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Notes About Church Of First Born
Notes About Church of First Born
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| Church of the Firstborn restoration, and Temple Ordinance and Endowment History CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN Scriptures: Who Church of the Firstborn are: D&C 76:94 94 They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace; D&C 88:4-5 4 This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom; 5 Which glory is that of the church of the Firstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through Jesus Christ his Son. (Firstborn=God the Father) Church of the Firstborn established on the earth: D&C 77:11 11 Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel--twelve thousand out of every tribe? A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn. D&C 76:67 67 These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn. D&C 78:21 21 For ye are the church of the Firstborn, and he will take you up in a cloud, and appoint every man his portion. Historical setting of restoration of Temples and Temple Work Restoration of the Church - April 6, 1830 January 21, 1836 - Patriarch Joseph Smith Sr. ordained & D&C 137 received, which is a vision and revelation of the Celestial Kingdom. Glorious events occurred. March 27, 1836 - the Dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple was given, found in D&C 109. March 28, 1836 - verses 59-100 of D&C 107 was received, which deal with the structure of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. On 29 March, 1836, the very next day after D&C 107 was given, which was only five days prior to the events of D&C 110 (which we'll get to in a minute), Joseph said the following: "I then observed to the quorums, that I had now completed the organization of the Church, and we had passed through all the necessary ceremonies. (HC 2:432). On April 28, 1842, nearly six years after Joseph had said he had completed the organization of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints", he stated that he "calculates to organize the Church in its proper order as soon as the Temple is completed" (HC 4:604). Since the Church of Jesus Christ was completed in 1836, at the time the Kirtland Temple was completed and dedicated, what church was Joseph talking about organizing in 1842? On April 3, 1836, six days after the Kirtland Temple was dedicated, Joseph and Oliver were praying in the Temple. What happened is recorded in D&C 110. Lets read verses 11-13. Moses comes to bring keys of gathering of Israel, Elias (Noah) brings the keys of the gospel of Abraham, and Elijah brings the sealing keys to seal children to their fathers in a patriarchal chain that goes back to Father Adam. BRIGHAM YOUNG taught the following in General Conference: "¦the Church, through our beloved Prophet Joseph, was commanded to build a Temple to the Most High, in Kirtland, Ohio, and this was the next House of the Lord we hear of on the earth, since the days of Solomon's Temple. Joseph not only received revelation and commandment to build a Temple, but he received a pattern also, as did Moses for the Tabernacle, and Solomon for his Temple; for without a pattern, he could not know what was wanting....Without revelation, Joseph could not know what was wanting, any more than any other man .... [but the] the Kirtland Temple, --the second House of the Lord, that we have any published record of on the earth, was ... completed as to be dedicated. And those first Elders who helped to build it, received a portion of their first endowments, or we might say more clearly, some of the first, or introductory, or initiatory ordinances, preparatory to an endowment. The preparatory ordinances there administered, though accompanied by the ministration of angels, and the presence of the Lord Jesus, were but a faint similitude of the ordinances of the House of the Lord in their fulness; yet many, through the instigation of the devil, THOUGHT THEY HAD RECEIVED ALL, and knew as much as God; they have apostatized, and gone to hell. But be assured, brethren, there are but few, very few of the Elders of Israel, now on earth, who know the meaning of the word endowment. To know, they must experience....Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell. (JD 2:31-32) |
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| In the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, under the title Church of the Firstborn, we read: "Even as the first principles and ordinances, including baptism in water and the reception of the Holy Ghost, constitute the gate into the earthly Church of Jesus Christ, so higher ordinances of the priesthood constitute the gate into the Church of the Firstborn. To secure all the blessings that pertain to the Church of the Firstborn, one must obey the gospel from the heart, receive all of the ordinances that pertain to the house of the Lord, and be sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. (D&C 76:67, 71, 94-95; 77:11; 78:21; 88:1-5; TPJS, p. 237) "¦The Church of the Firstborn is the divine patriarchal order in its eternal form. Building the priesthood family order on this earth by receiving sealings in the temple is a preparation and foundation for this blessing in eternity. (Encylopedia of Mormonism). Latter Day Quotes on the Church of the Firstborn Restoration of the Church of the Firstborn in