Mysteries of Godliness
"The Mysteries of Godliness" by Art Bulla on #BlogTalkRadio http://tobtr.com/s/1290493 Michael Our Father and Our God.
18 Exodus 1:8.
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United States who did this, and yet the acts mentioned involved the acts of three separate individuals, each occupying the office of “President,” but at different times. So also exist different offices in the creation and government of worlds. God is known by various titles, such as “Michael,” “Jehovah,” “Elohim,” “Father,” “I Am,” “Man of Holiness,” “Ahman,” etc. In the term “Elohim,” we speak of the head God, “God Almighty,” the “Council of Gods,” either as pertaining to earth or to other planets. “Elohim” may also mean the “Father,” “Grandfather.” It is the first name in the celestial trinity. “Jehovah” signifies “Son,” and is also referred to as “Jehovah God,” “Jehovah Christ,” “Father,” etc. Jehovah occupies the second place in the trinity. “Michael” means “One like God,” also “Prince,” “Archangel,” “Ancient of Days,” “Adam,” etc. “Adam” is first man, as “Eve” is first woman or the mother of all living. These are titles or offices, as are “Elias,” “Elijah,” and “Messiah.” Each earth is populated by an Adam and an Eve, with the aid of their descendants. True, these offices as pertaining to Godhood are frequently used interchangeably, much in the same light as we refer to the Church and Kingdom of God. Specifically there is a Church of God and there is also a Kingdom of God, each having a separate organized identity. Then there is “Lucifer,” another title or office, also called “Devil,” “Adversary,” “Satan,” etc. These and numerous other offices and positions are eternal in their nature and necessary to the creation, population and government of planets. On this subject of titles and names, the late Dr. James E. Talmage, in his book, “Jesus the Christ,” pp. 35-6, explains: Christ is a sacred title, and not an ordinary appelation or common name; it is of Greek derivation, and in meaning is identical with its Hebrew equivalent Messiah, or Messias, signifying the Annointed One. Other titles, each possessing a definite meaning, such as Emmanuel, Savior, Redeemer, Only Begotten Son, Lord, Son of God, Son of Man, and many more, are of scriptural occurrence; the fact of main present importance to us is that these several titles are expressive of our Lord's divine origin and Godship. As seen, the essential names or titles of Jesus the Christ were made known before His 58 Scriptural Terms Classified birth, and were revealed to Prophets who preceded Him in the mortal state. Jehovah is the Anglicized rendering of the Hebrew, Yahveh or Jahveh, signifying the Self-existent One, or The Eternal. This name is generally rendered in our English version of the Old Testament as Lord, printed in capitals.” We think enough is given to show that our references to God, Christ, Savior, etc., are used more frequently in referring to the office or title than to the individual. Here are some examples: “I am the Lord God Almighty, and endless is my name, for I am without beginning of days or end of years.”19 This can refer only to the office, for the individual occupying that position is not without “beginning of days or end of years.” He was born-begotten, as all human beings have been. But he came to occupy an office that has always existed and always will exist. He, while an occupant of that office, is said to be “without beginning of days or end of years;” and His name is “Endless,” because that office never ends, though He Himself may not always occupy it. “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior.”20 This is supposed to be the Savior talking to Israel in prophecy. He says, “I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel.” If this scripture is given a literal interpretation it could not refer to Jesus who was to become the son of Mary, for the spokesman said, “Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” Reference is to the title or office. There is only one true and living (office of) God. “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me;” why? Because there is only one true God, others being made by man or are man-conceived idols. But
19
20 Isaiah 43:10, 11.
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while there is only one true office of God, there are many individuals permitted to occupy that office or to receive the titles pertaining thereto in the respective stations to which they have been or may be assigned. There is only one Colonel to a Regiment, but there may be different Regiments, each headed by a Colonel. This is equally true of the latter part of the passage: “Besides me there is no savior.” There is only one Savior to this earth, speaking specifically, although broadly speaking, every man may be a savior to his father's house. The title is referred to. Jesus Christ will become the Savior to this world, when his work is completed, and there will be no other Savior (of the world) besides him. There are other Saviors of other worlds or planets, but only one for each planet. The title has always existed and men are accorded the position as they receive their appointments and quality. When the Savior appeared to the Nephites after his resurrection he was introduced by the Father as His “beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Then Jesus calls himself the “God of Israel, the God of the whole earth”,21 and the repentant Nephites called him the “Most High God.” And yet Jesus told them to pray to the Father in his (Jesus') name. It is evident from this that while this Jesus was designated the “God of the whole earth,” and the “Most High God,” there were other Gods higher than he, His Father being one of them; and indicating further that such expressions are open to interpretation. In Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 95, Jesus Christ calls himself “Son Ahman; or, in other words, Alphus; or, Omegus; even Jesus Christ your Lord.” And in verse 7 he calls himself the “Lord of Sabaoth,” meaning the “creator of the first day, the beginning and the end.” By no rule of logic can these several terms be other than titles. Jesus Christ, son of Mary, was not the creator of the first day, the beginning and the end; that day was doubtless created long before this Jesus became an embodied spirit. “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who created the heavens and the earth.”22 “By these things we know that there is a God in heaven,
21 3 Nephi 11 :14.
