Mormon Defender

Can families be together forever?

2009-11-18T01:33:00.000-06:00

Are families together forever? Can you be married to the one you love forever? Why is it that people yearn for love and togetherness to be together "forever". This desire is evident in poems, songs and general thought. It's often expressed innately as a term of endearment naturally when we discuss our love to those who mean the most to us. Yet, the same people get married in a church that terminates their marriage at death, even though this is contrary to everything they feel inside. Is such a belief Biblical? I personally know that families can be together forever if done so with the same authority Christ gave to his Apostles. It's important to note that I believe this, not from Biblical teachings, but from those of prophets, like Moses, to whom this was revealed to. To learn more, click here www.lds.org I will now explain this belief at a very high level using the Bible.

Our first parents, Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden together, and they were married. Genesis 2:18 "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." They were in a state of grace, even innocence with God. There was a Tree of Life that if eaten, would have let them live forever. All Christians believe that Christ redeemed all mankind from the fall so that we can get back to that same condition. If they were married before the fall, why should they not be married after the fall when they are redeemed back to that same state?

Generally Christians believe that the fall of man was NOT intended or should not have happened. Therefore, if there wasn't a fall, then Adam and Eve would have stayed married forever in that same state. Again, with the fall and Christs redemption, we are restored to this same state.

Furthermore, marriage is ordained of God. Whatever he has put together, let no man put asunder. God sanctioned marriage. Ecclesiastes 3:14 "14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him." If Marriage is ordained of God, it shall be so forever. In fact, when you consider the keys given to Peter. Marriage can be forever.

In Mathew 16:18-19 Christ gave the keys of the Kingdom to Peter, that whatsoever he "bound" on earth shall be bound in Heaven. Any marriages that he performed would likewise be bound in Heaven where we will live for eternity after our resurrection.

1 Corinthians 11:11 "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord." When we go to Heaven, will we not be in the Lord if we aren't married?

1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." Emphasis on heirs of the grace of life TOGETHER.

Isaiah 65, Isaiah prophecies about the Millenium and the 1000 years of peace. Isaiah 65:23 "They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them." This clearly distinguishes families will be with their parents. Eternal Families!

Till Death do you part is not in the Bible it is man-made.

Often Mis-quoted or mis-used scriptures regarding this subject:
In Mathew 22:23-32, the Sadducess, who didn't believe in the resurrection came to Christ, not with a real doctrinal question, but rather to tempt him and test him with a story about a woman married 7 times to 7 brothers and asked Christ who's wife she was in the resurrection... and he says "29. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

32I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

This isn't addressing a Doctrine on Marriage. They were ridiculing the doctrine of resurrection. In fact, in this story, there is no question who the husband is. It is written in the law and obvious that her husband is the first one. The others can only take her to wife in order to give her an heir (child).

Romans 7:2 The context of the Mosaic law, this is only referencing Divorce and re-marry in the Mosaic Law. This has nothing to do with whether or not you can be together forever.

Early Christianity and Mormon Temples

2009-08-17T23:54:00.001-05:00

Esoteric Ritual During the New Testament Era

Writings from the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Codices show that for two centuries before and after Jesus Christ, certain religious groups practiced rituals that included anointing patrons and the receiving of celestial robes. Teaching about the use of secret names and tokens took place along with passing through the temple veil into the presence of God. Revelations of the secrets of creation and the exaltation and deification of individuals were presented. Ascension into various levels of heaven rfepresenting different degrees of glory was a part of the ceremony. The need for moral purity was taught, and Eternal Marriages were performed.

Baptism:

Early Christian churches, practiced baptism of youth (not infants) by immersion by the father of the family. Afterwards, the youth was dressed in a white robe, and anointed with oil and given a new name. This ritual was sacred and not open to non-family members to view. The local congregation had a lay ministry. An early Christian Church has been re-constructed at the Israel Museum, and the above can be verified. http://www.imj.org.il/eng/exhibitions/2000/christianity/ancientchurch/structure/index.htmlBaptism for Deceased Ancestors is referenced in 1 Corinthians 15:29 "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?" Baptism for deceased ancestors was practiced by Marcionites, an early Christian group, Orthodox Christian groups; Coptics (who even practice it today on occasion); Ethiopian Christians, called Abyssinians; and early Roman Catholics, as reported by Augustine and others.The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) continues baptism and a lay ministry as taught by Jesus' Apostles.

· Sacred Ordinances

Early Christians were persecuted for keeping their esoteric practices sacred and prohibiting non-Christians from witnessing them.

Hippolytus (ca. A.D. 200) made a statement "But if there is any other matter which ought to be told, let the bishop impart it secretly to those who are communicated. He shall not tell this to any but the faithful and only after they have first been communicated. This is the white stone of which John said that there is a new name written upon it which no man knows except him who receives.[i]"

Clement of Alexandria claimed to possess a secret tradition of knowledge (Greek gnosis) handed down from the Savior to the Apostles and on to Clement himself by way of certain of his teachers. "Clement represents this secret discipline to which he gives the title of gnosis, or gift of knowledge, as having been conferred by our Lord, after his resurrection, on James the Just, John, and Peter, by whom it was communicated to the other Apostles; and that by these the treasure was committed to the seventy disciples, of whom Barnabas was one. . . the secret discipline thus instituted by Christ was familiar to those who had been his masters and preceptors,"[ii]

"The multitude professing Christianity were therefore divided by them into the "profane," or those who were not yet admitted to the mysteries, and the "initiated," or faithful and perfect. . . and as none were permitted to be present at these "mysteries," as they were termed, save those whose admission into the fellowship of the church was perfect and complete, so likewise was it expected that, as a matter of duty, the most sacred silence should be observed in regard to everything connected with the celebration of them, and nothing whatever relating thereto to be committed to the ears of the profane."[iii]

· 40 Days Between Christ's Crucifixion and Ascension

In Sophia Jesu Christi: "After He had risen from the dead, when they came, the twelve disciples and seven women who had followed him as disciples, into Galilee. .. where they were now at a loss in regard to the true nature of the universe, the Plan of Salvation, the Holy Providence, the excellency of the Powers, about all that the Redeemer did with them, the secrets of the Holy Plan of Salvation, then there appeared to them the Redeemer. "
[iv]

· Instruction to Adam

In the Apocalypse of Adam, it is related that mystical instruction was given by three heavenly messengers to Adam. Jesuit scholar George MacRae summarizes:' Father Adam explains how in the Fall he and Eve lost their glory and knowledge. Through the revelation imparted to Adam by three heavenly visitors, however, this knowledge is passed on to Seth and his seed."

