Of God, Of Man and Of the Devil

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      Joseph Smith prophesied about the Book of Mormon according to B. H. Roberts in his book A Comprehensive History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Page 162-163 of volume 1 says, "Hyrum Smith is represented by David Whitmer as saying that it had been suggested to him that some of the brethren might go to toronto, Canada, and sell the copyright of the book (of Mormon) for considerable money, that is, sell the right to publish the book in the Canadian provinces, not dispose of the copyright absolutely.  He persuaded Joseph Smith to inquire of the Lord, with the result... that he 'received a revelation that some of the brethren should go to Toronto, Canada, and they would sell the copyright.'  Accordingly, Oliver Cowedery and Hirum Page, the latter being one of the eight witnesses, went to canada to sell the copyright, but failed.  David Whitmer represents that this failure threw the little group of believers into great trouble, and they went to the Prophet and asked him to account for the failure.  The prophet frankly acknowledged his inability to understand the cause of the failure, and inquired of the Lord.  He received for answer... this: 'Some revelations are of God; some revelations are of man; and some revelations are of the devil.' "  

      Joseph Smith was saying that a prophet can receive a revelation from God, from man and from the Devil.  Since his prophecy failed to come to pass, it could not have been from God.  The other two options that Joseph Smith mentioned are these:  The revelation can be "of man" or "of the devil."  The "group of believers" must have thought it impossible for Joseph Smith to speak a false prophesy.  They were troubled by the failure of the prophecy as well as not being able to get the Book of Mormon Published.  According to Joseph Smith, false prophesy is a possibility.  If it is possibly for Joseph Smith to be misled, is it possible for you and I to be misled?  Alma 30:53 says, "But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel,..."  In the same verse, Korihor states that he taught this deceiving angel's words and they were "pleasing".  2 Nephi 9:9 states that the devil "...transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men...."  2 Corinthians 11:14 says, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."  Joseph Smith and the "group of believers" realized that the prophecy was false because it did not come pass.  The venture was a failure.  Deuteronomy 18:22 says, "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."

Helpful False Prophets

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     Why does God allow false prophets to influence the church?  Do they have any purpose in the world?  They deceive people and lead them astray.  Why doesn't God just get rid of them all and make life easier?
      Dueteronomy 13:3 says that they are a test to show where our heart is.  "Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD you God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."  We often judge people on their outward appearance but God looks at our hearts.  Jeremiah 5:31 tells us of Israel's poor spiritual condition.  "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"  The Jews had fallen away from their God to follow the lies of false prophets and priests.
    In 1 Kings 22, false prophets were part of God's judgement on Israel.  The Israelite king Ahab wanted to go to war against the Syria.  About 400 prophets were prophesying victory for Israel.  Then the prophet Micaiah prophesied defeat for Israel.  In verses 19-23, Micaiah said, "...Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD:  I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.  And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?  And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.  And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.  And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.  Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee."  King Ahab went to war anyway and died in the battle.  Israel was scattered.  This was God's judgement on Israel for their wickedness.
      Some assume that God will not allow the possibility of his people being affected by false prophets.  Dueternomy 18:20-22 did not give the Israelite people such assurance but rather told them how to respond to false prophets. "But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.  And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?  When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."
    These examples show us that God does allow false prophets and that they may have a purpose.  They can expose the heart of God's people as a test.  They can also be a part of God's judgement as in the case of king Ahab.
   

Disobeying the Commandments

 Prophets  

     Are you obeying the commandments from the right God?  The heading on chapter 13 of Deuteronomy says, "The Lord tests his people to see if they will worship false gods-..."  Verses 1-4 say, "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us sere them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.  Ye shall walk after the LORD you God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him."
     There are many ideas about what God is.  Moroni 8:18 says, "For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity."  Have you been praying to a "changeable being"?  Has your god always been god from "all eternity to all eternity" or did he have to ascend into godhood?  Is he a progressing, exalted man?
      These verses do not ask us to pray about a prophet.  We are not instructed to seek a certain feeling about a prophet.  The Deuteronomy passage is not subjective.  It is objective.  It is a thinking decision to decide which prophet to accept.  If you are praying to an exalted man, then you are not praying to the God of Moroni 8:18.  It is impossible to follow God's commands if you are following the wrong god.

