8:12-21 we learn that she lives prudently and seeks after that which is clever, that she and the Lord both hate evil, pride, arrogance and the rebellious; she is wise, understanding and strong; and she allows princes, kings and nobles to rule with justice; that those who seek her early shall find her and obtain riches and honor and righteousness and she shall lead them in paths of judgment and promises treasure to those that love her:
8:12 "I wisdom [Chakmowth] dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. 8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. 8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. 8:18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 8:20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures."
We also find in the New Testament certain occasions when the word ‘Wisdom’ is used by our Saviour to refer to His [and our] Mother in Heaven. When Jesus found himself harshly judged in the face of his good works, he made reference to ‘Wisdom’ [Greek –Sophia]as his mother, and the mother of mankind, saying:
“The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But Wisdom is justified of her children.” (Matt.11:19; Luke 7:34-35)
The modern-day religions of the 'traditional Christian' churches seem to be totally oblivious to the existence of our Heavenly Mother in the Bible. If it were not for the Roman Catholics, the Greek Orthodox and the Mormons, she might be totally ignored by Christianity! What a shame.
Joseph Smith also knew there is a Heavenly Mother but he only discussed her with his close friends, such as Eliza R. Snow. Thus we have reference to her in the hymn ‘O My Father’. The reason she could not be widely taught in the restored church was apparently due to the strong Protestant traditions that the converts brought into the church against the Catholic belief of praying to Mary, the mother of Jesus. As Joseph Smith expressed it, "There has been great difficulty in getting anything into the heads of this generation. It has been like splitting hemlock knots with a corn-dodger for a wedge, and a pumpkin for a beetle. Even the saints are slow to understand. I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the saints prepared to receive the things of God; but we frequently see some of them, after suffering all they have for the work of God, WILL FLY TO PIECES LIKE GLASS as soon as anything comes that is CONTRARY TO THEIR TRADITIONS: they cannot stand the fire at all. How many will be able to abide a celestial law, and go through and receive their exaltation, I am unable to say, as many are called, but few are chosen." DHC 6:183-185
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Condemnation - Is the Lord seeking another people?
Condemnation - Is the Lord seeking another people?
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "... for if Zion will not purify herself, so as to be approved of in all things, in His sight, He will seek another people; (DHC 1:316, TPJS, p. 18)
The following condemnation was pronounced upon the church in 1831:
D&C 84:54-59 - "And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received - - which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all. And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written - - that they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father's kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion."
In a solemn assembly at general conference April 6, 1986, President Ezra Taft Benson was sustained by Church members as the prophet, seer, and revelator, and President of the Church. In his concluding address of the conference, President Benson said, “…the Lord has revealed the need to reemphasize the Book of Mormon to get the Church and all the children of Zion out from under condemnation—the scourge and judgment" (Ensign 16 [May 1986]:7-8;. To that end, his address "The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God" was repeated in regional conferences throughout the Church.
So according to president Benson, after one hundred fifty-five years, the church continued to remain under condemnation for failure to take the scriptures seriously!
On 6 June 1993, Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this fireside address, "Another Testament of Jesus Christ" was given at Brigham Young University. In his remarks he said,
“Along with other General Authorities, I have a clear recollection of the General Authority temple meeting on March 5, 1987. For a year President Benson had been stressing the reading of the Book of Mormon. Repeatedly he had quoted these verses from the Doctrine and Covenants, including the Lord's statement that the Saints' conduct had "brought the whole church under condemnation" (D&C 84:55).”
“In that temple meeting, President Benson reread those statements and declared, "This condemnation has not been lifted, nor will it be until we repent" (remarks by President Ezra Taft Benson, General Authority Temple Meeting, Thursday, 5 March 1987). He also repeated his declaration of a year earlier that, in our day, the Lord has inspired his servant to reemphasize the Book of Mormon to get the Church out from under condemnation”
“To understand why President Benson has exhorted us to reemphasize the Book of Mormon and why this is necessary to remove us from condemnation, we need to remember the major theme of that book…I will give you my clear impressions of why he has pleaded with us to repent of our neglect of the Book of Mormon…I believe it is the neglect of this subject that has continued the condemnation in our own day.”
“This is the new covenant, as explained in the Book of Mormon. May we follow the commandment to give diligent heed to these words of eternal life; may we follow our prophet's challenge to remove the condemnation that comes from treating this new covenant lightly; may we be true to our sacred responsibilities, I pray, even as I testify to the truth of these things, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
So according to Elder Oaks, after one hundred sixty-two years, the church continued to remain under condemnation!