this dispensation: Heber C. Kimball, on August 2, 1857, in SLC said: "This people here are the people of God. Here, in the Territory of Deseret, is the Kingdom of God, and here are all the officers pertaining to that kingdom; and here is an organization that is organized after the order of God, and it is organized after the order of the Church of the Firstborn. (*Note: Here he states that the Kingdom of God is organized after the Church of the Firstborn) "Let me explain what the Church of the First Born is. It is the first Church that ever was raised up upon this earth; that is, the first born Church. That is what I mean; and when God our Father organized that Church, He organized it just as His Father organized the Church on the earth where He dwelt; and that same order is organized here in the City of Great Salt Lake; and it is that order that Joseph Smith the Prophet of God organized in the beginning in Kirtland, Ohio. Brother Brigham Young, myself, and others were present when that was done; and when those officers received their endowments, they were together in one place. They were organized, and received their endowments and blessings, and those keys were placed upon them, and that kingdom will stand for ever." (JD 5:129) (*Note: Points made above: 1) First church raised up on the earth; 2) God the Father organized that Church, like the one His Father in Heaven organized on His earth; 3) The Church of the Firstborn/Kingdom of God was "organized in the beginning" in Kirtland, Ohio (not Palmyra in 1830); 4) Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and others were present at its organization (they weren't even members in 1830 at the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ); 5) "those officers" (of the Kingdom of God/Church of the Firstborn) were organized, received endowments and blessings, and "those keys" were placed upon them. Church of the Firstborn and Temples: Brigham Young said the following: "The ordinances of the house of God are expressly for the Church of the Firstborn (JD 8:154)." On the front of the Salt Lake Temple it says, "Built BY the Church of Jesus Christ". It doesn't say that it is "Built FOR the Church of Jesus Christ." Eliza R. Snow, sister of Pres. Lorenzo Snow, wife of Joseph Smith, and Relief Society President of the Church of Jesus Christ said while in Salt Lake: "Mark this august wonder of the age; the Mormons build not temples to the name of Jesus, but to the name of Jehovah - not to the Son, but to the Father. . . . Temples to the Most High God! The scepter, not the cross!" (The Women of Mormondom, p. 79, Eliza R. Snow with Edward Tullidge, New York 1877) Nauvoo teachings and ordinances - Temple Joseph Smith began giving the endowments on May 4, 1842. He wanted to wait until the Temple was finished, but felt that he couldn't wait that long. From Joseph Smith's Journal on May 5, 1842, we read: Wednesday, 4.--I spent the day in the upper part of the store, that is in my private office (so called because in that room I keep my sacred writings, translate ancient records, and receive revelations) and in my general business office, or lodge room in council with General James Adams, of Springfield, Patriarch Hyrum Smith, Bishops Newell K. Whitney and George Miller, and President [p. 2] Brigham Young and Elders Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards, instructing them in the principles and order of the Priesthood, attending to washings, anointings, endowments and the communication of keys pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood, and so on to the highest order of the Melchisedek priesthood, setting forth the order pertaining to the Ancient of Days, and all those plans and principles by which any one is enabled to secure the fullness of those blessings which have been prepared for the Church of the First Born, and come up and abide in the presence of the Eloheim in the eternal worlds. In this council was instituted the ancient order of things for the first time in these last days. And the communi- cations I made to this council were of things spiritual, and to be received only by the spiritual minded; and there was nothing made known to these men but what will be made known to all the Saints of the last days, so soon as they are prepared to receive, and a proper place is prepared to communicate them, even the weakest of the Saints; therefore let the Saints be diligent in building the Temple, and all houses which they have been, or shall hereafter be, commanded of God to build; and wait their time with patience in all meekness, faith, perseverance unto the end, knowing assuredly that all these things referred to in this council are always governed by the principle of revelation. Now remember, on April 28, 1842, just 6 days before Joseph reinstituted the endowments just described above, which was nearly six years after Joseph had said he had completed the organization of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints", he stated that he "calculates to organize the Church in its proper order as soon as the Temple is completed" (HC 4:604). What Church was he organizing here? Further developments: From Newel K. Witney's journal, we read the following: "January, 1844, my wife, Vilate and many females were received into the Holy order and were washed and anointed by Emma Smith." Extra readings: Parley P. Pratt stated: "The order of GOD'S GOVERNMENT, both