Spirits

      In 1 John 4:1-3, we are commanded to try the spirits.  "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that is should come; and even now already is it in the world."

      Again, this verse does not mention prayer or subjective feelings.  A number of religions believe in Jesus, but Matthew 24:23-24 gives us a Christ warning.  "Then is any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it no.  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."  As we try the spirits, do they give witness to the Jesus of the Bible or of another Christ?  John 3:16 says that Jesus is God's "only begotten son."  Are we praying to the son of an unchangeable being or the son of an exalted man?  If the spirit bears witness to a christ that is the son of an exalted man, then that spirit is not from God.  Christ, the son of a "changeable being" is a false christ.  Let us follow God's command to "Try the spirits".

Gospel

      In Galations 1:8&9, the apostle Paul commands us not to follow other gospels.  "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."  There are stories of an angel with a sword confronting and commanding people to receive the teaching of plural marriage or receive damnation.  D&C 132:4 says, "For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory."  Here is a gospel that says receive plural marriage and be saved by faith after all you can do.  Paul was very careful and accurate in describing the gospel message to the church in Galatia.  He preached salvation by grace through faith.  He strongly stood against those commanding circumcision and the law for salvation.  The apostle Paul does not ask anyone to pray about the gospel or have a certain feeling of it's truthfulness.  It was objective, not subjective.  They were only to receive the gospel of salvation by grace through faith.  Polygamy was not a part of his gospel.  Paul preached about having good works, but he did not include it in his salvation message.  Are we following Paul's command to stay away from other gospels?

      May you follow the commands of the God who is an unchangeable being from all eternity to all eternity.  May you only be led by the Holy Spirit that testifies of the true Christ.  May you cling to the Apostle Paul's simple gospel message.  May God be with you always.

Priesthood Requirements - Exodus 29

The Bible requirements for becoming a priest are found in Exodus 29.  Please read the chapter for more details.
Priesthood Requirements - Exodus 29
1. Select one young bull and two rams that are without blemish.
2. Take unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil and wafers anointed with oil. 
3.  Put the food in a basket.  Bring the animals and food to the door of the tabernacle.
4.  The priests must be washed with water at the door of the tabernacle.
5.  The high priest must put on the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, the breastplate and the intricately woven band of the ephod.  Then the high priest must put on the turban and the holy crown of the turban.
6.  Take the anointing oil and pour it on the high priest's head and anoint him.
7.  Put tunics on the other priests.  Gird them with sashes and put hats on them.
8.  Bring the bull before the tabernacle and have all the priests put their hands on the head of the bull.
9.  Kill the bull by the door of the tabernacle.
10.  Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the alter with your finger.
11.  Pour all of the blood beside the base of the alter.
12.  Take all the fat that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them and burn all of it on the alter.
13. Take the flesh of the bull, with its skin and it's offal and burn it outside the camp as a sin offering.
14.  The priest must put their hands on the head of one ram.
15.  Kill the ram and sprinkle it's blood all around the alter.
16.  Cut the ram in pieces, wash the entrails and legs and then put it back together with its head.
17.  Burn the whole ram on the alter as a burnt offering to the Lord.
18.  The priests must put their hands on the head of the other ram.
19.  Kill the ram and put some of its blood on the priests' right ears, right thumbs and right big toes.
20.  Sprinkle the blood around the alter.
21.  Take some of the blood that is on the alter with some anointing oil, and sprinkle it on the priests and their garments.
22. Take the fat of the ram, the fat or the tail, the fat that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, the two right kidneys and the fat that is on them, the right thigh, one loaf of bread, some cake and wafers and put these in the hands of the priests.
23. Wave these things as a wave offering before the Lord and then burn them on the alter as a burnt offering to the Lord.
24.  Take the breast of the first ram and wave it as a wave offering.
25.  Consecrate the thigh of the heave offering and the breast of the wave offering.  These shall be from Israel for Aaron and his sons forever.
26.  The son of Aaron who becomes high priest must put on the holy garments for seven days when he ministers in the most holy place in the tabernacle of meeting.
27.  Take the ram of the consecration and boil its flesh in the holy place.
28.  The priests must eat the flesh of the ram and the bread by the door of the tabernacle.
29.  Eat the things with which the atonement was made.
30.  If any of the bread or flesh is left over in the morning, it must be burned with fire.
31.  The priests must be consecrated seven days.
32.  Offer a bull everyday for seven days as a sin offering for atonement.
33.  Clean the alter each day and anoint it to sanctify it.

