D&C 1

If you followed my blogs, you will know that I recently finished the Doctrine and Covenants. This morning I decided to start reading the Doctrine and Covenants again. In an Explanatory Introduction we read -


"...the Doctrine and Covenants is unique because it is not a translation of an ancient document, but is of modern origin and was given of God through his chosen prophets for the restoration of his holy work and the establishment of the kingdom of God on the earth in these days. In the revelations one hears the tender but firm voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking anew in the dispensation of the fulness of times; and the work that is initiated herein is preparatory to his second coming, in fulfillment of and in concert with the words of all the holy prophets since the world began." (Doctrine and Covenants Preface Introduction:3)

As a preface to many revelations the Lord had given in our day, the Lord emphatically stated -

"HEARKEN, O ye people of my church..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:1)

And also -

"...Hearken ye people from afar..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:1)

"For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:2)

What more can be said! For -

"...the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:4)

"Wherefore, fear and tremble, O ye people, for what I the Lord have decreed in them shall be fulfilled." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:7)

"Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:11)

The word of the Lord has been given in latter days to all men, therefore "Hearken". So that -

inasmuch as they erred it might be made known;
26 And inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed;
27 And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent;
28 And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:25 - 28)

Therefore -

"Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:37)

"For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:39)

I testify the the Spirit has born witness to me that this record is true. The burden on me is to "hearken".

Joseph Smith - Stand Fast through the Storms of Life

It's true that none of us will get out of this life alive. But it is also true that very few of us will get out of this life without experiencing hardships, trials, and affliction. It is part of the plan. Lehi taught his sons -

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:11)

As one reads the scriptures, all the great and righteous men experienced hardships, trials, and affliction -

"Call to mind a Daniel, the three Hebrew children [Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego], Jeremiah, Paul, Stephen, and many others, too numerous to mention, who were stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, slain with the sword, and [who] wandered about in sheep skins and goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and in mountains, and hid in dens and caves of the earth; yet they all obtained a good report through faith; and amidst all their afflictions they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to receive persecutions for Christ’s sake. "

As one reviews the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith, he was no exemption. The Prophet taught -

“Men have to suffer that they may come upon Mount Zion and be exalted above the heavens.”

It is a necessary part and purpose of life. While suffering overbearing affliction in the Liberty Jail, the Prophet wrote the saints -

“Beloved brethren, we say unto you, that inasmuch as God hath said that He would have a tried people, that He would purge them as gold [see Malachi 3:3], now we think that this time He has chosen His own crucible, wherein we have been tried; and we think if we get through with any degree of safety, and shall have kept the faith, that it will be a sign to this generation, altogether sufficient to leave them without excuse; and we think also, it will be a trial of our faith equal to that of Abraham, and that the ancients will not have whereof to boast over us in the day of judgment, as being called to pass through heavier afflictions; that we may hold an even weight in the balance with them.”

“Trials will only give us the knowledge necessary to understand the minds of the ancients. For my part, I think I never could have felt as I now do, if I had not suffered the wrongs that I have suffered. All things shall work together for good to them that love God [see Romans 8:28].”

But the promise is -

“The power of the Gospel will enable us to stand and bear with patience the great affliction that is falling upon us on all sides. … The harder the persecution the greater the gifts of God upon his church. Yea, all things shall work together for good to them who are willing to lay down their lives for Christ’s sake.”

In conclusion -

“We know not what we shall be called to pass through before Zion is delivered and established; therefore, we have great need to live near to God, and always to be in strict obedience to all His commandments, that we may have a conscience void of offense toward God and man. …
“… Our trust is in God, and we are determined, His grace assisting us, to maintain the cause and hold out faithful unto the end, that we may be crowned with crowns of celestial glory, and enter into the rest that is prepared for the children of God.”