in *TIME AND IN ETERNITY*, is PATRIARCHAL; that is it is a fatherly government. Each father who is raised from the dead and made a partaker of the Celestial glory in its fullness, will hold lawful jurisdiction over his own children and over all the families which spring of them to all generations, forever and ever. (Parley P. Pratt, Millennial Star 5:189) "In the Patriarchal order of government, each and every ruler is independent in his sphere, his rule extending to those below, and not to those above him, in the same order. . . . We can conceive of no higher, or more perfect order of government than that which is embraced in Patriarchal, [for] both subjects and rulers, each possessing almighty rights and powers - almighty rulers over those who have descended from them, at the same time rendering all honor and power to those from whom they have descended. What a glorious system of order is here portrayed - one in which an innumerable succession of Gods, Patriarchs, and rulers can reign forever in the greatest possible harmony that can be comprehended by intelligences, while each is independent in his position, as is all intelligence." (Brigham Young, Millennial Star 15:801-804) |
Notes About Church Of First Born Studies Doctrine Mormon
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| Abraham sought for the Right of the Firstborn, which title Adam held first on this earth: Abraham 1:3-4: "It was conferred upon me from the fathers; it came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the beginning, or before the foundations of the earth to the present time, even the right of the firstborn, on the first man, who is Adam, our first father, through the fathers unto me. I sought for mine appointment unto the Priesthood according to the appointment of God unto the fathers concerning the seed." If the temples are built to the Father, and the ordinances performed there are for the Church of the Firstborn, it follows then that the Church of the Firstborn is the Father's Church. In the Trial of Benjamin Winchester in Nauvoo 27 May 1843, Joseph Smith said, "The patriarchal office is the highest office in the church, and Father Smith conferred on Hyrum on his deathbed." BYU Studies, vol. 16, #2, pp. 201-202, Winter 1976. Commenting on this passage, Apostle John W. Taylor said: "But the power to seal on earth and it shall be sealed in heaven belongs to every Patriarch in the Church of Christ." Conference Report, October 1900, p.32 Benjamin F. Johnson, in his letter to Joseph F. Smith, said: ""¦ let us remember that by revelation [Joseph] had Reorganized the Holy Priesthood and by command of the Lord D&C 124:124 had taken from the first presidency his brother Hyrum to hold as Patriarch sealing power, the first and highest honor due to Priesthood." Unpublished Revelations Vol. 1, 61:32 "All Priesthood is Melchizedek, but there are different portions or degrees of it (TPJS 180)." "Pres. Young said when he began again he should pay no respect to quorums - every man that comes in [to the Holy Order] is washed and anointed by good men and it makes no difference. Every man that gets his endowments whether he is a High Priest or Seventy may go into any part of the world and build up the Kingdom if he has the Keys [received in the Second Anointings] - or on to any island. We have been ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood which is the highest order of Priesthood and it has many branches or offices - and those who come in here have received the fullness of the Priesthood, all that can be given on earth, for Brother Joseph said he had given us all that could be given [by man] to [another] man on the earth." (Diary of Heber C. Kimball, 26 December 1845) Benjamin F. Johnson's letter to George F. Gibbs was published by Dean Zimmerman, Horizon Publishers, 1976, under the tile, "I Knew the Prophets." From it comes the Church's best claim for Brigham to preside over the Church: the Last Charge. However, when writers in the Church report this incident they often neglect the part where Joseph said he rolled the responsibility of bearing off the Kingdom onto the shoulders of the Twelve "in connection with this council [Council of Fifty / Holy Order]." (See "Succession in the Presidency" by Reed Durham). The manuscript version of Johnson's autobiography, "My Life's Review," contains an even more specific reference, which was left out of the published edition of the comments on page 99, as to who the keys of the kingdom were given to: "At one of the last meetings of the Council of Fifty after all had been completed and the Keys of power committed, and in the presence of the Quorum of the Twelve and others who were encircled around him, he arose, gave a review of his life and sufferings, and of the testimonies he had borne, and said that the Lord had now accepted his labors and sacrifices, and did not require him longer to carry the responsibilities and burden and bearing of this Kingdom, and turning to those around him, including the twelve, he said, 'And in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I now place it upon you my brethren of this Council, and I shake my skirts clear of all responsibility from this time forth,' springing from the floor and shaking his skirt." Geo. Q. Cannon admitted that: "It was by virtue of this authority [Brigham's position in the Holy Order], on the death of Joseph, that President Young, as President