Gramps,

In recent years a keen interest has developed especially among Africans that the people of the Sub-Saharan cultures (Blacks) are descendants of the Pharaohs of Egypt. Much of the evidence and archeology they claim as sources are highly interpreted and subjective; hardly conclusive. Referencing the 1st chapter verses 20-30 from the Book of Abraham we read that indeed Blacks are descendants of the ancient Pharaohs.  Is it true according to LDS teachings?

Don

Answer

Don,

The Book of Abraham, a sacred text within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, provides profound insights into the history and lineage of ancient civilizations, particularly the Egyptians. In the first chapter, verses 20-30, the narrative introduces the king of Egypt as a descendant of Ham, one of Noah’s sons, and outlines the establishment of Egyptian governance. However, these verses have sparked a significant discussion regarding race, priesthood, and the Church’s teachings about lineage. I will explore these verses, their implications for understanding the ancestry of the Pharaohs, and how they relate to the Church’s evolving views on race and priesthood.

In the Book of Abraham, verse 21 states, “Now this king of Egypt was a descendant from the loins of Ham, and was a partaker of the blood of the Canaanites by birth.” This assertion establishes a direct link between the Pharaoh and Ham, suggesting that the Egyptian rulers were part of a broader narrative concerning the descendants of Noah. The significance of this lineage is further reinforced in verse 23, which notes that “the land of Egypt being first discovered by a woman, who was the daughter of Ham, and the daughter of Egyptus…”

The text emphasizes that the establishment of the first government of Egypt was patriarchal, spearheaded by Pharaoh, “the eldest son of Egyptus, the daughter of Ham.” This portrayal not only highlights the depth of Egyptian heritage but also indicates the societal structure that influenced governance in ancient Egypt. The patriarchal nature of this government reflects the broader biblical themes of lineage and inheritance that are prevalent throughout scripture.

Verse 26 of the Book of Abraham introduces the idea that Pharaoh, despite his royal lineage, was “of that lineage by which he could not have the right of Priesthood.” This statement has been the subject of extensive discussion and debate within the Church, particularly regarding the implications for race and priesthood rights. Historically, this connection between lineage and priesthood was interpreted in ways that led to significant restrictions for individuals of African descent within the Church.

The Church’s teachings have evolved, particularly after the 1978 revelation that lifted the priesthood ban for Black members—this pivotal moment in Church history marked a significant shift in understanding the relationship between race and priesthood, emphasizing the belief that all individuals are children of God and worthy of the blessings of the Gospel. The evolution of the Church’s stance reflects a broader commitment to equality and inclusivity, as highlighted in the Church’s official essay on race and the priesthood.

The concept of generational curses, as discussed in the Book of Abraham, has historically influenced interpretations of race within Latter-day Saint theology. Some scholars argue that the narrative surrounding Pharaoh and his lineage suggests a curse associated with his inability to possess the priesthood. This interpretation has led to contentious discussions regarding racial identity and divine favor.

In a critical analysis, the article “Being of that Lineage”: Generational Curses and Inheritance in the Book of Abraham” explores how these interpretations have perpetuated racial doctrines that can be damaging and misleading. The need for a nuanced understanding of these scriptures is essential for fostering a more inclusive environment within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The discussions surrounding the Book of Abraham and its implications for the lineage of the Pharaohs are vital to understanding the Church’s evolving views on race. The official Church resources, including the Gospel Topics essay on race and the priesthood, underscore the importance of recognizing the inherent worth of every individual, regardless of their lineage.

As the Church continues to address its historical challenges regarding race, it is crucial to engage with the scriptures in a manner that promotes understanding and compassion. The Book of Abraham, while historically contextual, invites members of The Church to reflect on their beliefs and practices concerning race and the divine.

The exploration of the Book of Abraham, particularly verses 20-30, reveals significant insights into the lineage of the Pharaohs and its implications for understanding race and priesthood within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As the Church continues to evolve in its teachings, it is essential to approach these scriptures with a spirit of inquiry and openness, recognizing the value of all individuals as children of God.

Ultimately, the narrative found in the Book of Abraham serves as a reminder of the complexities of lineage and the power of revelation in guiding the Church toward greater inclusivity and understanding. As members engage with these teachings, they are encouraged to foster an environment of love, acceptance, and unity.

Gramps

Gramps,

The church claims the Bible to be a sacred volume of scriptures and the Word of God. However, we learn that the Bible is not correctly translated – even though there is no historical evidence to support this opinion and, unlike the Book of Mormon, the Bible has found vestiges of its old pages and there’s never been a claim regarding the incorrectness of its translation. The 8th AF also says we believe in the Bible since being “correctly translated”. Isn’t it contradictory?  Thanks.

Debora

Answer

Debora,

There are some considerations that need to be addressed to answer your question.

1. No matter how old the historical documents are which we possess, we don’t have the originals.  We have evidence that people who transcribed did, indeed, change the Bible.  One of the most famous instances is that someone decided to change the number of the beast in Revelation from “666” to “616” because they thought “Oh, we all know we’re talking about the Emperor Nero (who at the time seemed to have satisfied the prophetic details of the beast).  And the reason for them to change it was actually quite ignorant, since a different rendering of Nero’s name would have given 666 as well.

Think about it.  We do NOT have the ORIGINAL documents.  There was no printing press.  There was no copy machine.  Everything had to be hand written.  Then they had to be transcribed over and over again.  The likelihood that all such copies were made perfectly word-for-word is pretty small — just from simple mistakes alone.  Then add into it the fact that some people will transcribe a “paraphrased” version based on their own understanding.  Then that gets mistakes added into it.  Then finally, we will always have some people who were men of evil intent who purposefully changed things through those early days.  And those changes were copied.

So, while you may disagree (you’re a free person) I find it very difficult to believe that such copying will result in NO errors.

When Joseph spoke the words of the Book of Mormon, the scribes made mistakes.  Some, Joseph corrected immediately.  Others were corrected upon final review prior to sending to the printer.  So, even in that simple and direct process, there were mistakes made.

Copies of early errors in various documents happened in the early days of our latter-day Church.  There were multiple versions of the First Vision.  Each written to a different audience, so they read differently.  While the accounts all complemented each other, there was a notable mistake in one of them. Joseph described the events happening during his youth.  The scribe added the parenthetical “17 years old” thinking of the time when Moroni first visited him.  This was obviously incorrect.  But the scribe didn’t know that.  And this was even a well intentioned scribe making such a mistake.

Then people doing research found the documents and repeated the same information without seeing other evidence to the contrary.  Then still others copied that same mistake.  If that were the only version that survived, then future generations would have an incorrect account, believing them to be whole and error free.

Imagine how much worse if someone got an early copy and purposefully distorted it.  Then those distortions would have been copied into multiple sets which were later versions, and were thus preserved.  Then thousands of years later, we look at the surviving copies and say, “Hey, they are all the same.  They must have been perfectly preserved.”

I’m not really sold on that theory of “No mistakes.  Nothing to see here.”  I’ve seen too many books that have changed from copy to copy and edition to edition, to believe that.

2. “Translated” is not only from one language to another.  It also refers to the process of deriving meaning from the written word.  A word has no inherent meaning (with the exception of characteristics like onomatopoeia) .  Language itself is arbitrary.  And without “voice” many things get lost in the translation from mind to page and then into another mind again.  This is why we need prophets.  It isn’t that they know the language better than any so called experts.  It is because they have the spiritual guidance and doctrinal understanding to provide the proper background upon which to interpret the written word.

If you’ve ever looked at ancient Hebrew and tried to translate word-for-word to English, you’ll find it very difficult to derive the meaning from it.  I’d daresay that even those who are experts may have it wrong.  Israelis who speak it natively, will also see Biblical writings may have as much difficulty as the average American reading Shakespeare.  So, when translated, that’s even worse.

Consider when an evangelical Christian reads a verse in the Bible, they derive meaning from it based on their own background and understanding of doctrine.  When we read it, we will have a different understanding based on our background.  So, if we were to then translate that meaning into another language, we might very well say different things.  So, we consider that some who look at these ancient documents and say that they all “agree” are saying so with the assumption that they satisfy THEIR doctrines.  And they may because they were written/copied/translated by people who believed as they did.  But without the originals, we have no way of knowing whether they originally read that way when they were written by Apostles of the Lord.

Gramps

Gramps,

Who was speaking to Moses as recorded in the Book of Moses.

Patrick

Answer

Hi Patrick,

Thank you for your question, as I feel the answer to it is one that each member of the Church could benefit from knowing. Studying this answer may greatly provide a deeper and richer understanding of the scriptures as well as our relationship with the Savior and our Father in Heaven.

While Moses does speak briefly with Satan:

“…Satan came tempting him, saying: Moses, son of man, worship me.” Moses 1:12

The majority of the conversations held in the Book of Moses are between Moses and “God”. I believe your question ultimately revolves around, “Who exactly is God in the Book of Moses?”. As we understand who is speaking to Moses in the Pearl of Great Price, we gain a better understanding of who is actually speaking in other parts of the standard works as well.  In Moses 1:1-3 we read:

1 The words of God, which he spake unto Moses at a time when Moses was caught up into an exceedingly high mountain,

 

2 And he saw God face to face, and he talked with him, and the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore Moses could endure his presence.

 

3 And God spake unto Moses,

It is a very common and understandable misconception that Moses is, in fact, speaking with God the Father or Our Father in Heaven. While this is a common misconception, the reality is that Moses is, in fact, speaking with the Savior or Jesus Christ instead. Many who read the Book of Moses naturally assume that the use of the word “God” refers to God the Father. This misconception is often further reinforced by reading later in Moses 1:4, where “God” says:

And, behold, thou art my son; …

So, how does Jesus Christ then claim that Moses is his son? Isn’t Moses the son of Our Father in Heaven? Isn’t Moses instead the ‘brother’ of Jesus Christ?

As we read the scriptures, it is important to understand the concept of ‘Divine Investiture’ or ‘Divine Investiture of Authority’. For help with this concept, we turn to The Pearl of Great Price Student Manual – The Book of Moses, where it says:

Moses 1:3–8. Who Spoke to Moses?

The personage who spoke to Moses was the premortal Jesus Christ, who is Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament. Being one with Heavenly Father, Jesus at times speaks as if He were God the Father (see Moses 1:6). This is known as divine investiture, whereby Christ is invested with authority to speak for and in behalf of the Father

The Savior is invested/given authority to speak as though he is God the Father. A modern-day secular example of this might be a ‘Power of Attorney’. A Power of Attorney is a legal document you sign, granting authority to someone else you trust to both act and make decisions on your behalf as if they were actually there. In your absence, the individual to whom you have given Power of Attorney works on your behalf and in your best interest. President Joseph Fielding Smith shed additional light on this subject:

“All revelation since the fall has come through Jesus Christ, who is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. … He is the God of Israel, the Holy One of Israel; the one who led that nation out of Egyptian bondage, and who gave and fulfilled the Law of Moses. The Father has never dealt with man directly and personally since the fall, and he has never appeared except to introduce and bear record of the Son.”  Doctrines of Salvation, 1:27

17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

6 And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

 

7 Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Warm Regards,

Gramps

Gramps,

What is meant by Moses 1:39?  I understand that immortality has already been fulfilled by the Savior but what is meant by Eternal Life?

1 Nephi 9:6 says that God has the power to fulfill all of his words.

All men will be baptized and have eternal endowments performed and the process of teaching the gospel continues after this life. None can inherit Eternal life but the clean and pure.  Maybe what I am getting at is: could this process of development even take eternities for some?