Joseph Smith - Beyond the Veil: Life in the Eternities

In the New Testament we read -

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (New Testament John 14:2 - 3)

As one reads these verses, you would have to assume that the translation of "house" may not the proper translation. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that -

"It should be—‘In my Father’s kingdom are many kingdoms,’ in order that ye may be heirs of God and joint-heirs with me. … There are mansions for those who obey a celestial law, and there are other mansions for those who come short of the law, every man in his own order.”

This seems to make a little bit more sense. Paul suggested different kingdoms of different glory in writing the Corinthians saying that -

"There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead..." (New Testament 1 Corinthians 15:40 - 42)

Paul even called these kingdoms and glories as heavens saying -

"I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago...such an one caught up to the third heaven." (New Testament 2 Corinthians 12:2)

In the marvelous revelation given to the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon they also saw the kingdoms that Paul saw. They wrote of the kingdom of the glory of the stars saying -

"...we saw the glory of the telestial, which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differs from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament.
82 These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus." Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:81 - 82)

The also -

"...saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament.
72 Behold, these are they who died without law;
73 And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh;
74 Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.
75 These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.
76 These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fulness." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:71 - 76)

But of the greatest and most desirable importance, they saw -

"...they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:70)

These -

"...are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
53 And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:51 - 53)

"These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:69)

"Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—
59 Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
60 And they shall overcome all things." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:58 - 60)

Of this great revelation the Prophet explained -

“Nothing could be more pleasing to the Saints upon the order of the kingdom of the Lord, than the light which burst upon the world through the foregoing vision. Every law, every commandment, every promise, every truth, and every point touching the destiny of man, from Genesis to Revelation, where the purity of the scriptures remains unsullied by the folly of men, … witnesses the fact that that document is a transcript from the records of the eternal world. The sublimity of the ideas; the purity of the language; the scope for action; the continued duration for completion, in order that the heirs of salvation may confess the Lord and bow the knee; the rewards for faithfulness, and the punishments for sins, are so much beyond the narrow-mindedness of men, that every honest man is constrained to exclaim: ‘It came from God.’ ”

Joseph Smith - The Great Plan of Salvation

In modern day, the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith a concept somewhat misunderstood by Christendom - that we are eternal beings and can advance toward exaltation as we obey the laws of God. In revelation, the Lord explained -

"Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 93:29)

The Prophet used this analogy -

“… I take my ring from my finger and liken it unto the mind of man—the immortal part, because it had no beginning. Suppose you cut it in two; then it has a beginning and an end; but join it again, and it continues one eternal round. So with the spirit of man. As the Lord liveth, if it had a beginning, it will have an end. All the fools and learned and wise men from the beginning of creation, who say that the spirit of man had a beginning, prove that it must have an end; and if that doctrine is true, then the doctrine of annihilation would be true. But if I am right, I might with boldness proclaim from the house-tops that God never had the power to create the spirit of man at all. God himself could not create himself. "

We begin to understand the nature and purpose of God himself as the Prophet taught -

“The first principles of man are self-existent with God. God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with himself, so that they might have one glory upon another, and all that knowledge, power, glory, and intelligence, which is requisite in order to save them in the world of spirits.”

As one contemplates our existence and the nature of this life, that is as we sense the feelings we have in families and our inherant desire to also love and help our children to grow and mature to righteous offspring, we begin to sense our divine nature as children of a Heavenly Father that loves us. Everything within us tells us it is true! For -

"...truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 93:24)

“We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker, and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment.”

All this done by the grace of God and the infinite atonement of Jesus Christ.

Joseph Smith - Revelation and the Living Prophet

The Lord has made it perfectly cleart that -

"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Old Testament Amos 3:7)

It has always been that it is far easier to believe in a dead prophet than a living prophet. We see this in ancient times, we see it today. The Prophet Joseph Smith said -

“Notwithstanding, literally speaking, that all knowledge comes from God, yet when it has been revealed, all men have not believed it as revelation at the time. …"

We see this in the days of Noah as he called the people to repentance but -

"...was not believed by the inhabitants of the earth. They knew Adam was the first man, made in the image of God; that he was a good man; that Enoch walked with God three hundred and sixty-five years, and was translated to heaven without tasting death. But they could not endure the new revelation: the old we believe because our fathers did, but away with new revelations. And the flood swept them away. … "

What is of the greatest evidence -

"...was signally manifest among the Jews when the Savior came in the flesh. [They] boasted of the old revelations, garnished the sepulchres of the dead, gave tithes of mint and anise, made long prayers for a pretense, and crossed sea and land to make proselytes, but yet when the new revelation came fresh from the mouth of the great I Am himself, they could not endure it—it was too much. It showed the corruptions of that generation, as others before, and they cried, away with him; crucify him! … "

In modern days -

“Once more, the same course and language were used when the Book of Mormon came to this generation. The old revelation, the old patriarchs, pilgrims and apostles, were blessed. We believe in them, but the new ones we cannot abide.”

It is undisputable that -

“The world always mistook false prophets for true ones, and those that were sent of God, they considered to be false prophets, and hence they killed, stoned, punished and imprisoned the true prophets, and these had to hide themselves ‘in deserts and dens, and caves of the earth’ [see Hebrews 11:38], and though the most honorable men of the earth, they banished them from their society as vagabonds, whilst they cherished, honored and supported knaves, vagabonds, hypocrites, impostors, and the basest of men.”

“It always has been when a man was sent of God with the priesthood and he began to preach the fullness of the gospel, that he was thrust out by his friends, who are ready to butcher him if he teach things which they imagine to be wrong; and Jesus was crucified upon this principle.”

The truth is -

“In consequence of rejecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Prophets whom God hath sent, the judgments of God have rested upon people, cities, and nations, in various ages of the world, which was the case with the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, that were destroyed for rejecting the Prophets.”26
William P. McIntire reported: “[Joseph Smith] prophesied that all those that made light of the revelations that were given, and of him and his words, would ere long cry and lament, … saying, Oh! that we had hearkened to the words of God and the revelations given.”

As Latter-day Saints -

"We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." (Pearl of Great Price Articles of Faith 1:9)

And that the is revealed to the entire Church will come through the Lord's living prophet. And it is because of His prophet that the Church is -

"...the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:30)

Joseph Smith - History

The priesthood seems to be a conduit of revelation for all upon whom it is conferred. Speaking of the Melchizedek priesthood, the Lord revealed -

"...this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 84:19)

And also -

"The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church—
19 To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 107:18 - 19)

Even the lesser or the Aaronic priesthood -

"...holds the keys of the ministering of angels..." (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:69)

After having the Aaronic priesthood conferred upon Joseph Smith and Oliver by the hand of John the Baptist, and having baptized each other, the Prophet reports -

"Immediately on our coming up out of the water after we had been baptized, we experienced great and glorious blessings from our Heavenly Father. No sooner had I baptized Oliver Cowdery, than the Holy Ghost fell upon him, and he stood up and prophesied many things which should shortly come to pass. And again, so soon as I had been baptized by him, I also had the spirit of prophecy, when, standing up, I prophesied concerning the rise of this Church, and many other things connected with the Church, and this generation of the children of men. We were filled with the Holy Ghost, and rejoiced in the God of our salvation." (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:73)

And after having received the priesthood the Prophet writes -

"Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the scriptures laid open to our understandings, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain to previously, nor ever before had thought of." (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:74)

All in accordance to revealed knowledge.

Joseph Smith - History

As Moroni visited with the Prophet Joseph, he quoted several scriptures sayting that -

"After telling me these things, he commenced quoting the prophecies of the Old Testament. He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi; and he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy, though with a little variation from the way it reads in our Bibles. Instead of quoting the first verse as it reads in our books, he quoted it thus:
37 For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:36 - 37)

And then -

"...he quoted the fifth verse thus: Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:38)

"He also quoted the next verse differently: And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming." (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:39)

"In addition to these, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled..." (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:40)

"AND there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
10 ¶ And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
15 And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt." (Old Testament Isaiah 11:1 - 16)

"...He quoted also the third chapter of Acts, twenty-second and twenty-third verses, precisely as they stand in our New Testament..." (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:40)

"For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people." (New Testament Acts 3:22 - 23)

Moroni explained -

"...that prophet was Christ; but the day had not yet come when "they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people," but soon would come." (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:40)

"He also quoted the second chapter of Joel, from the twenty-eighth verse to the last. He also said that this was not yet fulfilled, but was soon to be..." (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:41)

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." (Old Testament Joel 2:28 - 32)

Interesting that the Prophet Joels prophecied in the last days, "young men shall see visions". And what is even more significant that I know to be true -

"And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." (Old Testament Joel 2:29)

And the Prophet records that Moroni -

"...quoted many other passages of scripture, and offered many explanations which cannot be mentioned here." (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:41)

Many Old Testament prophets saw our day and prophesied of the restoration of the gospel.

Abraham 5

As one reads the versions of the creation in the books of Genesis, Moses, and Abraham, there are some discrepancies between them. I personally do not think that the discrepancies matter. But what seems to stand out to me that really matters is that there was a purpose and a "plan". And what seems to me of even greater significance is that there was an eternal council that counseled together regarding the plan. For God has specifically said -

"Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:35)

And being a "Man of Counsel", we learn that -
"...the Gods took counsel among themselves and said: Let us go down and form man in our image, after our likeness; and we will give them dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." (Pearl of Great Price Abraham 4:26)

"And the Gods said: We will do everything that we have said, and organize them; and behold, they shall be very obedient." (Pearl of Great Price Abraham 4:31)

But the plan was established before the creation took place -

"...for the Gods had not caused it to rain upon the earth when they counseled to do them, and had not formed a man to till the ground." (Pearl of Great Price Abraham 5:5)

For -

"...thus were their decisions at the time that they counseled among themselves to form the heavens and the earth." (Pearl of Great Price Abraham 5:3)

I believe "to counsel" whether in the Church, in the home, or as husband and wife is an essential component in our personal eternal growth and development.

Moses 7

We learn a lot about our Father in Heaven and His relationship with each individual or child of God as Enoch saw -

"...that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:28)

Enoch then asked -

"...How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?" (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:29)

Enoch, thinking that so many were insignificant continues to ask -

"And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;
31 And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?" (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:30 - 31)

And then we get a feeling how the Lord feels of each individual -

"...Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;
33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:32 - 33)

In many ways we cannot understand his omniscience and love as the Lord declares -

"Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also.
36 Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:35 - 36)

But because His creations or children do not choose Him, like any parent -

"Wherefore, for this shall the heavens weep, yea, and all the workmanship of mine hands." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:40)

And He tells why -

"...behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?
38 But behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them.
39 And That which I have chosen hath pled before my face. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in the day that my Chosen shall return unto me, and until that day they shall be in torment..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:37 - 39)

God is a God of love and mercy, but yet is a God of justice. Because of justice, He knows the consequence of sin and that they will suffer. He is even willing to suffer for His children if they will but repent. It is any wonder -

"...for this shall the heavens weep..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:40)

Moses 6

Enoch was able to explain the plan of salvation without an excessive amount of words. Enoch explained -

"...a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 6:5)

It was this book that recorded the plan of salvation as revealed from the Lord. Referring to the book, Enoch taught that Lord -

"...called upon our father Adam by his own voice, saying: I am God; I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh.
52 And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 6:51 - 52)

And then the Lord spake to Adam about his children saying -

"...Inasmuch as thy children are conceived in sin, even so when they begin to grow up, sin conceiveth in their hearts, and they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good.
56 And it is given unto them to know good from evil; wherefore they are agents unto themselves, and I have given unto you another law and commandment.
57 Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time.
58 Therefore I give unto you a commandment, to teach these things freely unto your children, saying:
59 That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 6:55 - 59)

Then the Lord summarizes -

"For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 6:60)

As I've contemplated this words, there is not question that as we are baptized it is an example of obedience. Justification in my mind is when an judge or official determines that one has satisfied all requirements and become srighteous by the virtue and power of divine grace. This determination is the "sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise" or the Holy Ghost. Sanctified is when one becomes clean, pure, and cleansed. A new creature so to speak.

