THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH'S VIEWS IN RELATION TO MAN AND THE PRIESTHOOD.
As in the "Mormon" doctrine of Deity discussed in these pages, man is
an important factor, and as his relations to God, and the possibilities
that are open to him in the never-ending future are a part of the
discussion between the Reverend Mr. Van Der Donckt and myself, the
following remarks of the Prophet respecting man and his relations
to God, and the relationship of certain leading men to each other,
in the several dispensations of the Gospel which have been given,
cannot fail to be an interesting and instructive contribution to this
chapter. The remarks under division I are taken from a discourse by
the Prophet delivered in June, 1839, in answer to some inquiries
concerning Priesthood. The Prophet's remarks under division I appear
in the _Millennial Star_, vol. xvii, pages 310, 311. Those in division
II are from an article on Priesthood prepared by the Prophet, and read
by Robert B. Thompson at the general conference of the Church held at
Nauvoo, October 5, 1840, and are to be found in the _Millennial Star_,
vol xviii, pages 164, 165:
I.
The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First
Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation.
He obtained it in the creation, before the worlds were formed, as in
Genesis 1:20, 26, 28. He had dominion given him over every living
creature. He is Michael, the Archangel, spoken of in the Scriptures.
Then to Noah, who is Gabriel; he stands next in authority to Adam in
the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the Father
of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion. These men
held keys first on earth, and then in heaven.
The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from
eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of
years. The keys have to be brought from heaven whenever the Gospel is
sent. When they are revealed from heaven it is by Adam's authority.
Daniel 7 speaks of the Ancient of Days; he means the oldest man, our
Father Adam, Michael; he will call his children together and hold a
council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. He
(Adam) is the father of the human family and presides over the spirits
of all men, and all that have had the keys must stand before him in
this grand council. This may take place before some of us leave this
stage of action. The Son of Man stands before him, and there is given
Him glory and dominion. Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ,
that which was delivered to him as holding the keys of the universe,
but retains his standing as head of the human family.
The spirit of man is not a created being; it existed from eternity,
and will exist to eternity. Anything created cannot be eternal; and
earth, water, etc., had their existence in an elementary state, from
eternity. Our Savior speaks of children and says, their angels always
stand before my Father. The Father called all spirits before him at
the creation of man, and organized them. He (Adam) is the head, and
was told to multiply. The keys were first given to him, and by him to
others. He will have to give an account of his stewardship and they to
him.
The Priesthood is everlasting. The Savior, Moses, and Elias, gave the
keys to Peter, James, and John, on the mount, when He was transfigured
before them. The Priesthood is everlasting--without beginning of days
or end of years; without father, mother, etc. If there is no change of
ordinance, there is no change of Priesthood. Wherever the ordinances of
the Gospel are administered, there is the Priesthood.
How have we come at the Priesthood in the last days? It came down, in
regular succession. Peter, James, and John had it given to them,
and they gave it to others. Christ is the great High Priest: Adam
next. Paul speaks of the Church coming to an innumerable company of
angels--to God, the Judge of all--the spirits of just men made perfect;
to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, etc. (Heb. 3:23).
I saw Adam in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman. He called together his
children and blessed them with a patriarchal blessing. The Lord
appeared in their midst, and he (Adam) blessed them all, and foretold
what should befall them to the latest generation. (See Doc. and Cov.,
sec. cvii: 53, 56.)
This is why Abraham blessed his posterity; he wanted to bring them into
the presence of God. They looked for a city, etc. Moses sought to bring
the children of Israel into the presence of God, through the power of
the Priesthood, but he could not. In the first ages of the world they
tried to establish the same thing; and there were Eliases raised up
who tried to restore these very glories, but did not obtain them, but
they prophesied of a day when this glory would be revealed. Paul spoke
of the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times, when God would gather
together all things in one, etc.; and those men to whom these keys have
been given, will have to be there, and they without us cannot be made
perfect.
These men are in heaven, but their children are on earth. Their
bowels yearn over us. God sends down men for this reason (Matt.
13:41). And the Son of Man shall send forth his angels, etc. All these
authoritative characters will come down and join hand in hand in
bringing about this work.
II.
In order to investigate the subject of the Priesthood, so important to
this as well as every succeeding generation, I shall proceed to trace
the subject, as far as I possibly can, from the Old and New Testaments.
There are two Priesthoods spoken of in the Scripture, viz., the
Melchizedek and the Aaronic or Levitical. Although there are two
Priesthoods, yet the Melchisedek Priesthood comprehends the Aaronic
or Levitical Priesthood, and is the grand head, and holds the highest
authority which pertains to the Priesthood, and the keys of the Kingdom
of God in all ages of the world to the latest posterity on the earth,
and is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of
salvation, and every important matter is revealed from heaven.
