One’s Calling and Election does not require that one see God

We should not be surprised that many prophets granted the sealing power had a theophany experience—those in scripture are often the founding prophet of a dispensation or for a specific group of people. A theophany is their only option, since no legal administrator is to be found.

In scripture receiving one’s calling and election does not require that one see God or Christ personally. Alma the Elder, for example, was one of the wicked priests consecrated by King Noah (Mosiah 17:2). Converted by Abinadi’s preaching, he escaped the king’s court and taught while in hiding (Mosiah 18). He eventually led a group of believers to Zarahemla (Mosiah 23–24), where King Mosiah made him the supreme head of the Nephite Christian church, giving him “power to ordain priests and teachers over every church” (Mosiah 25:19, 26:8). Later, when troubled by a matter of internal dissention, Alma received a revelation:

And it came to pass that after he had poured out his whole soul to God, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying: Blessed art thou, Alma, and blessed are they who were baptized in the waters of Mormon. Thou art blessed because of thy exceeding faith in the words alone of my servant Abinadi…. Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that thou shalt have eternal life; and thou shalt serve me and go forth in my name, and shalt gather together my sheep (Mosiah 26:14–15, 20).

Alma is the head of the church. He here has his calling and election made sure—he is promised eternal life. Yet, God explicitly points out that Alma has believed simply because of Abinadi’s words. Until now, he has had no theophany, seen no angels, nor seen the face of God. Even now, he only hears God’s words. Enos likewise hears a voice, but reports no vision (Enos 1:5, 10).

Being Pure in Heart

Written by missionaryforever

AVOW, September 2016

On this forum we talk a lot about the future and call-outs and the world as we know it collapsing, etc. And occasionally also the building of Zion. Frankly, the only thing that excites me about “tent cities” is that I see it as the prelude to building Zion, i.e., something we must go through on the path to Zion. If the future doesn’t lead us to Zion, then life would be pretty bleak.

The reason I bring this up is that in order for us to eventually make it to Zion we must become Pure in Heart. Only the pure in heart will be allowed to enter that great city, not those who have their year’s supply of food, and a tent that will handle high winds. So if you will permit me, let’s see what it will take for you and me to become pure in heart, because that is what it really is all about.

When Jesus spoke with those in ancient Israel and to the Nephites he said: “Blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God” 3 Nephi 11.

In Doctrine and Covenants Section 130:20-21 it reads: “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.”

So the key to the blessing of seeing God (and being allowed into the city of Zion) is to be Pure in Heart. Now let’s discuss those principles that will lead each of us to having this wonderful quality, which is what the Temple Endowment teaches by covenant (Note to reader: I am not revealing anything about Temple Covenants that has not been published on the church website, for example, see this link https://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/07/...h-god?lang=eng)

As I researched the phrase “Pure in Heart” I discovered many qualities that take a person on the journey to becoming pure. Keeping the commandments and repenting of sin is the first step. But the type of repentance and obedience described here is because we want to change, and we no longer have a desire to sin (which is the definition of being born again.) This is the repentance that King Benjamin spoke of in his great and final address to his people contained in the book of Mosiah.

Once we have a firm desire for obedience (the first temple covenant), then we move on to the second; sacrifice. As President Kimball spoke in his talk on Becoming the Pure in Heart (April 1978 ), he said “we must eliminate the individual tendency to selfishness”. This is the second covenant, that is, to live the Law of Sacrifice. The law of sacrifice is the opposite of the anti-Christ doctrine taught by Korihor in which he said “every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime”. Those who subscribe to Korihor’s doctrine think only of themselves and will go to any lengths to feed their selfish desires. Whereas, a true disciple of Christ is unselfish and has great desires to teach and serve others.

The third temple covenant is the Gospel covenant. To live the Gospel of Christ is to honor and worship him whose sacrifice for us allows us to be cleansed and sanctified. To live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord, to testify of him, to honor him, to have faith in him and repent and to be grateful for him is the Law of the Gospel. As we strive to become more like him each day, we in turn become more and more pure in heart as he is pure.

In a world where the evils of sexual immorality is everywhere, the next temple covenant and principle of purity is challenging to all who live at this time. I think this principle is more than just abstinence when you are single and fidelity when you are married; it is keeping from even the appearance of evil, and staying away from all forms of immorality, even in entertainment. To watch any form of media today that makes light of the sacred power of creation through casual relationships will keep us from being pure in heart.