22 D. & C. 14:9.
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who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting, the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them.”23 By these sayings we learn that God, the father of Jesus Christ, and not Jesus himself, is credited with being the creator. And yet, speaking of the “Only Begotten of the Father” generally supposed to be Jesus, son of Mary, the Lord says: “That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.”24 Again, the Lord told Moses: “And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.”25 It is inconceivable that Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, in his premortal state, created “worlds without end.” The text clearly teaches that one of the chief functions of the “Son” is to create worlds, under the direction of the “Father.” It will be noted that the term “Only Begotten,” is capitalized, clearly referring to an office and not a specific individual, only as the individual occupies such office. The Prophet Mosiah, referring to Jesus who was to be born of Mary, said: “And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things, from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.”26 Here the coming son of Mary “to be called” Jesus Christ etc., or in other words, he is to receive the title or office, whose function is to create. Jesus Christ, son of Mary, did not personally create the heavens and earth and numerous worlds,
23 D&C 20:17.
24 D&C 76:24.
25 Moses 1:33.
26 Mosiah 3:8.
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any more than Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States, freed the Negro slaves. The office did it. The glorified being functioning in the office at the time did the creating or organizing by virtue of the office held. In Ether 3:15, Jesus Christ is credited with creating man; “and never have I shown myself unto man whom I have created.” And in Mosiah, 3:8, he was mentioned as “Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things.” Here he is designated as the son of the creator. These are but a few of the scriptures having reference to the office of Creator, call him Jesus Christ, Almighty God, Jehovah, Elohim, or what you may, which if not taken in the light of title or office, become very confusing. Dr. Talmage, as previously quoted, states that Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, was the creator of this earth and was the God who revealed himself to “Adam, Enoch and all the antediluvial patriarchs.” But this cannot be true for this Jesus was not himself created in the flesh at that time. True, he possessed a spirit body, but had not yet qualified to create other bodies, either spirit or mortal. He could not have spirit children, for only those who have received mortal bodies, died and have been resurrected, can qualify for spiritual parenthood. This point, Dr. Talmage and the Church leaders concede. And certainly before becoming mortal himself, Jesus could not create mortal bodies. “Like begets like.” On this point again we have the testimony of Brigham Young. Said he: “After men have got their exaltations and their crowns -have become Gods, even the sons of God - are made Kings of kings and Lords of lords, they have the power then of propagating their species in spirit; and that is the first of their27 operations with regard to organizing a world.28 Power is then given to them to organize the elements, and then commence the organization of tabernacles. How can they do it? Have they to go to that
27 “of their” was missed out of the third edition.
28 As Jesus Christ, son of Mary, had not gone through these various
steps, obviously he was not qualified to either beget spirit children, or give them mortal bodies. much less to make a world for them to live in. 62 Scriptural Terms Classified earth? Yes, an Adam will have to go there, and he cannot do without Eve; he must have Eve to commence the work of generation, and they will go into the garden, and continue to eat and drink of the fruits of the corporeal world, until this grosser matter is diffused sufficiently through their celestial bodies to enable them, according to the established laws, to produce mortal tabernacles for their spiritual children. This is a key for you. The faithful will become Gods, even the sons of God;”29 Adam, having been mortal on a previous earth and died and was resurrected and exalted to Godhood, was able to sire spirit children; and as one in a higher position can function in all positions below it, he was able to return to mortality and organize mortal bodies; but Christ - he who was to be born to Mary - never having before been mortal, could not create mortal bodies. Neither can a pre-mortal unembodied spirit create an earth upon which his brother spirits can go and take mortal bodies and receive the experiences of mortality. The official creator of this earth claims to have been the creator of many earths. It is beyond human conception, contrary to all reason and teachings of scripture, to hold that Jesus, the son of Mary, before being born in mortality, organized not only many earths, but also an earth for himself to be born on. True, in the councils of heaven, presided over by His Father, he doubtless took an active part in bringing his spiritual brothers and sisters in harmony with the Father's design to build an earth as their future habitation. He, no doubt, agreed to the plans in many ways assisted, in accordance with his capacity to assist, in bringing the earth into existence. But the earth was built, under the direction of Elohim and Jehovah, the main builders being Michael and his brethren, all of whom had gone through mortality, had received a resurrection, and had qualified as Gods. Michael, according to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, is the Father, he built the earth, brought forth His son Jesus in the flesh and arranged for Him to manage it. And when Jesus Christ has finished his work, as the Savior and Redeemer of this world, doubtless he will be qualified to assist in creating other earths, on which his spiritual children will be placed.