Its institution was prior to the "foundations of this earth, or the
morning stars sang together, or the sons of God shouted for joy," and
is the highest and holiest Priesthood, and is after the order of the
Son of God, and all other Priesthoods are only parts, ramifications,
powers, and blessings belonging to the same, and are held, controlled,
and directed by it. It is the channel through which the Almighty
commenced revealing his glory at the beginning of the creation of this
earth, and through which he has continued to reveal himself to the
children of men to the present time, and through which he will make
known his purposes to the end of time.
Commencing with Adam, who was the first man, who is spoken of in
Daniel as being the "Ancient of Days," or, in other words, the first
and oldest of all, the great grand progenitor, of whom it is said
in another place he is Michael, because he was the first and father
of all, not only by progeny, but the first to hold the spiritual
blessings, to whom was made known the plan of ordinances for the
salvation of his posterity unto the end, and to whom Christ was first
revealed, and through whom Christ has been revealed from heaven, and
will continue to be revealed from henceforth. Adam holds the keys of
the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times, i. e. the dispensation
of all the times, have been and will be revealed through him from
the beginning to Christ, and from Christ to the end of all the
dispensations that are to be revealed: Ephesians, 1st chap., 9th and
10th verses--"Having made known unto us the mystery of his will,
according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that
in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together
in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on
earth, even in him."
Now the purpose in himself in the winding-up scene of the last
dispensation is that all things pertaining to that dispensation should
be conducted precisely in accordance with the preceding dispensations.
And again: God purposed in himself, that there should not be eternal
fullness until every dispensation should be fulfilled and gathered
together in one, and that all things whatsoever that should be
gathered together in one in those dispensations unto the same fullness
and eternal glory, should be in Christ Jesus; therefore he set the
ordinances to be the same for ever, and set Adam to watch over them,
to reveal them from heaven to man, or to send angels to reveal them:
Hebrews 1:14--"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to
minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation?"
These angels are under the direction of Michael or Adam, who acts under
the direction of the Lord. From the above quotation we learn that Paul
perfectly understood the purposes of God in relation to his connection
with man, and that glorious and perfect order which he established in
himself, whereby he sent forth power, revelations, and glory.
God will not acknowledge that which he has not called, ordained, and
chosen. In the beginning God called Adam by his own voice. See Genesis
3rd chap., 9th and 10th verses--"And the Lord called unto Adam, and
said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the
garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and hid myself." Adam
received commandments and instruction from God; this was the order from
the beginning.
That he received revelations, commandments and ordinances at the
beginning is beyond the power of controversy; else, how did they
begin to offer sacrifices to God in an acceptable manner? And if they
offered sacrifices they must be authorized by ordination. We read in
Gen. 4th chap., 4th v., that Abel brought of the firstlings of the
flock and the fat thereof, and the Lord had respect to Abel and to his
offering. And again: Hebrews 11:4--"By faith Abel offered unto God a
more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that
he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and by it he being dead,
yet speaketh." How doth he yet speak? Why, he magnified the Priesthood
which was conferred upon him, and died a righteous man, and therefore
has become an angel of God by receiving his body from the dead, holding
still the keys of his dispensation; and was sent down from heaven unto
Paul to minister consoling words, and to commit unto him a knowledge of
the mysteries of Godliness.
And if this was not the case, I would ask, how did Paul know so much
about Abel, and why should he talk about his speaking after he was
dead? Hence, that he spoke after he was dead must be by being sent down
out of heaven to administer.
This, then, is the nature of the Priesthood; every man holding the
presidency of his dispensation, and one man holding the presidency of
them all, even Adam; and Adam receiving his presidency and authority
from the Lord, but cannot receive a fullness until Christ shall present
the Kingdom to the Father, which shall be at the end of the last
dispensation.
OF ADAM AND HIS RELATION TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH.
_(From the Doctrine and Covenants.)_
In March, 1832, the Lord gave a revelation to the Church commanding
them to effect an organization for the betterment of their material
condition, that the poor might be better cared for, and all the Saints
be more equal in the possession of earthly things, and then adds:
That you may come up to the crown prepared for you, and be made
rulers over many kingdoms, saith the Lord God, the Holy One of
Zion, who hath established the foundations of Adam-ondi-Ahman;
who hath appointed Michael your prince, and established his feet,
and set him upon high, and given unto him the keys of salvation
under the counsel and direction of the Holy One, who is without
beginning of days or end of life. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great
blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;
and ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer,
for I will lead you along; the kingdom is yours, and the blessings
thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours (Doc. and
Gov., sec. 78:15-18).