An Egyptian Christian book, the First Book of Adam and Eve describes their posture in prayer: "Then Adam and Eve raised their hands unto God, praying and entreating Him to drive Satan away from them"

· Preliminary Ordinances

Cyril of Jerusalem gave the most complete description of Preliminary Ordinances (Initiatory Rites) (translated into English in 1951[v]). [Even though Cyril was a Bishop in the Roman Church about 350 A.D., his views on the Trinity and original sin are similar to LDS' today.] He wrote five catechetical (kat-i-ket-i-kuhl) lectures for the newly baptized. "As soon, then, as ye entered, ye put off your tunic; and this was an image of putting off the old man with his deeds. . . ye were naked; in this also imitating Christ, who was naked on the Cross, and by His nakedness put off from Himself the principalities and powers, and openly triumphed over them on the tree. . . truly ye bore the likeness of the first-formed Adam, in the garden, and was not ashamed. Then, , ye were anointed with exorcised oil, from the very hairs of your head to your feet, and were made partakers of the good olive-tree, Jesus Christ.[vi]"

"The ointment is symbolically applied to thy forehead and thy other senses, and while thy body is anointed with the visible ointment, thy soul is sanctified by the Holy and life-giving Spirit. And ye were first anointed on the forehead . . . Then on your ears: that ye might receive the ears which are quick to hear the Divine Mysteries. . . Then on the nostrils. . Afterwards on your breast,; that having put on the breast-plate of righteousness, ye may stand against the wiles of the devil. . .[vii] (see http://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/207/2070037.htm )

"The initiate received a new name after the clothing.[viii]

· The Endowment

Male initiates wore mitre or priestly cap "much as though a sphere were to be divided through the centre, and one half thereof to be put upon the head… It has no peak at the top, nor does it cover the whole head as far as the hair extends, but leaves about a third of the front part of the head uncovered. It is attached by a band,."
[ix]

"Sacred vestments include a girdle or sash and a robe worn over the shoulders. The robe is worn on different shoulders, depending on the degree within the priesthood."[x]

"All those who were admitted to the inner sights of the mysteries had a formula or pass-word. . [xi]
"Come not with thy wrists extended, or thy fingers spread; but make thy left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hollowed thy palm, receive the Body of Christ"
[xii] (Eucharist and baptism were part of esoteric ordinances in 2nd & 3rd Century Christianity.)

· The Prayer Circle

"A prayer is offered by the [officiator] in behalf of those in the circle and the others attending which included the giving of thanks, petition for blessing to be pronounced upon the Eucharist, and petition 'for the common peace of the Churches, for the welfare of the world, for kings, for soldiers and allies; for the sick, for the afflicted, and in a word, for all who stand in need of succor[xiii]"
"The names of those to be prayed for were written on parchments, which from being folded twice, were called diptychs"[xiv]
In the Stromata, Clement of Alexandria, in describing the prayer circle, says "So also we raise the head and lift the hands to heaven. " The First Century Odes of Solomon explains that this posture was adopted in imitation of the Savior on Calvary: "I stretched forth my hands and sanctified my Lord: For the extension of my hands in His sign; And my expansion is the upright tree."
3rd Nephi Ch 19 Jesus appeared to his 12 disciples and the multitude in the form of a prayer circle. [xv] - -

· The Veil

In the Gospel of Philip, the Savior gave various "seals" and passwords necessary to ascend to the highest heaven: "Here at the veil are imparted the secret "seals" and "pass-words", which allow free passage through each of their spheres"[xvi]
"In one narrative, the Primeval Man is drawn up to heaven by celestial messengers: .. The Living Spirit extended his right hand to Primeval Man. The latter seized it and thus was drawn up out of the depths of the world of darkness. . . He was returned to the paradise of light, his Celestial home, where his kin awaited him."[xvii]

· Celestial Marriage

Egyptian Christians considered Celestial marriage to be their most holy mystery. The Gospel of Philip states that "those who have united in the bridal chamber will no longer be separated"[xviii] "One receives them [the male and female powers] from the mirrored bridal chamber."[xix] "if anyone becomes a son of the bridal chamber, he will receive the light." [xx] "The heavenly man has many more sons than the earthly man. If the sons of Adam are many, although they die, how much more the sons of the perfect man, they who do not die but are always begotten."[xxi]

"Clement (of Alexandria) believed that marriage and procreation are an intrinsic and positive part of God's plan for the human race. In this way, the human being becomes the image of God, by cooperating in the creation of another human being. The married man who must devote himself to the administration of a household is a more faithful reflection of God's own providential care."
[xxii]
Clement felt that marriage "was good practice for life as a god"[xxiii]

The Gospel of Philip taught that the existence of the world depends on the mystery of marriage: "Great is the mystery of marriage! For without it the world would not have existed. How the existence of the world depends on man, and the existence of man on marriage.[xxiv]

· Rejection of Esoteric Ordinances (part of the Apostasy) xxv

Various reasons for the rejection of Esoteric Ordinances during the Fourth Century:
- Nicene Creed became antithetical to Theosis and Divinization
- Emperor Constantine [xxv]couldn't condone secrecy which might organize against state's authority.
-2nd Century fragmentation of Christian authority
-Hellenism – Greek thought based on Socrates' rationalism
-Roman (intellectual) fight against Gnosticism (esoteric) resulted in the Roman Church's burning of the Apocrypha
-Rejection of Jewish esoteric traditions xxv

· Conclusion

If Joseph Smith taught a number of esoteric doctrines that were unknown to have existed in the early church during his time, but which research and uncovered documents (during the 1950 to 1970 period) now show were part of early Christianity, one has to conclude that he was inspired of God. Yale literary scholar Harold Bloom, wrote a book called The American Religion, in which he writes of Joseph Smith: "I can only attribute to his genius or heavenly intervention his uncanny recovery of many elements in ancient Jewish theurgy [xxvi] that had ceased to be available either to Judaism or to Christianity, and that had survived only in esoteric traditions unlikely to have touched Smith directly." The Church which Joseph Smith restored is the original Church of Christ, as revealed in the many documents of the first three centuries after Christ .