In the Bible, you had to be a descendant of Aaron to become a priest.  It was not open to any other Israelites.

Melchisedec Priesthood - Authority to Baptise

   Does my church have authority from God to baptize? Can a person be saved and filled with God’s Spirit at my church?

The answer is found in Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament, the Aaronic or Levitical priesthood served an important role in offering sacrifices for the sins of the people. But when Christ offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice on the cross, that system was fulfilled. No longer was it necessary to offer animals for sin offerings. We all deserved to die for our own sins, but Jesus took our place on the cross and paid the price once and for all.

Hebrews 4:14 says, “We have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.”

Hebrews 5:6 tells us that Christ is “a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

Hebrews 6:20 says, “Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

And Hebrews 7:17 repeats this truth: “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

In the Old Testament, when a high priest died, his son became the next high priest. The priesthood passed through many men because each one eventually died. But Christ is different. He rose from the tomb and lives forever to be our High Priest. Hebrews 7:21–24 explains:

“Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec: by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”

To help us understand this, think of how we elect a United States Senator. We see their ads on TV and their signs around town. They promise to represent our state and work for our best interests. Once elected, the Senator leaves New Mexico and goes to Washington, D.C., to represent us in Congress.

In a far greater way, Christ, our great High Priest, represents us before God the Father in the heavenly tabernacle. Hebrews 9:24 says, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

Hebrews 9:11–12 also declares, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

And Hebrews 8:1–2 affirms, “We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”

Because Jesus is our eternal High Priest—alive forever and interceding for us—our authority as His church flows directly from Him.

Yes, my church has authority from God to baptize through Christ.

Jesus was crucified to fulfill the Aaronic and Levitical priesthood. He then became our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec and ever lives to intercede for us before the throne of God.

Praise God for His many blessings!

Brigham Young's Adam-God

     The Adam-God doctrine is not found in the standard works.  Brigham Young was the only Mormon prophet that taught this obscure belief.  In 1852 he said, "...When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him.  He helped to make and organize this world.  He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken - he is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do" (Journal of Discourses 1:50).  Brigham Young said, "What a learned idea!  Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven.  Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation" (Journal of Discourses 1:51).  In 1861 Young said, "...some years ago, I advanced a doctrine with regard to Adam being our father and God, that will be a cause to many Elders of Israel because of their folly.  With regard to it they yet grovel in darkness and will.  It is one of the most glorious revealments of the economy of heaven, yet the world holds it dirrision" (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Spring 1982, p. 29).  In 1873 Brigham Young said, "How much unbelief exists in the minds of the Latter-day Saints in regard to one particular doctrine which is revealed to them, and which God revealed to me - namely that Adam is our father and God" (Brigham Young, Deseret News, June 18, 1873, p. 308).
     Here is the question:  Was Brigham Young teaching the God of the Bible?  Did he describe the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?  In the Bible, Adam was a man that was created by God.  Brigham Young's Adam was God of this earth!  Deuteronomy 13:1-6 says, "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.  Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.  And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in.  So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee."