Letter to an Inquirer: Shedding Innocent Blood and Salvation

Re: Shedding innocent blood

From: (name witheld)
You mean half of the US army, Air force and Marines, The crew of the Enola Gay, and on and on. Drone operators. Pilots of Israel and Europe who drop bombs, etc. knowing full well innocents will be killed. And the armies of "god" who killed and killed women and children who did nothing but be born in the wrong spot? And what about "god" himself who wiped out the entire world with a flood, certainly must have been SOME innocent blood mixed in there. -dd

Dear (name witheld), you bring up a complicated issue.

Except for doing things like missionary work (see Acts 5:29), the scriptures teach:

Titus 3:1  PUT them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

AofF 12  We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

Do you remember when David wanted to kill Uriah, a very righteous and devoted soldier in David's army, in order to get Uriah's wife Bath-Sheba? David was already having sex with her secretly (she had no choice in the matter as David was king).

2 Sam. 11:14  ¶ And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

15  And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.

Uriah was killed, but God blamed David:

2 Sam. 12:9  Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight?  thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

So, in the battle, Uriah was killed. But did God blame the enemy soldier who killed this righteous man? No, David was responsible as the scripture says. Thus, David became a murderer of innocent blood, and was cursed. Peter noted that David's body was not among the righteous who were resurrected after Christ's resurrection:

Acts 2:29  Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

Because soldiers are to be subject unto their kings, presidents, etc., then the leaders shoulder the responsibility of their wars. If a president declares an unjust war, then all who are killed by that war are on his head.

If a soldier takes liberties with his own powers in a war, and deliberately murders innocent people when it could have been avoided, then that soldier will be held accountable. If he is following orders, and inadvertently and unavoidably kills innocents as collateral damage, then the leader who unjustly declared the war is responsible.

The scriptures are pretty clear on this:

1John 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

But can a murderer repent?

Alma 39:6  For behold, if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable; yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness.

The light of God comes from the Light of Christ, which every man is born with:

John 1:9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Romans 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Those who hold the truth in unrighteousness and deny the Light of Christ in them are fools according to Paul, and they are without excuse.

The principle of killing innocent blood is symbolic of the innocent blood of Christ being shed:

Deut. 19:9  If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:

10  That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.

11  ¶ But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:

12  Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.

13  Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

Matt.27:3  ¶ Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.  And they said, What is that to us?  see thou to that.

5  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

D&C 132:27  The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be forgiven in the world nor out of the world, is in that ye commit murder wherein ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto my death, after ye have received my new and everlasting covenant, saith the Lord God; and he that abideth not this law can in nowise enter into my glory, but shall be damned, saith the Lord.

Elder McConkie declares that King David will inherit the Telestial Kingdom after he is forgiven by God for killing the innocent blood, Uriah. I respectfully disagree. If David doesn't get forgiveness, he is still in the Telestial kingdom, so what is the point of seeking forgiveness then?

But as the Book of Mormon says, it is not easy to obtain forgiveness. For one thing it depends upon how much Light of Christ one has when he is so disposed to take innocent life. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is also the Light of Christ, but is in far greater proportion than the minimal amount given at one's birth, which is generally regarded as one's "conscience."

D&C 132:24  This is eternal lives—to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent.  I am he.  Receive ye, therefore, my law.

25  Broad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the deaths; and many there are that go in thereat, because they receive me not, neither do they abide in my law.

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

I think "sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise" is having your "calling and election made sure," or receiving "the sure word of prophecy" - in other words, God is calling you a god, and then you mess up big time by breaking your marriage vows, BUT do not kill innocent blood. In such rare cases, they are delivered over to Satan to be buffeted (No picnic!) for undisclosed period of time, before justice decides enough and frees them to continue their quest for Celestial glory.

2 Peter 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: …

19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Apparently, our god Joseph Smith [who received his calling and election] did some transgressing and his God is requiring of him to pay the penalty for it? Do not know - that is between he and God. But God will justify him in the end.

D&C 132:60 [July 1843]  Let no one, therefore, set on my servant Joseph; for I will justify him; for he shall do the sacrifice which I require at his hands for his transgressions, saith the Lord your God.

One more verse to be added to the discussion above:

Job 1:21  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

God created us, He can end us. Therefore, in no wise, can God be accused of murdering innocent life as you suggest.

Act 17:26  And [God] hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

God has determined before each of us were born, while we were still in the pre-existence, how long he would permit us to live. We agreed to those conditions before we came here.

ddd

Infinity and Eternal Progression, Part I

I.
“It is the privilege of man to search out the wisdom of God pertaining to the earth and the heavens.” Brigham Young, Mar 06, 1862, JD 9:242

Moses 1:35  … there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them. …

37 And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying: The heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine.

II.

The above verses in the Book of Moses show that the universe is finite. How? This scripture states that mortals in the early 1800s, when this revelation was given, were not able to count all of the worlds, heavens, etc. in the universe, but God could and has. In other words, if they were an infinite number to Him also, then He could not count them either. However, since He counted all of them and assigned a number to each, then there are to Him a finite number of them.

III.

Part I: The Past

For mainstream Christendom, our lives began only a few years ago, when God magically created us. Then in a few years, if we did not confess Christ, we wither eternally in fire and damnation. Those lucky few who did will play harps praising God and sit on clouds forever.

But for true Christians, there never was a time when we did not exist. We are each eternally and primordially kernels of intelligence, with a will to search out a fulness of joy through organization with other lesser intelligences – forming for us, first a spirit body, then combined with mortal substance to organize a mortal body, and then next to resurrect the sum of it into a resurrected body.

“… the mind of man does not reach that any more than it comprehends the heaven beyond the bounds of time and space in which the Christians expect to sit and sing themselves away to everlasting bliss, and where they say they shall live for ever and for ever.

If we can look forward we can actually comprehend a little of the idea that we shall live for ever and ever; but you take a rear-sight, and try and contemplate and meditate upon the fact there never was a beginning and you are lost at once.

The present and the future we can comprehend some little about, but the past is all blank, and it is right and reasonable that it should be so. But if we are faithful in the things of God they will open up, open up, open up, our minds will expand, reach forth and receive more and more, and by and by we can begin to see that the Gods have been for ever and for ever.” Brigham Young, Deseret News, June 18, 1873, in vol. XXII, No. 20, pp. 308, 309.

IV.

The particles of this universe have a finite count, known to God. When we consider that we have existed forever, we might begin to wonder why it is that we have not progressed further than where we are now. Just think – only now we are starting our lives in mortality? Only now, are we finding ourselves in a position to venture onto godhood? Why weren’t we here ten trillion googleplex eternities ago? And that number is just a drop in the bucket when compared to the eternities before that – there never being a first eternity when we existed! Maybe we were in this position before.

Ecclesiastes 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10  Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

11  There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

V.

As far as eternities go, it is reasonable to declare that there is nothing new. Because, if we consider that for the first time in all of the eternities, this new plan has been devised to save mankind, or that for the first time in all of the eternal eternities the Big Bang occurred – we must ask ourselves, how? What changed so that this time something new happened that never happened before. We must conclude that no new compilation now exists that never existed before. In the lottery of the eternities, every number will eventually come up, even if that number is as big as the number of particles in the entire universe. Moreover, it will eventually come up again, and again, ad infinitum.

Infinity and Eternal Progression, Part II

Part II: The Future

VI.
This brings us to another point - Eternal Progression. The natural question then is “Why isn’t everyone who could be a God, already one?” And another, “Why isn’t everything that is, further advanced than it already is, since there was never a beginning to being?”

According to science, the universe began 13.7+ billion years ago with a Big Bang. They claim nothing existed prior to that occurrence. We know better. We have already shown in previous discussions that all “matter” is uncreated, self-existent, and hence has always existed. We have also shown that everything that exists is either organizing or disorganizing. Therefore, there must have been previous to this latest Big Bang previous Big Bangs. Obviously, they didn’t turn out so well – we are still not full-fledged Gods.
VII.

The universe is finite. There are only so many particles, atoms, quarks, etc. and no more, and no less. Anything that has a beginning will have an end. Organization of substance had a beginning; hence, organization will have an end, when it can no longer progress into a higher state of existence. When we read of something having no beginning or end, we must consider the context or idea presented, and that the only thing that has no beginning or end are elementary particles of intelligence in their native element state.

It is necessary for us to have an understanding of God himself in the beginning. …

The scriptures inform us that “This is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true god, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” …

God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. … it is necessary we should understand the character and being of God and how he came to be so; for I am going to tell you of how god came to be God.

We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see.

These are incomprehensible ideas to some, but they are simple. It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, and to know that we may converse with Him as man converses with another, and that He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did; and I will show it from the Bible. …

Element had an existence from the time He had. The pure principles of element are principles which can never be destroyed; they may be organized and re-organized, but not destroyed. They had no beginning and can have no end. …

The mind or the intelligence which man possesses is co-equal [co-eternal] with God himself. … I want to reason more on the spirit of man; for I am dwelling on the body and spirit of man – on the subject of the dead.

I take my ring from my finger and liken it unto the mind of man – the immortal part, because it had no beginning. Suppose you cut it in two; then it has a beginning and an end; but join it again, and it continues one eternal round. So with the spirit of man. As the Lord liveth, if it had a beginning, it will have an end. …

Intelligence is eternal and exists upon a self-existent principle. It is a spirit from age to age and there is no creation about it.  Excerpts from the great King Follett discourse by Joseph Smith, Jr., delivered Apr. 07, 1844 DHC Vol. VI, pp.302-317.

VIII.

How long will the universe last? Some have estimated it will last about 100 billion years, before it ceases to be a universe – just aimless particles branching out forever into empty space, or retract back into a Big Crunch only to start over again in another Big Bang. Others theorize the universe will be swallowed by a gigantic black hole and then start all over again. Still others say it will last 1 googleplex (a 1 followed by 1,000 zeroes) years or longer.

Reference Reads: http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/how-long-will-the-universe-exist

http://www.googolplexian.com/

http://big-bang-theory.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Crunch

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-long-will-the-universe-last.htm

IX.

Choices we have:

·        The universe will last forever. It has forever existed. The universe has a finite number of particles. Since everything hasn’t maxed out* its progression by now, then there must be a wall to progression. This choice is not viable because there is no end to progression, except possibly the end of the universe.

·        God emigrated here from another universe. That universe must have maxed out, so the gods had to go somewhere else in order to keep progressing. Why did that one take so long to max out, since it too eternally existed? Why was their universe finally able to produce gods after an eternity of failure? What was new there? What could possibly be different this time around, after a zillion googleplex eternities (and that number is only a beginning to the count of past eternities that never has a first one)? This choice is not viable because it infers that something new happened there for the first time to break the mold they were in, in an endless stream of past possible possibilities. However, see Part III, XIV.

·        The universe started again about 14 billion years ago. It is a repeat of past processes to exist forever in some fully organized state of a fulness of joy where everything is maxed out in perfection.

·       

D&C 93:33  For man is spirit.  The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;

34    And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy.

X.
 This is the way it always has been and always will be. There is no special moment in the endless eternities of past Big Bangs or Big Freezes where Gods are now finally able to be produced, whereas never before has this happened or could happen. This choice is viable, because it addresses the finiteness of the universe and demands that all things possible that can be are continuously constant.

The Beginning, Part V: Heaven - Life in the Celestial Kingdom

Little is said about the actual conditions, cultures, norms, etc. of the society of beings inhabiting the Celestial Kingdoms.

Joseph Smith Jr. envisioned Zion consisting of small cities about one mile square, with a business center, residential areas – each home having ½ acre, with a total population estimated between 15-20,000. Farms would be outside of the city, but the farmers would live in the city with their families, in order to avoid class distinction. The farmers would enjoy the same benefits as any other city dweller: schools, shopping, etc.

For more details, please see http://www.yorgalily.org/~yorgasor/church/ComprehensiveHistoryOfTheChurch/hc1.html

In the search box type in “Zion, The City Plat.”

"When this square is thus laid off and supplied, lay off another in the same way," said the Prophet to those to whom the city plat was sent, "and so fill up the world in these last days, and let every man live in the city, for this is the city of Zion." (Joseph Smith, CHC 1:311)

Therefore, we might perceive this city plat could be typical of that which is in each Celestial planet, and followed in larger cities there as well.

Brigham Young taught that we must have “amusement” in the eternities. Said he: “Whenever we get into the Kingdom of Heaven, where God and Christ dwell, we shall something more to do than to ‘sit and sing ourselves away to everlasting bliss.’ The mind of man is active, and we must have exercise and amusement for the mind as well as the body.” Discourses of Brigham Young, p.97

There will be billions of inhabitants spread over the immortal Celestial globe located inside a star: gods and their spirit children.

Inasmuch as the resurrected bodies and the bodies of the maturing spirit children each possess the physical characteristics of mortal bodies – eyes, ears, lungs, hearts, stomachs, nervous systems, mouths, etc., we can expect that they all will function much the same way they do here. That is to say, they will eat and drink, hear, speak and do. They will be employed, and be active.

“I believe men in their resurrected bodies eat or they would die. I believe they eat as well as men in their mortal bodies.” Brigham Young quoted by Wilford Woodruff, WWJ 4:398

Personally, I do not envision an environment stiff and regimented at all – a “1984” society, but rather a place that is easy to live and to enjoy.

There will also be problems however, that need to be dealt with. Our former abode harbored a rebellious number of spirits that swore allegiance to a rebel named Lucifer who tried to dethrone God. He and his friends were tolerated for some time. I can imagine their god-parents tried to raise them correctly, but the seeds of Darkness entered them, even in Heaven. Finally, a war broke out in the Celestial kingdom, whereupon these demon spirits were evicted, and peace restored. Because there is opposition in all things, we might well expect history to repeat itself in the next Celestial Kingdom as well.

But evil cannot triumph in a Celestial glory. Joy and happiness will be the norm.

There are a few shorts online I have run across, and have imagined something like them could actually be in the Celestial Kingdom. See if you agree.

·        Esther and Abi Ofarim sing “Garden of My Home”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFRs4VSkgy0

·        Norah Jones in “Sunrise.” Note: You may have to first see a short ad. Also, the first few seconds seem dark and dismal – get past that point, and it might be a theatrical performance in the Celestial Kingdom attended by all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd02pGJx0s0

·        A Night in Venice with Nova Era Live shows a few segments of classical upbeat songs they play on their DVD. Could well be a performance put on in the Celestial Kingdom.

http://www.novaeramusic.com/home.html

·        Corning put on an excellent advertisement about the future uses of glass that seems to be somewhat from what life could be like in a larger city in the Celestial Kingdom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cf7IL_eZ38

       ·        That Happy Feeling by Bert Kaempfert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9Wx8BRjzoI

Nobody with wings, no souls sitting on clouds playing harps, etc. – just real immortal people, gods and their spirit children busy trying to live their normal lives in peace and harmony in a Celestial glory. And there is the duty of all gods to organize the universe into the most that every particle of it can be, all the while contending with the forces of Darkness as those forces attempt to break down and destroy, like a virus, anything organized.

ddd

Justice, Mercy, Atonement and Grace

Justice and Mercy are eternal virtues and laws, each of which has claim in life. Otherwise, chaos abounds. However, separately, each would rob the other. Our behavior has its consequences, none is exempted, and that is regulated by Justice.

Grace is the vital link between the best we can do and the minimum required by our Heavenly Father. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Once an accountable individual has sinned in this life, no matter to what degree, he is required by God to repent. Though we do all we can do to make amends, and though we are forgiven by those we have injured or offended, and though we do all the repentance in the world possible, still we cannot undo what was done in the first place. We cannot go back in time and make the sin never happen.

 Because Christ lived a completely sinless life, and yet suffered and died at the hands of evil, Justice was required to restore Him. Yet Justice cannot go back in time and make His suffering and death never happen. Consequently, Justice could not fulfill its role and provide Christ restitution. What could Justice give Christ to make things right?

 Now Christ was at an advantage – He could demand restitution from Justice upon the principles of Mercy, a virtue equal to Justice. But, where to apply mercy? Too late for Christ - He already descended below all things. The restitution demanded by Christ of Justice then was to obtain Justice tempered with Mercy – all of His disciples would be forgiven of their sins, on the condition they do the best they could. Justice agreed to the plan.

 This is Christ’s Grace – Justice and Mercy both get their due, per a rational demand by Christ to pardon the fully repentant. Thus, Christ provides the link, His Grace, between the works that can be done by us and the more perfect state of being that God requires of us. Therefore, we are saved by grace AFTER all we can do to work out our own salvation.

References:

Matt. 5:48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

2 Nephi 25:23  For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

Alma 42: 23  But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice. 24  For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved. 25  What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice?  I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God.

D&C 88: 5  … Jesus Christ his Son— 6  He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;

Revelations 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Further reading:

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=9773fc3157a6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

Map of the Governing Planets of the Universe

The Beginning, Part III: Heaven (The Self-Existing Intelligences)

Scientists have calculated that the universe is around 13.7 billion years old. Some 2 billions years later, the first galaxies started appearing. While this hapless lot of professionals steadfastly rejects the proposal to discover the existence of intelligence, intelligences, spirit matter, fluid and element, delving only with mortal matter and energy, they have perhaps stumbled upon the earliest possible creation of the gods, though they would never admit it.

Bruce R McConkie, in his “Seven Deadly Heresies” [01June1980] states in Heresy one:

http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=6770

Eternal progression consists of living the kind of life God lives and of increasing in kingdoms and dominions everlastingly. Why anyone should suppose that an infinite and eternal being who has presided in our universe for almost 2,555,000,000 years, who made the sidereal heavens, whose creations are more numerous than the particles of the earth, and who is aware of the fall of every sparrow--why anyone would suppose that such a being has more to learn and new truths to discover in the laboratories of eternity is totally beyond my comprehension.

What then was God doing prior to 2.555 billions years ago? Inasmuch as Elder McConkie uses the locution “our universe,” perhaps he is inferring that He came here from another universe. Here in “our universe” evidently, He was not presiding. For that matter then, who was in charge of the universe prior to that time?

Another possibility. Joseph Smith states that everything is made of matter:

D&C 131:6  It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.

7  There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes;

8  We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter.

The questions begs itself: what is matter made of? My answer: self-existing, uncreated intelligence. As Elder BH Roberts explains:
“The intelligence in man, then, according to the Prophet's philosophy, is not created, but is self-existent, one of the eternal things, not created, really uncreatable, as also indestructible. Not of earth-origin, but existing in heavens without number, always existing. I have already noted that intelligences differ in degree of intelligence, moral quality, and greatness, hence also they differ in power, standing, and appointment. …
To this end Divine Intelligences bring into existence worlds and world systems, sustain and guide them through immense cycles of time, and through processes that lead from chaos to cosmos, from telestial to celestial, and when attaining a point beyond which they may not be exalted in their present forms, breaking those forms, disintegrating them, to bring them forth again to reach a grander cosmos--worlds without number have thus passed away, by the word of God's power, and many now stand, innumerable unto man; and as one earth and its heavens shall pass away, so shall another come, and there is no end to this work, to this evolution, and this devolution.

The intelligence in man, then, according to the Prophet's philosophy, is not created, but is self-existent, one of the eternal things, not created, really uncreatable, as also indestructible. Not of earth-origin, but existing in heavens without number, always existing.

I have already noted that intelligences differ in degree of intelligence, moral quality, and greatness, hence also they differ in power, standing, and appointment.

It is these differences in intelligences that lead to order in the universe. Those more advanced governing, controlling, devising, organizing, forming societies, making governments, civilizations--all which shall tend to increase the glory and power and joy of all: "Men are that they might have joy," is a Book of Mormon passage. "This is my work and my glory," Joseph Smith represents God as saying, "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." To this end Divine Intelligences bring into existence worlds and world systems, sustain and guide them through immense cycles of time, and through processes that lead from chaos to cosmos, from telestial to celestial, and when attaining a point beyond which they may not be exalted in their present forms, breaking those forms, disintegrating them, to bring them forth again to reach a grander cosmos--worlds without number have thus passed away, by the word of God's power, and many now stand, innumerable unto man; and as one earth and its heavens shall pass away, so shall another come, and there is no end to this work, to this evolution, and this devolution. And so the eternal drama proceeds. Intelligences meanwhile standing indestructible amidst this organization and disorganization of worlds; this integrating and disintegrating of things. This movement is from lower to higher estates, from little to greater excellences; yet this without attaining to "highest" or "perfect," because, to repeat, advancement in the infinite knows no ultimates. Meanwhile intelligences amid these changes, under the law of eternal progress, are ever increasing in power, glory, might, dominion, benevolence, charity, justice; and all else that can make for the increase of their power and glory. In which strivings and achievements eternal evil is always potentially, and sometimes actively, present. Indeed it makes necessary and possible, in fact, the very strivings and achievements; and is the "foil on which good produces itself, and becomes known." Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol. 2, The Eternal Existence of Intelligence” p.391-394.

Let’s go back to just before the Big Bang. What really existed? Scientists say nothing existed – that nothing created something.

Seriously though, in reality what existed is what Brigham Young calls “native element.” His teachings on native element, composition, and decomposition, organization and disorganization are the backbone of his Adam-God revelation.

The only thing that existed prior to the Big Bang was native element Intelligence, individual unorganized particles of intelligence. The only thing that exists after the Big Bang is organizing Intelligence and its opposite, disorganizing Darkness. There is an enormous variety of these supernatural substances – the only substances that exist. Each particle is a separate, unique element and possesses differing levels of intelligence.

At the top of the gradation scale are those which act – what the scriptures refer to as “Holy Spirit.” There is an abundance of these highest intelligences that act (organize).

As we go down the scale, we find less intelligent particles that are increasingly acted upon (capable of being controlled by higher intelligences), and are increasingly selfish by their nature. Each elementary particle is indivisible and is intelligence light.  Light is requisite for organizing. At the bottom of the scale is another kind of particle called Darkness, for it has no light at all. Its sole purpose is to disorganize light back to its native elementary state.

In the native element state, there is no free will or agency – except to act and to be acted upon. Once several of these particles join in a cooperative enterprise, then the highest intelligence of those particles takes charge. Free will emerges to that extent. However, this combination also creates an environment whereby the higher can become susceptible to the selfishness of the lower. Only the highest intelligence can take full advantage of free will. And their united goal is to organize all intelligence into one grand cooperative union, and to keep Darkness inert.

The Big Bang starts the goal into action. Evolution develops it. “Mortality” of the lowest intelligent particles brings up the rear. Darkness tries to tear them apart. The success of the highest intelligences to fuse with the lowest ultimately starts producing Gods. Gods continue the work of organization.

We mortals are comprised of one single acting highest intelligence particle and a large host of lesser ones being acted upon and cooperating with that single highest one in each of our organized bodies. The single highest one in us is who we are actually, the rest are followers and support members. We can only find joy and be satisfied with our progress in life when we act in union with all other highest intelligences. As we succeed, more supportive higher particles join us.

Authority is paramount in this supreme organization venture lasting perhaps 100 billion years, so a Head God of all head Gods takes charge – the Supreme Controller of the Universe, i.e. our Father in Heaven. The operating laws and principles of Light in a free will environment are virtues. Only by adherence to virtue can this work succeed.

Darkness begins occupying organized intelligences, initially in the organized spirit stage, impairing the work and ultimately producing Lucifers and other devils. But other spirits, mortals and immortals resist. For example, God is pure Light. Continuing in the mortal stage, Darkness produces in mortals misgivings, doubts, evil acts, etc. Some are completely won over, while others have internal struggles between the light they possess and the darkness in them, eventually giving them a lesser reward in the next stage of existence. Still others shed Darkness altogether and eventually reap the greatest joys existence has to offer. In the end, God will prevail.
Further recommended reading:
http://davidpratt.info/infdiv.htm

http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/2.13?lang=eng#12

Some quips from the Deseret News, 06Jun1877

“An old Scotch woman recommended a preacher who arrived at the kirk wet through to get at once into the pulpit, ‘Ye’ll be dry enough there.’”

“’Money! Give me the money, or I shall be driven to do a deed my souls abhors.’ The citizen produced a handful of silver with tremulous alacrity, and then it occurred to him to inquire what particular form of felony his benevolence had defeated. ‘Work,’ muttered the wanderer, as he fobbed the coins and passed away.”

“They were husband and wife, and as they stood before the Capitol in Washington she asked: ‘What’s that figure on top?’ ‘That’s a goddess,’ he answered. ‘And what’s a goddess?’ ‘A woman who holds her tongue,’ he replied. She looked at him sideways, and then began planning how to make a peach pie with the stones in it for the benefit of his sore tooth.”

The Adam-God Revelation (Journal of References, Vol.1)

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:…” Ephesians 1:10

“We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.” Articles of Faith 9 

In the mid 19^th century, Brigham Young continued where Joseph Smith left off in revealing many great and important things about the Kingdom of God. Polygamy was made public. Then he taught “the last cat that was let out of the bag” MS 16:481-483, that Adam was Michael, a pre-existent resurrected personage, and indeed was “our Father and our God” JD 1:46-51. This did not sit well with many of the Saints. Others misunderstood it. Theories began to abound about what he meant by it.

 After returning home from my LDS mission to West Germany, I decided to look into it as I thought the idea was wrong and was perpetrated by “anti-Mormons.” After several years of wading through mostly anti-LDS literature in order to learn of it, I decided to publish my findings in a book form that was not anti-LDS but remained as neutral as possible. My book was to be the first of several on different subjects of interest, to be called the Journal of References. Volume 1 was entitled “The Adam-God Revelation” after I discovered that Brigham Young actually taught the doctrine of Adam being God and it was “revealed” to him by God )see Deseret News Jun18,1873). However, this doctrine was never canonized and has remained a touchy point for many ever since.

 Nevertheless, in 1977, I produced 6 hard-bound copies of the book, giving one to the Church Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. The whole book was typed using an electric typewriter, and though I painstakingly tried to be perfect in typing up the quotations with my two-finger typing skills, a few typos still made their appearance. In 1981 additional chapters were added to the book.

 It was hoped that the book might be a tool for those seeking to learn of the subject without having to be persuaded to one viewpoint or the other. In addition to the quotations offered in the book, a few theories are added along with my own, the Adam-God Philosophy Theory, deduced from what I felt Brigham Young was declaring. The book contains many peripheral doctrinal quotations in order to place the subject in a clearer setting, such as those dealing with composition and decomposition, and is in a chapter and verse format.

Update: 07Jun12.
The new 2nd edition, completed 30Apr12 and updated 01Nov13, is now available to the public and available wherever fine books are sold.

ddd :o)

The Beginning Part I: Heaven (The Celestial Kingdom)

Orson Pratt, many years ago, made the mistake of preaching the “First Great Cause” as doctrine. I hope to avoid that pitfall, and state that the ideas here presented are my own postulates developed from the Scriptures and the Prophets.

Isaiah 33:14-21. 16…Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?  who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? 15  He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; 16  He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. 17  Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. … 20  Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. 21  But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; …

He that is righteous shall dwell with the devouring fire – heaven. There, he shall have water and bread. There will be land, cities, streams and rivers.

It might be surprising to some that heaven is a place of fire. We are taught that those who go to hell get fire and brimstone. Actually, those who go to hell go to “outer darkness,” Matt.25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

If there were fire in outer darkness, then outer darkness would have light, and then it would not be outer darkness. The fire and brimstone (see Rev. 21:8) refers to the souls of those going to this place of extreme cold, likely their resurrected bodies burning immense energy to endure that place. As Brigham Young stated: “What principle does the devil work upon? It is to destroy, dissolve, decompose, and tear in pieces.” (JD 1:114-118) “To choose life is to choose an eternal increase in an organized capacity: to refuse life and choose death is to refuse an eternal existence in an organized capacity, and be contented to become decomposed, and return again to native element.” (JD1:439-353)
This burning or consumption of the matter that comprises the souls in hell Brigham Young refers to as “decomposition.”

 According to the Book of Abraham, Facsimile 2, one “governing planet” (Enish-go-on-dosh) is thought by the Egyptians of Abraham’s time to be the sun.

 Brigham Young agreed with Isaiah and the ancient Egyptians: “What is in the sun? Can astronomers tell who lives there? No. It is filled with the glory of the Gods. The fixed stars are glorified worlds, filled with beings who are passing through degrees of perfection; every one of those spheres is a glorified sun and has a ruler, God.” Journal History at the LDS Church Archives, (Ms/f/143/#34), May 14, 1876

Further Read: Book of Abraham, Facsimile 2 Explanation
http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/abr/fac-2?lang=eng

Summary:

·        Heavens are in suns (stars),

·        The heavens are Celestial planets, and are governing planets filled with beings,

·        Celestial Beings have food and drink, and dwell in cities,

·       Celestial planets have land, streams and rivers (therefore, there must be higher elevations also).