Tag Archives: Elijah

Denver’s Sleight of Hand

23 Wednesday Aug 2017

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Occasionally, I take the opportunity to check up on the movement that is Snuffer, just to see how far afield they have wandered.  I know some of the people who follow him–believing him to be a prophet of God–and view them as good, sincere people who want to follow Christ.  The Jesus-less vacuum that has been created by modern Mormon church and their prophet worship is the environment that has led to people to seek out satisfying alternatives.  Unfortunately, their ignorance of the scriptures and their willingness to follow a man who professes audience with Christ, leaves them open to deception that is easily detected when one truly understands the scriptures.

It is, therefore, triply unfortunate that the Snufferite movement is in the process (under the guise of restoring true scripture) of actually taking out plain and precious parts that explain exactly why Denver couldn’t possibly be the privileged one he claims to be, even though he cleverly hides behind a cloak of false modesty.  It is no secret that earlier in his “prophetic” career, Denver summarily dismissed Section 110 of the Doctrine & Covenants which is the vision Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received of the LORD and the prophets Moses, Elias and Elijah.  He claimed that there was no corroborating evidence that it was true because Joseph and Oliver never spoke openly about it for the rest of their lives.  Recall that the third person account written by Warren Cowdery (Oliver’s brother) was written in Joseph’s journal of 1836 and then there was nothing written after it.  Inexplicably, Joseph stopped writing after the vision for an extended period of time.  The journals found their way to SLC with Brigham Young and were discovered in the 1850’s.  To Brigham’s credit, the vision was published (this time in 1st person) in the 1876 version of the D&C.

In producing their revision of the scriptures (they use the term restoration) Denver instructed his followers to leave out Section 110.  However, in a reversal, Denver just recently received a supposed revelation from the Lord that reveals the “true” version of the vision.  Here is Denver’s new version, the entire “revelation” can be seen HERE:

I instruct my people to add to their records the following writings:

You have eliminated the account of the revelation of April 3, 1836. Therefore add the following account to your record:

On the third day of April 1836 Joseph and Oliver were in the temple in Kirtland, Ohio, The veil was taken from their minds, and the eyes of their understanding were opened. They saw the Lord in his glory standing above them and the breastwork of the pulpit; and under his feet appeared as it were a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

I am the Alpha and the Omega; I am he who was slain, I am he who lives; I am your advocate with the Father.  Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice. Let the hearts of your brethren also rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name. For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house. Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this holy house.

Behold and see: the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of theblessingsthat shall be poured out, and the endowment with which my servants will be endowed in this house. Behold: the fame of this house shall spread to foreign lands; and this is the beginning of the blessings I shall pour out upon my people.

Even so. Amen.
As this vision closed, the heavens were again opened to their view, and they saw and beheld, and were endowed with knowledge from the beginning of this creation to the ends thereof. And they were shown unspeakable things from the sealed record of Heaven which man is not capable of making known but must be revealed by the Powers of Heaven.
They beheld Michael, the archangel; Gabriel and Raphael, and divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the end of time, showing in turns their dispensations, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the Powers of their Priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; endowing them with knowledge, even here a little, and there a little; holding forth hope for the work God was yet to perform, even the revelation of all things which are to come upon the earth until the return of the Lord in glory with His holy angels—to pour out judgment upon the world, and to reward the righteous.
And they were unable to take it in; therefore they were commanded to pray and ask to comprehend by the power of the Spirit, to bring all things to their remembrance, even the Record of Heaven which would abide in them. Amen and Amen.

 

The first half of the “revelation” up to the first “Amen” is very close to the original with very minor changes.  However, the subterfuge starts in the second half which completely eliminates the visits of Moses (to deliver the keys of the gathering of Israel), Elias (to deliver the keys of the Dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham) and Elijah (to declare that the time has fully come as spoken of by Malachi).

The reason, I believe, that Denver wanted to eliminate these passages revolves around his claim that the LDS Church held the priesthood up until the time that he, Denver Snuffer, was excommunicated several years ago.  What Section 110 is actually teaching is that the LDS Church was downgraded long before Denver was kicked out.  That is the secret and the blindness that are up the restorationist churches, especially the Mormons.  The Dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham is a preparatory gospel, not the fulness that Denver claimed to be part of prior to his being EXed.  This explains why the Mormons are off in the “wilderness” where the Lord is not speaking to them for a period of time until they repent and accept the true servants who will return with the Melchizedek Priesthood prior to the return of the Savior.  Additionally, the scriptures plainly testify that Zion will be redeemed WITH POWER, not through some organic process that is promoted by Snuffer.

The sophistry here is staggering, folks.  Section 110 is a true vision and revelation that conveys very important information that has been eliminated by Snuffer.  Now he says there was actually a vision but he has eviscerated the true substance and meaning of the visit of the ancient patriarchs by writing their message out of the script.  Unbelievable.

Denver also claims to have been given the new name of “David” by the Lord, a clear reference to the Davidic Servant who is to work a great work in the latter-days.  I can guarantee you that Denver is NOT the Davidic Servant.  He is not the one mighty and strong.  He is not going to lead us to Zion.  That is the purview of Joseph Smith and him alone (see D&C 101 and 103).  The marvelous work and a wonder is a future event, that will happen when the “first laborers” return to fulfill the mission they failed to complete the first time around.  The Snufferite movement is doomed to ultimate failure as it seeks ever more to re-write the word of the Lord to suit their own ends.  You will also notice, if you follow the link above that he has re-written the revelation that we know as Section 132 on marriage.

I have to hand it to Denver.  The hubris and temerity to try to get away with what he is attempting is mind-boggling.  By changing scripture he will further lead people away from the truth.  I understand the desire for fellowship among those who just want to serve Christ.  I applaud the attempts to take care of the poor and be Christians in the truest sense.  But PLEASE do not let that desire for community blind you to what is going on.

Snuffer’s sleight of hand smacks of what he really is — a very clever lawyer and an excellent deceiver.

Keep Searching.

 

 

 

By the Hand of Elijah

04 Wednesday Jan 2017

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One of the earliest messages delivered from heaven to the prophet Joseph Smith was that the priesthood would be revealed “by the hand of Elijah the prophet”:

“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. And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and hearts of the children shall turn to the their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.” (D&C 2:1-3)

In this passage Moroni indicates that the Priesthood would be “revealed” through Elijah. A typical definition of “revealed” includes the idea of disclosing or bringing to light something that was previously unknown–in this case, the “Priesthood.” The verses don’t necessary spell out in any more specific detail what exact priesthood, but they do connect priesthood to the idea of planting in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers.

Ever since the 1850’s when Orson Pratt gave a talk on the Latter-day Mission of Elijah the Mormon church has linked the visitation of Elijah as recorded in Section 110 to sealing keys supposedly received by Joseph in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836. This view permeates all that the church does with respect to teachings around eternal marriage, celestial polygamy and the sealing together of families for eternity. This despite the fact that Section 110 says nothing about Elijah conferring anything by hand upon Joseph and Oliver.

“After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:

Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi-testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come-

To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse-

Therefore the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.” (D&C 110: 13-16)

Notice that Elijah only makes the declaration that “the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands.” There is no evidence here that he laid hands upon their heads to give the priesthood or to convey authority. Read it very carefully.

A little history regarding Section 110 is in order. Many assume today that Joseph and Oliver shared this sacred experience with others after having it on April 3, 1836. This is simply not the case. This vision did not come to light until after Joseph, Oliver, and his brother, Warren were all deceased. The record we have was penned by Warren in the third person (D&C 110 is in the first person) in Joseph Smith’s journal. Following this event Joseph doesn’t make another journal entry until two years later in 1838! When he does it is in a completely new book-the previous journal being closed despite having additional pages left over. What gives? Joseph has just seen the Lord and 3 Old Testament prophets and he doesn’t tell anyone. How strange. You can read the original account here in the Joseph Smith papers.

When Brigham Young and his cohorts discovered the journal they published the account of the vision in the Deseret News on November 6, 1852. They must have realized that this event needed to be spun to support the “dispensation of the fulness of times” narrative which we have today. Section 110 (changed to the first person) was published in the 1876 version of the D&C, one year before Brigham’s death.

So where in Section 110 does it say that Elijah conveyed the keys of the dispensation of the fulness of times or laid hands on Joseph and Oliver?

The answer is nowhere. Read it carefully.

Elijah only says that the keys of THIS DISPENSATION are committed into your hands. To find out what “this” refers to you must read earlier verses 11 and 12:

“After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north.

After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed.”

Bingo. The keys being transferred are of the gathering of Israel and the Dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham. There is no other specific reference to keys being transferred or priesthood being conferred except for those two. We have previously explored the fact that the church was under condemnation for rejecting the covenant of consecration and that they had lost the fulness. What Section 110 is really telling us is that they had been downgraded to the preparatory Gospel of Abraham and that those keys were being committed into the hands of Joseph and Oliver, not the keys of the dispensation of the fulness of times as is commonly taught.

When you understand the downgrade, it is very easy to see why Joseph wanted to keep it a secret from the saints (I suspect the Lord commanded him to “seal up the vision” and not talk about it during his lifetime) and why he didn’t write in his journal for 2 years following the events of April 3, 1836.

Anciently, God made a covenant with Abraham that through him and his posterity all the nations of the earth would be blessed with the blessings of the gospel. Abraham was an evangelist (patriarch) who preached the preparatory gospel of repentance and baptism and that was what was re-instituted at the Kirtland Temple.

So the real mystery is WHEN DID ELIJAH CONVEY THE PRIESTHOOD BY HAND? What I am about to share was hard for me to believe at first. I had to dig into the scriptural evidence and cast off previous traditions of my fathers. I suggest you do the same by examining closely every evidence I am about to lay out for you that brought me to the following conclusion:

The Priesthood was conveyed to Joseph and Oliver by the hand of Elijah when they were ordained to the Priesthood that Aaron (Patriarchal Priesthood) by John the Baptist. The reason we can conclude it was the Patriarchal Priesthood is because of the all the spiritual blessings Joseph and Oliver received after being ordained — something that would not have attended an ordination under the Levitical (Aaronic) Priesthood which Joseph taught was only to administer cursings and not blessings.

In other words, John the Baptist is the reincarnation (transmigration) of Elijah the Tishbite.

Image result for john the baptist pictures

Now before you start to throw rocks let’s look at the evidence. Joseph made some startling changes to the Bible in his Inspired Version that clearly teach that John is Elijah.

In John 1:19-21 it is recorded that the Jews sent priests and Levites to inquire of John the Baptist as to who he was.  The King James Version records:

“And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? and he answered, No.” 

The Jews were asking whether or not John was Elijah (Elias is the Greek form of the Hebrew Elijah) and the Jews were sufficiently grounded in scripture to understand that Elijah would be returning. According to the account in the King James Version and other versions of the Bible, John the Baptist denies that he is Elijah. However, Joseph changes that in the Inspired Version:

“And this is the record of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed and denied not that he was Elias, but confessed, saying, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, saying, How then art thou Elias? and he said, I am not that Elias who was to restore all things. And they asked him, saying, Art thou that prophet? and he answered, No.” (Inspired Version, John 1:20-22)

So according to Joseph Smith’s version, John confesses and denies not that he is Elijah (the preparer) but disclaims that he is that Elijah who should restore all things. A discussion of the two Elijahs (the Preparer and the Restorer) is beyond the scope of this blogpost but I will tease you with the idea that Elijah the Preparer passed the keys to Elijah the Restorer.

There is another change made be Joseph that points to John being Elijah. It is found in Mark 9 where Jesus goes up to the mountain with Peter, James and John to be transfigured. The King James Version records:

“And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.” (Mark 9:4) 

Joseph clarifies:

“And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses, or in other words, John the Baptist and Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.” (Inspired Version Mark 9:3)

Image result for jesus transfiguration picture

The LDS version of the bible dictionary tries to explain this away with the following:

“The curious wording of JST Mark 9:3 does not imply that the Elias at the Transfiguration was John the Baptist, but that in addition to Elijah the prophet, John the Baptist was present.”

To which I would respond: It is not an implication, rather the wording is a direct statement. How many ways can you parse “or in other words?” But these are not the only evidences. Let’s examine John’s calling more closely from the scriptures. When Zacharias was visited by an angel he was told about his future son. He was informed that:

“…he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.” (Luke 1:15)

The original manuscript version of D&C 84:28 informs us that John was baptized “while yet in the womb.” This has subsequently been changed to while in “his childhood” by an unknown hand. Both of these scriptures strongly suggest that John was previously baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost prior to his birth. That would certainly make sense if he were the reincarnation of Elijah the Tishbite.

Continuing in Luke we receive further clues about John.

“And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias (Elijah), to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17)

Holy Smokes! There is the link to Elijah and turning the hearts of the fathers to the children staring at us in plain sight. Think about John having the spirit and power of Elijah, because he was Elijah in another body with the calling to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. This is exactly what he did when he appeared to Joseph and revealed the priesthood BY HAND which would help turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, etc.  Joseph also taught that translated beings are designed for future missions (HC 4:425). What is to prevent that from being via reincarnation after being taken up to heaven without tasting death?

Image result for elijah pictures

It is pretty amazing how clear the doctrine is when you actually believe the scriptures instead of the interpretations that men have placed upon them. If the fact that John the Baptist is the transmigrated Elijah is still unbelievable to you I invite you to search diligently because the puzzle really does fit together when you cast off the blinders.

As you dig deeper in the scriptures you will also discover other instances where the phrase “turn the heart” is used (I suggest you do a word search on ‘turn the heart’) which provide additional clarity:

“Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children; And again, the hearts of the Jews unto the prophets, and the prophets unto the Jews; lest I come and smite the whole earth with a curse, and all flesh be consumed before me” (D&C 98:16)

“And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and hearts of the children shall turn to the their fathers.” (D&C 2:2)

It is my contention that the promises to the fathers spoken of are associated with the Abrahamic covenant (the great Patriarchal father) whereby the gospel would be made available to the children and that through the ordinances of baptism for the dead, those who had passed on could also receive the blessings of the gospel. Joseph elaborates on this in a letter he wrote that is canonized as D&C Section 128 which links the concept of turning the hearts to the subject of baptism for the dead. After citing Malachi 4:5-6 he explains:

“I might have rendered a plainer translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands.  It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children, upon some subject or other–and behold what is that subject? It is the baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect.” (D&C 128:18)

It all comes back to the simplicity of the baptismal covenant of the gospel. The turning that takes place is to the gospel covenant preached by the patriarchs (fathers) of old. When Elijah (John the Baptist) appeared to Joseph and Oliver on the banks of the Susquehanna River he revealed the Patriarchal Priesthood BY HAND which would unlock the key allowing for the preaching of the gospel and of turning the heart of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers in preparation for the return of the Lord in the last days.

What is plainly taught in the scriptures has been tortured into another interpretation by men to justify abominations. Cursed is he who puts his trust in the arm of flesh. Don’t trust me either. Trust the scriptures and truly believe them.  John the Baptist is the reincarnated Elijah the Tishbite.

Keep Searching

What It Means to Be Sealed

25 Tuesday Aug 2015

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One of the most cherished doctrines of the latter-day saints is the sealing ordinance whereby families can be sealed forever in the eternities.  As a missionary we would sometimes approach people asking them if they would want to be together with their family forever. I distinctly remember the one guy who said “No f***ing way!” Clearly he didn’t have a very happy family life.

As I have searched the scriptures and words of Joseph, however, I get a very different picture of this doctrine and what it truly means to be sealed. Let’s start with the scriptures that talk about sealing.

From the Bible:

John 6:27

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Ephesians 1:13

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 4:30

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Revelation 7:3,4

Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

From the Book of Mormon:

Mosiah 5:15

Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.

Helaman 10:7

Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people.

I did this scripture dump to make a point. Where do any of these scriptures talk about a man and wife being sealed together for eternity?  Nowhere. And I did not just cherry pick these particular scriptures. Do your own word search on “seal, sealed, or sealing” and you will find the same thing. There is nothing in those two books that say anything about the sealing of a man and a wife together for eternity. They all reference the sealing of one up to eternal life through the holy spirit of promise. Think of this as joining God’s family for eternity. He has brought you permanently into his family and sealed you His through the instrumentality of the Holy Ghost.

Greater clarity as to how this happens can be found in the Doctrine and Covenants.

D&C 1:8

And verily I say unto you, that they who go forth, bearing these tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them is power given to seal both on earth and in heaven, the unbelieving and rebellious;

D&C 68:12

And of as many as the Father shall bear record, to you shall be given power to seal them up unto eternal life.

Both of these scriptures were given in late 1831 after the special conference at the Morley Farm. As I have blogged about in my last post “I am not a High Priest,” at this conference high priests were called of God by His voice out of heaven and were granted power to go forth in the cause of Zion. Because of doubting and disputations, and the breaking of the covenant (consecration) they ultimately failed in their first commission.

These scriptures make it clear that when the fulness is on the earth those who are sent forth in priesthood power have the ability and responsibility to seal up unto eternal life worthy individuals identified by the Father. I believe when the “first servants in the last kingdom” return to fulfill their second commission that once again these sealing powers will be manifest.

Again notice that their is no mention of marriage.

D&C 76: 51-54 is very instructive on many levels. It tells us what is required to enter the celestial kingdom.

They 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—

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;

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.

They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.

So, according to this scripture, to enter the celestial realm several things have to happen.

  1. Receive the testimony of Jesus
  2. Believe on his name
  3. Be baptized by immersion after the manner of his burial
  4. Receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power.
  5. Overcome by faith and you will be sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise.

When I read and contemplate these verses I am struck by a couple of things. The first is that at my confirmation I never received the Holy Spirit by one who was sealed unto this power. Were you? I had hands laid upon me by one who was ordained to the priesthood through a patriarchal line, but he was not ever “sealed unto this power.” In the church when we are confirmed we are given the injunction to “receive the Holy Ghost.” This scripture suggests that someone with power will actually GIVE the Holy Ghost. Perhaps this is why we don’t experience the Pentecostal outpourings of spiritual experiences, including the gift of prophecy and tongues, at our baptisms.  Remember the story of Simon in Acts 8 when he sought to buy the gift to give the Holy Ghost?:

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

It would appear to me that there is a power to give the gift of the Holy Ghost which is missing today. Of course, we have the influence of the Holy Ghost and the light of Christ, but does anyone truly have the GIFT, meaning the constant, unwavering companionship, with the attendant signs? When the fulness was on the earth people would prophesy, speak in tongues and demonstrate all the fruits of having the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and of the fulness.

And these signs shall follow them that believe—in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover; Mormon 9:24

The other thing that is missing from the verses in Section 76 is any reference to many of the ordinances that we think are necessary for salvation. No marital sealing ordinance or temple ritual with secret handshakes and passwords. As another witness to the simplicity of the everlasting covenant of baptism of water, and of fire, and of the holy ghost, let’s turn to D&C 88: 3-4 where certain high priests are promised eternal life.

Wherefore, I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John.

This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom;

Note that this was given in December 1832 long before Joseph introduced the masonic temple endowment or started teaching the sealing doctrine within the context of polygamy and spiritual wives. Can we reasonably conclude that those ordinances are not necessary for entering the celestial kingdom?

In D&C 124:39, the Lord tells us what His House is for:

Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices by the sons of Levi, and for your oracles in your most holy places wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes and judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for the glory, honor, and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name.

I don’t see anything in that scripture pointing towards a sealing ordinance as currently practiced by modern mormons.  Further, the endowment referenced above is an endowment of power, a spiritual endowment in the way Joseph used the term prior to his introduction of the masonic-based ritual in Nauvoo.

Now, up to this point, I have not even addressed Section 132. Why? Because it stands alone in redefining the everlasting covenant, teaching that a man must have multiple wives to be exalted and other doctrines unsubstantiated anywhere else in scripture. Brigham Young placed it in the 1876 edition of the D&C at a time when it was politically expedient to justify polygamy. There are so many things wrong with that “revelation” that I will refer you to this link here for a thorough analysis.

Turning our attention now to the prophecies surrounding Elijah and the sealing powers, Joseph Smith gave a discourse on March 10, 1844 about Elias, Elijah and the Messiah (see History of the Church 6:251-255).

Regarding Elias, he said:

The spirit of Elias is to prepare the way for a greater revelation of God, which is the Priesthood of Elias, or the Priesthood that Aaron was ordained unto. And when God sends a man into the world to prepare for a greater work, holding the keys of the power of Elias, it was called the doctrine of Elias, even from the early ages of the world.

John’s mission was limited to preaching and baptizing: but what he did was legal; and when Jesus Christ came to any of John’s disciples, He baptized them with fire and the Holy Ghost.

Note that Elias was the messenger who restored the keys of the Dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham, or preparatory gospel in Section 110.

Regarding Elijah he said

Now for Elijah. The spirit, power, and calling of Elijah is, that ye have power to hold the key of the revelation, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood and of the kingdom of God on the earth; and to receive, obtain, and perform all the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God, even unto the turning of the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the hearts of the children unto the fathers, even those who are in heaven.

Malachi says, “I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

Can anyone truly claim that we have this authority today? As documented earlier in this blog here we are bereft of the fulness, and operating under the preparatory gospel, all the while thinking and believing that we have the fulness. Today I was reading in the LDS priesthood lesson manual on Teachings of Joseph Smith, chapter 26: Elijah and the Restoration of the Sealing Keys. The first quote is as follows:

“How shall God come to the rescue of this generation? He will send Elijah the prophet.” What the lesson manual fails to point out is that this was said by Joseph on August 18, 1843 in an address about priesthood, over 7 years after Elijah visited the Kirtland Temple! Joseph is speaking in the future tense and talking about a future event, not something that has already happened. He always refers to the coming of Elijah as a future event. After Joseph’s death someone changed it in our doctrine to an event that had already happened. Guess who.

When Elijah comes again to save this generation, it will be with the power to seal up unto eternal life and organize the family of God through the sealing keys at the commencement of the marvelous work yet to come.

From the Nauvoo period forward there was much confusion regarding sealing. Men were running around having women sealed to them in great numbers, chief among them was Wilford Woodruff who had hundreds of dead single women sealed to him, in addition to his 10 plural wives.

Brigham Young records a dream he had in 1847 in which Brother Joseph appeared to him. Brigham asks Joseph the question:

“The Brethren have a great anxiety to understand the law of adoption, or sealing principles; and if you have a word of council for me, I should be glad to receive it.”

Clearly, the fact that Brigham felt compelled to ask this particular question above all other questions he could ask speaks volumes to the confusion in his mind and the minds of his contemporary brethren on the subject of sealing. One would think that if Brigham were actually a prophet he could unlock the key to this mystery himself by asking the Lord and receiving an answer.

Joseph stepped towards me, and looking very earnestly, yet pleasantly said:

“Tell the people to be humble & faithful, and be sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord & it will lead them right. Be careful & not turn away the still small voice, it will teach you how to do & where to go, & it will yield the fruits of the Kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it.

They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other Spirits; it will whisper peace and joy to their Souls; it will take malice, hatred, strife, and all evil from their hearts; and their whole desire will be to do good, bring forth righteousness and build up the Kingdom of God.

Tell the Brethren if they will follow the Spirit of the Lord they will go right. Be sure to tell the people to keep the Spirit of the Lord; and if they will, they will find themselves just as they were organized by our Father in Heaven before they came into the world. Our Father in Heaven organized the human family, but they are all disorganized in great confusion.”

Joseph then showed me the pattern, how they were in the beginning. This I cannot describe but I saw it, and saw when the Priesthood had been taken from the earth, and how it must be joined together, so that perfect chain from Father Adam to his latest posterity.

Joseph again said “Tell the people to be sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and follow it and will lead them just right.”

This is a very interesting exchange on many levels, not the least of which is the fact that Joseph didn’t directly answer the question! He talked repeatedly about the Holy Spirit. Over and over again he reiterates this point. He doesn’t say go and seal yourself to everyone who has a pulse and build your own personal kingdom.

I had heard these quotes over the years about the spirit, but never was aware of the broader context of Brigham’s question. Now knowing from the scriptures that the sealing has to do with having one’s calling and election made sure through the Holy Spirit, this answer makes a lot of sense. It is through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit that one is sealed up unto eternal life. That is what it means to be sealed. We are promised the privilege of being able to re-enter the family of God in his presence with all that implies.

We will all be together as families in the Father’s presence by following the simple precepts of the everlasting covenant–the baptism of water, of fire and of the holy ghost. Nothing “new” needs to be added.

The Lord himself proclaims that this is his doctrine in 3 Nephi 11:35-40:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.

And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.

And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.

And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them. 

Paul gives us another witness that we should not be looking beyond the mark:

As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Galations 1:9

As you search, may you learn and recognize the true doctrine of sealing and be watching and waiting for the imminent return of the prophet Elijah who shall come with the sealing powers to save this generation.

Searcher