D&C Official Declaration 1

In the 101st Section the Lord stated that He -

"...established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 101:80)

It was with this understanding that President Wilford Woodruff wrote -

"Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding plural marriages, which laws have been pronounced constitutional by the court of last resort, I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws, and to use my influence with the members of the Church over which I preside to have them do likewise." (Doctrine and Covenants Official Declaration 1:4)

Some may have thought by that statement that President Woodruff was bending to policital pressure. But he later stated -

"...I want to say this: I should have let all the temples go out of our hands; I should have gone to prison myself, and let every other man go there, had not the God of heaven commanded me to do what I did do; and when the hour came that I was commanded to do that, it was all clear to me. I went before the Lord, and I wrote what the Lord told me to write. I laid it before my brethren—such strong men as Brother George Q. Cannon, Brother Joseph F. Smith, and the Twelve Apostles. I might as well undertake to turn an army with banners out of its course as to turn them out of a course that they considered to be right. These men agreed with me, and ten thousand Latter-day Saints also agreed with me. . . . Why? Because they were moved upon by the Spirit of God and by the revelations of Jesus Christ to do it." (Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, pp. 214–16.)

D&C 138

In the great revelation received by President Joseph F. Smith, we learn that -

"...there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality;
13 And who had offered sacrifice in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of God, and had suffered tribulation in their Redeemer's name." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 138:12 - 13)

In this company of spirits there were not a few, but "an innumerable company of the spirits of the just". This innumerable company were they that had lived in the flesh before the coming of the Savior that had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus. It becomes apparent that the blessings of exaltation are not limited to just a few. It is interesting that these saints knew that they would receive the blessings the Savior had prepared for them for -

"All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection, through the grace of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
15 I beheld that they were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand.
16 They were assembled awaiting the advent of the Son of God into the spirit world, to declare their redemption from the bands of death.
17 Their sleeping dust was to be restored unto its perfect frame, bone to his bone, and the sinews and the flesh upon them, the spirit and the body to be united never again to be divided, that they might receive a fulness of joy." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 138:14 - 17)

These blessings would be exaltation because they would receive "a fulness of joy". Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught -

"All the faithful Saints, all of those who have endured to the end, depart this life with the absolute guarantee of eternal life.

There is no equivocation, no doubt, no uncertainty in our minds. Those who have been true and faithful in this life will not fall by the wayside in the life to come. If they keep their covenants here and now and depart this life firm and true in the testimony of our blessed Lord, they shall come forth with an inheritance of eternal life.

We do not mean to say that those who die in the Lord, and who are true and faithful in this life, must be perfect in all things when they go into the next sphere of existence. There was only one perfect man—the Lord Jesus whose Father was God.

There have been many righteous souls who have attained relative degrees of perfection, and there have been great hosts of faithful people who have kept the faith, and lived the law, and departed this life with the full assurance of an eventual inheritance of eternal life.

There are so many things they will do and must do, even beyond the grave, to merit the fulness of the Father’s kingdom in that final glorious day when the great King shall say unto them ‘Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ (Matt. 25:34.)

But what we are saying is that when the saints of God chart a course of righteousness, when they gain sure testimonies of the truth and divinity of the Lord’s work, when they keep the commandments, when they overcome the world, when they put first in their lives the things of God’s kingdom: when they do all these things, and then depart this life—though they have not yet become perfect—they shall nonetheless gain eternal life in our Father’s kingdom; and eventually they shall be perfect as God their Father and Christ His Son are perfect.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1976, pp. 158–59; or Ensign, Nov. 1976, p. 107)

D&C 138

In preface to this revelation, President Joseph F. Smith said -

"...I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures;
2 And reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God, for the redemption of the world;
3 And the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the world;
4 That through his atonement, and by obedience to the principles of the gospel, mankind might be saved." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 138:1 - 4)

And then he follows -

"While I was thus engaged, my mind reverted to the writings of the apostle Peter..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 138:5)

And then he tells us that as he pondered -

"I opened the Bible and read the third and fourth chapters of the first epistle of Peter, and as I read I was greatly impressed, more than I had ever been before..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 138:6)

As he did, that is -

"As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 138:11)

It seems that much of the revelations received both anciently and in modern days were a result of this process. In the introduction to the Doctrine and Covenanst we read -

