D&C 133

The Lord counseled -

 "Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon.
15 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 133:14–15)

The warning...let him not look back...in my mind, is wise counsel in having a desire to ponder about spiritual Babylon.

D&C 132

Yesterday I commented on the restitution of all things.  Again the Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith -

"For I have conferred upon you the keys and power of the priesthood, wherein I restore all things, and make known unto you all things in due time."  (Doctrine and Covenants 132:45)

I believe all the priesthood keys necessary for exaltation were restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith.

D&C 132

Many wonder why the Prophet Joseph Smith had the Church get involved with plural marriage.  I think this is answered by the Lord -

"I am the Lord thy God, and I gave unto thee, my servant Joseph, an appointment, and restore all things..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 132:40)

All things were to be restored in this last dispensation, thus the appointment.

D&C 132

In regards to His ordinances and commandments, the Lord asks -

 "Will I accept of an offering, saith the Lord, that is not made in my name?
10 Or will I receive at your hands that which I have not appointed?
11 And will I appoint unto you, saith the Lord, except it be by law, even as I and my Father ordained unto you, before the world was?"  (Doctrine and Covenants 132:9–11)

He then answers -

"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 132:12)

In other words...its my way or the highway.

D&C 131

The Lord revealed -

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

Knowledge seems to be a key to exaltation

D&C 130

First, I have blogged in the past that I felt that the spirits of those that passed on are still here on earth but not with the physical restrictions that we experience here.  I have thought that maybe this sphere is far different for the spirits of the dead.  The Prophet Joseph revealed -

"The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth...:  (Doctrine and Covenants 130:6)

Does that mean that this sphere is nothing like this earth to them or a separate sphere?  The Prophet defined angels as -

"There are two kinds of beings in heaven, namely: Angels, who are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 129:1)

And -

"Secondly: the spirits of just men made perfect, they who are not resurrected, but inherit the same glory."  (Doctrine and Covenants 129:3)

Does angels he mentions previously related only to resurrected beings?  These are thoughts of mine that I have yet to find the answer.

D&C 127

The Prophet writes in the Nauvoo Era not lone before his martyrdom -

"For I am about to restore many things to the earth, pertaining to the priesthood, saith the Lord of Hosts."  (Doctrine and Covenants 127:8)

It was the latter days of the restitution of all things.

D&C 124

Some of the saints believe that if they can just get married and sealed in the temple, that all is done.

Of temple covenants and ordinances, the Lord said that if they -

"....do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfil the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord.
48 For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practice before me, saith the Lord."  (Doctrine and Covenants 124:47–48)

For the Lord has declared that He will not be mocked.

D&C 124

Concerning temple ordinances and covenants, the Lord said -

"there is not a place found on earth that he may come to and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood."  (Doctrine and Covenants 124:28)

 "For therein are the keys of the holy priesthood ordained, that you may receive honor and glory."  (Doctrine and Covenants 124:34)

"And verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people;
41 For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times."  (Doctrine and Covenants 124:40–41)

Obviously, there was yet to revealed ordinances and covenants essential to exaltation.

Letter in Libery Jail

In the letter I mentioned yesterday of the Prophets letter written in Liberty Jail, the Prophet testifies -

"...Truth is “Mormonism.” God is the author of it. He is our shield. It is by Him we received our birth. It was by His voice that we were called to a dispensation of His Gospel in the beginning of the fullness of times. It was by Him we received the Book of Mormon..."

And -

“We say that God is true; that the Constitution of the United States is true; that the Bible is true; that the Book of Mormon is true; that the Book of Covenants is true; that Christ is true; that the ministering angels sent forth from God are true, and that we know that we have an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens, whose builder and maker is God..."

How can one dispute this as a humble prophet is imprisoned in Liberty Jail.

I also noticed another comment -

“We have reason to believe that many things were introduced among the Saints before God had signified the times; and notwithstanding the principles and plans may have been good, yet aspiring men, or in other words, men who had not the substance of godliness about them, perhaps undertook to handle edged tools. Children, you know, are fond of tools, while they are not yet able to use them."

Even though we are promised the restitution of all thing in this last dispensation by the Prophet Joseph Smith, obviously, we were not necessarily prepared to live such.

Letter to the Saints in Libery Jail

In the letter penned by the Prophet Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail, there is one quote that I think could have been canonized -

"Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity—thou must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God, than the vain imaginations of the human heart! None but fools will trifle with the souls of men."

In very simple terms, we must be taught by the power of the Holy Ghost.

D&C 123

The Prophet wrote -

"For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—"  (Doctrine and Covenants 123:12)

Suggesting to me that there are many that preach what they consider to be truth but are ignorant of the full truth.

D&C 121

I forgot to blog yesterday.

One major theme I sensed in this great revelation was the promise of knowledge.  Not worldly knowledge the knowledge of God wherein the Lord states -

"God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now;
27 Which our forefathers have awaited with anxious expectation to be revealed in the last times, which their minds were pointed to by the angels, as held in reserve for the fulness of their glory..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 121:26–27)

Adding -

"A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods, they shall be manifest.
29 All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
30 And also, if there be bounds set to the heavens or to the seas, or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon, or stars—
31 All the times of their revolutions, all the appointed days, months, and years, and all the days of their days, months, and years, and all their glories, laws, and set times, shall be revealed in the days of the dispensation of the fulness of times—
32 According to that which was ordained in the midst of the Council of the Eternal God of all other gods before this world was, that should be reserved unto the finishing and the end thereof, when every man shall enter into his eternal presence and into his immortal rest."  (Doctrine and Covenants 121:28–32)

One more thought...the Lord promised the Prophet Joseph in all his persecutions and afflictions -

"...thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever"  (Doctrine and Covenants 122:4)

D&C 120

With the introduction of the law of tithing, the instructs -

"...it shall be disposed of by a council, composed of the First Presidency of my Church, and of the bishop and his council, and by my high council; and by mine own voice unto them, saith the Lord. Even so. Amen."   (Doctrine and Covenants 120:1)

I find it interesting as the Lord includes Himself to be on the committee of disposition of tithing funds.

D&C 118

The Lord promised the Twelve if they would be faithful in preaching abroad  -

"...if they will do this in all lowliness of heart, in meekness and humility, and long-suffering, I, the Lord, give unto them a promise that I will provide for their families..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 118:3)

I believe those to commit to time consuming callings, the Lord may promise the same.

D&C 117

As we contemplate the covenant of the law of sacrifice, and the words to Newel Whitney, a faithful member of the Church, it brings great meaning as the Lord ask -

"...for what is property unto me? saith the Lord."  (Doctrine and Covenants 117:4)

Newel had been one of the most faithful in Kirtland, Ohio and had spent years building up his business as well as sacrificing much, and yet the Lord added why -

"...you should covet that which is but the drop, and neglect the more weighty matters?"  (Doctrine and Covenants 117:8)

Newel repented and obeyed by coming quickly to Far West.  I also have spent years preparing for retirement. Would I be willing to do the same if asked.

D&C 115

Several years ago, Terri and I visited some historical sites in the Missouri area.  First, I was very surprised and the cold, dark feeling I felt in Independence (other than the visitor center).  But what surprised me was the powerful warm and special feeling I experienced when we dropped by Far West.  This morning I read the word of the Lord on this area -

"Let the city, Far West, be a holy and consecrated land unto me; and it shall be called most holy, for the ground upon which thou standest is holy."  (Doctrine and Covenants 115:7)

That is what I found.