Moses 1

I am going to include a recent talk a gave this past weekend. There are two scriptures that I read this morning that are related to that talk but were not included in the talk -

"...it came to pass that Moses looked, and beheld the world upon which he was created; and Moses beheld the world and the ends thereof, and all the children of men which are, and which were created..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 1:8)

Note the "which were created".

The second is the nature of Satan -

"...Satan cried with a loud voice, and ranted upon the earth, and commanded, saying: I am the Only Begotten, worship me." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 1:19)

This was my talk -

With some embarrassment, I will admit that one of my favorite movies is Young Frankenstein. There is a line in that movie that goes something like –

“…a riot is a very ugly thing, it’s about time we had one…”

As I prepared for this evening, my thoughts followed much the same logic –

The preaching of hell, fire, and burning is a very unpleasant thing, it’s about time we did!

As I’ve thought about this theme, I’ve wondered what it would be like to be a traditional pulpit pounding minister – but you can rest assured that I’m not going to do that. But I am still going to talk about hell.

As Alma was giving commandments to his son Corianton, he perceived that his son was very worried about the resurrection. In an attempt to comfort him, he basically told him, don’t worry about it –

“…my son, the resurrection is not yet...” (Book of Mormon Alma 40:3)

But still seeing the opportunity to teach, he continued –

“…Now, I unfold unto you a mystery…” (Book of Mormon Alma 40:3)

“…I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know—that is concerning the resurrection…” (Book of Mormon Alma 40:3)

That –

“… there is a time appointed that all shall rise from the dead.”

And because of that –

…there must needs be a space betwixt the time of death and the time of the resurrection.” (Book of Mormon Alma 40:5 - 6)

Then Alma asked his son what is probably one of the most sought after answer of all generations –

“…what becometh of the souls of men from this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection?” (Book of Mormon Alma 40:7)

It is that question I would like to address this evening. But even more specific, I would like to focus on the question, “what becometh of the souls of men” –

“Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh…” Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:74)

And not just those who receive not the testimony, but also –

“…they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus…” (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:79)

As we begin to read the words of Alma to his son, we quickly recognize that the topic at hand was that of the resurrection of the dead, so Alma spent very little time or in other words, very few verses on what really happens after death. Nevertheless, he tells Corianton –

“…now, concerning this space of time, what becometh of the souls of men is the thing which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know; and this is the thing of which I do know.” (Book of Mormon Alma 40:9)

“…it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.” (Book of Mormon Alma 40:11 - 12)

But –

“…the spirits of the wicked, yea, [those] who are evil… these shall be cast out into outer darkness…and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.
14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.” (Book of Mormon Alma 40:13 - 14)

I’m sure if Alma hadn’t been specifically addressing the resurrection; he may have given us a great deal more information about this place. But probably because the angel revealed that there were two places where the spirits of the departed, he teaches that there are generally two types of inhabitants – the righteous and the wicked.

We gain a great deal more incite in this world of spirits, As Jacob, the brother of Nephi, taught the people about the great and infinite atonement of the Savior. As he did, he described what the conditions of the world of spirits would be like had there been no atonement made. He taught that without the atonement, when men died, –

“…this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more….” (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:7)

In other words, there would be no resurrection. And with no resurrection, that is –

“… if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil…And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God…” (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:8 - 9)

As we contemplate these words, we begin to understand what the conditions must be like in the place that is reserved for those for whom the atonement has not become a part of there lives. Jacob taught that without the blessings of the atonement, the spirits of the wicked must remain as spirit beings with Satan until the resurrection.