"These sacred revelations were received in answer to prayer, in times of need, and came out of real-life situations involving real people. The Prophet and his associates sought for divine guidance, and these revelations certify that they received it." (Doctrine and Covenants Preface Introduction:6)

Personal revelation, enlightenment, guidance, and understanding follows the same process. As we read and ponder the scriptures under the influence of the Holy Ghost, we are taught from on high. Elder Harold B. Lee retold the story -

"A few weeks ago, President McKay related to the Twelve an interesting experience, and I asked him yesterday if I might repeat it to you this morning. He said it is a great thing to be responsive to the whisperings of the Spirit, and we know that when these whisperings come it is a gift and our privilege to have them. They come when we are relaxed and not under pressure of appointments. (I want you to mark that.) The President then took occasion to relate an experience in the life of Bishop John Wells, former member of the Presiding Bishopric. A son of Bishop Wells was killed in Emigration Canyon on a railroad track. Brother John Wells was a great detail man and prepared many of the reports we are following up now. His boy was run over by a freight train. Sister Wells was inconsolable. She mourned during the three days prior to the funeral, received no comfort at the funeral, and was in a rather serious state of mind. One day soon after the funeral services while she was lying on her bed relaxed, still mourning, she says that her son appeared to her and said, ‘Mother, do not mourn, do not cry. I am all right.’ He told her that she did not understand how the accident happened and explained that he had given the signal to the engineer to move on, and then made the usual effort to catch the railing on the freight train; but as he attempted to do so his foot caught on a root and he failed to catch the hand rail, and his body fell under the train. It was clearly an accident. Now listen! He said that as soon as he realized that he was in another environment he tried to see his father, but he couldn’t reach him. His father was so busy with the duties in his office he could not respond to his call. Therefore, he had come to his mother. He said to her, ‘You tell father that all is well with me, and I want you not to mourn any more.

Then the President made the statement that the point he had in mind was that when we are relaxed in a private room we are more susceptible to those things; and that so far as he was concerned, his best thoughts come after he gets up in the morning and is relaxed and thinking about the duties of the day; that impressions come more clearly, as if it were to hear a voice. Those impressions are right. If we are worried about something and upset in our feelings, the inspiration does not come. If we so live that our minds are free from worry and our conscience is clear and our feelings are right toward one another, the operation of the spirit of the Lord upon our spirit is as real as when we pick up the telephone." (Prayer [address to CES religious educators, 6 July 1956], pp. 14–16.)

D&C 137

In a great vision in the Kirtland Temple just months before its dedication, the Lord revealed -

"All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 137:7)

The Lord then explains "who would have received it" with -

"...who would have received it with all their hearts..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 137:8)

The Lord is teaching that works alone is not necessarily the only requirement, but the condition of the heart. This supports the words of King Benjamin to his people -

"...because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:7)

Even Alma asked the people of Zarahemla -

"...Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?" (Book of Mormon Alma 5:14)

It is in the final judgement that the Lord has stated -

"...I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 137:9)

D&C 136

As the Lord revealed His will to Brigham Young at Winter Quarters in preparation to their westward journey, He restated a principle that had been revealed many times previously -

"My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 136:31)

This is not a principle that many of us look forward to, but nonetheless, essential and true. Moroni wrote -

"...I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:6)

The Lord said of the saints in Zion -

"...they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.
5 For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 101:4 - 5)

"Tried in all things" must then be essential in our purifying or sanctification. It is even written of the Savior -

"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect..." (New Testament Hebrews 5:8 - 9)

President Harold B. Lee said -

"Some of us have been tried and have been tested until our very heart strings would seem to break. I have heard of persons dying with a broken heart, and I thought that was just a sort of a poetic expression, but I learned that it could be a very real experience. I came near to that thing; but when I began to think of my own troubles, I thought of what the apostle Paul said of the Master, ‘Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.’ (Hebrews 5:8, 9.)

Don’t be afraid of the testing and trials of life. Sometimes when you are going through the most severe tests, you will be nearer to God than you have any idea, for like the experience of the Master himself in the temptation on the mount, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross at Calvary, the scriptures record, ‘And, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.’ (Matthew 4:11.) Sometimes that may happen to you in the midst of your trials." (In Conference Report, Munich Germany Area Conference 1973, p. 114.)