On December 31, 2003 Jack R. Christianson, director, Orem Institute of Religion published “Why We Need the Book of Mormon" , which is excerpted from Life Lessons from the Book of Mormon, in which he quoted a number of General Authorities and Book of Mormon scriptures that referred to this same condemnation. Among many references to it are: ‘As President Benson has suggested, "We must flood the earth with the Book of Mormon--and get out from under God's condemnation for having treated it lightly.", and then quoting Robert Millet, former dean of the College of Religious Instruction at Brigham Young University, said this of the condemnation we are under:
“In a broader sense, I believe the condemnation that rests upon the Latter-day Saints is a loss of spiritual power, a loss of blessings, a loss of perspective about eternal possibilities. Perhaps we have not enjoyed the revelations, the divine direction, the sweet promptings of the Spirit, that might have been ours. We have not been the recipients of the fruit of the Spirit--"love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Galatians 5:22-23)--as we could have been. Surely we have not enjoyed the understanding, the light and truth, the lens of pure intelligence, that is so readily accessible. In too many cases our minds and hearts have not been shaped and prepared by the Book of Mormon, by its lessons and logic, testimony and transforming power, and thus too often the judgment and discernment so essential to perceiving the false doctrines of the world, and even the irrelevant, have not been as strong as they might have been. Because we have not immersed and washed ourselves in those living waters that flow from the Book of Mormon, we have not enjoyed faith like the ancients, that faith which strengthens resolve and provides courage and peace in a time of unrest. So much of the stress and fear and apprehension and exhaustion that now exist in society is so very unnecessary; ours could be the right to that lifting and liberating Spirit that produces hope and peace and rest. Though the light of the fulness of the everlasting gospel has begun to break forth into a world of darkness (see D&C 45:28), yet too often we walk in darkness at noonday, or at least we traverse the path of life in twilight when we might bask in the bright light of the Son.” (The Power of the Word: Saving Doctrines from the Book of Mormon, p. 303)
So according to Elder Christianson, after one hundred seventy-two years, the church continued to remain under condemnation!
Is there any doubt that the church remains under that same condemnation, even today?
With that fact in mind, I would point out to you that in August of 1831, the Lord warned the church, saying, “Wherefore, let the church repent of their sins, and I, the Lord, will own them; otherwise they shall be cut off.” (D&C 63:63). As anyone can see the church is still under condemnation and has NOT repented after one hundred seventy-eight years [2009], and true to the warning of the Lord, it has been CUT OFF from the blessings listed above by Dr. Millet, if not much more.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "... for if Zion will not purify herself, so as to be approved of in all things, in His sight, He will seek another people; (DHC 1:316, TPJS, p. 18)
The following condemnation was pronounced upon the church in 1831:
D&C 84:54-59 - "And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received - - which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all. And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written - - that they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father's kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion."
In a solemn assembly at general conference April 6, 1986, President Ezra Taft Benson was sustained by Church members as the prophet, seer, and revelator, and President of the Church. In his concluding address of the conference, President Benson said, “…the Lord has revealed the need to reemphasize the Book of Mormon to get the Church and all the children of Zion out from under condemnation—the scourge and judgment" (Ensign 16 [May 1986]:7-8;. To that end, his address "The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God" was repeated in regional conferences throughout the Church.
So according to president Benson, after one hundred fifty-five years, the church continued to remain under condemnation for failure to take the scriptures seriously!
On 6 June 1993, Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this fireside address, "Another Testament of Jesus Christ" was given at Brigham Young University. In his remarks he said,
“Along with other General Authorities, I have a clear recollection of the General Authority temple meeting on March 5, 1987. For a year President Benson had been stressing the reading of the Book of Mormon. Repeatedly he had quoted these verses from the Doctrine and Covenants, including the Lord's statement that the Saints' conduct had "brought the whole church under condemnation" (D&C 84:55).”
“In that temple meeting, President Benson reread those statements and declared, "This condemnation has not been lifted, nor will it be until we repent" (remarks by President Ezra Taft Benson, General Authority Temple Meeting, Thursday, 5 March 1987). He also repeated his declaration of a year earlier that, in our day, the Lord has inspired his servant to reemphasize the Book of Mormon to get the Church out from under condemnation”
“To understand why President Benson has exhorted us to reemphasize the Book of Mormon and why this is necessary to remove us from condemnation, we need to remember the major theme of that book…I will give you my clear impressions of why he has pleaded with us to repent of our neglect of the Book of Mormon…I believe it is the neglect of this subject that has continued the condemnation in our own day.”
“This is the new covenant, as explained in the Book of Mormon. May we follow the commandment to give diligent heed to these words of eternal life; may we follow our prophet's challenge to remove the condemnation that comes from treating this new covenant lightly; may we be true to our sacred responsibilities, I pray, even as I testify to the truth of these things, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
So according to Elder Oaks, after one hundred sixty-two years, the church continued to remain under condemnation!
On December 31, 2003 Jack R. Christianson, director, Orem Institute of Religion published “Why We Need the Book of Mormon" , which is excerpted from Life Lessons from the Book of Mormon, in which he quoted a number of General Authorities and Book of Mormon scriptures that referred to this same condemnation. Among many references to it are: ‘As President Benson has suggested, "We must flood the earth with the Book of Mormon--and get out from under God's condemnation for having treated it lightly.", and then quoting Robert Millet, former dean of the College of Religious Instruction at Brigham Young University, said this of the condemnation we are under:
“In a broader sense, I believe the condemnation that rests upon the Latter-day Saints is a loss of spiritual power, a loss of blessings, a loss of perspective about eternal possibilities. Perhaps we have not enjoyed the revelations, the divine direction, the sweet promptings of the Spirit, that might have been ours. We have not been the recipients of the fruit of the Spirit--"love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Galatians 5:22-23)--as we could have been. Surely we have not enjoyed the understanding, the light and truth, the lens of pure intelligence, that is so readily accessible. In too many cases our minds and hearts have not been shaped and prepared by the Book of Mormon, by its lessons and logic, testimony and transforming power, and thus too often the judgment and discernment so essential to perceiving the false doctrines of the world, and even the irrelevant, have not been as strong as they might have been. Because we have not immersed and washed ourselves in those living waters that flow from the Book of Mormon, we have not enjoyed faith like the ancients, that faith which strengthens resolve and provides courage and peace in a time of unrest. So much of the stress and fear and apprehension and exhaustion that now exist in society is so very unnecessary; ours could be the right to that lifting and liberating Spirit that produces hope and peace and rest. Though the light of the fulness of the everlasting gospel has begun to break forth into a world of darkness (see D&C 45:28), yet too often we walk in darkness at noonday, or at least we traverse the path of life in twilight when we might bask in the bright light of the Son.” (The Power of the Word: Saving Doctrines from the Book of Mormon, p. 303)
So according to Elder Christianson, after one hundred seventy-two years, the church continued to remain under condemnation!