This is just what Abinadi reminded the wicked priests of King Noah of as he said –

“…remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore, he is as though there was no redemption made…” (Book of Mormon Mosiah 16:5)

It is from the teachings of Jacob and Abinadi that it becomes apparent, at least to me, where the spirit world is. To remain with and under the power of Satan, one must be where Satan and his angels are. John wrote in the book of Revelations that Satan –

“…was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (New Testament Revelation 12:9)

Brigham Young delivered a sermon regarding the spirits of men after death of which he taught –

“They do not pass out of the organization of this earth on which we live…[He then asked the saints] Can you see it with your natural eye? No. Suppose the Lord should touch your eyes that you might see, could you then see the spirits? Yes, as plainly as you now see bodies, [just] as did the servant of Elijah (2 Kings 6:17)…” (Journal of Discourses, 3:368)

The servant of Elijah was the one that saw the –

“…mountain[s]… full of horses and chariots of fire …” (Old Testament 2 Kings 6:17)

In the same sermon, President Young stated that the spirit world is –

“…on this earth that was organized for the people that have lived, and that do, and will live upon it…” (Journal of Discourses, 3:372)

Since Satan and all his angels have been cast here on earth, it becomes quite obvious that those that pass on, meaning those that do not enter into paradise, must then –

“…remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself…” (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:9)

Can you imagine a more awful condition than having to remain with? –

“….that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness.” (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:9)

Is it any wonder, Jacob talked of this state as being in –

“…the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell…” (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:10)

And also –

“…that awful monster the devil…” (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:19)

This is the state of those that enter not into paradise. It is a place of darkness, spiritual darkness, terrible darkness. Alma called it “outer darkness”, not to be confused with the final state of the Devil and his angels –

And in this “reigning” darkness, being lead captive by that being which –

“…is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.” (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:12)

“…for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.” (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:17)

Can you even imagine anything worse than living with such spirit beings as the devil and all his angels? In the past, Terri and I have lived with some very difficult neighbors. I’ve thought that some of them were bad enough, but this would be no comparison. The scriptures describes life in this darkness using such words as weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth, burning, torment, misery, suffering, buffetings, and of course, hell. Could there really be anything worse?

In parable, the Savior warned of this terrible place –

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,…
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.” (New Testament Luke 16:19 - 26)

In vision Father Lehi saw this great gulf and described it as –

“…an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God.

And Nephi called it an –

“…awful hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked.

I would hope that the very thought of living in this place under these conditions scares the hell out of each of us.

But to be honest with you, that was not the purpose of my talk this evening. There is been something else that has seemed to be press upon my mind. This evening I wanted to paint a picture of hell because I’ve had an ulterior motive. The conditions I have talked about are the very conditions at this time for many of our ancestors that has passed on before.

First, I must declare with glad news in our day regarding that great gulf of which the Savior once taught was fixed –

“…so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”

With the visit of the Savior following his crucifixion to the world of spirits, that great gulf was bridged, for as Peter taught –

“…for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (New Testament 1 Peter 4:6)

In my mind, to live according to God in the spirit means to have the privilege of living in the same manner as the righteous in paradise. In the great vision received by President Joseph F. Smith, he wrote -

“…I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.” (Doctrine and Covenants Section 138:57)

I’ve thought a great deal regarding President Smith’s words and the gulf which separates the righteous from the wicked. I’ve contemplated the bridge that connects the two, and have wondered, what is it that allows some to enter paradise while others must remain in “outer darkness” with the father of lies? While Alma chose to use the terms “the righteous” and “the wicked”, there are other scriptures that have seemed to help me differentiate between the two.

There has always been a gulf between the righteous and the wicked, and that is the priesthood. The priesthood itself has always possessed power and authority to cast Satan or the wicked out of our midst. Regarding the wicked, the Lord told the prophet Joseph Smith to –

“…hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass…” (Doctrine and Covenants Section 122:9)

But now, there is with special keys, authority and powers of the priesthood, some are allowed to pass.