Finally, the last temple covenant is that covenant that will make Zion possible. To consecrate is to set aside and dedicate to a purpose. When we give freely of our time, talents and means we are really giving ourselves. To give our all in the building up of the Kingdom of God and not our own kingdoms is the crowning principle that proves to the Lord that he is the most important person in our lives. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21

As we learn to live and love each of these covenants, we will become pure in heart, and as we become pure in heart we have the right by law to see the face of God and be a citizen of Zion.

Understanding the Atonement by Understanding the Body

Written by Steve Reed

November 1, 2010

Many of the following quotes were obtained by a presentation given at BYU by Philip A. Allred called “Made Holy in the Body“.

THE BODY IS A RECORDING DEVICE

Our body is literally a recording device, it is equipped with at least five known senses with which we take in the world around us. With our brain, we process the information and with our will we determine what to do with it. Here are some quotes from Presidents of the Church on this topic.


From President John Taylor:

“…I could show you upon scientific principles that man himself is a self-registering machine, his eyes, his ears, his nose, the touch, the taste, and all the various senses of the body, are so many media whereby man lays up for himself a record…” (Pres. John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, 26:32.)

From Elder Bruce R. McConkie:

In a real though figurative sense, the book of life is the record of the acts of men as such record is written in their own bodies. It is the record engraven on the very bones, sinews, and flesh of the mortal body. That is, every thought, word, and deed has an effect on the human body; all these leave their marks… (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 97.)

Again from Pres. Taylor:

God has made each man a register within himself…. Your eyes and ears have taken it in, and your hands have touched it… (Pres. John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, 11:77-80).

From President David O. McKay:

Psychology assures us that ‘We are spinning our own fates, good or evil… Every smallest stroke of virtue or of vice leaves its never so little scar…. Down among his nerve cells and fibers the molecules are counting it, registering and storing it up to be used against him when the next temptation comes. (Pres. David O. McKay, quoting William James in Conference Report, April 1956, 7-8.)

From Spencer W. Kimball:

There are dark, deep corners, locked rooms, isolated spots, but no act, good or bad; no thought, ugly or beautiful ever escapes being seen or heard. [Each] one will make the imprint on the individual and be recorded, to be met and paid for. (Pres. Spencer W. Kimball, Teaching of Spencer W. Kimball, 155.)

From our Church-produced manual Gospel Principles:

There is another record that will be used to judge us. The Apostle Paul taught that man himself is the most complete record of his life (see Romans 2:15; 2 Cor. 3:1-3). Stored in our body and mind is a complete history of everything we have done. (Gospel Principles, 284.)

From Pres. John Taylor:

Man sleeps for a time in the grave, and by-and-by he rises again from the dead and goes to judgment … it would be in vain for a man to say then, I did not do so-and-so; the command would be, Unravel and read the record which he has made of himself, and let it testify in relation to these things, and all could gaze upon it. It is not because somebody has seen things, or heard anything by which a man will be judged and condemned, but it is because that record that is written by the man himself in the tablets of his own mind—that record that cannot lie—will in that day be unfolded before God and angels, and those who shall sit as judges… (Pres. John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, 11:78-79).

From Elder Bruce R. McConkie:

When the book of life is opened in the day of judgment (Rev. 20:12-15), men’s bodies will show what law they have lived. The Great Judge will then read the record of the book of their lives; the account of their obedience or disobedience will be written in their bodies. (quoted in LDS Church News, 26 June, 1993; from Mormon Doctrine, 97)

TRANSGRESSION CREATES A PHYSICAL RECORD

Sins and transgressions are not just ethereal ideas, but an actual, physical records we create that reside within us. This is why thoughts can be sins.

Whether you act it out or not, you have instructed the synapses in your brain, those little cells, to produce an incorrect or impure sequence of data; you have willed something evil into existence. It may not exist in the world as an action, but it exists in your brain just as data exists in a computer in the form of ones and zeroes. A being who uses their will to instruct matter to form into imperfect structures cannot ever participate in eternal life where creation and the instruction of matter and intelligences is the entire purpose.

In this life, your brain is your own private universe, with every facet and fragment created by you and through your actions, brought into the sphere of this world to influence the lives and futures of your fellow beings for good or for evil.

This is why we only receive a ‘remission’ of sin through baptism. Just like cancer in remission, it still resides in your body, but it doesn’t effect your progression and ability to act. The cancer may be removed through surgery or a change in the physical body. Likewise, sin, or ‘imperfect code’ must be removed from the body of man through another process we understand as ‘the resurrection’.

THE LIFE AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST CREATED A 'TEMPLATE'

Jesus never committed sin in his mortal flesh so that his body could be a ‘template’ for all the rest of mankind. He conquered death so that we might be resurrected and he lived perfectly so that we might be resurrected to a state of perfection.


From Brigham Young:

…if we take a course to promote the principles of life—seek unto our Father and God, and obtain his will and perform it, the spirit will become purified, sanctified, cleansed, and made holy in the body, and the grave will cleanse the flesh. When the spirit overcomes the evil consequences of the fall, which are in the mortal tabernacle, it will reign predominant in the flesh, and is then prepared to be exalted… (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 7: 287.)

Again from Brigham Young:

…by obedience to the Gospel of salvation, and the renovating influences of the Holy Ghost, and the holy resurrection, we shall put on the image of the heavenly, in beauty, glory, power and goodness. (Discourses of Brigham Young, 373-74)

From Joseph Fielding Smith:

If we will just be true and faithful to every covenant, to every principle of truth that he has given us, then after the resurrection we [will] come back into his presence and we [will] be just like he is. We [will] have the same kind of bodies—bodies that [will] shine like the sun. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Take Heed to Yourselves!, 345.)

FOR YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS

The apostle Paul taught the Galatians: 

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29)

The phrase “put on” is from the Greek word “Enduw” (pronounced “en-doo’-o”) which means: “(in the sense of sinking into a garment); to invest with clothing (literally or figuratively):–array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on.” This might be a link to understanding the connections that the Temple “Endow”ment has to the resurrection.

We will literally ‘put on’ Jesus Christ in the resurrection by receiving a new body formed by his ‘template’ that never had evil or imperfection recorded into it. This is how Jesus was able to atone for the ‘sins of the world’ and how there is no sin that cannot be cleansed by the atonement. It covers everything because he literally replaces corruption with incorruption. This is the miracle of the resurrection and why “when He shall appear we shall be like Him.” (1 John 3:2)

We will know when the Gospel is being preached to all the world

This article is pure speculation but worth considering.

robinkartchner, 

Avow, August 2016

I often hear or read comments or discussions in the church or on this forum about whether or not the Gospel has been preached to all the world yet; whether or not the following prophecy has been fulfilled yet:

Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

JST (Joseph Smith Translation) Matthew 1:31 "And again, this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come, or the destruction of the wicked;"

"The end" is a phrase in the scriptures that sometimes refers to the end of the telestial earth, and other times refers to the end of the terrestrial earth. I think "the end" mentioned in Matt 24:14 and JST Matt 1:31 surely refers to the end of the telestial earth -- when Jesus appears in glory to the whole world and the wicked are consumed (those who survive the tribulations). This is the event when the earth receives its paradisiacal/terrestrial glory. Those wicked who have not been sanctified or quickened by the terrestrial light/spirit/glory will be burned and consumed by that glory when it is revealed to all the world.

We often have discussions in the church and on AVOW about what it means for the Gospel to be preached to all the world and whether or not it has already happened; and if it has not already happened, how close we might be to the fulfillment of that prophecy. We figure that if that prophecy has been fulfilled -- or is close to being fulfilled -- then time must be really getting short, or time to the tribulations starting is short and the time to a call out to places of refuge must be very close, etc.

I believe that the Gospel has not been preached to all the world yet, and that The Lord never intended for this to happen in this particular phase of missionary work in the church.

President Brigham Young stated:

“The set time is come for God to gather Israel, and for His work to commence upon the face of the whole earth, and the Elders who have arisen in this Church and Kingdom are actually of Israel.

“Take the Elders who are now in this house, and you can scarcely find one out of a hundred [who is not] of the house of Israel. …

“Will we go to the Gentile nations to preach the Gospel? Yes, and gather out the Israelites, wherever they are mixed among the nations of the earth. … Ephraim has become mixed with all the nations of the earth, and it is Ephraim that is gathering together.