29 Deseret News, Sept. 18, 1852; Millennial Star 15: Supplement 16,
17, 32; Journal of Discourses 6:274, 275, 282, 283.
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Noah, Abraham, Joseph Smith, and others were appointed to occupy certain positions with reference to the progress and development of the earth. Their missions were to be accomplished in conjunction with the mission of Jesus, but each of them was powerless to accomplish his work until given a body and introduced into a mortal sphere. In Alma's statement: “He (the Son of God) is the very eternal Father of heaven and earth, and all things which in them is; He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last;” reference “Is there no more than one God?” asked Zeezrom. There can be no more than one head God presiding over a planet. There must be a head in every presidency. It is quite clear that Jesus Christ will occupy that position when the time comes; he will be the “Very Eternal Father of heaven and earth,” heaven being an integral part of this earth. True, there will be other Gods assisting Him. We are informed in Scripture there will be 144,000 who will attain to Godhood. “And I looked and lo, a lamb (Christ) stood on the mount Sinai and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads.”30 These men were the “first fruits unto God and to the Lamb,” and they were men without guile, “for they are without fault before the throne of God.” There are “Lords many and Gods many” - these 144,000 are to be Gods operating throughout the earth and under the jurisdiction of Jesus Christ, the “Very eternal Father (God) of heaven and earth,” who, in turn, operates under His Father, who obviously, is the “Very Eternal Father” of other heavens and earths, of which planetary system this earth is a part. And so on back through the eternities of Gods, each of whom was once “as man now is,” but who, through faithfully living all the laws pertaining to his eternity finally attained Godhood, filling an office that has “no beginning of days nor end of years;” and by reason of such office he is said to be “without beginning of days or end of years.” “I am the Father and the Son.” “I am both God and Savior and Redeemer.”
30 Revelations 14:1
64 Scriptural Terms Classified
In the sense in which these terms “Father,” “Son,” “Savior,” and “Redeemer” are used, they, as stated, represent titles or offices. Jesus Christ was one individual, not two. He could not be more than one, but he could hold two offices and have two or more titles. Joseph Smith was President of Priesthood, President of the Church, and President of the High Council at Kirtland, at one and the same time - the two latter offices being subordinate to that of President of the Priesthood. Jesus Christ was ordained not only to the office of the “Only Begotten Son,” but also to the office of the “Savior,” the “Redeemer,” the “Father,” etc. By reason of his faithfulness he will be capable of filling all offices pertaining to the Godhead of this earth, but in his presidency he will also be presided over by other “Gods,” “Fathers,” “Only Begotten Sons,” “Saviors,” “Redeemers,” etc. It will be remembered that Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, in criticizing the doctrine embraced in the 1852 address of Brigham Young, wherein Adam was proclaimed to be the God of this earth and the Father of Jesus Christ, set out two specific charges: “President Brigham Young spoke perhaps a thousand times in which he declared that Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father who created Adam, and that Adam is the son of God. I will say frankly that I believe President Brigham Young was not properly quoted in this discourse. He did not see it before it was published in England. I firmly believe this for the implication in this discourse is foreign to all that President Young taught. For proof of this see Brigham Young's Discourses.” In so broad a statement from one claiming the Apostolic calling and holding the office of “Church Historian,” one might logically assume that throughout Brigham Young's discourses there is to be found indisputable evidence of a contradiction of the doctrines set forth in his 1852 address. Elder Smith says “perhaps thousands” of such contradictions exist, and the reputed sermon was “foreign to all that Brigham Young taught.”