Is there any doubt that the church remains under that same condemnation, even today?
With that fact in mind, I would point out to you that in August of 1831, the Lord warned the church, saying, “Wherefore, let the church repent of their sins, and I, the Lord, will own them; otherwise they shall be cut off.” (D&C 63:63). As anyone can see the church is still under condemnation and has NOT repented after one hundred seventy-eight years [2009], and true to the warning of the Lord, it has been CUT OFF from the blessings listed above by Dr. Millet, if not much more.
What Does the Bible Really Tell us About Who is God?
Consider the importance of having true knowledge of God:
Our Saviour taught, "And this is Life Eternal, that they might know Thee the Only True God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3). Doesn’t this mean that our very salvation depends upon having an accurate understanding about the Father and the Son?
But the Bible teaches some things about them that traditional Christians ignore and few people ever consider or understand. Consider for example the words of Christ to the Jews on a certain occasion when they wanted to kill him for claiming equality with God: Then answered Jesus and said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.” (John 5:19-20)
It is clear to me that the Saviour is saying here, that everything that He has done on earth was previously done by His Father, who is our Father in Heaven, and was shown to him. And that means that his Father (our Heavenly Father) once lived on some world as a mortal man, in the same way that our Saviour was now doing on earth, and that God had previously done all the things and even had to suffer and die like our Saviour would soon do, because Christ said He didn't do anything and couldn’t do anything that His Father had not already done.
We also need to realize that, as Paul taught, the Saviour was once an unperfected man, and had to go through suffering to learn obedience (just like any mortal man). "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;" (Hebrews 5:8)
In conclusion, the Bible teaches that if we are to have ‘life eternal’ we must arrive at an accurate understanding that God (the Father), even as His Son (our Saviour) was once a man and in many ways he was like other men. This also means that if Christ has a father (God), then God must have a father as well (a higher God). These things might seem shocking to those of traditional Christian beliefs, but though we may only worship one God, the universe contains billions of galaxies and there is room for many more gods. If you take into consideration the concepts taught in many other biblical scriptures, you will see that these concepts are perfectly consistent with the overall themes found in the Bible
For example you might ask yourself, “If God the Father and God the Son both began as mortal men, what does that say about other mortal men? Can we become gods also?” The following scriptures show us that the Bible teaches in many places that we can become Gods, like our Heavenly Father and our Saviour:
1] The Saviour Himself commands us to become perfect, as our Father in Heaven is perfect “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
(Matt. 5:48).
2] We are promised in the Bible that we can become filled with "all the fullness of God" through the grace of Christ. . “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19).
3] Christ said that we can become one with Him, as He is one with the Father. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory whic.h thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:20-23).
4] Paul taught that all of mankind are the literal offspring of God, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as 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).
5] Paul also said that the Spirit testifies that we are children of God and we can become "joint heirs with Christ" and be glorified with Him. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:14-17).
6] Paul challenged us to think in the same way as Christ who thought it was correct to want to be equal with God. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God (Philippian 2:5,6).
7] Peter also taught that through Christ, we can become godly and receive great and precious promises by which we can put on the divine nature. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:3-4).
8] John said those who follow Christ can become like Him. “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 shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2),
9] John writes that God said we can inherit all the things of God – “He that overcometh shall inhert all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Rev. 21:7)
10] He also says we will become kings and priests to God “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Rev. 1:6)
11] And he writes that Christ says we can sit in the very throne of Christ as he sits in the throne of God. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Rev. 3:21).
So how does modern Christianity explain away such scriptures? They mainly do so by relying on their traditional beliefs and by ignoring the message conveyed by taking all the scriptures into consideration together. But if they are to have a hope for ‘life etetnal’ they must come to know the true God, and they cannot afford to ignore any of the scriptures.
These scriptures disclose an important aspect of the very beliefs also held by early Christianity, the doctrine of "theosis," holding that man can become like God
The Early Christians also understood that men were to become Gods:
1] Saint Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, (bet.115 and 200 AD) wrote, "Do we cast blame on him [God] because we were not made gods from the beginning, but were at first created merely as men, and then later as gods? Although God has adopted this course out of his pure benevolence, that no one may charge him with discrimination or stinginess, he declares, "I have said, ye are gods; and all of you are sons of the Most High." ... For it was necessary at first that nature be exhibited, then after that what was mortal would be conquered and swallowed up in immortality." Irenaeus, Against Heresies,4.38. Cp. 4.11 (2): "But man receives progression and increase towards God. For God is always the same, so also man, when found in God, shall always progress toward God."