of the Quorum of the Twelve, presided over the Church." JD 13:49 Joseph Smith said that the Patriarchal Priesthood was "Abraham's Patriarchal power which is the greatest yet experienced in this Church" (Words of Joseph Smith, p. 245) In the great debate, August 4, 1844, with Sidney Rigdon concerning who would lead the Church, Brigham, who was "transfigured" as Joseph, tried to suggest to the 20,000+ Saints assembled that there was more than met the eye. In the manuscript copy of his remarks, made as he spoke, which I got a copy of from the Church Archives, there was a statement in the original speech that wasn't published in History of the Church. Brigham said, "We have got an organization here that you cannot see." It was because Brigham was senior in ordination in that Council that he took charge. "I will now say to my brethren and sisters, that while we were at Winter Quarters, the Lord gave me a revelation just as much as he ever gave one to anybody. He opened my mind, and showed me the organization of the kingdom of God in a family capacity. I talked it to my brethren; I would throw out a few words here, and a few words there, to my first counselor, to my second counselor and the Twelve Apostles, but with the exception of one or two of the Twelve, it would not touch a man. They believed it [the patriarchal order] would come, O yes, but it would be by and by. Says I, 'Why not now?'" (J.D. 18:244) In a letter to Lot Smith, a Church leader in Arizona - ca. 1887, Wilford Woodruff wrote, "We have not yet decided whether to swap off the Kingdom of God for a new state government." 168. Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Vol 1:400; First Edition; Elder Bruce R. McConkie; 1973. It appears that Peter, James, and John received their own endowments while on the mountain. (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol 2:165) Peter says that while there, they "received from God the Father honour and glory," seemingly bearing out this conclusion. It also appears that it was while on the mount that they received the more sure word of prophecy, it then being revealed to them that they were sealed up unto eternal life. (2 Peter 1:16-19; D&C 131:5) Garments Genesis 3:21, "The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them." With this in mind, in Exodus 28:2 we read, "And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty." And what was the purpose of these holy garments? "The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office" (Exodus 35:19). Thus we see that these holy garments were part of the clothing that Aaron and his sons were to wear while performing their duties as priests. As such, we see that the holy garments and the performance of priesthood ordinances were meant to go together. In Genesis 4:4 we read "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering." Another important clue is found in the parable of the wedding guests as recorded in Matthew 22:11-14: "And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few [are] chosen." |
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| 15. History of the Church, Vol 5:1-2; Wednesday, 4 May 1842; with footnote at the end of the entry by B. H. Roberts. Wednesday, 4.--I spent the day in the upper part of the store, that is in my private office (so called because in that room I keep my sacred writings, translate ancient records, and receive revelations) and in my general business office, or lodge room (that is where the Masonic fraternity meet occasionally, for want of a better place) in council with General James Adams, of Springfield, Patriarch Hyrum Smith, Bishops Newell K. Whitney and George Miller, and President [p. 2] Brigham Young and Elders Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards, instructing them in the principles and order of the Priesthood, attending to washings, anointings, endowments and the communication of keys pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood, and so on to the highest order of the Melchisedek priesthood, setting forth the order pertaining to the Ancient of Days, and all those plans and principles by which any one is enabled to secure the fullness of those blessings which have been prepared for the Church of the First Born, and come up and abide in the presence of the Eloheim in the eternal worlds. In this council was instituted the ancient order of things for the first time in these last days. And the communi- cations I made to this council were of things spiritual, and to be received only by the spiritual minded; and there was nothing made known to these men but what will be made known to all the Saints of the last days, so soon as they are prepared to receive, and a proper place is prepared to communicate them, even the weakest of the Saints; therefore let the Saints be diligent in building the Temple, and all houses which they have been, or shall hereafter be, commanded of God to build; and wait their time with patience in all meekness, faith, perseverance unto the end, knowing assuredly that all these things referred to in this council are always governed by the principle of revelation. Footnote: This is the Prophet's account of the introduction of the Endowment ceremonies in this dispensation, and is the foundation of the sacred ritual of the temples. There has been some controversies as to the time when these ceremonies were introduced into the Church. A sect styling itself