Original Air Date: October 10, 2010
The Mysteries of Godliness
Titles and Offices.
"The difference between the individual and the office held by the individual, when properly understood, provides a true key to the situation. “God” is a title, an office - a principle; and yet the being who occupies this office of God is an exalted man. The office of “God” has always existed and always will exist. It, the office, is without “beginning of days or end of years.” Those now occupying the office of “God,” whether to this or other planets, are not, in their organized capacities, without “beginning of days or end of years.” Their creation as organized entities had a beginning, and their existence in their mortal state will have an end. “Christ,” “Redeemer,” “Savior,” “Messiah,” etc., are also offices and titles...So also exist different offices in the creation and government of worlds. God is known by various titles, such as “Michael,” “Jehovah,” “Elohim,” “Father,” “I Am,” “Man of Holiness,” “Ahman,” etc. In the term “Elohim,” we speak of the head God, “God Almighty,” the “Council of Gods,” either as pertaining to earth or to other planets. “Elohim” may also mean the “Father,” “Grandfather.” It is the first name in the celestial trinity. “Jehovah” signifies “Son,” and is also referred to as “Jehovah God,” “Jehovah Christ,” “Father,” etc. “Michael” means “One like God,” also “Prince,” “Archangel,” “Ancient of Days,” “Adam,” etc. “Adam” is first man, as “Eve” is first woman or the mother of all living. These are titles or offices, as are “Elias,” “Elijah,” and “Messiah.” Each earth is populated by an Adam and an Eve, with the aid of their descendants." Joseph Musser;
From Michael, Our Father and Our God, by Joseph Musser:
TITLES AND OFFICES The difference between the individual and the office held by the individual, when properly understood, provides a true key to the situation. “God” is a title, an office - a principle; and yet the being who occupies this office of God is an exalted man. The office of “God” has always existed and always will exist. It, the office, is without “beginning of days or end of years.” Those now occupying the office of “God,” whether to this or other planets, are not, in their organized capacities, without “beginning of days or end of years.” Their creation as organized entities had a beginning, and their existence in their mortal state will have an end. “Christ,” “Redeemer,” “Savior,” “Messiah,” etc., are also offices and titles. The office of “Christ” is co-existent with that of “God.” One is the complement of the other; the two work conjointly, and each is necessary to the other. With the office of “God” and “Christ” is associated the office of “Holy Ghost.” This trinity, properly organized, presides over the earth. Each inhabited planet or group of planets has such a Presidency. “Pharaoh,” a ruling office in Egypt since shortly after the flood, still exists as an office. The meaning of Pharaoh is “Great House,” and is in reality a king. We speak of Pharaoh, in the day of Joseph, as an individual, but the Pharaoh of Joseph's day who made Joseph Governor of Egypt, was removed by several generations from the Pharaoh of Moses’ time. The first wrought righteousness while the latter was destroyed through his wickedness. Viewed in any other light than that of a title, or office, the term “Pharaoh” furnishes an inconsistency similar to that which the scriptures disclose regarding “God.” “Now there arose up a new king (new Pharaoh) over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.”18 And so it is with the titles “Caesar,” “Emperor,” “King,” “Czar,” “President,” etc. It was the “President” (of the United States) who sent an army against the Saints in Utah, and it was also the “President” who befriended the Mormons, granting them amnesty, returning their escheated property, and another using his influence against the unseating of a Mormon Senator in the U.S. Congress. It was the “President” of the