Who the "Michael" here spoken of is, who is "appointed" our "prince,"
and unto whom the "keys of salvation are given under the counsel
and direction of the Holy One," is made very plain afterwards in a
revelation given March 28, 1835, from which I quote the following:
Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos,
Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high
priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous,
into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them
his last blessing. And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose
up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the Prince, the
Archangel. And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said
unto him, I have set thee to be at the head--a multitude of nations
shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them for ever. And
Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation, and notwithstanding
he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted
whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation.
These things were all written in the Book of Enoch, and are to be
testified of in due time (Doc. and Cov., sec. 107:53-57).
From this it will appear that the Prophet Joseph Smith understood that
Adam would stand at the head of his posterity in this earth; that he
would be their Prince and hold the keys of salvation "under the counsel
and direction of the Holy One, who is without beginning of days or end
of life." Doubtless it was this which led the Prophet to say-after
referring to the fact that the Lord said to Moses, "Thou shalt be a
god unto the children of Israel," and again, "Thou shalt be a god unto
Aaron, and he shall be thy spokesman"--it was these considerations, I
repeat, which led the Prophet to say, "I believe those Gods that God
reveals as Gods to be sons of God, and all can cry, 'Abba, Father!'
sons of God, who exalted themselves to be Gods even before the
foundation of the world, and are the only Gods I have a reverence for"
(Discourse of June 16, 1844, _Millennial Star_, vol. xxiv, p. 140).
THE LIVING GOD.[A]
(_From the Times and Seasons._)
[Footnote A: The article under this title, is an editorial in the
"Times and Seasons," published at Nauvoo, Feb. 15, 1845, presumably
written by the late President John Taylor, who, at the time it was
written, was both editor and proprietor of the "Times and Seasons."]
There is no subject among men, that engrosses so much time and
attention, and, at the same time, is so little understood, as the
being, knowledge, substance, attributes, and disposition of the living
God. In the first place, Christians and believers in Christianity,
with a few exceptions, believe in one God; or, perhaps we should say,
in their own language, that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, _are one
God_. But to be obedient unto the truth, we will not thus transgress
upon reason, sense and revelation. It will then be necessary to treat
the subject of the "Living God," in contradiction to a _dead God_, or,
one that has "no body, parts or passions," and, perhaps it may be well
enough to say at the outset, that "Mormonism" embraces a plurality of
Gods, as the apostle said, there were "Gods many and Lords many." In
doing which, we shall not deny the scripture that has been set apart
for this world, and allow one God, even Jesus Christ, the very eternal
Father of this earth; and, if Paul tells the truth--"by him the worlds
were made."
It was probably alluded to by Moses, when the children of Israel
were working out their salvation, with fear and trembling, in the
wilderness, at the time that he spake these words: (Deut. 5:23-26.)
"And it came to pass when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the
darkness (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto
me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. And ye said:
Behold, the Lord our God hath showed us his glory, and greatness, and
we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire; we have seen
this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. Now, therefore,
why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the
voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die. For who is there
of all flesh, that had heard the voice of the living God speaking out
of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?"
* * * *
The first line of Genesis, purely translated from the original,
excluding the first _Baith_ (which was added by the Jews,) would
read:--_Rosheit_ (the head) _baurau_, (brought forth,) _Eloheim_ (the
Gods) _ate_ (with) _hah-shau-mahyiem_ (the heavens) _veh-ate_, (and
with) _hauaurates_, (the earth.) In simple English, the Head brought
forth the Gods, with the heavens and with the earth. The "Head" must
have meant the "living God," or Head God; Christ is our head. The term
"Eloheim," plural of Elohah, or ale, is used alike in the first chapter
of Genesis, for the creation, and the quotation of Satan. In the second
chapter, and fourth verse, we have this remarkable history: "_These are
the generations of the heavens and of the earth, when they were brought
forth; in the day that the Lord of the Gods made earth and heavens_."
The Hebrew reads so.
Truly Jesus Christ created the worlds, and is Lord of Lords, and, as
the Psalmist said: "Judges among the Gods." Then Moses might have said
with propriety, he is the "living God," and, Christ, speaking of the
flesh could say: I am the Son of man; and, Peter, enlightened by the
Holy Ghost: Thou art the Son of the Living God, meaning our Father in
heaven, who is the Father of all spirits, and who, with Jesus Christ,
his first begotten son and the Holy Ghost, are one in power, one in
dominion, and one in glory, constituting the first presidency of this
system, and this eternity. But they are as much three distinct persons
as the sun, moon, and earth are three different bodies.