D&C 135

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "testator" as -

"a person who dies leaving a will or testament in force"

The will or testament has no legal use until the testator dies. When it comes to the restoration of the gospel and covenants, it seems it was essential that the Prophet Joseph Smith was required to shed his own blood as evidence of the validity of revealed doctrine and covenants. Elder John Taylor wrote -

"TO seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 135:1)

He concluded his report that the Prophet died -

"...with the innocent blood of all the martyrs under the altar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord of Hosts till he avenges that blood on the earth." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 135:7)

Brigham Young later wrote -

"Many have marveled because of his death; but it was needful that he should seal his testimony with his blood, that he might be honored and the wicked might be condemned." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 136:39)

This was always the Lord's plan.

D&C 134

As members of the Church -

"WE believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 134:1)

With the conditions -

"...that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 134:2)

President David O. Mckay said -

"That government is best which has as its aim the administration of justice, social well-being and the promotion of prosperity among its members." (in Conference Report, Apr. 1930, p. 80)

And that -

"The individual . . . has three great rights, equally sacred from arbitrary interference: the right to his life, the right to his liberty, and the right to his property. The three rights are so bound together as to be essentially one right. To give a man his life, but deny him his liberty, is to take from him all that makes life worth living. To give him liberty, but take from him the property which is the fruit and badge of his liberty, is to still leave him a slave." (From George Sutherland’s speech before the New York State Bar Association, January 21, 1921.)” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1962, p. 6.)

There are many forms of governments established by man. I believe the constitution of the United States is the most inspired version of all the governments of the men and the closer any government is in compliance to these concepts principles, the greater the prosperity of that nation.

We also -

"...believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 134:11)

(See my blog on Section 98 regarding the laws of retaliation, wars, and forgiveness.)

D&C 133

The Lord describes the very core of the plan of salvation saying -

"...we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
26 And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon...and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever." (Pearl of Great Price Abraham 3:25 - 26)

This life is the so called "second estate". The test or proof being our willingness to seek out and find the truth. What is significant to the plan is how we find and learn truth. This becomes a apparent as the Lord said -

"...ye obeyed not my voice when I called to you out of the heavens; ye believed not my servants, and when they were sent unto you ye received them not." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 133:71)

The plan then required those in their second estate to follow the light given them and seek out God's servants or messengers. In fact, all blessings blessings or hinged on that -

"...all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;
36 For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 84:35 - 36)

President Spencer W. Kimball gave a great explanation why many fail in this test -

"Various excuses have been used over the centuries to dismiss these divine messengers. There has been denial because the prophet came from an obscure place. ‘Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?’ (John 1:46.) Jesus was also met with the question, ‘Is not this the carpenter’s son?’ (Matt. 13:55.) By one means or another, the swiftest method of rejection of the holy prophets has been to find a pretext, however false or absurd, to dismiss the man so that his message could also be dismissed. Prophets who were not glib, but slow of speech, were esteemed as naught. . . .

We wonder how often hearers first rejected the prophets because they despised them, and finally despised the prophets even more because they had rejected them. Even so, why else is the record of rejection so complete? The cares of the world are so many and so entangling, even very good people are diverted from following the truth because they care too much for the things of the world. . . .

Sometimes people let their hearts get so set upon things and the honors of this world that they cannot learn the lessons they most need to learn. Simple truths are often rejected in favor of the much less-demanding philosophies of men, and this is another cause for the rejection of the prophets.

But while there are various excuses for rejection, there’s a certain cause for this sad record. It must not be passed over: the cares of the world, the honors of the world, and looking beyond the mark are all determined by a persuasive few who presume to speak for all. . . .

The holy prophets have not only refused to follow erroneous human trends, but have pointed out these errors. No wonder the response to the prophets has not always been one of indifference. So often the prophets have been rejected because they first rejected the wrong ways of their own society.

These excuses for rejection of the prophets are poor excuses. The trouble with using obscurity as a test of validity is that God has so often chosen to bring forth his work out of obscurity. He has even said it would be so. (See D&C 1:30.) Christianity did not go from Rome to Galilee; it was the other way around. In our day the routing is from Palmyra to Paris, not the reverse. Just because something is in our midst does not mean that we have been in the midst of it. We can daily drive by a museum or an art gallery but know nothing of what is inside.

The trouble with rejection because of personal familiarity with the prophets is that the prophets are always somebody’s son or somebody’s neighbor. They are chosen from among the people, not transported from another planet, dramatic as that would be! . . .

Of course, rejection of the holy prophets comes because the hearts of people are hardened, as people are shaped by their society. Yet even when the hardening is swift, it can also be subtle. Who, for instance, a scant twenty years ago would have foreseen the massive use of abortion in society today, like all the diseased doctrines of the devil. The practice is pleasing unto the carnal mind.

Prophets have a way of jarring the carnal mind. Too often the holy prophets are wrongly perceived as harsh and as anxious to make a record in order to say, ‘I told you so.’ Those prophets I have known are the most loving of men. It is because of their love and integrity that they cannot modify the Lord’s message merely to make people feel comfortable. They are too kind to be so cruel. I am so grateful that prophets do not crave popularity.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1978, pp. 115–16; or Ensign, May 1978, pp. 76–77.)

President Kimball's explanation is focused on the prophets, but I believe it follows all God' servants.

D&C 133

Isaiah wrote that -

"...it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." (Old Testament Isaiah 2:2 - 3)

I believe the "mountain of the Lord's house" is the place or area where the Lord's temple is. I sense with Isaiah's words that there will be more than one place and more than one temple. of the first mountain of the Lord's house he is more specific about. He suggests that this place will be in the top of the mountains. Then he suggests two other places, one in Zion and one in Jerusalem. Zion itself could in itself suggest many places and temples. Micah said almost the same thing. We see the beginning of this expression as -

"...Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah." (Old Testament 2 Chronicles 3:1)

In modern revelation, the Lord says -

"Let them, therefore, who are among the Gentiles flee unto Zion.
13 And let them who be of Judah flee unto Jerusalem, unto the mountains of the Lord's house." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 133:12 - 13)

It is in the place of the temples as well as in the temples that we receive the law and the word of the Lord. We receive a little bit more incites as Presid

President Gordon B. Hinckley said a the dedication of the Conference Center in Salt Lake -

"I believe [Isaiah 2:2–3] applies to the historic and wonderful Salt Lake Temple. But I believe also that it is related to this magnificent hall. For it is from this pulpit that the law of God shall go forth, together with the word and testimony of the Lord.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 2000, 89; or Ensign, Nov. 2000, 69.)

D&C 133

As the Lord provided the Prophet with a summary of His modern revelations, the verses that seemed to jump out to me this morning were -

"And this gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.
38 And the servants of God shall go forth, saying with a loud voice: Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come;
39 And worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters—" (Doctrine and Covenants Section 133:37 - 39)

I don't know why these verses seemed to touch me so this morning. They are found in so many places in the scriptures. Maybe because in the preparation to His coming, this is what is going on right now. Young and old alike are spread throughout the world with the mission to teach, testify, and warn the world of the truth of the Redeemer and His coming. For those that will not hear, comes these words -

"Behold, and lo, there are none to deliver you; for ye obeyed not my voice when I called to you out of the heavens; ye believed not my servants, and when they were sent unto you ye received them not.
72 Wherefore, they sealed up the testimony and bound up the law, and ye were delivered over unto darkness." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 133:71 - 72)

D&C 132

Probably one of the more misunderstood by some saints is -

Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man marry a wife according to my word, and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, according to mine appointment, and he or she shall commit any sin or transgression of the new and everlasting covenant whatever, and all manner of blasphemies, and if they commit no murder wherein they shed innocent blood, yet they shall come forth in the first resurrection, and enter into their exaltation; but they shall be destroyed in the flesh, and shall be delivered unto the buffetings of Satan unto the day of redemption, saith the Lord God.
(Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:26)

Some individuals believe by this verse alone that they only have to be married in the temple to be guaranteed exaltation. Of course, no other scripture supports that idea but many to the contrary. Like many other verses in scripture, we have to combine the Lord's words to get the entire meaning.