18 Exodus 1:8.
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United States who did this, and yet the acts mentioned involved the acts of three separate individuals, each occupying the office of “President,” but at different times. So also exist different offices in the creation and government of worlds. God is known by various titles, such as “Michael,” “Jehovah,” “Elohim,” “Father,” “I Am,” “Man of Holiness,” “Ahman,” etc. In the term “Elohim,” we speak of the head God, “God Almighty,” the “Council of Gods,” either as pertaining to earth or to other planets. “Elohim” may also mean the “Father,” “Grandfather.” It is the first name in the celestial trinity. “Jehovah” signifies “Son,” and is also referred to as “Jehovah God,” “Jehovah Christ,” “Father,” etc. Jehovah occupies the second place in the trinity. “Michael” means “One like God,” also “Prince,” “Archangel,” “Ancient of Days,” “Adam,” etc. “Adam” is first man, as “Eve” is first woman or the mother of all living. These are titles or offices, as are “Elias,” “Elijah,” and “Messiah.” Each earth is populated by an Adam and an Eve, with the aid of their descendants. True, these offices as pertaining to Godhood are frequently used interchangeably, much in the same light as we refer to the Church and Kingdom of God. Specifically there is a Church of God and there is also a Kingdom of God, each having a separate organized identity. Then there is “Lucifer,” another title or office, also called “Devil,” “Adversary,” “Satan,” etc. These and numerous other offices and positions are eternal in their nature and necessary to the creation, population and government of planets. On this subject of titles and names, the late Dr. James E. Talmage, in his book, “Jesus the Christ,” pp. 35-6, explains: Christ is a sacred title, and not an ordinary appelation or common name; it is of Greek derivation, and in meaning is identical with its Hebrew equivalent Messiah, or Messias, signifying the Annointed One. Other titles, each possessing a definite meaning, such as Emmanuel, Savior, Redeemer, Only Begotten Son, Lord, Son of God, Son of Man, and many more, are of scriptural occurrence; the fact of main present importance to us is that these several titles are expressive of our Lord's divine origin and Godship. As seen, the essential names or titles of Jesus the Christ were made known before His 58 Scriptural Terms Classified birth, and were revealed to Prophets who preceded Him in the mortal state. Jehovah is the Anglicized rendering of the Hebrew, Yahveh or Jahveh, signifying the Self-existent One, or The Eternal. This name is generally rendered in our English version of the Old Testament as Lord, printed in capitals.” We think enough is given to show that our references to God, Christ, Savior, etc., are used more frequently in referring to the office or title than to the individual. Here are some examples: “I am the Lord God Almighty, and endless is my name, for I am without beginning of days or end of years.”19 This can refer only to the office, for the individual occupying that position is not without “beginning of days or end of years.” He was born-begotten, as all human beings have been. But he came to occupy an office that has always existed and always will exist. He, while an occupant of that office, is said to be “without beginning of days or end of years;” and His name is “Endless,” because that office never ends, though He Himself may not always occupy it. “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior.”20 This is supposed to be the Savior talking to Israel in prophecy. He says, “I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel.” If this scripture is given a literal interpretation it could not refer to Jesus who was to become the son of Mary, for the spokesman said, “Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” Reference is to the title or office. There is only one true and living (office of) God. “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me;” why? Because there is only one true God, others being made by man or are man-conceived idols. But
19
20 Isaiah 43:10, 11.
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while there is only one true office of God, there are many individuals permitted to occupy that office or to receive the titles pertaining thereto in the respective stations to which they have been or may be assigned. There is only one Colonel to a Regiment, but there may be different Regiments, each headed by a Colonel. This is equally true of the latter part of the passage: “Besides me there is no savior.” There is only one Savior to this earth, speaking specifically, although broadly speaking, every man may be a savior to his father's house. The title is referred to. Jesus Christ will become the Savior to this world, when his work is completed, and there will be no other Savior (of the world) besides him. There are other Saviors of other worlds or planets, but only one for each planet. The title has always existed and men are accorded the position as they receive their appointments and quality. When the Savior appeared to the Nephites after his resurrection he was introduced by the Father as His “beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Then Jesus calls himself the “God of Israel, the God of the whole earth”,21 and the repentant Nephites called him the “Most High God.” And yet Jesus told them to pray to the Father in his (Jesus') name. It is evident from this that while this Jesus was designated the “God of the whole earth,” and the “Most High God,” there were other Gods higher than he, His Father being one of them; and indicating further that such expressions are open to interpretation. In Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 95, Jesus Christ calls himself “Son Ahman; or, in other words, Alphus; or, Omegus; even Jesus Christ your Lord.” And in verse 7 he calls himself the “Lord of Sabaoth,” meaning the “creator of the first day, the beginning and the end.” By no rule of logic can these several terms be other than titles. Jesus Christ, son of Mary, was not the creator of the first day, the beginning and the end; that day was doubtless created long before this Jesus became an embodied spirit. “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who created the heavens and the earth.”22 “By these things we know that there is a God in heaven,
21 3 Nephi 11 :14.