2] Saint Clement of Alexandria (bet. 115 -215 AD) wrote, "Yea, I say, the Word of God became a man so that you might learn from a man how to become a god." [Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Greeks, 1.] and also;
"if one knows himself, he will know God, and knowing God will become like God.... His is beauty, true beauty, for it is God, and that man becomes a god, since God wills it. So Heraclitus was right when he said, 'Men are gods, and gods are men.'" [Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor, 3.1 See also Clement, Stromateis, 23.]
3] Saint Justin Martyr (about 100-165 AD) insisted that in the beginning men were 'made like God, free from suffering and ," and that they are thus deemed worthy of becoming gods and of having power to become sons of the highest." [Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, 124.]
The Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith also taught that God, our Heavenly Father, was once a mortal man [and our Heavenly Mother was once a mortal woman]. But this teaching of the Restored Gospel is now apparently being minimized by the current Church leaders, perhaps in order to gain greater acceptance among traditional Christians!
Compare:
Original Teaching -
1] Joseph Smith ("King Follett Discourse," Journal of Discourses 6:3-4, also in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 342-345): "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted Man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is the great secret... It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the character of God and to know...that he was once a man like us.... Here, then, is eternal life - to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves,... the same as all Gods have done before you..."
2] Brigham Young (Journal of Discourses 7:333): "He [God] is our Father - the Father of our spirits, and was once a man in mortal flesh as we are, and is now an exalted being."
3] Brigham Young (Journal of Discourses 3:93): "The Lord created you and me for the purpose of becoming Gods like himself."
4] Milton R. Hunter (The Gospel Through the Ages, p 104): "Mormon prophets have continuously taught the sublime truth that God the Eternal Father was once a mortal man who passed through a school of earth life similar that through which we are now passing. He became God - an exalted being - through obedience to the same eternal Gospel truths that we are given opportunity today to obey."
5] Bruce R. McConkie (Mormon Doctrine, 1966 ed p 250): "...God...is a personal Being, a holy and exalted man..."
6] Joseph Fielding Smith (Doctrines of Salvation 1:10, 1954, cited from 21st printing 1975): "God is an exalted man. Some people are trouble over the statements of the Prophet Joseph Smith ... that our Father in heaven at one time passed through a life and and is an exalted man..."
7] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young (published by the church as an official lesson manual 1997 [text "approved 10/95"], p. 29): "President Brigham Young taught ... that God the Father was once a man on another planet who 'passed the ordeals we are now passing through...'"
Current Teaching -
1] Gordon B. Hinckley being interviewed by Don Lattin (religion editor, San Francisco Chronicle, April 13, 1997, p 3/Z1)
Q: There are some significant differences in your beliefs [and other Christian churches]. For instance, don't Mormons believe that God was once a man?
Hinckley: I wouldn't say that. There was a little couplet coined, "As man is, God once was. As God is, man may become." Now that's more of a couplet than anything else. That gets into some pretty deep theology that we don't know very much about. [emphasis added]
Q: So you're saying the church is still struggling to understand this?
Hinckley: Well, as God is, man may become. We believe in eternal progression. Very strongly. We believe that the glory of God is intelligence and whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the Resurrection. ...that's one thing that's different. Modern revelation. We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, we believe he has yet to reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
2] Gordon B. Hinckley, as quoted in Time Magazine, Aug 4, 1997:
"On whether his church still holds that God the Father was once a man, [Hinckley] sounded uncertain, `I don't know that we teach it. I don't know that we emphasize it... I understand the philosophical background behind it, but I don't know a lot about it, and I don't think others know a lot about it.'" [emphasis added]
3] A spokesman for Hinckley, when questioned about the accuracy of the Time quotation, asserted that Hinckley's words were taken out of context, and that Hinckley was thus misquoted. The Time reporter, however, has made available the pertinent part of the transcript of his interview with Hinckley. Here is the relevant excerpt from President Hinckley's interview with Time:
Q: Just another related question that comes up is the statements in the King Follett discourse by the Prophet.
Hinckley: Yeah
Q: ... about that, God the Father was once a man as we were. This is something that Christian writers are always addressing. Is this the teaching of the church today, that God the Father was once a man like we are?
Hinckley: I don't know that we teach it. I don't know that we emphasize it. I haven't heard it discussed for a long time in public discourse. I don't know. I don't know all the circumstances under which that statement was made. I understand the philosophical background behind it. But I don't know a lot about it and I don't know that others know a lot about it. [emphasis added]
In consideration of the words of our Saviour, "And this is Life Eternal, that they might know Thee the Only True God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3). there seems to be serious inconsistencies in a religion where the founding prophet, JOSEPH SMITH, JR. taught: "It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the character of God and to know... that he was once a man like us..." and the current leader ‘prophet’, GORDON B. HINCKLEY teaches: [Q. Was God once a man?] "I don't know. ... I wouldn't say that... I don't know that we teach it... We don't know very much about [that]... I don't know a lot about it"
Our Saviour taught, "And this is Life Eternal, that they might know Thee the Only True God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3). Doesn’t this mean that our very salvation depends upon having an accurate understanding about the Father and the Son?