First of all to be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise suggests being sealed by the second comforter or being sealed at the point when the Holy Ghost is really ratifying that an individual and in this case a couple that have lived and obeyed all covenants in such a manner that the persons callings and elections are made sure. Or they a guaranteed unto to exaltation. I don't know any personally that has been so valiant that they have received such a guarantee. I believe that is what the purpose or emphasis of these words is not necessarily being married in the temple, but in addition to being married in the temple, being sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. Which of course can be broken through disobedience.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie said -

Making one’s calling and election sure comes after and grows out of celestial marriage. Eternal life does not and cannot exist for a man or a woman alone, because in its very nature it consists of the continuation of the family unit in eternity. Thus the revelation on marriage speaks both of celestial marriage (in which the conditional promises of eternal life are given) and of making one’s calling and election sure (in which the unconditional promises of eternal life are given) in one and the same sentence—which sentence also says that those who commit sins (except ‘murder whereby to shed innocent blood’) after being sealed up unto eternal life shall still gain exaltation. This is the language: ‘Then’—that is, after their calling and election has been made sure—[D&C 132:19–20 cited].

Then the revelation [D&C 132:26] speaks of that obedience out of which eternal life grows, and still speaking both of celestial marriage and of making one’s calling and election sure says: ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man marry a wife according to my word, and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, according to mine appointment’—that is, if they are both married and have their calling and election made sure . . . ‘they shall come forth in the first resurrection and enter into their exaltation.’” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:343–44.)
“What if those whose calling and election has been made sure thereafter commit grievous sins? Suppose they backslide and walk in the ways of wickedness? Or fight the truth and rebel against God—what then?

That all men commit sin, before and after baptism, and for that matter, before and after their calling and election is made sure, is self-evident. There has been only one Sinless One—the Lord Jesus who was God’s own Son.

Thus in the revelation announcing the setting up of the restored church in this day, the Lord says: ‘There is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God; Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation; Yea, and even let those who are sanctified take heed also.’ (D. & C. 20:32–34.)

The prophets and apostles from Adam and Enoch down, and all men, whether cleansed and sanctified from sin or not, are yet subject to and do in fact commit sin. This is the case even after men have seen the visions of eternity and been sealed by that Holy Spirit of Promise which makes their calling and election sure. Since these chosen ones have the sure promise of eternal life, and since ‘no unclean thing can enter into’ the Father’s ‘kingdom’ (3 Ne. 27:19), ‘or dwell in his presence’ (Moses 6:57), what of sins committed after being sealed up into eternal life?

Obviously the laws of repentance still apply, and the more enlightened a person is, the more he seeks the gift of repentance, and the harder he strives to free himself from sin as often as he falls short of the divine will and becomes subject in any degree to the Master of Sin who is Lucifer. It follows that the sins of the godfearing and the righteous are continually remitted because they repent and seek the Lord anew every day and every hour.

And as a matter of fact, the added blessing of having one’s calling and election made sure is itself an encouragement to avoid sin and a hedge against its further commission. By that long course of obedience and trial which enabled them to gain so great a blessing the sanctified saints have charted a course and developed a pattern of living which avoids sin and encourages righteousness. Thus the Lord said: ‘I give unto you Hyrum Smith to be a patriarch unto you, to hold the sealing blessings of my church, even the Holy Spirit of promise, whereby ye are sealed up unto the day of redemption, that ye may not fall notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may come upon you. (D. & C. 124:124.)

But suppose such persons become disaffected and the spirit of repentance leaves them—which is a seldom and an almost unheard of eventuality—still, what then? The answer is—and the revelations and teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith so recite!—they must then pay the penalty of their own sins, for the blood of Christ will not cleanse them. Or if they commit murder or adultery, they lose their promised inheritance because these sins are exempt from the sealing promises. Or if they commit the unpardonable sin, they become sons of perdition.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:342–43.)

D&C 132

As the Lord revealed -

"...the new and everlasting covenant of marriage..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 131:2)

He also explained the conditions of this covenant saying -

"...all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:3)

"...if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:4)

"...no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:4)

"...all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:5)

and -

"...he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:6)

Pretty straight forward. He explained of those that do not enter into this covenant -

"...if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:15)

I think this is what He meant by "shall be damned".

President Spencer W. Kimball summarized -

"How final! How frightening! Since we know well that mortal death does not terminate our existence, since we know that we live on and on, how devastating to realize that marriage and family life, so sweet and happy in so many homes, will end with death because we fail to follow God’s instructions or because we reject his word when we understand it.

It is clear in the Lord’s announcement that righteous men and women will receive the due rewards of their deeds. They will not be damned in the commonly accepted terminology but will suffer many limitations and deprivations and fail to reach the highest kingdom, if they do not comply. They become ministering servants to those who complied with all laws and lived all commandments.

[The Lord] then continues concerning these excellent people who lived worthily but failed to make their contracts binding:

‘For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.’ (D&C 132:17.)

How conclusive! How bounded! How limiting! And we come to realize again as it bears heavily upon us that this time, this life, this mortality is the time to prepare to meet God. How lonely and barren will be the so-called single blessedness throughout eternity! How sad to be separate and single and apart through countless ages when one could, by meeting requirements, have happy marriage for eternity in the temple by proper authority and continue on in ever-increasing joy and happiness, growth and development toward godhood. . . .

Are you willing to jeopardize your eternities, your great continuing happiness, your privilege to see God and dwell in his presence? For the want of investigation and study and contemplation; because of prejudice, misunderstanding, or lack of knowledge, are you willing to forego these great blessings and privileges? Are you willing to make yourself a widow for eternity or a widower for endless ages—a single, separate individual to live alone and serve others? Are you willing to give up your children when they die or when you expire, and make them orphans? Are you willing to go through eternity alone and solitary when all of the greatest joys you have ever experienced in life could be ‘added upon’ and accentuated, multiplied, and eternalized? Are you willing, with the Sadducees, to ignore and reject these great truths? I sincerely pray you stop today and weigh and measure and then prayerfully proceed to make your happy marriage an eternal one. Our friends, please do not ignore this call. I beg of you, open your eyes and see; unstop your ears and hear.” (“Temples and Eternal Marriage,” Ensign, Aug. 1974, p. 6.)

I was particularly touched by the his words -

"...since we know that we live on and on, how devastating to realize that marriage and family life, so sweet and happy in so many homes, will end with death because we fail to follow God’s instructions or because we reject his word..."

D&C 131

The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote -

"It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 131:6)

Or with no knowledge or intelligence. The Lord taught -

"The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 93:36)

One cannot be saved with out light, guidance, and the truth where truth -

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

Or in other words knowledge and understanding of the plan of happiness or salvation for -

"Light and truth forsake that evil one." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 93:37)

It is light and truth that gives us knowledge to choose God over the things of the world. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught -

"A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge, and consequently more power than many men who are on the earth. Hence it needs revelation to assist us, and give us knowledge of the things of God." (History of the Church, 4:588.)

D&C 130

John the Revelator wrote -

"...To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (New Testament Revelation 2:17)

The Prophet Joseph Smith also wrote -

"...the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;
11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 130:10 - 11)

I'm sure many have pondered this "white stone", what exactly it is and what it means. I have too. The footnote for "whereon is a new name written" references the teachings of King Benjamin whereby he said -

"...I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:12)

My thoughts tend to lead me to believe that white stone described is a temple. It is on the temple the Lord's name is written. It is in the temple that we take upon us the name of Christ. It is in the temple that we learn the "name by which he shall call" us. It is in the temple that we learn "things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms". In a sense, the temple is a great Urim and Thummim. In what size or shape the white stone will be in the Celestial Kingdom, I don't know. But I still feel it is a temple for the Lord said -

"...for in my Father's house are many mansions..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 98:18)

D&C 129

As we ponder the instructions of the Prophet Joseph Smith on the grand keys on mans ability to distinguish angels and spirits, we also learn an interesting thing about the nature of spirits only and those spirits with bodies of flesh and bones. When a -

"...spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear—" (Doctrine and Covenants Section 129:6)

Maybe that is why God is referred to as the -

"...Father of lights." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 67:9)

It seems apparent that glory or light of a spirit cannot be controlled where one that has a body of flesh and bones can be controlled. This makes some sense as we learn that even evil, deceptive spirits will try to appear with any light they possess, or -

"...the devil as an angel of light..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 129:8)

Satans full plan is to lie and deceive man. And he may strive to do so with any counterfeiting power he may possess.

In recorded times past, when an angel has appeared not necessarily in glory, the angel must have had body. In Old Testament times, these angels would not be resurrected but translated earthly beings. When record records angels in great glory, this may represent disembodied spirits coming in all their glory.