Again, the "twelve kingdoms," which are under the above mentioned
presidency of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, are governed by the
same rules, and destined to the same honor (Book Doc. & Cov. p. 135,
sec. 13). For "Behold, I will liken these kingdoms unto a man having
a field, and he sent forth his servants into the field, to dig in the
field; and he said unto the first, go ye and labor in the field, and in
the first hour I will come unto you, and ye shall behold the joy of my
countenance; and he said unto the second, go ye also into the field,
and in the second hour I will visit you with the joy of my countenance;
and also unto the third, saying, I will visit you: and unto the fourth,
and so on unto the twelfth."
Without going into the full investigation of the history and excellency
of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in this article, let us
reflect that Jesus Christ, as Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, must
have a noble race in the heavens, or upon the earth, or else he can
never be as great in power, dominion, might, and authority, as the
scriptures declare. But hear; the mystery is solved. John says (Rev.
14:1,) "And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and
with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name
written in their foreheads."
Their Father's name, bless me! that is GOD! Well done for Mormonism;
_one hundred and forty-four thousand Gods_, among the tribes of Israel,
and, two living Gods and the Holy Ghost, for this world! Such knowledge
is too wonderful for men, unless they possess the spirit of Gods. It
unravels the little mysteries, which, like a fog, hides the serene
atmosphere of heaven, and looks from world to world; from system to
system; from universe to universe, and from eternity to eternity,
where, in each and all, there is a presidency of Gods, and Gods many,
and Lords many; and, from time to time, or from eternity to eternity,
Jesus Christ shall bring in another world, regulated and saved as this
will be, when he delivers it up to the Father; and God becomes _all in
all_. "And," as John the Revelator says (22:3, 4): "there shall be no
more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and
his servants shall serve him, and they shall see his face; and his name
shall be in their foreheads."
"His name in their foreheads," undoubtedly means "_God_" on the front
of their crowns; for, when all things are created new, in the celestial
kingdom, the servants of God, the innumerable multitude are crowned,
and, are perfect men and women in the Lord, one in glory, one in
knowledge, and one in image; they are like Christ, and he is like God;
then, O, then, they are all "Living Gods," having passed from death
unto life, and possess the power of eternal lives!
MATERIALITY.[A]
(From the "Prophet.")
[Footnote A: This article on the nature of God, man, and angels appears
in the editorial columns of the "Prophet" for May 24, 1845. The
"Prophet" was published in New York and Boston, and at the time of the
appearance of this article Elder Parley P. Pratt was the editor, and
hence it was doubtless written by him.]
God, the Father, is material.
Jesus Christ is material.
Angels are material.
Spirits are material.
Men are material.
The universe is material.
Space is full of materiality.
Nothing exists which is not material.
The elementary principles of the material universe are eternal; they
never originated from nonentity, and they never can be annihilated.
Immateriality is but another name for nonentity--it is the negative of
all things, and beings--of all existence.
There is not one particle of proof to be advanced to establish its
existence. It has no way to manifest itself to any intelligence in
heaven or on earth. Neither God, angels nor men, could positively
conceive of such a substance, being or thing. It possesses no property
or power by which to make itself manifest, to any intelligent being in
the universe, reason and analogy never scan it, or even conceive of
it. Revelation never reveals it, nor do any of our senses witness its
existence. It cannot be seen, heard, tasted, or smelled, even by the
strongest organs, or of the most acute sensibilities. It is neither
liquid or solid, soft or hard,--it can neither extend nor contract. In
short, it can exert no influence whatever--it can neither act, nor be
acted upon. And even if it does exist, it is of no possible use. It
possesses no one desirable property, faculty or use, yet, strange to
say, "Immateriality" is the modern Christian's God, his anticipated
heaven, his immortal self--his all.
O sectarianism! O atheism!! O annihilation!!! Who can perceive the nice
shades of difference between the one and the other? They seem alike all
but in name. The atheist has no God.
The sectarian has a God without body or parts. Who can define the
difference? for our part we do not perceive a difference of a single
hair; they both claim to be the negative of all things which exist--and
both are equally powerless and unknown.
The atheist has no after life, or conscious existence beyond the grave.
The sectarian has one, but it is immaterial like his God; and without
body or parts. Here again both are negative, and both are at the same
point. Their faith and hope amount to the same, only they are expressed
by different terms.
Again, the atheist has no heaven in eternity.