the "Re-organized Church," even goes so far as to claim that these ceremonies were not introduced into the Church by the Prophet Joseph Smith at all, but on the contrary claim that they had their origin with Brigham Young and the Apostles who followed him in the migration from Nauvoo to Great Salt Lake Valley in Utah. The evidence, however, against such claims, is overwhelming. First, the statement of the Prophet in the text above. Second, a previous allusion to the same thing in his remarks at Nauvoo, on the 6th of January, 1842. (See History of the Church, Vol. IV p. 492) Third, the same ceremonies are referred to in the Revelation of Jan. 19, 1841, in which washings, anointings, conversations, statutes, judgments, etc., are explicitly referred to. (History of the Church, Vol. IV, p. 277.) In addition to this evidence [p. 3] dence also Ebenezer Robinson, associate editor of the Times and Seasons when that periodical was founded by Don Carlos Smith and himself, and who at the death of Don Carlos Smith, 1841, became editor-in-chief of that periodical, and so continued until the 15th of March, 1842--declares that such ceremonies as are alluded to in the text were inaugurated by special action of the Prophet as early as 1843. Mr. Robinson subsequently left the Church, but when in 1890, the aforesaid self- styled "Re-organized Church" persisted in claiming that Joseph Smith the Prophet did not inaugurate these Temple ceremonies, he published an article in the magazine he was then conducting, called the Return, in which he bears emphatic testimony to the effect above stated, namely, that all these ceremonies were introduced into the Church by the Prophet Joseph Smith at least as early as 1843. (See The Return, Vol. II, No. 4, p. 252.) 16. Manuscript History of Brigham Young, p. 116; 4 May 1842. May 4.--I met with Joseph, Hyrum, Heber, Willard, Bishops Whitney and Miller, and Gen. James Adams, in Joseph's private office, where Joseph taught the ancient order of things for the first time in these last days, and received my washings, anointings and endowments. 17. Plural Marriage as Taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith, by Helen Mar Whitney; published 1882; p. 14; c. 4 May 1842. I have in my possession a daily journal, writen by my father, of events which transpired in Nauvoo in 1842, 1843 and 1844, from which I extract the following: `Strange Events' "In June 1842, I was invited [initiated] into the ancient order--was washed and anointed, sealed and ordained a Priest, etc., in company with nine others, viz: Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, William Law, William Marks, Judge Adams, Brigham Young, Willard Richards, George Miller and N. K. Whitney. "January, 1844, my wife, Vilate and many females were received into the Holy order and were washed and anointed by Emma Smith." 18. Letter from Heber C. Kimball to Parley P. Pratt, dated 17 June 1842; Church Historical Department; c. 4 May 1842. [Typed without sic.] Nauvoo, June the 17 1842 to Mr Parly P. Pratt Manchester Or Liverpool Dear Brother and Sister Pratt Sister Ollive not forgoten by me. no I remember old friends. all though I have not written to you fore some time, it has been on the acount of much buisness. I am well my family are tolarble fare. it is a time of helth in the City of Nauvoo. the Emegration is great here.. they are coming in here from most Evry State in the union this place has grone half. since I got home the Temple is getting on well. all seam to be interested in the concern. thare is a great menny Brick buildings going up this season. thare is 7 or 8 Brick yards in this place, some have burnt three kills this season. and men Stand Ready to take Evry brick as soon as they are cool. Brother Joseph feels as well as I Ever see him. one reason is he has got a Small company that he feels safe in thare hands. and that is not all he can open his bosom to and feel him Self safe I wish you was here so as to feel and hear fore your Self. we have received some pressious things through the Prophet on the preasthood that would caus your Soul to rejoice I can not give them to you on paper fore they are not to be riten. So you must come and get them fore your Self.-- We have organised a Lodge here. of Masons. since we obtained a Charter. that was in March since that thare has near two hundred been made masons Br Joseph and Sidny was the first that was Received in to the Lodg. all of the twelve have become members Except Orson P. he Hangs back. he will wake up soon, thare is a similarity of preast Hood in masonary. Bro Joseph Ses Masonary was taken from preasthood but has become degenrated. but menny things are perfect.. we have a prosession on the 24 of June. which is cold by Masons St Johns day in this country. I think I think it will result in good. the Lord is with us and we are prosperd. Concidering all things. Money is scarce but provisions plenty and cheap. the Saints that come from England-- have all got in to busness, and the grater part of them have got places, those that have means to by with, by Lots. those that have not go and take up lots on a disputed tract of land that lays in the limets of the city it cost nothing. fore them. proberbly they will not be troubled fore sevrel years they go on to the Island whare they get thare timber to build with and burn. this land lays on the bank of the River. and stone plenty by picking up. so