But the Bible teaches some things about them that traditional Christians ignore and few people ever consider or understand. Consider for example the words of Christ to the Jews on a certain occasion when they wanted to kill him for claiming equality with God: Then answered Jesus and said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.” (John 5:19-20)
It is clear to me that the Saviour is saying here, that everything that He has done on earth was previously done by His Father, who is our Father in Heaven, and was shown to him. And that means that his Father (our Heavenly Father) once lived on some world as a mortal man, in the same way that our Saviour was now doing on earth, and that God had previously done all the things and even had to suffer and die like our Saviour would soon do, because Christ said He didn't do anything and couldn’t do anything that His Father had not already done.
We also need to realize that, as Paul taught, the Saviour was once an unperfected man, and had to go through suffering to learn obedience (just like any mortal man). "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;" (Hebrews 5:8)
In conclusion, the Bible teaches that if we are to have ‘life eternal’ we must arrive at an accurate understanding that God (the Father), even as His Son (our Saviour) was once a man and in many ways he was like other men. This also means that if Christ has a father (God), then God must have a father as well (a higher God). These things might seem shocking to those of traditional Christian beliefs, but though we may only worship one God, the universe contains billions of galaxies and there is room for many more gods. If you take into consideration the concepts taught in many other biblical scriptures, you will see that these concepts are perfectly consistent with the overall themes found in the Bible
For example you might ask yourself, “If God the Father and God the Son both began as mortal men, what does that say about other mortal men? Can we become gods also?” The following scriptures show us that the Bible teaches in many places that we can become Gods, like our Heavenly Father and our Saviour:
1] The Saviour Himself commands us to become perfect, as our Father in Heaven is perfect “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
(Matt. 5:48).
2] We are promised in the Bible that we can become filled with "all the fullness of God" through the grace of Christ. . “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19).
3] Christ said that we can become one with Him, as He is one with the Father. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory whic.h thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:20-23).
4] Paul taught that all of mankind are the literal offspring of God, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as 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).
5] Paul also said that the Spirit testifies that we are children of God and we can become "joint heirs with Christ" and be glorified with Him. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:14-17).
6] Paul challenged us to think in the same way as Christ who thought it was correct to want to be equal with God. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God (Philippian 2:5,6).
7] Peter also taught that through Christ, we can become godly and receive great and precious promises by which we can put on the divine nature. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:3-4).
8] John said those who follow Christ can become like Him. “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 shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2),
9] John writes that God said we can inherit all the things of God – “He that overcometh shall inhert all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Rev. 21:7)
10] He also says we will become kings and priests to God “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Rev. 1:6)
11] And he writes that Christ says we can sit in the very throne of Christ as he sits in the throne of God. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Rev. 3:21).
So how does modern Christianity explain away such scriptures? They mainly do so by relying on their traditional beliefs and by ignoring the message conveyed by taking all the scriptures into consideration together. But if they are to have a hope for ‘life etetnal’ they must come to know the true God, and they cannot afford to ignore any of the scriptures.
These scriptures disclose an important aspect of the very beliefs also held by early Christianity, the doctrine of "theosis," holding that man can become like God
The Early Christians also understood that men were to become Gods:
1] Saint Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, (bet.115 and 200 AD) wrote, "Do we cast blame on him [God] because we were not made gods from the beginning, but were at first created merely as men, and then later as gods? Although God has adopted this course out of his pure benevolence, that no one may charge him with discrimination or stinginess, he declares, "I have said, ye are gods; and all of you are sons of the Most High." ... For it was necessary at first that nature be exhibited, then after that what was mortal would be conquered and swallowed up in immortality." Irenaeus, Against Heresies,4.38. Cp. 4.11 (2): "But man receives progression and increase towards God. For God is always the same, so also man, when found in God, shall always progress toward God."
2] Saint Clement of Alexandria (bet. 115 -215 AD) wrote, "Yea, I say, the Word of God became a man so that you might learn from a man how to become a god." [Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Greeks, 1.] and also;
"if one knows himself, he will know God, and knowing God will become like God.... His is beauty, true beauty, for it is God, and that man becomes a god, since God wills it. So Heraclitus was right when he said, 'Men are gods, and gods are men.'" [Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor, 3.1 See also Clement, Stromateis, 23.]
3] Saint Justin Martyr (about 100-165 AD) insisted that in the beginning men were 'made like God, free from suffering and ," and that they are thus deemed worthy of becoming gods and of having power to become sons of the highest." [Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, 124.]
The Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith also taught that God, our Heavenly Father, was once a mortal man [and our Heavenly Mother was once a mortal woman]. But this teaching of the Restored Gospel is now apparently being minimized by the current Church leaders, perhaps in order to gain greater acceptance among traditional Christians!
Compare:
Original Teaching -
1] Joseph Smith ("King Follett Discourse," Journal of Discourses 6:3-4, also in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 342-345): "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted Man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is the great secret... It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the character of God and to know...that he was once a man like us.... Here, then, is eternal life - to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves,... the same as all Gods have done before you..."
2] Brigham Young (Journal of Discourses 7:333): "He [God] is our Father - the Father of our spirits, and was once a man in mortal flesh as we are, and is now an exalted being."
3] Brigham Young (Journal of Discourses 3:93): "The Lord created you and me for the purpose of becoming Gods like himself."
4] Milton R. Hunter (The Gospel Through the Ages, p 104): "Mormon prophets have continuously taught the sublime truth that God the Eternal Father was once a mortal man who passed through a school of earth life similar that through which we are now passing. He became God - an exalted being - through obedience to the same eternal Gospel truths that we are given opportunity today to obey."