The sectarian has one, but it is immaterial in all its proprieties, and
is therefore the negative of all riches in substance. Here again they
are equal, and arrive at the same point.
As we do not envy them the possession of all they claim, we will now
leave them in the quiet and undisturbed enjoyment of the same and
proceed to examine the portion still left for the "poor Mormons" to
enjoy.
What is God? He is a material intelligence, possessing both body and
parts. He is in the form of man, and is in fact of the same species;
and is a model, or standard of perfection to which man is destined to
attain: he being the great Father, and head of the whole family.
He can go, come, converse, reason, eat, drink, love, hate, rejoice,
possess and enjoy. He can also travel space with all the ease and
intelligence necessary, for moving from planet to planet, and from
system to system.
This being cannot occupy two distinct places at once. Therefore, he
cannot be (in person) everywhere present. For evidence and illustration
of this God, and his personal powers, and attributes, we refer to the
scriptures of the Old and New Testament which speak substantially of
his body, parts, passions, powers, and of his conversing, walking,
eating, drinking, etc.; for instance, his taking dinner with Abraham.
What is Jesus Christ? He is the son of God, and is every way like his
father, being "the brightness of his father's glory, and the express
image of his person." He is material intelligence, with body, parts
and passions; possessing immortal flesh and immortal bones. He can and
does eat, drink, converse, reason, love, move, go, come, and in short,
perform all things even as the Father--possessing the same power and
attributes. And he, too, can travel space, and go from world to world,
and from system to system, precisely like the Father; but cannot occupy
two places at once.
What are angels? They are intelligences of the human species. Many of
them are offsprings of Adam and Eve. That is they are men, who have,
like Enoch or Elijah, been translated; or, like Jesus Christ, been
raised from the dead; consequently they possess a material body of
flesh and bones, can eat, drink, walk, converse, reason, love, fight,
wrestle, sing, or play on musical instruments. They can go or come
on foreign missions, in heaven, earth, or hell; and they can travel
space, and visit the different worlds, with all the ease and alacrity
with which God and Christ do the same, being possessed of similar
organizations, powers and attributes in a degree.
What are spirits? They are material intelligences, possessing body and
parts in the likeness of the temporal body; but not composed of flesh
and bones, but of some substance less tangible to our gross senses
in our present life; but tangible to those in the same element as
themselves. In short they are men in embrio--intelligences waiting to
come into the natural world and take upon them flesh and bones, that
through birth, death, and the resurrection they may also be perfected
in the material organization. Such was Jesus Christ, and such were
we before we came into this world, and such we will be again, in the
intervening space between death and the resurrection.
What are men? They are offspring of God, the Father, and brothers of
Jesus Christ. They were once intelligent spirits in the presence of
God, and were with him before the earth was formed. They are now in
disguise as it were, in order to pass through the several changes, and
the experience necessary to constitute them perfect beings.
They are capable of receiving intelligence and exaltation to such a
degree, as to be raised from the dead with a body like that of Jesus
Christ's, and to possess immortal flesh and bones, in which they
will eat, drink, converse, reason, love, walk, sing, play on musical
instruments, go on missions from planet to planet, or from system to
system: being Gods, or sons of God, endowed with the same powers,
attributes, and capacities that their heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
possess.
What are all these beings taken together, or summed up under one head?
They are one great family, all of the same species, all related to
each other, all bound together by kindred ties, interests sympathies,
and affections. In short they are all Gods; or rather, men are the
offspring or children of the Gods, and destined to advance by degrees,
and to make their way by a progressive series of changes, till they
become like their Father in heaven, and like Jesus Christ their elder
brother.
Thus perfected, the whole family will possess the material universe,
that is, the earth, and all other planets, and worlds, as "an
inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away." They
will also continue to organize, people, redeem, and perfect other
systems which are now in the womb of chaos, and thus go on increasing
their several dominions, till the weakest child of God which now
exists upon the earth will possess more dominion, more property, more
subjects, and more power and glory than is possessed by Jesus Christ or
by his Father; while at the same time Jesus Christ and his Father, will
have their dominion, kingdoms, and subjects increased in proportion.
Such are the riches, glories, blessings, honors, thrones, dominions,
principalities, and powers, held out by the system of materialism.
Such the wealth, the dignity, the nobility, the titles and honors to
which "Mormons" aspire. Such the promises of him whose word can never
fail.
With these hopes and prospects before us, we say to the Christian
world, who hold to immateriality, that they are welcome to their
God--their life--their heaven, and their all.
They claim nothing but that which we throw away, and we claim nothing
but that which they throw away. Therefore, there is no ground for
quarrel, or contention between us.