“If there are any of the other tribes of Israel mixed with the Gentiles we are also searching for them. … We want the blood of Jacob, and that of his father Isaac and Abraham, which runs in the veins of the people. …

“It is the house of Israel we are after, and we care not whether they come from the east, the west, the north, or the south; from China, Russia, England, California, North or South America, or some other locality. … The Book of Mormon came to Ephraim, for Joseph Smith was a pure Ephraimite, and the Book of Mormon was revealed to him.” (Journal of Discourses 2:268–69.) 

Who is Israel?

“Israel, the Lord’s chosen people, were a congregation set apart in the preexistence. In large measure, the spirit children of the Father who acquired a talent for spirituality, who sought above their fellow, to do good and work righteousness – all these were foreordained to be born in the house of Israel.They were chosen before they were born. This is the doctrine of election. They were true and faithful in the premortal life, and they earned the right to be born as the Lord’s people and to have the privilege, on a preferential basis, of believing and obeying the word of truth. Believing blood, the blood Abraham, flows in their veins. They are the ones of whom Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand…their numbers were known and the days of their mortal probation were selected in advance,…”

(Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man, Excerpts from Chapter 16)

It is pre-mortal Israel that is being gathered right now (primarily Joseph, along with remnants of other tribes).

JST Matthew 1:26 "For as the light of the morning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, and covereth the whole earth, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be."

There are at least four prophesied appearances (I think) of the Savior in the end times. These are the appearance in the order I think they will occur:

1) Jesus suddenly comes to his temple at New Jerusalem
2) Jesus appears in glory to the whole House of Israel at Adam-ondi-Ahman
3) Jesus appears to the Jews at the battle of Armageddon
4) Jesus appears in glory to the whole world, and the wicked are consumed

D&C 45:51 "And then shall the Jews look upon me and say: What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet?

52 Then shall they know that I am the Lord; for I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God.

53 And then shall they weep because of their iniquities; then shall they lament because they persecuted their king.

54 And then shall the heathen nations be redeemed, and they that knew no law shall have part in the first resurrection; and it shall be tolerable for them."

D&C 90:9 "That through your administration they may receive the word, and through their administration the word may go forth unto the ends of the earth, unto the Gentiles first, and then, behold, and lo, they shall turn unto the Jews.

10 And then cometh the day when the arm of the Lord shall be revealed in power in convincing the nations, the heathen nations, the house of Joseph, of the gospel of their salvation.

11 For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ."

D&C 90 verse 11 is referring to the fulfillment I believe of Matt 24:14 and JST Matt 1:31 when the Gospel of the Kingdom is preached to all the world as a witness unto every nation before "the end" comes, or the destruction of the wicked at the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

What is going on in right now in this dispensation is that the church is gathering Israel -- pre mortal Israel (primarily Joseph along with remnants of other Tribes). After the last of Israel is gathered to the church (mortal Judah will be the last of Israel to be gathered after Jesus appears to them at Armageddon), then the gospel will be taken in power to the Gentiles/heathens throughout the world to sift the terrestrials from the telestials before "the end". It will be tolerable for terrestrials because they will abide the great and dreadful day of the Lord when the wicked are consumed. It will not be tolerable for the telestials (and future post-mortal sons of perdition) for they will be consumed at that day.

So, I go back to my statement in the beginning that the Gospel has not been preached to all the world yet, and the Lord never intended for that to occur in this first phase of missionary work in the church. He never intended, I believe, for the Gospel to be preached to all the world until after all of pre-mortal Israel has been gathered to the Church. The Gospel will not be preached to all the world until after the Tribulation is underway; until after the City of Zion has been built; and until after the first three appearances of the Savior have taken place. At some point, our current missionary force will be called home just before or just after the tribulation starts. The 144,000 will be commissioned thereafter to gather to Zion the remaining members of Israel then living on the earth. Any Israelite they miss will be gathered by angels at the time Jesus appears to the whole House of Israel at Adam-ondi-Ahman in fulfillment of this prophecy:

"JST, Luke 17:36–40.
Compare Luke 17:37

36 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord, shall they be taken?

37 And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is gathered; or, in other words, whithersoever the saints are gathered, thither will the eagles be gathered together; or, thither will the remainder be gathered together.

38 This he spake, signifying the gathering of his saints; and of angels descending and gathering the remainder unto them; the one from the bed, the other from the grinding, and the other from the field, whithersoever he listeth."