5] Bruce R. McConkie (Mormon Doctrine, 1966 ed p 250): "...God...is a personal Being, a holy and exalted man..."
6] Joseph Fielding Smith (Doctrines of Salvation 1:10, 1954, cited from 21st printing 1975): "God is an exalted man. Some people are trouble over the statements of the Prophet Joseph Smith ... that our Father in heaven at one time passed through a life and and is an exalted man..."
7] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young (published by the church as an official lesson manual 1997 [text "approved 10/95"], p. 29): "President Brigham Young taught ... that God the Father was once a man on another planet who 'passed the ordeals we are now passing through...'"
Current Teaching -
1] Gordon B. Hinckley being interviewed by Don Lattin (religion editor, San Francisco Chronicle, April 13, 1997, p 3/Z1)
Q: There are some significant differences in your beliefs [and other Christian churches]. For instance, don't Mormons believe that God was once a man?
Hinckley: I wouldn't say that. There was a little couplet coined, "As man is, God once was. As God is, man may become." Now that's more of a couplet than anything else. That gets into some pretty deep theology that we don't know very much about. [emphasis added]
Q: So you're saying the church is still struggling to understand this?
Hinckley: Well, as God is, man may become. We believe in eternal progression. Very strongly. We believe that the glory of God is intelligence and whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the Resurrection. ...that's one thing that's different. Modern revelation. We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, we believe he has yet to reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
2] Gordon B. Hinckley, as quoted in Time Magazine, Aug 4, 1997:
"On whether his church still holds that God the Father was once a man, [Hinckley] sounded uncertain, `I don't know that we teach it. I don't know that we emphasize it... I understand the philosophical background behind it, but I don't know a lot about it, and I don't think others know a lot about it.'" [emphasis added]
3] A spokesman for Hinckley, when questioned about the accuracy of the Time quotation, asserted that Hinckley's words were taken out of context, and that Hinckley was thus misquoted. The Time reporter, however, has made available the pertinent part of the transcript of his interview with Hinckley. Here is the relevant excerpt from President Hinckley's interview with Time:
Q: Just another related question that comes up is the statements in the King Follett discourse by the Prophet.
Hinckley: Yeah
Q: ... about that, God the Father was once a man as we were. This is something that Christian writers are always addressing. Is this the teaching of the church today, that God the Father was once a man like we are?
Hinckley: I don't know that we teach it. I don't know that we emphasize it. I haven't heard it discussed for a long time in public discourse. I don't know. I don't know all the circumstances under which that statement was made. I understand the philosophical background behind it. But I don't know a lot about it and I don't know that others know a lot about it. [emphasis added]
In consideration of the words of our Saviour, "And this is Life Eternal, that they might know Thee the Only True God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3). there seems to be serious inconsistencies in a religion where the founding prophet, JOSEPH SMITH, JR. taught: "It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the character of God and to know... that he was once a man like us..." and the current leader ‘prophet’, GORDON B. HINCKLEY teaches: [Q. Was God once a man?] "I don't know. ... I wouldn't say that... I don't know that we teach it... We don't know very much about [that]... I don't know a lot about it"
Friday, August 28, 2009
I Fell In Love with Bonnie D.
Searching for Bonnie D. [My Life’s Inspiration]
I have written the following narrative to elucidate that womanly source of an influence, the memory of which has motivated me greatly over the last 50 years, and to extol and to honor a young lady and a family that have had such a decisive influence on my life as to provide aspirations that have propelled me forward and ultimately served to greatly define my character and my life as I have studied to achieve the knowledge and understanding that I share in this blog with all of mankind:
In 1954 I was a 10 year old boy growing up in Hollywood, California. After school I would sometimes attend a weekly church sponsored program for children. The boys attended classes separate from the girls, but there were also combined activities. On one festive occasion we were playing ‘musical chairs’ and I especially noticed a certain girl, perhaps I didn’t know why at the time, but later I came to believe it was due to the way her extraordinary sense of dignity and composure seemed to radiate about her. I did not realize until later the lifelong effect she was to have on me, even though at the time I didn’t even learn her name.
About that time they were preparing the children to present a program at the Sunday evening church services, and since I was the only boy in our ‘trail builder’ class that was cooperative with our teacher, she asked me to sing a song for the program, which I reluctantly agreed to do, as I had never done such a thing previously. Many years later I found a printed program that had been written for that particular evening’s activities which my mother had saved, and behold, there was the name of that girl! But first, let me explain how I was able to even find out who she was.
Apparently the boundaries for the several church organizations were changed, requiring some of the members to attend their group meetings at different times, or else I didn’t continue to attend regularly, I don’t remember, but I never saw the girl after that time. Our family eventually moved to St. Louis, Missouri due to my father’s work [he was an experimental test pilot], and about 2 years after that we moved to Cape Cod, but we always kept our home in the Hollywood Hills, always returning briefly between dad’s assignments, and in 1959 our family finally returned to stay.
On a certain Sunday, soon after our arrival our family attended that same church, and the leader was a very inspiring man named Ludwig T.Dethloff. He and his family were always a warm and lasting example of goodness and a source of inspiration to me. That day when it came time for the members to separate for classes, according to age and interests, I was directed to the room where my age group was assigned, and I went there to wait for class to begin. For a while I was the only one there, but soon a beautiful and enchanting young woman entered therein, and I was overcome and left weak by the effect that her presence had on me. Though perhaps I had always suspected it, it wasn’t until years later that I came to know that she was that same young woman that had been the little girl who had previously impressed me so greatly when I was a boy of 10..