The Lord said to His Apostle Peter –

“I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven….” (Doctrine and Covenants Section 128:10)

The priesthood keys and authority that binds that which is done on earth also in heaven is the sealing power restored by the Prophet Elijah and exercised in modern temples today. The Prophet explained –

“…This, therefore, is the sealing and binding power, and, in one sense of the word, the keys of the kingdom…” (Doctrine and Covenants Section 128:14)

And with the keys of the Kingdom, the Savior told Peter –

“…and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it…” (Doctrine and Covenants Section 128:10)

It is with this priesthood power the gates of hell do not prevail, but are opened to free penitent spirits that are were captive in prison - but not just any penitent spirit.

As President Smith beheld the preaching of the gospel in the great world of the spirits of the dead, he said -

“The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God…”

As President Wilford Woodruff prayerfully struggled with the supreme courts decision, upholding of the constitutionality of laws against plural marriage, and the looming possibility of government confiscation of temples, He said in the Manifesto –

“…The Lord showed me by vision and revelation exactly what would take place if we did not stop this practice…all ordinances would be stopped throughout the land of Zion. … Now, the question is, whether it should be stopped in this manner, or in the way the Lord has manifested to us, and leave… the temples in the hands of the people, so that the dead may be redeemed. A large number has already been delivered from the prison house in the spirit world by this people, and shall the work go on or stop?” (Doctrine and Covenants Official Declaration 1:16)

I believe it is through the ordinances of the temple and through the crowning authority of the priesthood – the sealing power that the gates of hell are unable to prevail. In speaking of His holy house, the Lord said -

“…therein are the keys of the holy priesthood ordained…”
(Doctrine and Covenants Section 124:34)

The Prophet testified –

“…we saw and heard… concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—“ (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:50)

He not only said –

“They are they who received the testimony of Jesus…”

But among other things said that they are they that are –

“…sealed unto this power;” (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:51 - 52)

The sealing of temple ordinances then must be a condition for many to enter paradise.

This evening I have intentionally painted the conditions hell for the purpose to suggest that their may be many even at this time being held captive in hell, in torment, suffering, praying and waiting for the saints to be saviors on mount Zion to free them from prison and the buffetings of Satan. This work can only be done in the House of the Lord.

I am reminded of the words spoken by Brigham Young as be became aware of the conditions of the Willey and Martin Handcart companies -

“…many of our brethren and sisters are on the Plains with hand-carts, and probably many are now seven hundred miles from this place, and they must be brought here, we must send assistance to them.”

“…I will tell you all that your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the celestial kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the Plains, and attend strictly to those …duties, otherwise your faith will be in vain…”

My message is much the same this evening.

There are many of our penitent brothers and sisters stranded on the plains of hell. Even at this time, they may be destitute, suffering, and waiting to be rescued. It is our duty is to do their ordinances. It is our duty as prophesied by Isaiah to liberate the captives. We must free them from prison. We must bring them safely home.

In closing, through revelation, the Prophet Joseph wrote –

“Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness!..glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead…” (Doctrine and Covenants Section 128:19)

“Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation.” (Doctrine and Covenants Section 128:24)

D&C 136

As the saints were preparing for the trek west, the Lord gave directions in the manner they should proceed. As they did, provided some essential instructions, say -

"And this shall be our covenant—that we will walk in all the ordinances of the Lord." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 136:4)

"...with a covenant and promise to keep all the commandments and statutes of the Lord our God." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 136:2)

And with that, the saints were to -

"Seek ye; and keep all your pledges one with another; and covet not that which is thy brother's." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 136:20)

"Keep yourselves from evil to take the name of the Lord in vain, for I am the Lord your God, even the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 136:21)

"Cease to contend one with another; cease to speak evil one of another.
24 Cease drunkenness; and let your words tend to edifying one another." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 136:23 - 24)