================================================================
[i] Hippolytus, The Apostolic Tradition 23:14, in R.P.C. Hanson, Tradition in the Early Church (London: SCM Press, 1962, 32 http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4226045/k.32E/Scripture_and_Tradition_in_the_Early_Church.htm
[ii] Johann L. Mosheim, Historical Commentaries on the State of Christianity, 2 vols, (New York; S. Converse, 1854), `:375-376 http://www.archive.org/details/historicalcommen185302mosh
[iii] Mosheim, Historical Commentaries on the State of Christianity, vol 1, 390-391 http://www.archive.org/details/historicalcommen185302mosh
[iv] The Sophia Jesu Christi, in NTA 1:246 In one other Gnostic document, the Apocalypse of Adam, it is related that originally such mystical instruction was given by three heavenly messengers to Adam. Jesuit scholar George MacRae summarizes:' Father Adam explains how in the Fall he and Eve lost their glory and knowledge. Through the revelation imparted to Adam by three heavenly visitors, however, this knowledge is passed on to Seth and his seed." MacRae, G.W., Introduction to the Apocalypse of Adam, in Robinson, ed., the Nag Hammadi Library in English, 256
[v] Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Theologian http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/03/18.html
[vi] Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 20, in NPNF Series 2, 7:146-148 (translated into English in 1951)
[vii] Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 21, in NPNF Series 2, 7:148-151 (see http://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/207/2070037.htm )
[viii] Arthur McCormack, Christian Initiation (New York: Hawthorn Books, 1969(, 65
[ix] Jerome, Letter to Fabiola, quoted in Marriott, Vestiarum Christianum, 13-14
[x] Wellnitz, "The Catholic Liturgy and the Mormon Temple," 20
[xi] Hatch, The Influence of Greek Ideas and Usages Upon the Christian Church, 298
[xii] Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 23:21, in NPNF Series 2, 7:156 (see http://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/207/2070037.htm)
[xiii] Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 23:4-8, in NPNF Series 2 7:153-154 (see http://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/207/2070037.htm)
[xiv] Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 23:9-10, in NPNF Seies 2, 7:154-155 (see http://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/207/2070037.htm)
[xv] Book of Mormon, 3rd, Nephi Chapter 19 http://scriptures.lds.org/en/3_ne/19
[xvi] Gospel of Philip, http://wesley.nnu.edu/Biblical_Studies/noncanon/gospels/gosphil.htm
[xvii] Widergren, Mani and Manichaeism, 52. Cf. Compton T.M., "The Handclasp and Embrace as Tokens of Recognition"
[xviii] The Gospel of Philip, in Robinson, ed., The Nag Hammadi Library in English 142 (translated into English in 1977)
[xix] Ibid, p 139 http://wesley.nnu.edu/Biblical_Studies/noncanon/gospels/gosphil.htm
[xx] Ibid p.151 http://wesley.nnu.edu/Biblical_Studies/noncanon/gospels/gosphil.htm
[xxi] Ibid p. 135 http://wesley.nnu.edu/Biblical_Studies/noncanon/gospels/gosphil.htm
[xxii] David G. Hunter, Marriage in the Early Church (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992 ), 15
[xxiii] Wagner, After the Apostles, 180
[xxiv] The Gospel of Philip, p 139 http://wesley.nnu.edu/Biblical_Studies/noncanon/gospels/gosphil.htm
[xxv] Constantine's reign as Roman emperor (A.D. 306-337) dramatically changed the direction of Christianity, though in ways far different from those portrayed in The Da Vinci Code. This grew out of his strategy for unifying his empire by creating a "catholic"—meaning universal —church that would blend elements from many religions into one.
While Constantine supposedly converted to Christianity in 312, he wasn't baptized until on his deathbed 25 years later. In the intervening years he had his wife and eldest son murdered, and from all appearances he continued as a worshipper of the sun god. Long after his supposed conversion he had coins minted with a portrait of himself on one side and a depiction of his "companion, the unconquered Sol [sun]" on the other.
The "Christianity" Constantine endorsed was already considerably different from that practiced by Jesus Christ and the apostles. The emperor accelerated the change by his own hatred of Jews and religious practices he considered Jewish.
For example, at the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325), church authorities essentially replaced the biblical Passover with Easter, a popular holiday rooted in ancient springtime fertility celebrations. Endorsing this change, Constantine announced: "It appeared an unworthy thing that in the celebration of this most holy feast [Easter] we should follow the practice of the Jews, who have impiously defiled their hands with enormous sin, and are, therefore, deservedly afflicted with blindness of soul . . . Let us then have nothing in common with the detestable Jewish crowd" (Eusebius, Life of Constantine 3, 18-19, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 1979, second series, Vol. 1, pp. 524-525).
Constantine's affection for sun worship had earlier led him to endorse Sunday, the first day of the week and a day dedicated to honoring the sun, as a weekly day of rest in the Roman empire . This created considerable hardship on those Jews and true Christians who continued to keep the biblical Sabbath on the seventh day of the week. (A century later the Council of Laodicea would essentially outlaw Sabbath-keeping and Christian observance of the Old Testament Holy Days.)
Constantine's merging religious practices produced a corrupted Christianity that meshed paganism with biblical elements; for example the followers of Isis adored a Madonna nursing her holy child. Many Christians did not make a clear distinction between this sun-cult [Mithraism] and their own. They held their services on Sunday, knelt towards the East and had their nativity-feast on 25 December, the birthday of the sun at the winter solstice.
" Did the empire surrender to Christianity, or did Christianity prostitute itself to the empire? When we consider the vast differences between the mainstream Christianity of today and the original Christianity of Jesus Christ and the apostles, we can trace much of that change to Constantine and the religious system he put in power. http://www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn64/code_impact.htm
[xxvi] "The working of divine agency in human affairs"

Comparison of Qumran People (Dead Sea Scrolls) and the Book of Mormon

2009-08-17T23:48:00.001-05:00

This information was copied in its entirety and found at http://www.byub.org/deadsea/book/chapter6/intro.html

by Stephen D. Ricks

Consider this tale of two peoples:

The individuals of one group, originally a family,

left their mother city, Jerusalem, because they believed that it was becoming irredeemably wicked and that it would eventually be destroyed;
went out into the desert in order to escape its corruption;
having left the desert, built temples and had priests;
strictly observed the law of Moses;
required the complete immersion of those who entered their community;
looked forward with anxious anticipation to the coming of their Messiah; and
wrote on metal plates that they hid away in a time of crisis.

The other group also

left Jerusalem, which they, too, believed had become irretrievably corrupted;
withdrew into the desert to escape its corruption;
loved the temple and honored priests as members of their community;
strictly observed the law of Moses;
required immersion of those who wished to enter their community;
looked forward with eager anticipation for the coming of their Messiah(s); and
wrote on parchment, on papyrus, and in one case on metal plates, which they hid away in a time of crisis.

Which groups fit these descriptions? The group first described was Lehi and his family, who left Jerusalem and escaped into the desert around 600 b.c. because Lehi had been warned by the Lord that Jerusalem would be destroyed (see 1 Nephi 1:4, 13; 3:17; 2 Nephi 1:4). In the New World, the Nephites built temples that formed the center of their communities (see 2 Nephi 5:16; Jacob 1:17; 2:2, 11; Helaman 3:9, 14). They observed the law of Moses (see 2 Nephi 25:24; Jacob 4:5; 7:7; Jarom 1:5, 11; Mosiah 2:3) while looking forward to the coming of their Messiah (see 2 Nephi 25:16, 18; Jarom 1:11). They organized a church (see Mosiah 21:30; 26:17; Helaman 3:24–5) that required baptism of all those wishing to become members (see Mosiah 18:16–7). The Nephites wrote their history on metal plates (see the title page of the Book of Mormon; 1 Nephi 1:17; Mosiah 1:3–4, 6; Omni 1:3–4, 8, 11; Mormon 1:4; 2:18), which the last of the Nephites, Moroni, hid to come forth "in their purity" at a later time (see 1 Nephi 14:26).

Members of the second group included the writers of many of the Dead Sea Scrolls, who also left Jerusalem (probably sometime in the late third or early second century b.c.),1 established a home in the wilderness, loved the temple, honored priests and Levites,2 expected the imminent coming of their Messiah(s),3 and wrote on various materials, including parchment, papyrus, and copper plates, which they buried in haste in a time of danger to the community.4

The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Book of Mormon:
A Comparison

The correlation between the actions of these two groups of people is not the only similarity. A study of the theological themes in the documents they produced reveals several common topics in their beliefs.5

1. The writings of the community of the Dead Sea Scrolls reveal a strong sense of being a covenant people, who saw themselves as the continuation of the true Israel. Compare the ideas in the following quotations from the scrolls with the feelings of the peoples of the Book of Mormon, who saw themselves as a "remnant of the house of Israel" (title page of the Book of Mormon):

{W}elcome into the covenant of kindness all those who freely volunteer to carry out God's decrees, so as to be united in the counsel of God and walk in perfection in his sight, complying with all revealed things concerning the regulated times of their stipulations. (1QS I 7–9)

And all those who enter in the Rule of the Community shall establish a covenant before God in order to carry out all that he commands and in order not to stray from following him for any fear, dread or grief that might occur during the dominion of Belial. When they enter the covenant, the priests and the levites shall bless the God of salvation and all the works of his faithfulness and all those who enter the covenant shall repeat after them: 'Amen, Amen.' (1QS I 16–20)

[And all] those who enter the covenant shall confess after them and they shall say:

"We have acted sinfully,

[we have transgressed,

we have si]nned, we have acted irreverently,

we and our fathers before us,

inasmuch as we walk

[in the opposite direction to the precepts] of truth and justice

[. . .] his judgment upon us and upon our fathers."

(1QS I 24–6)

And all those who enter the covenant shall say, after those who pronounce

blessings and those who pronounce curses: "Amen, Amen."

Blank And the priests and the levites shall continue, saying:

. . .

"whoever enters this covenant

leaving his guilty obstacle in front of himself

to fall over it.

When he hears the words of this covenant,

he will congratulate himself in his heart, saying:

'I will have peace.'

(1QS II 10–3)

May all the curses of this covenant

stick fast to him.

May God segregate him for evil,

and may he be cut off from the midst of all the sons of light

because of his straying from following God

on account of his idols and his blameworthy obstacle.

May he assign his lot with the cursed ones for ever.

(1QS II 16–7)6

2. The writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls insisted on strict observance of the law of Moses, including a particular concern for the time and manner of observing the festivals. The members of the Dead Sea community intended to live "the law which he commanded through the hand of Moses" (1QS VIII 15). Compare the following quotations from the scrolls to 2 Nephi 25:24, where Nephi says that they "keep the law of Moses" even though they "believe in Christ" and "look forward with steadfastness . . . until the law shall be fulfilled":

For [the Instructor . . .] . . . [book of the Rul]e of the Community: in order to seek God [with all (one's) heart and with all (one's) soul; in order] to do what is good and just in his presence, as commanded by means of the hand of Moses and his servants the Prophets; in order to love everything which he selects and to hate everything that he rejects; in order to keep oneself at a distance from all evil, and to become attached to all good works; to bring about truth, justice and uprightness. (1QS I 1–5)

As it is written: "In the desert, prepare the way of {the Lord}, straighten in the steppe a roadway for our God." This is the study of the law which he commanded through the hand of Moses, in order to act in compliance with all that has been revealed from age to age, and according to what the prophets have revealed through his holy spirit. (1QS VIII 14–6)

And he taught them by the hand of the anointed ones through his holy spirit and through seers of the truth, and their names were established with precision. (CD II 12–3)

3. Writers from both these groups display a vivid sense of expectation of the coming of the Messiah. Like the early Christians, they lived in the belief that the end of days was at hand and that their struggle was with the principalities and powers, and they reinterpreted the scriptures in that context. According to one eminent scholar in the field, Professor Frank Moore Cross, "Theirs was a church of anticipation."7 Many of the Dead Sea Scrolls, such as the Rule of the Congregation (or Messianic Rule), are written in expectation of the time when the Messiah would be present in their midst or (in the case of the Temple Scroll) of an era immediately preceding the Messianic age. The Book of Mormon, too, reveals an intense expectation of the coming of their Messiah (usually referred to in the Book of Mormon as Christ).8 The Nephites "look forward unto Christ [i.e., the Messiah] with steadfastness for the signs which are given"(2 Nephi 26:8). Indeed, the prophets of the Book of Mormon even prophesy the year of Christ's birth: Nephi prophesies that Christ will be born "six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem" (1 Nephi 10:4), while the mysterious Samuel the Lamanite tells the Nephites that he would be born in five years (Helaman 14:2).

Examine the strong messianic expectations in the following excerpts from the scrolls:

For he will honour the devout upon the throne of eternal royalty, freeing prisoners, giving sight to the blind, straightening out the twisted. Ever shall I cling to those who hope. In his mercy he will jud[ge,] and from no-one shall the fruit [of] good [deeds] be delayed, and the Lord will perform marvellous acts such as have not existed, just as he sa[id] for he will heal the badly wounded and will make the dead live, he will proclaim good news to the meek give lavishly [to the need]y, lead the exiled and enrich the hungry. (4Q521 II 7–13)

And they will recount the splendour of his kingdom, according to their knowledge, and they will extol [his glory in all] the heavens of his kingdom. And in all the exalted heights [they will sing] wonderful psalms according to all [their knowledge,] and they will tell [of the splendour] of the glory of the king of the gods in the residences of their positions. (4Q400 2 i 3–5)

He will be called son of God, and they will call him son of the Most High. Like the sparks of a vision, so will their kingdom be; they will rule several years over the earth and crush everything; a people will crush another people, and a city another city. Blank
Until the people of God arises and makes everyone rest from the sword. His kingdom will be an eternal kingdom, and all his paths in truth and uprigh[tness]. (4Q246 II 1–5)

A star has departed from Jacob, /and/ a sceptre /has arisen/ from Israel. He shall crush the temples of Moab, and cut to pieces all the sons of Sheth. (4Q175 12–3)

4. Temples played a vitally important role among the peoples of the Book of Mormon. Following their arrival in the promised land, Nephi built a temple "after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things" (2 Nephi 5:16), where Nephi's brothers Jacob and Joseph later taught as priests (see Jacob 1:17–8). Subsequently, temples were built in Zarahemla (see Mosiah 1:18, 2:1, 5–7) and in Bountiful, where the risen Christ appeared to the people (see 3 Nephi 11:1; compare Mosiah 6:3).9

The writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls also placed great importance on the priesthood and the temple:

In the Community council (there shall be) twelve men and three priests, perfect in everything that has been revealed about all the law to implement truth, justice, judgment, compassionate love and unassuming behaviour of each person to his fellow to preserve faithfulness on the earth with firm purpose and repentant spirit in order to atone for sin, doing justice and undergoing trials in order to walk with everyone in the measure of truth and the regulation of time. (1QS VIII 1–4)

{A}t this moment the men of the Community shall set themselves apart (like) a holy house for Aaron, in order to enter the holy of holies, and (like) a house of the Community for Israel, (for) those who walk in perfection. (1QS IX 5–6)

They shall not desecrate the oil of their priestly anointing with the blood of futile nations. (1QM IX 8–9)

And the priests, sons of Aaron, shall station themselves in front of the lines and blow the memorial trumpets. And afterwards, they shall open the gat[es] to the soldiers of the infantry. The priests shall blow the battle trumpets [to strike] the lines of the nations. (4Q493 1–4)

They shall be for me a people and I will be for them for ever and I shall establish them for ever and always. I shall sanctify my temple with my glory, for I shall make my glory reside over it until the day of creation, when I shall create my temple, establishing it for myself for ever, in accordance with the covenant which I made with Jacob at Bethel. (11Q19 XXIX 7–9)

[Because he has established] the holy of holies among the eternal holy ones, so that for him they can be priests [who approach the temple of his kingship,] the servants of the Presence in the sanctuary of his glory. In the assembly of all the deities [of knowledge, and in the council of all the spirits] of God, he has engraved his ordinances for all spiritual works, and his [glorious] precepts [for those who establish] knowledge of the people of the intelligence of his glory, the gods who approach knowledge. (4Q400 1 i 3–6)

Priests and Levites played a crucial role in the organization and operation of the Qumran community. Although the temple in Jerusalem was seen as corrupt, the writers of the Qumran scrolls had a vision of a purified interim temple as well as a temple of the endtime.

5. Passages from the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Book of Mormon reflect the belief that a war is being waged between good and evil. Both show a strong sense that good will prevail. Compare Alma 12:31; 29:5; and Moroni 7:19 to the following:

And in the hand of the Angel of Darkness is total dominion over the sons of deceit; they walk on paths of darkness. Due to the Angel of Darkness all the sons of justice stray, and all their sins, their iniquities, their failings and their mutinous deeds are under his dominion in compliance with the mysteries of God, until his moment; and all their punishments and their periods of grief are caused by the dominion of his enmity. (1QS III 20–3)

{T}o separate themselves from the sons of the pit; to abstain from wicked wealth which defiles, either by promise or by vow, and from the wealth of the temple and from stealing from the poor of the people, from making their widows their spoils and from murdering orphans; to separate unclean from clean and differentiate between the holy and the common. (CD VI 14–7)

The sons of light and the lot of darkness shall battle together for God's might, between the roar of a huge multitude and the shout of gods and of men, on the day of the calamity. It will be a time of suffering fo[r al]l the people redeemed by God. (1QM I 11–2)

Since ancient time you determined the day of the great battle

[…] to assist truth,

and destroy wickedness,

to demolish darkness

and increase light.

(1QM XIII 14–5)

Do not all peoples loathe sin?

And yet, they all walk about under its influence.

Does not praise of truth come from the mouth of all nations?

And yet, is there perhaps one lip or one tongue which persists with it?

(1Q27 1 i 9–10)

Qumran illustrates the presence of prophecy in one Jewish group, which believed that it lived the last days—a time within which the gift of prophecy had been renewed. The community as a whole was convinced that the Spirit of God, an eschatological gift, was present and active in their midst in providing "cleansing, truth, holiness, and divinely mediated knowledge and insight."10 According to Josephus, among the Essenes "there are some . . . who profess to foretell the future, being versed from their early years in holy books, various forms of purification and apothegms of prophets; and seldom, if ever, do they err in their predictions."11 The writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls believe in the inspired interpretation of scripture and prophecy. The Commentary on Habakkuk faults those who do not believe the words of the Teacher of Righteousness, who says that he received "from the mouth of God."12 Book of Mormon prophets taught that the scriptures were "plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy" (2 Nephi 25:4; see also verse 7), and that the spirit of prophecy and revelation was in their midst (see Alma 17:3).

Of course, there are differences between the Book of Mormon and the Dead Sea Scrolls: the desert was the final destination of the writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls, not the transit point as for Lehi and his family. The writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls loved the temple but did not build their own, while the Nephites did. Although both peoples observed the law of Moses, only the Nephites in the Book of Mormon looked forward to its fulfillment in Christ. Still, the areas of overlap between these people and the contours of correspondence between them—their warm belief in prophecy, their vivid sense of living in the end time, their belief in being a covenant people, the true remnant of Israel—help us to understand the good tidings that have come since Cumorah about those things that were held sacred in antiquity.

Notes

1. See Lawrence H. Schiffman, Reclaiming the Dead Sea Scrolls: Their True Meaning for Judaism and Christianity (New York: Doubleday, 1995), 83–95; compare Hartmut Stegemann, Die Entstehung der Qumrangemeinde (Bonn: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-UniversitŠt, 1971).

2. See Schiffman, Reclaiming the Dead Sea Scrolls, 70–3, 80.

3. See ibid., 317–27.

4. See ibid., 397–9.

5. Translations of the Dead Sea Scrolls are from Florentino García Martínez, trans., The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated, translated into English by Wilfred G. E. Watson (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1994).

6. See also 1QS III 11–2; IV 22; V 1–5, 8–12, 18–22; VI 14–5, 18–20; VIII 8–10, 16–9; X 10–1)

7. Frank M. Cross Jr., "Dead Sea Scrolls: Overview," in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, ed. Daniel H. Ludlow (New York: Macmillan, 1991), 1:362.

8. On the use of Christ in place of Messiah in the Book of Mormon, see Stephen D. Ricks, "Book of Mormon Prophets Knew before the Lord's Birth That His Name Would Be Jesus Christ. Did Old Testament Prophets Also Know?" Ensign (September 1984): 24-5.

9. See the outstanding study of the temple in the Book of Mormon by John W. Welch, "The Temple in the Book of Mormon," in Temples of the Ancient World, ed. Donald W. Parry (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1994), 297–387.

10. See David E. Aune, Prophecy in Early Christianity and the Ancient Mediterranean World (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1983), 342.

11. Josephus, Jewish War, trans. H. Thackeray and R. Marcus, Loeb Classical Library (1927), 2.159.

12. 1QpHabakkuk II 2–3."

Lost Gospel of Peter

2009-06-29T00:04:00.002-05:00

In 1886 A.D. the lost Gospel of Peter was found in a tomb in Akhmimin Egypt. It is believed to have been written in the first to second century, roughly 150 AD. In 1886 archaeologist Urbain Bouriant discovered the The Gospel According to Peter in an Egyptian Monks grave. Several other early Christian fathers referred to this Gospel, like Serapion, Bishop of Antioch, in 190 A.D.; Origen, historian, in 253 A.D.; Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea in 300 A.D.; Theodoret in 455 in his Religious History said that the Nazarenes used The Gospel According to Peter; and Justin Martyr includes the Memoirs of Peter in his "Apostolic Memoirs." The fact that Bible scholars have always acknowledged that this Gospel according to Peter existed but it was never found, and now it was found in the late 1800's with all carbon dating and writing styles matching to the 1st century period is remarkable.
Here are some fascinating finds within the Gospel of Peter:
1. Verse 5 and 6. Darkness fell upon the land at noon day. Amidst the confusion people were using lamps and still couldn't see. "And many went about with lamps, supposing that it was night, and fell down." Vs. 6 says the whole earth quaked. This is entirely consistent with the Book of Mormons account from the America's of the quakes and darkness that would allow no light or fire. 3 Nephi 8:19-23 after the earthquake, darkness. "20 And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could feel the vapor of darkness;
21 And there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all;
22 And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land.
23 And it came to pass that it did last for the space of three days that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning and howling and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them."
2. Verse 10, several witnesses to this event as Jesus is Resurrected see three men followed by a cross. Two of whom reach heaven and the third went somewhere else. "The heads of the two they saw had heads that reached up to heaven, but the head of him that was led by them wen beyond heaven. 4 And they heard a voice out of the heavens saying, "Have you preached unto them that sleep?" 5 The answer that was heard from the cross was, "Yes!"
Greg commentary, this is remarkable because of the Latter Day Saint belief in the the plan of Salvation and the work for the dead. More than 50 years before this document was discovered. The Prophet of the restoration Joseph Smith taught that Jesus Christ went and taught to souls who were in a spirit prison during the period of time of his Crucifiction and Resurrection.

An english translation of the Lost Gospel of Peter can be found here: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/gospelpeter-mrjames.html

Secret Mormon Temples and Magic Underwear

2009-05-06T02:36:00.002-05:00

By Greg Nielsen
I’m not sure what the source of derision people have towards Mormon Temples and underwear. Unfortunately it isn't just the tabloid journalism, there is an increasingly insensitive, intolerant people who purposeful try to mock. Perhaps they don't truly understand what it is that they are mocking, therefore I hope to change that by a brief explanation of why Mormons have Temples and Garments.

Temples aren't "Secret". They are sacred. Temples of God have always been sacred (that means special and apart from the ordinary). It's not like many Buddhist temples that anyone can walk into on vacation in flip flops and tank tops and snap a few photos of others during their holy or sacred worship ceremonies. That is "casting pearls before swine" (Mathew 7:6). Anyone is welcome into Mormon weekly services or chapels anytime. Temples are an extra measure of worship, and the intent is to get closer to God by separating ourselves from the everyday.

The Garden of Eden was a type of Temple, a place on earth that was separated from the rest of the world where Adam and Eve could walk and talk with God. When they defiled it, they were asked to leave. Ancient prophets used mountains as a sacred "Mountain of the Lords House" to escape the everyday world and be closer to God in prayer and worship. Moses went into the mountains to separate himself from the world and get closer to God to receive instruction from God. Even the Temples in the ancient world required certain people or qualifications to enter.
Psalms 24:3-4 "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."
Joel 3:17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
Psalms 93:5 "holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever"
Micah 4:1-2 “1But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (KJV)
Mathew 17:1-4,9 “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 9And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man,..” (KJV)

Our bodies can be temples, and we should keep them undefiled.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (KJV)
Mathew 7:6“ 6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet…” (KJV)

Secret or Sacred? Same thing, Christ tells us that it should be kept special. The Temple shouldn't be defiled, neither should our bodies. Something can be defiled with words by talking about it as well. "Taking the Lords name in vain" is an issue of respect and holiness. If the Lord's name can be defiled by talking about it inappropriately, so can his Temples. Holy worship should not be made a mockery of, and isn’t something to be broadcast on television and in front of the spotlights.

Mathew 6
"1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 ¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

This scripture and words from Christ not only applies to the Temple Worship and Ceremony, but also to the "Holy" underwear people like to make fun of as well. Holy symbols of clothing exist in many religions, Mormons aren't unique. Catholics, Jews and many Christians. These are all worn as SYMBOLS of faith. Clergy often wear them as an outward symbol of their belief. Catholic Nuns, Friars, Monks, wear habits. Priests, Bishops and higher wear certain clothing based on the level of their consecration. Orthodox Jews wear a white undergarment called the tallit katan in observance of the commandment in Numbers 15:38-40. Most people likely wear a wedding ring as a symbol of their commitment to a spouse. We wear garments as a symbol of our commitment to our Savior. It is a daily, constant reminder.

Mormons wear these garments as an inward symbol of their belief. Many religions wear crosses around their neck for all to see "before men"... What is more private and sacred than underwear? We are sincere believing followers of Christ who merely wear SYMBOLS of our faith and devotion in privacy and not to "be seen of men". (See Christs words in Mathew 6). Plus, it keeps us modest in dress and appearance. It's not magic, but can help us avoid temptation and sin. So if that is the magic they are mocking, let them.
Ephesians 6:13 " 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (KJV)

When Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden or one of the first Temples that Gods presence was in, God gave them something
Genesis 3:21 “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. " (KJV)
Revelations 15:6“And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.” (KJV)

Moses made them for Aaron
Exodus 28:2,42 “And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty… 42And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:” (KJV)
Ecclesiastes 9:8 “8Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.”

Revelations 3:5 “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (KJV)
Isaiah 61:10 "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (KJV)
Revelations 3:4 “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.” (KJV)
God has commanded followers at various times to wear articles of clothing to remember him. See: Exodus 26:31;
Numbers 15:38-40 "38Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: 39And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them ; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:40That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God." (KJV)
Priesthood workers in the time of Moses in the Tabernacle wore a certain kind of garment: "And [Moses] put upon [Aaron] the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith" Lev. 8:7 (KJV)

The public’s derision of "Holy Underwear" is unfortunate because it, just like sacred “secret” temple worship is also biblical. Again, prior to understanding our beliefs, because of the negative connotation a few words have like secret and magic, the wrong impression is given.

Temples have been part of Gods plan from the beginning of time, and we believe it is so even today because God is unchanging.

Trinity vs. Godhead Mormons View

2009-05-06T02:32:00.001-05:00

Mormons are Monotheists in that we worship only one God, who is the Father. We do it all through Jesus Christ, just as Jesus taught in the Bible.

I fully affirm the oneness of God, and everything we teach is consistent with this. The GodHead has perfect unity of purpose, will and mind. The Bible also teaches that Jesus Christ is distinctly individual from the Father, yet still God. And the Holy Ghost is also a distinct Individual and can be called God.

Comment on John1:1-2 “Word was with God” and “Word was God.” These are not exclusive comments, but rather inclusive. They were together, they are one in purpose.

Back to John 1:1-2 the Greek text must be read and interpreted here. The first and third occurrence of the word "God" in these verses comes from Greek Ho Theos, meaning THE God, while the second occurrence is simply Theos, meaning God. It’s quite possible then that the English translation could read, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with The God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with The God." It’s quite clear that the Word and The God are not the same Being. Christ is divine and a God, but was WITH another divine being, THE God.

They are one in purpose. Read John 17 where the followers of Christ are one. John 17:11,21-24 “¹¹And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are… ²¹That 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. ²²And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: ²³I 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. ²⁴Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (KJV)

Christ said the Father is greater than Him (John 14:28), and spoke of the Father as His God and our God (John 20:17). Peter likewise speaks of the Father as "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:1), and multiple passages refer to Christ being at the right hand of the Father.

Some commonalities between us all: We believe in the Oneness of the Father and the Son. They are one. We believe in one God (The Father) and one Lord (Jesus). Ephesians 4:5-6. We believe in the one and only God whom we worship. And we all believe in God the Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Orthodox Christianity resolves the potential Polytheisms issue through its belief in the Trinity. Which was devised democratically from nearly 400 intellectuals debating the topic. Let’s just defer to the Bible. Mormons, worship only God the Father (through Christ) as Monotheists. The Bible teaches us of the role of Christ. John 5:22-23 (King James Version)
“22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”

All of the other scriptures shared by others, including Isaiah and Deuteronomy are correct and completely consistent with this view and all of the scriptures at the top of the page.

The same person, Moses, who Wrote Deut 6, wrote in Genesis 1:29 “And God said, let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness.” (KJV) all of these are noticeably plurality, Father and Son together working as ONE.).

None of this contradicts my statements or all scriptures posted above. A God of Unity is absolutely taught in the Bible, but not that they are the exact same being. The quantity of scriptures above when read in their totality give this same understanding. I think one should be careful in taking one or two scriptures and disregard the rest.

An early Christian Father from aprox 330 A.D. Gregory Nazianzen (you should look him up on Wikipedia)

“When we look at the Godhead, or the First Cause, or the Monarchia, that which we conceive is One; but when we look at the Persons in Whom the Godhead dwells, and at Those Who timelessly and with equal glory have their Being from the First Cause - there are Three Whom we worship”. (On the Holy Spirit, 5.14, in NPNF, 7:322, as cited by Waltz, p. 172)

“I will baptize you and make you a disciple in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; and These Three have One common name, the Godhead.” (Ibid., 40.45, in NPNF, 7:376.)

We were created in GOD'S Image, i.e. after him, NOT God created in the image of man. Therefore, if we look like God, we have some of his attributes. We all believe Jesus Christ was resurrected and received a glorified and perfect body. We also believe that through this resurrection, all of us will overcome mortal death and also be resurrected just like him. If Christ was resurrected, what is the state of his body now? Is he not eternal? Why would he be resurrected and then return to a spirt?

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3) (KJV)

Revelations 22:18-19 Thou Shalt Not Add to or Take Away.

2008-08-29T21:50:00.000-05:00

Add to or Take Away from the Bible? What does this mean? Does this Invalidate other Scripture?

Revelation 22:18-19 reads:
“18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

John is referring to changing or adding his own prophecy of the Book of Revelation. Anyone must first understand the nature of the Bible. A Bible is literally a Collection of Books. A Holy Bible is a collection of Holy Books. The King James version of the bible has a total of 66 books. Of which the book of Revelation is the last. Chronologically, however, the Book Revelations was written before other epistles contained in the New Testament. Revelations was written in A.D. 95 while exiled on the Island of Patmos. The First, Second and Third Epistles of John as well as the Gospel According to John were written in A.D. 96 or after Johns words in Revelations 22:18-19.

In fact, the words written by John about adding or subtracting from the word of God doesn’t originate in the Book of Revelation. The same thing was written during the time of Moses in Deuteronomy 4:2:
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it...."

If the same principle were to be literally applied to Deuteronomy as many Protestants place in Revelations 22:18-19, Then nothing since Moses is applicable.

Moses and John were absolutely correct: no man has authority to add or subtract from the word of God. But Deut. 4:2 did not keep Moses from writing additional chapters, nor did it prohibit Isaiah, Malachi, Matthew, Mark, Paul, and even John from writing later scripture as directed by God. It did not mean that God could give no more revelation or scripture, but that the inspired words of God given to his apostles and prophets should not be altered by men. [1]
As one simple illustration, consider the writings of Jeremiah as recorded by Jeremiah's scribe, Baruch. See Jeremiah 36, where we learn that Baruch wrote all the words from Jeremiah that were recorded in a book (vss. 4, 17, 18) Unfortunately, King Jehoiakim of Judah burned the book that contained the words of Jeremiah (vss. 21-25). The Lord commanded Jeremiah to prepare his document again, writing "all the former words that were in the first roll" (vs. 28). In verse 32, Jeremiah then commanded his scribe, Baruch, to write on another roll the words of Jeremiah, "and there were added besides unto them many like words." Many like words added? This doesn't sound like original dictation straight from the mouth of God, perfectly preserved and unchangeable. Prophets speak or dictate by inspiration, but there can be later changes and additions. [2]
Jeremiah 36:32 is not the only example of prophets revising their prior revelations. Moses revised the Decalogue (Ten Commandments), as seen when one examines Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. In addition, Isaiah 36-39 is a revision of 2 Kings 18:13 - 20:19, and Jeremiah 52 is a revision of 2 Kings 24-25. [3]
Additional Bible references that support this truth:
Deuteronomy 12:32 “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not aadd thereto, nor bdiminish from it.”

Proverbs 30: 5-6 “ 5 Every word of God is apure: he is a bshield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Mathew 5:19 “Whosoever therefore shall abreak one of these least commandments, band shall cteach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and dteach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Isaiah 42:9 “Behold, the aformer things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell byou of them.”

2 Timothy 3:16 “aAll bscripture is given by cinspiration of God, and is dprofitable for edoctrine, for freproof, for correction, for ginstruction in hrighteousness:”

Ecclesiastes 12:12 “And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end;”

Jeremiah 36:27-32. “27 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,
28 Take thee again another roll, and awrite in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.

Certainly Jeremiah was following the commandments and inspiration of God when he wrote the words he was commanded, as have other prophets since then. Christ is always the same, he is consistent and unchanging, Hebrews 13:8 “ Jesus Christ the asame yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” He has always called prophets since Adam, and continues to today. Why would he stop? No evidence, and certainly no Scripture gives evidence of this.

Consider the following Scriptures:

Amos 3:7 “ 7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, abut he brevealeth his csecret unto his servants the dprophets.”

Mathew 23: 34 “ Wherefore, behold, I send unto you aprophets, and wise men, and bscribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

Numbers 12:6 “And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a aprophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a bvision, and will speak unto him in a cdream.”
Re-read the text carefully of Revelation 22:18-19 and truly ponder what John is talking about. At the time this was written, there was no Bible as we know it. The new Christians had the Septuagint (which included the Apocrypha) and scattered writings of some of the apostles, but there had not yet been any known attempt to establish a New Testament canon or to bring the Gospels and epistles into a single volume. John, who was in exile on the Isle of Patmos, is obviously referring to the newly written text before him when he speaks of "this book," the Book of Revelation. He refers to the unique contents of his book: its prophecies, its descriptions of plagues, its discussion of the holy city, and urges that no one change what he has written. Even though the Book of Revelation has been placed last in our Bible, it was not necessarily the last book written, but may have preceded other writings of John himself by a couple of years. In fact, many Christian canons over the centuries did not include the Book of Revelation at all, and even Martin Luther questioned its status. The first church council that listed most of the canonical books in our present Old and New Testaments, the Council of Laodicea that met in A.D. 363, still did not include the Apocalypse of Saint John [Bernstein, p.5]. The common idea that this was the last book added to an existing canon of New Testament scripture by John is erroneous, as is the idea that John meant that there could never be any more scripture.[4]
Followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints fully agree with John: no man should change what God has spoken. However, God has the authority to speak what and when He wants. God spoke to other prophets after Adam, God spoke to prophets after Moses and many of their divinely commissioned writings have been preserved in the Bible. God also speaks today to living apostles and prophets in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and we should be willing to accept those whom God has sent and hear their inspired words or you are like the same people at the time of Jesus who didn’t even accept Him.[5]
When God speaks to prophets, they write words that become scripture. Moses, Isaiah, Matthew, Luke, John, and many others all added scripture. One of the surest signs that the Church of Jesus Christ has really been restored is that new scripture has been added! The Jews at the time of Christ claimed to revere dead prophets but rejected living ones and rejected newly added scripture. They were in apostasy. Those who reject new prophets and new scripture from God in our day are likewise in apostasy and need to repent and come unto Christ more fully.
To the evangelical ministers who rail against us for "adding to the word," I am tempted ask - with tongue in cheek - by what authority they use a Bible from which many books of scripture accepted by the early Christians have been subtracted? Where is the Book of Enoch, the Shepherd of Hermas, the Apocryphal writings of the Septuagint, Psalm 151 of the Septuagint, or other missing scriptures? They may insist that their Bible is complete and perfect, but where is the missing scripture from which Paul quotes the words of Christ in Acts 20:35, "It is more blessed to give than to receive"? Where is the scripture that contains the prophecy that Christ would be a Nazarene, which is cited as fulfilled in Matt. 2:23? If God restored those missing writings, would our critics accept the new scripture with gratitude, or reject it because it offends their sensibilities? Ask this question and you may be surprised, as I have been, at the answer. One devout man told me that he would have to reject any new writing, no matter how authentic, even if it had been written by an ancient apostle under inspiration from God, was perfectly preserved and unmistakably contained directly quoted words of Christ, because to admit the possibility of additional scripture would mean that we could not accept the existing Bible as the perfect, complete, and infallible final authority. (I almost wonder if some people worship the Bible rather than God.) On the other hand, Latter-day Saints are taught to anxiously accept every word that comes from God, and to look forward to many future revelations and the discovery of other ancient volumes of sacred scripture. The word of God is not finished yet!
By the way, some modern Christians seem to think that the Apocrypha was never seriously accepted by Christians of the past, in spite of being included in their canons. However, "the conciliar decree De canonicis scriptures, issued on 8 April 1546 by Session IV of the Catholic Council of Trent, declares all who do not accept the Apocrypha as Christian scripture - in other words, the Protestants - to be anathema or accursed" [Peterson and Ricks, p. 118]. If Latter-day Saints are to be condemned for adding to scripture, can the Protestants justify themselves in subtracting from scripture? But clearly there is not yet a single, universal, indisputable standard for what the Christian canon should be, so I suggest we stop the condemnation and allow different groups to use different canons. The ideal, of course, is that we would "all come to a unity of the faith" - a process which requires receiving and following revelation from God (Eph. 4:11-14) and accepting His inspired additions to scripture. [6]
Remember, the Bible says nothing about itself to imply that the canon is complete. As one of many passages implying incompleteness, consider John 21:25, which states:
"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."
John understood that there could have been many other books written to describe all the words and deeds of Christ. What he and others offered was limited to a minute fraction of what could have been written. It is a purely human assumption that all of the truly important material has been recorded and preserved, and an even more ridiculous assumption that we have no need for anything more. We must live by every word of God (Matt. 4:4), and as long as He lives, He will have words to speak, if only we are willing to listen. As we read in Acts 11:26,27, one of the only places in the Bible that uses the word "Christian," the people that were first called Christians had the benefit of having prophets among them. Doesn't it make sense that modern Christians ought to accept every word of God, including those of modern revealed scripture and those provided through God's living prophets and apostles?[7]
In Conclusion. The ninth Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is:
“We believe all that God has arevealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet breveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”

As long as we have a God that loves us. As long as we have a God that answers our prayers, and reveals his will upon us. A God that blesses us and heals us, all of which are methods that he reveals his power and existence to us, we have a God that is keenly aware of our need for doctrine, for teaching, for prophets and leaders.

The commentary above is a compilation and arrangement of work by Gregory V. Nielsen including an arraignment based on the writings of Jeff Lindsay. Every effort has been made to cite works of others. Any omissions are purely un-intentional.
[1] Jeff Lindsay from commentary.
[2] Jeff Lindsay from commentary.
[3] Robert Boylan, in JeffLindsay.com
[4] Jeff Lindsay
[5] Portions modified from Jeff Lindsay
[6] Jeff Lindsay
[7] Jeff Lindsay