Anyway, fortunately our family was no longer required to travel, so we continued to attend that same church, and I was able to see that young woman every week [I learned that her name was Bonnie], and her image of dignity, composure and spirituality never ceased to intensify in my mind. We both participated in a daily early-morning religion class, after which we attended the same school [John Marshall High School] and I would gradually prevail over the awe in which I held her, at least from time to time, and would try to speak to her, usually resulting in my appearing to be a blabbering imbecile, at least that was the way I felt, no fault of hers.
She seemed to occupy all of my waking thoughts throughout my remaining high school years and I was moved to learn everything I could about her, as she was a source of perpetual fascination . After almost 50 years I still remember her family address [4458 Maplewood] the license plate on her family’s cars [turquoise ’57 Chevy – UGJ2181] [white’60 Olds – UUW976] but my youth and inexperience seemed to leave me impaired when it came to establishing a meaningful relationship with her, and I never really even talked to her on the telephone except for a few times to ask her to go out with me.
Despite my seeming social disability, I was able to ask her out on a date from time to time, but I was too painfully shy and inexperienced to ever get close to her as I would have liked. On our first date I too her to a ‘beat nik’ place off of Hollywood Blvd (I think it was called the Lamplighter) where they played music and she drank a soda while I had a celery tonic. When we left, a funny dialog developed between us. The streets seemed rather empty, and as I didn’t drive yet, I said something like “I hope we can find a cab”, to which she replied, “I’m not worried because I have a brother-in-law who is a police officer”. Then I replied, “Then I have a date with a brother-in-law who is a police officer.”
Well, that didn’t make any sense to her and I failed to understand why, so I felt embarrassed and told her to forget it. In thinking about the problem, I later realized that the whole difficulty was tied up in the different way we were interpreting the word ‘date’. Apparently she was giving it the meaning similar to ‘meeting’ and thought I was saying “then I have a meeting with a brother-in-law who is a police officer”, which is a weird and irrelevant remark, under the circumstances. I could have cleared the whole thing up if I had said it like this, “then I have a date whose brother-in-law is a police officer”. That is just one example of why I had a tendency to keep my mouth shut!!!
On another occasion we went to see the movie ‘Spartacus’ at the Pantages Theater near Hollywood and Vine. That was an emotion-drenched picture starring some great actors, Kirk Douglas and Jean Simmons. Finally I asked her to my senior prom [I graduated before she did] and after the prom we went to an exclusive Japanese restaurant on the Sunset Strip, called Imperial Gardens. After we dined I took her home and I kissed her for the first and only time. But that kiss took me to euphoria, and for me was the kiss to last a lifetime.
I was working and saving my money and Bonnie soon graduated and went to college out of state and I should have gotten her address and written to her and told her how I felt, but I didn’t. Such a letter might have made all the difference in our lives, but perhaps it was not the time. While she was away at college I was sent to Mexico for 2 years and during the second year [1965] I received an announcement of her wedding. I don’t know who sent it or why they would have gone to the trouble to find my address in Mexico and have sent it there, as I really didn’t have much to do with her family or her, as I had not seen her for several years. But I have often wondered about that.
In fact, over the many years that I had not seen her, Bonnie continued to be always at the back of my thoughts as a perpetual font of inspiration to me, and I always had the unspoken conviction that she was somehow meant to be with me. However, when I got the wedding announcement I thought that was the end of that and I dismissed her from my mind, or so I thought. The truth is that my relationship with her has never ended, as over the years she has often haunted my dreams.
Sometimes I would be going places and looking for her and sometimes I would see her, but there always seemed to be obstacles between us, keeping us apart and I could never quite get close enough to talk to her. But then one day we found ourselves talking together at her house, and that was a major sign of progress for me, and I woke up feeling elated! But last night [August 28, 2009] I was with her again and I explained to her for the first time the entire history of my feelings for her and she put her arms around me and I awoke with the idea that I must create this blog about us called ‘Searching for Bonnie D.’ and if she is really meant to be for me then she will somehow find it and respond. Until then I’ll keep on waiting and dreaming, as I have done my entire life. After all, we have all of the eternities to resolve the matter, and eternity is what life is really about!
I have written the following narrative to elucidate that womanly source of an influence, the memory of which has motivated me greatly over the last 50 years, and to extol and to honor a young lady and a family that have had such a decisive influence on my life as to provide aspirations that have propelled me forward and ultimately served to greatly define my character and my life as I have studied to achieve the knowledge and understanding that I share in this blog with all of mankind:
In 1954 I was a 10 year old boy growing up in Hollywood, California. After school I would sometimes attend a weekly church sponsored program for children. The boys attended classes separate from the girls, but there were also combined activities. On one festive occasion we were playing ‘musical chairs’ and I especially noticed a certain girl, perhaps I didn’t know why at the time, but later I came to believe it was due to the way her extraordinary sense of dignity and composure seemed to radiate about her. I did not realize until later the lifelong effect she was to have on me, even though at the time I didn’t even learn her name.
About that time they were preparing the children to present a program at the Sunday evening church services, and since I was the only boy in our ‘trail builder’ class that was cooperative with our teacher, she asked me to sing a song for the program, which I reluctantly agreed to do, as I had never done such a thing previously. Many years later I found a printed program that had been written for that particular evening’s activities which my mother had saved, and behold, there was the name of that girl! But first, let me explain how I was able to even find out who she was.