what more can they ask but at the same time thare is menny that finds folt and are ready to denigh the Lord and turn braters to thare Brethrn Som have found folt becaus we had not Housses fore them to go in when they got here Some becaus we did not make more of them and invite them Home. and provide for them we would be glad if they could know we have as much as we can do to live our selvs we are thronged all the day Long we would Esteam it a pleasure to retire from the Sean. and rest our warry Souls fore a time but this will not do, we must fite Dear Br I can tell you our battle will be chort, and others will have to front the battle my dear wife send much love to you and wife, you have my best wishes. you have my prairs. there is much Excitement in this county on the acount of our Election. we have nominated our own of Officers. and no doubt we Shal Elect them this maks the Devle made and I am glad So amen. I am as Ever /s/ Heber C. Kimball |
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| 19. Charles Walker, "Diary"; Church Historical Department; under date given; also BYU Special Collections; Mor/M270.1/W151/Vol. 2; p. 444 of typescript; 26 July 1872; c. 4 May 1842. Brigham Young speaking at the 14th Ward Meeting in Salt Lake City, 26 July 1872: (BY) Showed that the old members of the Church were fast passing away, that lived when the Prophet Joseph was alive Said that he was the only one alive out of seven that the prophet revealed the Endowments and sealing to viz Hyrum Smith Heber C. Kimball Bishop Whitney, Willard Richards and himself; the others I do not recollect. [B. Young mentions there were only 7 who received the endowment on May 4, 1842 instead of the correct number of 9, because he wanted to forever delete the names of Wm Law and Wm Marks from the records of the Church since they were apostates and caused persecution to come upon the saints.] 20. Willard Richards' personal diary does not have any entry for 4 May 1842. There was no diary kept by Willard Richards for the Prophet at this time. 21. Heber C. Kimball "Diary," "Book 91"; Church Historical Department; no date of entry; c. 4 May 1842. Strange Events June 1842 I was aniciated into the ancient order was washed annointed and Sealled and ordained a Preast and So forth. in company with nine others. viz. Joseph Smith Hiram Smith. Wm Law Wm Marks Judge Adams. Brigham Young Willard Richards, George Miller N K Whitney --------------------------------------------------------------- January 1844 my wife Vilate and menny feemales was received in to the Holy order, and was washed and inointed by Emma 22. Heber C. Kimball Journal; Extract of H. C. Kimball discourse in the Nauvoo Temple; Church Historical Department; Under date of 21 December 1845; also published by Helen Mar Whitney in "Scenes in Nauvoo, and Incidents from H. C. Kimball's Journal," Woman's Exponent; c. 4 May 1842. About 4 years ago next May nine persons were admitted into the Holy Order 5 are now living -- B. Young -- W. Richards George Miller -- N. K. Whitney & H. C. Kimball two are dead, and two are worse than dead [I.e. Wm Law & Wm Marks]. 23. G. W. Miller, ed. "De Tal Palo Tal Astilla," Annual Publications--The Historical Society of Southern California, X, (1917): pp. 120-121. Letter to "Dear Brother" June 26, 1855. See also 1 July 1855 letter; c. 4 May 1842. Many of the Apostles and Elders having returned from England, Joseph washed and anointed as Kings and Priests to God, and over to House of Israel, the following named persons, as he said he was commanded of God, viz: James Adams (of Spring- field), William Law, William Marks, Willard Richards, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Newel K. Whitney, Hyrum Smith, and myself; conferred on us Patriarchal Priesthood. This took place on the 5th and 6th of May, 1842. 40. Journal of William Clayton; Friday, 20 October 1843. Friday 20th [October 1843]. At B.F. Johnsons . . . Evening J[oseph]. gave us much instruction, showing the advantages of the E[verlasting]. C[ovenant]. He said there was two seals in the Priesthood. The first was that which was placed upon a man and woman when they made the covenant [Celestial Marriage] & the other was the seal which alloted to them their particular mansion [Second Anointing]---After his discourse B.F. Johnson & his wife were united in an everlasting covenant. 82. Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2:31-32; President Brigham Young; Delivered on the South-East Corner Stone of the Temple at Great Salt Lake City, after the First Presidency and the Patriarch had laid the Stone; April 6, 1853. And those first Elders who helped to build it [the Kirtland Temple], received a portion of their first endowments, or we might say more clearly, some of the first, or introductory, or initiatory ordinances, preparatory to an endowment. The preparatory ordinances there administered, though accompanied by the ministration of angels, and the presence of the Lord Jesus, were but a faint similitude of the ordinances of the House of the Lord in their fulness; yet many, through the instigation of the devil, thought they had received all, and knew as much as God; they have apostatized, and gone to hell. But be assured, brethren, there are but few, very few of the Elders of Israel, now on earth, who know the meaning of the word endowment. To know, they must experience; and to experience, a Temple must be built. Let me give you the definition in brief. Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell. Who has received and understands such an endowment, in this assembly? You need not answer. Your voices would be few and far between, yet the keys to these endowments are among you, and thousands have received them, so that the devil, with all his aids, need not suppose he can again destroy the Holy Priesthood from the earth, by killing a few, for he cannot do it. God has set his hand, for the last time, to redeem His people, the honest in heart, and Lucifer cannot hinder him. Before these endowments could be given at Kirtland, the Saints had to flee before mobocracy. . . . At Nauvoo, Joseph dedicated another Temple, the third on record [the other two being Kirtland and Far West]. He knew what was wanting, for he had previously given most of the prominent individuals then before him their endowment. He needed no revelation, then, of a thing he had long experienced, any more than those now do, who have experienced the same things. It is only where experience fails, that revelation is needed. But what of the Temple in Nauvoo? . . . many received a small portion of their endowment, but we know of no one who received it in its fulness. * * * |
Post Date: 10th Sep, 2008 - 6:21pm / Post ID: #
Notes About Church Of First Born
| QUOTE |
| Saints", he stated that he "calculates to organize the Church in its proper order as soon as the Temple is completed" (HC 4:604). What Church was he organizing here? |
THIS IS KEY!, because Joseph Died before the temple was finished"¦thus he never set things in proper order. Neither has any following prophet among the general assemble of the church of JCoLDS. Consider the following...
| QUOTE |
| Heber C. Kimball, on August 2, 1857, in SLC said: "This people here are the people of God. Here, in the Territory of Deseret, is the Kingdom of God, and here are all the officers pertaining to that kingdom; and here is an organization that is organized after the order of God, and it is organized after the order of the Church of the Firstborn. |
Interesting, notice the scripture he is contradicting:
| QUOTE |
| 20 ¶ And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. - Luke 17:20-23 |
Heber was saying "Lo here" is the kingdom of God. And Lo Here is the organization of that kingdom. The kingdom of God CANNOT be observed by the natural eye, but the kingdom setup in the territory of Deseret could be. The Kingdom of God is cut from the mountain without hands, but the territory of Deseret was most definitely organized and grown by the hand of an organization headed up by men. The church is NOT organized after the order of the church of the First Born, neither can it be. No earthly organization with leaders can be because there are no leaders in the Church of the First Born, and yet all are leaders on equal grounds. No man leading another as with earthly organizations.
| QUOTE |
| "¦The Church of the Firstborn is the divine patriarchal order in its eternal form. Building the priesthood family order on this earth by receiving sealing in the temple is a preparation and foundation for this blessing in eternity. (Encyclopedia of Mormonism). |
I would disagree here. It is much grander than that, in my opinion. Masterful and not organized in any form comprehendible to man without revelation. Every member doing their own thing without organized lines or leaders and all efforts come miraculously together to accomplish great things as if organized by a great conductor.
Here are the simple points of the Church of the First Born:
- It is a spiritual Church and is not corruptible as is a physical Church.
- All members of the Church of the First Born are promised exaltation via calling and election made sure, all members of the Outer/lower Church of Jesus Christ of LDS are not but are progressing toward the inner/higher Church of the First Born.
- Named the Church of the First Born because all members are first born sons and daughters of God having an equal inheritance with Christ.
- They are organized by the Holy Ghost in the form of Personal revelation and in many cases they do not even know what others are doing or how it all fits together until after the fact or as given by revelation. (Formed without hands.)
- Just as baptism is the ordinance by which we join the LDS church, so is Calling and election the ordinance by which we join the Church of the First Born.
- In the process of fulfilling calling in this Church, there are those who are called to bring others, as many as will, in to the Church of the First Born by helping them gain their Calling and Election. These are the 144,000 mentioned in scripture.
- Members of this church do NOT know all things but have access to all things via the teacher of all things, The Holy Ghost. They are not to be worshiped of followed blindly as they are progressing just as you or I progress.
- If someone tried to organize it on the earth with leaders over others, then it would not be the Church of the Firstborn and would bind the people mentally and spiritually within 300 years or less as proven by history.
- It is organized by the various members who carry the kingdom of God with in them. This internal Kingdom of God will fill the earth, unnoticed and unstoppable by all earthly governments and systems until it completely destroys the need for all other organizations of Man, one person at a time.
Notes Church Of Born
Was Joseph not meant to organize the Church of the First Born, after all, if he was to bring about all things then surely he was to be preserved, but then there is talk in some other Threads (mostly brought up by Nighthawk) that there is yet another, someone in the last days that will have to bring the Church out of Apostasy and set the house in order.
Post Date: 16th Sep, 2008 - 7:57pm / Post ID: #
Notes Church Of Born Mormon Doctrine Studies
Forgive me, I have been extremely busy on multiple projects. Yes, I have heard of the "one Mighty and Strong" who will set the house in order, D&C 85:7. However, I am not convinced that the interpretation is correct.
| QUOTE |
| Was Joseph not meant to organize the Church of the First Born, after all, if he was to bring about all things then surely he was to be preserved. |
Joseph Committed suicide in a sense. While in the process of running, his "friends" were upset with him and told him he had nothing to hide and should face the music. He knew that if he did "face the music" he would be killed before a fair trial. His friends couldn't see this and Joseph could see the dilemma he was under. If he ran, his life would be saved but the judgments of men, his "friends", who wanted him to face the music would be terrible to the point of making his efforts useless. Utterly destroying the good that has been done. Faced with the two options, stop the work and loose the support of the closest people around you or go bravely to his death. He choose to go to his death.
| QUOTE |
| The Lord had informed him or inspired him to know that if he fell into the hands of the law at Carthage, he would be killed. Obedient to the revelation, he prepared to flee to the West and find a home for the Saints in the valleys of the mountains. He crossed the Mississippi to the Iowa side. The horses were ready; they were packed. But before the party could get underway, a messenger came across the river from his wife, Emma: "The people in Nauvoo are saying that you are running away. They say you are a coward, that you are leaving them to their fate." He turned to his brother, Hyrum, and said, "If my life is of no value to my friends it is of no value to me. We are going back." As he rode from the city of Nauvoo toward Carthage, which was to be the place of his martyrdom, he stopped at a little rise and turning back, said to those with him, "Oh, that I could but speak once more to my beloved people!" - Source 6 |
If he could have avoided loosing the faith of the people and ending the work then and there without dying he would have. But he did not finish setting things in order. He planned to do that after the temple was finished, but it never was and he died first.
The church of the First Born is not an earthly organization. I do not see how it could ever be by an earthly organization because it would require the scriptures to be fulfilled which say,
| QUOTE |
| ..., that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh- 20 But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;... D&C 1:19-20 |
The Church of the First Born is not organized in the manor of men's organizations with leadership and leaders. All are equal prophets, seers and revelators. Some may have advanced more than others, but they are all on the same standing. No one is over any other. Imagine a society of 100 people and all of them are named President Monson. How would they live together?
Joseph Smith died before setting things in order. It is clear they are not in order now. And the LDS are very much in spiritual bondage in general and as a whole. This becomes more so apparent when your spiritual salvation is assured and you realize that it never was dependant upon gaining the approval of fallible men in priesthood authority. For now, the salvation and exaltation of LDS rely on ordinances akin to killing animals as sin offerings did to the Israelites.
There is much that has not been made clear. It has not been explained that men and women are given the fulness of the priesthood in the endowment. It has not been explained that we are literally given the keys needed to part the veil and enter the presence of God. It has not been explained that we can pass through the kingdoms right here and right now and enter into the celestial kingdom with all the world around us remaining in some other kingdom. It has not been explained that the kingdom of God is within you and cannot be observed from without. It has not been explained that the spiritual ordinances are more enabling and powerful that the physical ordinances which only point to the spiritual ordinances. Many other things have not been set in order. Without these and other things, people remain in spiritual bondage having their salvation and exaltation determined by fallible men in positions above them.
I have never seen a vision of things being set in order from the top down, only from the bottom up. Just as the people demand a king, they must also demand things be set in order. Right now, for the General church, the Prophet speaks for God, and so has been set on the thrown of God in the lives of many. This is ok with them as "he will never lead us astray". So the Prophet become the infallible voice of God and personal revelation which is the only rock or sure foundation is buried by the sand of false doctrine until it is hidden from plain view.
And only those willing to dig through the mountain of sand can find it. Until we as a people begin relying on the same witness that brought us into the church to show us the truth of all things, we will not be capable of being lead by one mighty or strong. Even God couldn't lead the people away from a king.
Edited: Amonhi on 16th Sep, 2008 - 8:21pm TOPIC: Notes About Church Of First Born