And also -

"If thou borrowest of thy neighbor, thou shalt restore that which thou hast borrowed; and if thou canst not repay then go straightway and tell thy neighbor, lest he condemn thee.
26 If thou shalt find that which thy neighbor has lost, thou shalt make diligent search till thou shalt deliver it to him again." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 136:25 - 26)

In other words, to were to adhere to the teachings of His gospel. And as with all His commandments, he provides this promise -

"...if ye do this with a pure heart, in all faithfulness, ye shall be blessed; you shall be blessed in your flocks, and in your herds, and in your fields, and in your houses, and in your families." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 136:11)

And with His promises He also provides warnings -

"...if any man shall seek to build up himself, and seeketh not my counsel, he shall have no power, and his folly shall be made manifest." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 136:19)

All this being to the -

"...Word and Will of the Lord concerning the Camp of Israel in their journeyings to the West." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 136:1)

D&C 133

In the latter days, even though the same gospel has been preached in all generations, the Lord commands -

"...prepare ye, prepare ye, O my people; sanctify yourselves..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 133:4)

Suggesting that Babylon is the lifestyle of the wicked, He says -

"Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 133:14)

And then He commands -

"Go ye out from Babylon. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 133:5)

And then the Lord provides this instruction and great warning -

"But verily, thus saith the Lord, let not your flight be in haste, but let all things be prepared before you; and he that goeth, let him not look back lest sudden destruction shall come upon him." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 133:15)

What a great warning this is. There are so many that receive a witness of the Holy Ghost that move forward but yet still desire many of the temptations of spiritual Babylon. The Lord warns that those that do this may fall to destruction. We see this as Lot's -

"...wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." (Old Testament Genesis 19:26)

The promise is given -

"...unto him that repenteth and sanctifieth himself before the Lord shall be given eternal life." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 133:62)

D&C 132

The Lord reveals to the Prophet Joseph Smith -

"...I am the Lord thy God; and I give unto you this commandment—that no man shall come unto the Father but by me or by my word, which is my law, saith the Lord." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:12)

In other words we must be obedient to the words of Christ to live with the Father. The Lord explains that -

"Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by revelation and commandment, by my word, saith the Lord..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:29)

Abraham was obedient when -

God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wife. And why did she do it? Because this was the law; and from Hagar sprang many people. This, therefore, was fulfilling, among other things, the promises." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:34)

The Lord even asks -

"Was Abraham, therefore, under condemnation? Verily I say unto you, Nay; for I, the Lord, commanded it." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:35)

Also -

Abraham was commanded to offer his son Isaac; nevertheless, it was written: Thou shalt not kill. Abraham, however, did not refuse, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:36)

Because he was obedient to the Word. According to the Lord's command -

Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods.
38 David also received many wives and concubines, and also Solomon and Moses my servants, as also many others of my servants, from the beginning of creation until this time; and in nothing did they sin save in those things which they received not of me." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:37 - 38)

Jacob explains concerning plural marriage -

"...my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;
28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.
29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things." (Book of Mormon Jacob 2:27 - 30)

Again it comes down to following the word or commands of the Lord. Some have a difficult time when Nephi was commanded to slay Laban, but it too was considered righteousness because the Lord commanded it. The Lord has clearly stated -

"Go ye, therefore, and do the works of Abraham; enter ye into my law and ye shall be saved." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:32)

"For I am the Lord thy God, and ye shall obey my voice..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:53)

D&C 130

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught -

"...that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 130:2)

As we contemplate the "same sociality", this would suggest family life, extended families, friends and friendships, as well as many of our social relationships with others. As I thought about my personal sociality, I recognized that in a few of my relationships with others are not necessarily positive, filled with love unfeign. This would suggest that for me to live with "eternal glory" my relationship with some must improve. I must forgive, repent, and hold no animosity of others. This is my challenge. Maybe this is why the Savior taught -

"...first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." (New Testament Matthew 7:5)

And -

"...I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 64:10)

This explains why the Savior said -

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (New Testament John 13:34 - 35)