Apparently the boundaries for the several church organizations were changed, requiring some of the members to attend their group meetings at different times, or else I didn’t continue to attend regularly, I don’t remember, but I never saw the girl after that time. Our family eventually moved to St. Louis, Missouri due to my father’s work [he was an experimental test pilot], and about 2 years after that we moved to Cape Cod, but we always kept our home in the Hollywood Hills, always returning briefly between dad’s assignments, and in 1959 our family finally returned to stay.
On a certain Sunday, soon after our arrival our family attended that same church, and the leader was a very inspiring man named Ludwig T.Dethloff. He and his family were always a warm and lasting example of goodness and a source of inspiration to me. That day when it came time for the members to separate for classes, according to age and interests, I was directed to the room where my age group was assigned, and I went there to wait for class to begin. For a while I was the only one there, but soon a beautiful and enchanting young woman entered therein, and I was overcome and left weak by the effect that her presence had on me. Though perhaps I had always suspected it, it wasn’t until years later that I came to know that she was that same young woman that had been the little girl who had previously impressed me so greatly when I was a boy of 10..
Anyway, fortunately our family was no longer required to travel, so we continued to attend that same church, and I was able to see that young woman every week [I learned that her name was Bonnie], and her image of dignity, composure and spirituality never ceased to intensify in my mind. We both participated in a daily early-morning religion class, after which we attended the same school [John Marshall High School] and I would gradually prevail over the awe in which I held her, at least from time to time, and would try to speak to her, usually resulting in my appearing to be a blabbering imbecile, at least that was the way I felt, no fault of hers.
She seemed to occupy all of my waking thoughts throughout my remaining high school years and I was moved to learn everything I could about her, as she was a source of perpetual fascination . After almost 50 years I still remember her family address [4458 Maplewood] the license plate on her family’s cars [turquoise ’57 Chevy – UGJ2181] [white’60 Olds – UUW976] but my youth and inexperience seemed to leave me impaired when it came to establishing a meaningful relationship with her, and I never really even talked to her on the telephone except for a few times to ask her to go out with me.
Despite my seeming social disability, I was able to ask her out on a date from time to time, but I was too painfully shy and inexperienced to ever get close to her as I would have liked. On our first date I too her to a ‘beat nik’ place off of Hollywood Blvd (I think it was called the Lamplighter) where they played music and she drank a soda while I had a celery tonic. When we left, a funny dialog developed between us. The streets seemed rather empty, and as I didn’t drive yet, I said something like “I hope we can find a cab”, to which she replied, “I’m not worried because I have a brother-in-law who is a police officer”. Then I replied, “Then I have a date with a brother-in-law who is a police officer.”
Well, that didn’t make any sense to her and I failed to understand why, so I felt embarrassed and told her to forget it. In thinking about the problem, I later realized that the whole difficulty was tied up in the different way we were interpreting the word ‘date’. Apparently she was giving it the meaning similar to ‘meeting’ and thought I was saying “then I have a meeting with a brother-in-law who is a police officer”, which is a weird and irrelevant remark, under the circumstances. I could have cleared the whole thing up if I had said it like this, “then I have a date whose brother-in-law is a police officer”. That is just one example of why I had a tendency to keep my mouth shut!!!
On another occasion we went to see the movie ‘Spartacus’ at the Pantages Theater near Hollywood and Vine. That was an emotion-drenched picture starring some great actors, Kirk Douglas and Jean Simmons. Finally I asked her to my senior prom [I graduated before she did] and after the prom we went to an exclusive Japanese restaurant on the Sunset Strip, called Imperial Gardens. After we dined I took her home and I kissed her for the first and only time. But that kiss took me to euphoria, and for me was the kiss to last a lifetime.
I was working and saving my money and Bonnie soon graduated and went to college out of state and I should have gotten her address and written to her and told her how I felt, but I didn’t. Such a letter might have made all the difference in our lives, but perhaps it was not the time. While she was away at college I was sent to Mexico for 2 years and during the second year [1965] I received an announcement of her wedding. I don’t know who sent it or why they would have gone to the trouble to find my address in Mexico and have sent it there, as I really didn’t have much to do with her family or her, as I had not seen her for several years. But I have often wondered about that.
In fact, over the many years that I had not seen her, Bonnie continued to be always at the back of my thoughts as a perpetual font of inspiration to me, and I always had the unspoken conviction that she was somehow meant to be with me. However, when I got the wedding announcement I thought that was the end of that and I dismissed her from my mind, or so I thought. The truth is that my relationship with her has never ended, as over the years she has often haunted my dreams.
Sometimes I would be going places and looking for her and sometimes I would see her, but there always seemed to be obstacles between us, keeping us apart and I could never quite get close enough to talk to her. But then one day we found ourselves talking together at her house, and that was a major sign of progress for me, and I woke up feeling elated! But last night [August 28, 2009] I was with her again and I explained to her for the first time the entire history of my feelings for her and she put her arms around me and I awoke with the idea that I must create this blog about us called ‘Searching for Bonnie D.’ and if she is really meant to be for me then she will somehow find it and respond. Until then I’ll keep on waiting and dreaming, as I have done my entire life. After all, we have all of the eternities to resolve the matter, and eternity is what life is really about!
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