Will we know when the Gospel is being preached to all the world? Surely yes. We won't have to debate whether or not the gospel has yet been preached to all the world before "the end". We'll know when it is happening. How will we know? Because many of us will probably be at the New Jerusalem Temple when Jesus suddenly comes to his temple and sets his tabernacle of glory on the earth. All of the faithful Saints will be at Adam-ondi-Ahman when the Savior appears in glory to them there. And all of the House of Israel will accompany Jesus when he descends upon the Mount of Olives to save the Jews at Armageddon. The House of Israel will be the army of Jehovah that will destroy the armies of the anti-Christ at Armageddon which will open the way for the preaching of the Gospel in power to all the world by translated missionaries -- to every man, woman, and child then living, before "the end". We'll know because we'll be at Adam-ondi-Ahman, and we'll be at Jerusalem at the end of the Battle of Armageddon. It is only after those events, that the Gospel will be preached to all the world. Many of us likely will be part of the translated missionary force that will take the Gospel in terrestrial power to the Gentile/heathen nations at that time.

To those in the Church who still think things cannot/will not fall apart for at least another 50-100 years -- because they think that it will still be many more years before the Gospel will be preached to all the world (e.g. we're not in China yet, we can't yet teach the gospel to many Muslim nations; we can't proselyte in Israel, etc.) -- I say it doesn't matter if the gospel is taught to all the world or not right now. That is not related to the timing of the tribulation, or to the timing of the building of Zion, or to the timing of the first three appearances of Jesus Christ in the end times. Those events/processes are not "the end" and they are not dependent upon the Gospel being preached to all the world first. Only the final appearance of Jesus when he appears in glory to the whole world is dependent for its timing on the preaching of the Gospel to all the world; and that is probably a few years, perhaps many years, down the road; but the tribulation, in my opinion, could start any time. Isn't that what we are -- or should be -- preparing for right now? To survive the tribulations until we can establish Zion on the earth? The Zion that will finally and ultimately save this earth and its inhabitants (at least the inhabitants worthy to abide "then end").

ANONYMOUS BUT IMPORTANT QUOTE

I do not have permission to quote either the source of this quote, the "prominent" member referenced nor the General Authority; so the story must remain, ANONYMOUS. But for the record, they are known to me and I consider the account to be accurate, Or I would not post it here:

I read accounts of members, principally sisters, who were attending the Temple inappropriately dressed. The problem goes far beyond that.

In a recent conversation with a respected business associate, he shared a conversation that involved a general authority. The topic turned to those who are attending the Temple, 'Unworthily'. The statement was made that the time was not far distant when those who are attending that sacred house would be severely punished by The Lord. They would be smitten with a deadly plague that will become known as, "The Mormon Plague." Apparently it will spread far and wide to deadly effect.

My business associate made the comment, "That calls to mind, Doctrine and Covenants 112:25: 'And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord;' and, I heard the same thing from brother [***] (A very prominent member, now deceased).

The General Authority nodded and said, yes, we were very good friends. We talked often.

For me, the 25th verse of section 112 of The Doctrine and Covenants has taken on a totally new significance. You can lie to your bishop; you can lie to your Stake President, and obtain a recommend unworthily; but you can't lie to the Lord. However, the consequence of that deception will apparently will have wide spread and deadly impact.

The Temple Endowment in the Book of Mormon

Many fail to see the temple and the endowment in scripture because they are too focused on the parable and ritual instead of the meaning behind it. Truth is the temple endowment is all over the Book of Mormon and even though the story and the symbols change, the underlying message remains the same. 

And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables. (Mark 4:11)

Mysteries are "hidden manna" or teachings that God chooses to teach His people using symbols, parables, and ritual so that the wicked fail to understand them because they fail to give "heed and diligence" to understanding them. The lessons taught in the temple are akin to Christ telling His people a parable. Again, Mysteries are "hidden manna" taught by Christ to His people in parables, or ritual symbolism. 

I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days. (1 Nephi 1:1)

Nephi says that He has been given a great knowledge of the mysteries or "hidden knowledge" of God.

 
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers. (1 Nephi 2:16)

For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round. (1 Nephi 10:19)

Nephi was then shown the vision of the Tree of Life which was his endowment. All the basic aspects of the temple endowment are given to Nephi through his vision of the tree of life. 

And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine. (2 Nephi 5:16)

Nephi builds a temple after the order of the Law of Moses and the Lesser Priesthood. 