22 D. & C. 14:9.
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who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting, the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them.”23 By these sayings we learn that God, the father of Jesus Christ, and not Jesus himself, is credited with being the creator. And yet, speaking of the “Only Begotten of the Father” generally supposed to be Jesus, son of Mary, the Lord says: “That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.”24 Again, the Lord told Moses: “And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.”25 It is inconceivable that Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, in his premortal state, created “worlds without end.” The text clearly teaches that one of the chief functions of the “Son” is to create worlds, under the direction of the “Father.” It will be noted that the term “Only Begotten,” is capitalized, clearly referring to an office and not a specific individual, only as the individual occupies such office. The Prophet Mosiah, referring to Jesus who was to be born of Mary, said: “And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things, from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.”26 Here the coming son of Mary “to be called” Jesus Christ etc., or in other words, he is to receive the title or office, whose function is to create. Jesus Christ, son of Mary, did not personally create the heavens and earth and numerous worlds,
23 D&C 20:17.
24 D&C 76:24.
25 Moses 1:33.
26 Mosiah 3:8.
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any more than Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States, freed the Negro slaves. The office did it. The glorified being functioning in the office at the time did the creating or organizing by virtue of the office held. In Ether 3:15, Jesus Christ is credited with creating man; “and never have I shown myself unto man whom I have created.” And in Mosiah, 3:8, he was mentioned as “Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things.” Here he is designated as the son of the creator. These are but a few of the scriptures having reference to the office of Creator, call him Jesus Christ, Almighty God, Jehovah, Elohim, or what you may, which if not taken in the light of title or office, become very confusing. Dr. Talmage, as previously quoted, states that Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, was the creator of this earth and was the God who revealed himself to “Adam, Enoch and all the antediluvial patriarchs.” But this cannot be true for this Jesus was not himself created in the flesh at that time. True, he possessed a spirit body, but had not yet qualified to create other bodies, either spirit or mortal. He could not have spirit children, for only those who have received mortal bodies, died and have been resurrected, can qualify for spiritual parenthood. This point, Dr. Talmage and the Church leaders concede. And certainly before becoming mortal himself, Jesus could not create mortal bodies. “Like begets like.” On this point again we have the testimony of Brigham Young. Said he: “After men have got their exaltations and their crowns -have become Gods, even the sons of God - are made Kings of kings and Lords of lords, they have the power then of propagating their species in spirit; and that is the first of their27 operations with regard to organizing a world.28 Power is then given to them to organize the elements, and then commence the organization of tabernacles. How can they do it? Have they to go to that
27 “of their” was missed out of the third edition.
28 As Jesus Christ, son of Mary, had not gone through these various
steps, obviously he was not qualified to either beget spirit children, or give them mortal bodies. much less to make a world for them to live in. 62 Scriptural Terms Classified earth? Yes, an Adam will have to go there, and he cannot do without Eve; he must have Eve to commence the work of generation, and they will go into the garden, and continue to eat and drink of the fruits of the corporeal world, until this grosser matter is diffused sufficiently through their celestial bodies to enable them, according to the established laws, to produce mortal tabernacles for their spiritual children. This is a key for you. The faithful will become Gods, even the sons of God;”29 Adam, having been mortal on a previous earth and died and was resurrected and exalted to Godhood, was able to sire spirit children; and as one in a higher position can function in all positions below it, he was able to return to mortality and organize mortal bodies; but Christ - he who was to be born to Mary - never having before been mortal, could not create mortal bodies. Neither can a pre-mortal unembodied spirit create an earth upon which his brother spirits can go and take mortal bodies and receive the experiences of mortality. The official creator of this earth claims to have been the creator of many earths. It is beyond human conception, contrary to all reason and teachings of scripture, to hold that Jesus, the son of Mary, before being born in mortality, organized not only many earths, but also an earth for himself to be born on. True, in the councils of heaven, presided over by His Father, he doubtless took an active part in bringing his spiritual brothers and sisters in harmony with the Father's design to build an earth as their future habitation. He, no doubt, agreed to the plans in many ways assisted, in accordance with his capacity to assist, in bringing the earth into existence. But the earth was built, under the direction of Elohim and Jehovah, the main builders being Michael and his brethren, all of whom had gone through mortality, had received a resurrection, and had qualified as Gods. Michael, according to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, is the Father, he built the earth, brought forth His son Jesus in the flesh and arranged for Him to manage it. And when Jesus Christ has finished his work, as the Savior and Redeemer of this world, doubtless he will be qualified to assist in creating other earths, on which his spiritual children will be placed.
29 Deseret News, Sept. 18, 1852; Millennial Star 15: Supplement 16,
17, 32; Journal of Discourses 6:274, 275, 282, 283.
Scriptural Terms Classified 63
Noah, Abraham, Joseph Smith, and others were appointed to occupy certain positions with reference to the progress and development of the earth. Their missions were to be accomplished in conjunction with the mission of Jesus, but each of them was powerless to accomplish his work until given a body and introduced into a mortal sphere. In Alma's statement: “He (the Son of God) is the very eternal Father of heaven and earth, and all things which in them is; He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last;” reference “Is there no more than one God?” asked Zeezrom. There can be no more than one head God presiding over a planet. There must be a head in every presidency. It is quite clear that Jesus Christ will occupy that position when the time comes; he will be the “Very Eternal Father of heaven and earth,” heaven being an integral part of this earth. True, there will be other Gods assisting Him. We are informed in Scripture there will be 144,000 who will attain to Godhood. “And I looked and lo, a lamb (Christ) stood on the mount Sinai and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads.”30 These men were the “first fruits unto God and to the Lamb,” and they were men without guile, “for they are without fault before the throne of God.” There are “Lords many and Gods many” - these 144,000 are to be Gods operating throughout the earth and under the jurisdiction of Jesus Christ, the “Very eternal Father (God) of heaven and earth,” who, in turn, operates under His Father, who obviously, is the “Very Eternal Father” of other heavens and earths, of which planetary system this earth is a part. And so on back through the eternities of Gods, each of whom was once “as man now is,” but who, through faithfully living all the laws pertaining to his eternity finally attained Godhood, filling an office that has “no beginning of days nor end of years;” and by reason of such office he is said to be “without beginning of days or end of years.” “I am the Father and the Son.” “I am both God and Savior and Redeemer.”
30 Revelations 14:1
64 Scriptural Terms Classified
In the sense in which these terms “Father,” “Son,” “Savior,” and “Redeemer” are used, they, as stated, represent titles or offices. Jesus Christ was one individual, not two. He could not be more than one, but he could hold two offices and have two or more titles. Joseph Smith was President of Priesthood, President of the Church, and President of the High Council at Kirtland, at one and the same time - the two latter offices being subordinate to that of President of the Priesthood. Jesus Christ was ordained not only to the office of the “Only Begotten Son,” but also to the office of the “Savior,” the “Redeemer,” the “Father,” etc. By reason of his faithfulness he will be capable of filling all offices pertaining to the Godhead of this earth, but in his presidency he will also be presided over by other “Gods,” “Fathers,” “Only Begotten Sons,” “Saviors,” “Redeemers,” etc. It will be remembered that Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, in criticizing the doctrine embraced in the 1852 address of Brigham Young, wherein Adam was proclaimed to be the God of this earth and the Father of Jesus Christ, set out two specific charges: “President Brigham Young spoke perhaps a thousand times in which he declared that Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father who created Adam, and that Adam is the son of God. I will say frankly that I believe President Brigham Young was not properly quoted in this discourse. He did not see it before it was published in England. I firmly believe this for the implication in this discourse is foreign to all that President Young taught. For proof of this see Brigham Young's Discourses.” In so broad a statement from one claiming the Apostolic calling and holding the office of “Church Historian,” one might logically assume that throughout Brigham Young's discourses there is to be found indisputable evidence of a contradiction of the doctrines set forth in his 1852 address. Elder Smith says “perhaps thousands” of such contradictions exist, and the reputed sermon was “foreign to all that Brigham Young taught.”
The Revelations of Jesus Christ: http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0-595-28287-3 - "But we ask, does it remain for a people who never had faith enough to call down one scrap of revelation from heaven, and for all they have now are indebted to the faith of another people...does it remain for them to say how much God has spoken and how much He has not spoken?" Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Two 1834-37 Pg.60
- Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Six 1843-44 Pg.365
When a man goes about prophesying, and commands men to obey his teachings, he must either be a true or false prophet. - Our website: http://www.artbulla.com
- "All men are liars who say they are of the true Church without the revelations of Jesus Christ and the Priesthood of Melchizedek, which is after the order of the Son of God." Joseph Smith; TPJS p. 376
- "He that can mark the power of Omnipotence, inscribed upon the heavens, can also see God's own handwriting in the sacred volume: and he who reads it oftenest will like it best, and he who is acquainted with it, will know the hand wherever he can see it...." (T.P.J.S., p. 56)
· 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (New Testament | Galatians 1:10 - 12)
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