And these are the words which he spake and caused to be written, saying: My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view. (Mosiah 2:9)

The people of Nephi are gathered around the temple and King Benjamin says he will reveal the mysteries of God the people gathered at the temple. 

And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. . . . And now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the words that I desired; and the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant. And now, 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. . . .... I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives. .... I say unto you, 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. (Mosiah 5:2, 6-11)

The people of Nephi at the temple recieve a group endowment and enter into the higher covenant of sanctification. These people are born again, become sons and daughters of God, and are given the new name. 

And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him. And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full. Mysteries are only to be given as God directs and according to God's will. (Alma 12:9-10)

(Read 3 Nephi Chapters 20-26)

Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard; and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (3 Nephi 24:16-18)

And they taught, and did minister one to another; and they had all things common among them, every man dealing justly, one with another. (3 Nephi 26:19)

3 Nephi is the ultimate example of a group endowment administered by Christ himself and a renewal of His covenant with His people. All the fundamental aspects of the endowement are present. The people gather at the temple and accept and become witness of Christ, are purified and then are given bread to eat from Christ himself. Jesus Christ reestablishes and renews the covenants and reveals who the people are, their part in the plan, the whole plan of salvation is laid out, and the people are given commandments such as tithing to observe and consecration seeing how the people live with "all things in common" and the people are promised rewards to be known as a son "in that day when I make up my jewels" or the same"white stone with the new name", that John in Revelation speaks of.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; 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. (Revelation 2:17)

When God appears to Moses in the Pearl of Great Price is another example of the endowment being given in the scriptures. 

The amazing point here is that while many critics of the LDS Church claim that Joseph Smith plagiarized the LDS endowment from Masonry, it is marvelous that all the fundamental elements of the endowment are demonstrated over and over again in the Book of Mormon long before Joseph Smith was acquainted at all with Masonry. Yes, Masonry did influence Joseph Smith to ask questions about certain aspects of the endowment, but the endowment was represented again and again in the Book of Mormon long before Joseph Smith new anything about Masonry.

Trust Not in the Arm of Flesh

O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. (2 Nephi 4:34)

“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.“

– Joseph Smith, Jr.

(November 28, 1841, 'History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints', 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957], 4:461)

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“This morning . . . I visited with a brother and sister from Michigan, who thought that ‘a prophet is always a prophet'; but I told them that a prophet is a prophet only when he was acting as such.”

– Joseph Smith, Jr.

(History of the Church vol. 5 p. 265)

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“If any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the Book of Doctrine & Covenants, set him down as an impostor... Try them by the principles contained in the acknowledged word of God; if they preach, or teach, or practice contrary to that, disfellowship them; cut them off from among you as useless and dangerous branches.”

– Joseph Smith, Jr.

(Times & Seasons Vol 5, pg 490)

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“President Joseph Smith read the 14th chapter of Ezekiel - said the Lord had declared by the Prophet, that the people should each one stand for himself, and depend on no man or men in that state of corruption of the Jewish church - that righteous persons could only deliver their own souls - APPLIED IT TO THE PRESENT STATE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS - SAID IF THE PEOPLE DEPARTED FROM THE LORD, THEY MUST FALL - THAT THEY WERE DEPENDING ON THE PROPHET, HENCE WERE DARKENED IN THEIR MINDS, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves, envious towards the innocent, while they afflict the virtuous with their shafts of envy.”

– A record of a sermon given by Joseph Smith, Jr.

(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Five [1842-43], p.237-38.)

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(Note: These were the verses Joseph Smith read to the Relief Society...)

(Joseph Smith Translation – Ezekiel 14:9-11)

9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have not deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;

11 That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord God)

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“We have heard men who hold the priesthood remark that they would do anything they were told to do by those who preside over them [even] if they knew it was wrong; but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus willingly degrade himself, should not claim a rank among intelligent beings, until he turns from his folly. A man of God would despise the idea. Others, in the extreme exercise of their almighty authority have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the saints were told do by their presidents they should do it without any questions. When Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their hearts to do wrong themselves.”

– Attributed to Joseph Smith, Jr.

(EDITOR: Millennial Star, Vol 14, Number 38, pages 593-595. [Reprinted by Apostle Samuel Richards on Nov. 13, 1852, recorded in the Millennial Star, 14:393-395.])

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“The government will not receive you with the laws that God designed you to live, and those who are desirous to live the laws of God will have to go South. You will live to see men arise in power in the Church who will seek to put down your friends and the friends of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Many will be hoisted because of their money and the worldly learning which they seem to be in possession of; and many who are the true followers of our Lord and Savior will be cast down because of their poverty.”

– Joseph Smith, Jr.

(Attributed to Joseph Smith, Jr. – recorded by Mosiah Hancock, in the autobiography of Mosiah Hancock)

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“What a pity it would be if we were led by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders did they know for themselves by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not. This has been my exhortation continually.”

– Brigham Young

('Remarks,' The Deseret News [weekly], volume 11, number 33, edited by Elias Smith [Great Salt Lake City: Elias Smith, 12 February 1862], page 257.)

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“It is not the place for any person to correct any person who is superior to them, but ask the Father in the name of Jesus to bind him up from speaking false principles. I have known many times I have preached wrong.“

– Brigham Young

(In Thomas Bullock minutes, 8 May 1854, Church Historical Department)

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“Why do you not open the windows of heaven and get revelation for yourself? and not go whining around and saying, “do you not think that you may be mistaken? Can a Prophet or an Apostle be mistaken?” Do not ask me any such question, for I will acknowledge that all the time, but I do not acknowledge that I designedly lead this people astray one hair’s breadth from the truth, and I do not knowingly do a wrong, though I may commit many wrongs, and so may you. But I overlook your weaknesses, and I know by experience that the Saints lift their hearts to God that I may be led right. If I am thus borne off by your prayers and faith, with my own, and suffered to lead you wrong, it proves that your faith is vain. Do not worry.“

– Brigham Young

(A Series of Instructions and Remarks by President Brigham Young at a Special Council, Tabernacle, March 22, 1858 (Salt Lake City, 1858), pamphlet in Frederick Kesler Collection, J. Willard Marriott Library)

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“When we see the time that we can willingly strike hands and have full fellowship with those who despise the Kingdom of God, know ye then that the Priesthood of the Son of God is out of your possession.”

– Brigham Young

(Journal of Discourses vol. 10 pg. 273)

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“Brethren, this Church will be led onto the very brink of hell by the leaders of this people. Then God will raise the one mighty and strong, spoken of in the 85th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, to save and redeem this Church.”

– Brigham Young

(Provo Bowery Conference, August 24th, 1867; [BX 8693 .C559 C547o, Americana Collection, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah], page 106. See also The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, volume 4, edited by Richard S. Van Wagoner [Salt Lake City: The Smith-Pettit Foundation, 2009], pages 2478–2479.)

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“Now, was not Joseph Smith a mortal man? Yes. A fallible man? Yes. Had he not weaknesses? Yes, he acknowledged them himself, and did not fail to put the revelations on record in this book wherein God reproved him. His weaknesses were not concealed from the people. He was willing that people should know that he was mortal, and had failings. And so with Brigham Young. Was not he a mortal man, a man who had weaknesses? He was not a God. He was not an immortal being. He was not infallible. No, he was fallible. And yet when he spoke by the power of God, it was the word of God to this people. The First Presidency cannot claim, individually or collectively, infallibility. The infallibility is not given to men. They are fallible.“

– George Q. Cannon

(August 12, 1883. Journal of Discourses 24:274; George Q. Cannon, 'Gospel Truth', 1:206)

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“Without [the fellowship of the Holy Ghost], we are blind and helpless.... Do not, brethren, put your trust in man though he be a Bishop, an Apostle, or a President; if you do, they will fail you at some time or place; they will do wrong or seem to, and your support be gone; but if we lean on God, He never will fail us. When men and women depend on God alone, and trust in Him alone, their faith will not be shaken if the highest in the Church should step aside. They could still see that He is just and true, that truth is lovely in His sight, and the pure in heart are dear to Him. Perhaps it is His own design that faults and weaknesses should appear in high places in order that His Saints may learn to trust in Him and not in any man or men. Therefore, my brethren and sisters, seek after the Holy Spirit.”

– George Q. Cannon

(“Knowledge of and Dependence on God,” 15 February, 1891; The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, volume 53, number 43, edited by Brigham Young, Jr. [Liverpool: Brigham Young, Jr., 26 October 1891], pages 673–674; paragraphing omitted.)

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“I hope what I have said may be blessed to your profit. If I have said any unwise thing, forget it. If I have said any improper thing, I hope it will pass from your minds, and that which is good, cling to you.“

– George Q. Cannon

(April 6, 1879. Journal of Discourses 20:205)

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“And then, we have bishops among us. We will treat them courteously. Have they weaknesses? Yes, they are men just like we are. 'What,' say you, 'have you weaknesses?' Yes, lots of them. I wish I had not sometimes, and then again I don’t wish so.“

– John Taylor

(Journal of Discourses 20: 357 [30 November 1879])

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“We are told that, many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works?’ Yet to all such will he say, ‘Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.’ You say that means the outsiders? No, it does not. Do they do many wonderful works in the name of Jesus? No. This means you Latter-day Saints, who heal the sick, cast out devils and do many wonderful things in the name of Jesus…Hear it, ye Latter-day Saints! Hear it, ye Seventies and ye High Priests!“

– John Taylor

(D&C Commentary, pp. 462, 463)

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“I saw Joseph Smith the Prophet do things which I did not approve of; and yet…I thanked God that He would put upon a man who had these imperfections the power and authority which He placed upon him…for I knew I myself had weaknesses and I thought there was a chance for me. These same weaknesses…I knew were in Heber C. Kimball, but my knowing this did not impair them in my estimation. I thanked God I saw these imperfection.“

– Lorenzo Snow

(Lorenzo Snow, cited by George Q. Cannon, in George Q. Cannon Diary, 7 January 1898)

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“We can and do know the truth with reference to the matters that concern our salvation . . . But with reference to matters involving merely questions of administration and policy in the Church; matters that do not involve the great and central truths of the gospel—these afford a margin wherein all the human imperfections and limitations of man, even of prophets and apostles, may be displayed…. when you take into account human weaknesses, imperfection, prejudice, passion, bias, it is too much to hope for human nature that man will constantly thus walk linked with God. And so we make this distinction between a man speaking sometimes under the influence of prejudice and pre–conceived notions, and the utterances of a man who, in behalf of the Church of God, and having the requisite authority, and holding the requisite position, may, upon occasion, lay aside all prejudice, all pre–conception, and stand ready and anxious to receive the divine impression of God’s Spirit.“

– Brigham H. Roberts

('Defense of Faith and the Saints', 2 vols [Provo: Utah, 2002 edition], 346, 554–555)

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“The Church has confined the sources of doctrine by which it is willing to be bound before the world to the things that God has revealed, and which the Church has officially accepted, and those alone. These would include the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price; these have been repeatedly accepted and endorsed by the Church in general conference assembled, and are the only sources of absolute appeal for our doctrine.”

– Brigham H. Roberts

('Official Doctrine', A sermon of 10 July 1921, delivered in Salt Lake Tabernacle, printed in Deseret News (23 July 1921) sec. 4:7)

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“The essential thought must ever be that a man does not, except in his spiritual infancy, accept a statement merely because the Church or someone in authority declares it correct. But because, under mature examination, it is found to be true and right and worthwhile. Conversion must come from within.”

– John A. Widtsoe

(Program of the Church, p. 24)

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“Even during the time of the apostles there began to be a falling away, as is clear from the Epistles of Paul, of Peter, John, James, and Jude. People began to wander off, and that wandering was increased in the succeeding centuries, accumulating speed, it seems, as it went on. They began to gather into church teachings things to make Christianity a little more palatable to the philosophers of the time. ... They were trying to satisfy the thought and the philosophy and the reasoning of men, in order that they might have their support and probably their praise. ... There is a deep lesson in all of that for us today. Already there are coming in amongst us doctrines that have no part or place in the pure doctrines of the restored gospel. These heresies are creeping in insidiously. They come to us from the philosophies of the Christian scholars of the day. They make our doctrines, as they made the early Christian beliefs, more palatable to our philosophers, but so surely as they destroyed the Christian church in the early days, just so surely will they destroy us if we do not stop them where they are.”

– J. Reuben Clark Jr.

(In One Hundred Sixteenth Semi-annual Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Conference Report, 7th of October 1945] [Salt Lake City, Utah: Published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints], pp. 165, 166; paragraphing omitted.)

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“The ravening wolves are amongst us, from our own membership, and they, more than any others, are clothed in sheep's clothing, because they wear the habiliments of the priesthood…We should be careful of them.”

– J. Reuben Clark

(Conference Report, April 1949.)