Keith

Answer

Hello Keith,

In the Pearl of Great Price we are instructed, as you have pointed out (Moses 1:39), “For behold, this is my work and my glory– to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” The Lord’s work regarding our immortality has already been fulfilled when the Lord was resurrected, and thus proclaimed in scripture via prophecy, “therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.” (Mosiah 16:8)

The Book of Mormon scripture mentioned highlights first the knowledge of our Lord, and that in light of this knowledge the Lord is able to prepare a way to accomplish all his works and to fulfill all his words (promises/covenants).  This is true, otherwise God would be a liar — ceasing then to be God.

Part of his work and glory, intelligence shared, is the work that is accomplished in our temples.  A way prepared that all of the sons and daughters of God will have the opportunity to accept or reject intelligence, light and truth.  A Book of Mormon prophet provided further insight regarding the choice we have to choose liberty, through our great mediator, or to choose captivity via the devil.  If we choose captivity, we are thus informed that there is an eternal punishment which is affixed. (Alma 42:16)

As you are familiar with, we recognize upon final judgement we will receive our reward: Telestial, Terrestrial, or Celestial.  Each Kingdom is governed by eternal laws.  Those that are received into a Telestial state will be able to progress according to the laws of a Telestial state, and so on with a Terrestrial state.

As pertaining to Celestial laws, and those who receive exaltation, we will receive all the Father hath according to covenant.  Thus, answering your last question Elder Joseph Fielding Smith offered this counsel,

“Salvation does not come all at once; we are commanded to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect. It will take us ages to accomplish this end, for there will be greater progress beyond the grave, and it will be there that the faithful will overcome all things, and receive all things, and receive all things, even the fulness of the Father’s glory.

“I believe the Lord meant just what he said: that we should be perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect. That will not come all at once, but line upon line, and precept upon precept, example upon example, and even then not as long as we live in this mortal life, for we will have to go even beyond the grave before we reach that perfection and shall be like God.”

Our mortality is our time to prepare to meet God.  This is our time to do all in our power to receive eternal life via the great mediator, Jesus Christ.  Upon final judgement, should we have honored our Father in heaven we will receive all that He hath and continue, beyond the grave, toward perfection until we have become like Him.

Gramps

Steven

________________

Steven,

If by telestial state you mean spiritual, then yes. The earth was created spiritually before it was created temporally, just as everything else-

“For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth…” Moses 3:5

Reading just the account in Abraham which you’ve referenced, the order in which things were done can be a mite confusing. It speaks of the Gods conversing or discussing the creation and how they will order it before they actually do so. If, for example, you read Abraham 5:4 you will see an end to the discussion and a beginning of action. This is right before your reference concerning the lack of rain. Let’s read both verses together-

“And the Gods came down and formed these the generations of the heavens and of the earth, when they were formed in the day that the Gods formed the earth and the heavens.

According to all that which they had said concerning every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew; for the Gods had not caused it to rain upon the earth when they counseled to do them, and had not formed a man to till the ground.” Abraham 5:4-5

Read together, it seems the flora and fauna of the earth had not yet been created temporally. The account in Moses further clarifies this. Let’s read the entireity of Moses 3:5-

“And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For I, the Lord God, had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air;”

The lack of rain could not, in any way, be related to an extinction if there was not yet any temporal life on the earth. In both Abraham and Moses, the following verse describes a mist which moistened the land, instead of rain. This correlates nicely with the warm climate that would have been necessary for prehistoric life and could also be connected to the creation of the atmosphere. More likely is that the extinction of prehistoric life was caused at the time of the Fall.

Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden for an indefinite amount of time, and for that time they were in the presence of God which suggests the earth remained near Kolob. It is quite possible that the process of creation was continuing around them and was not really completed until they were cast out of Eden and the presence of their Father. Such would signify the earth being thrust into its terrestrial state with the expansion of the universe and coming to rest in our solar system after colliding with extra-terrestrial materials that would have created the moon and thus divided the night and day.

This would have altered the state of the waters and may have been when water began cycling between earth and atmosphere, allowing there to be rain. The account in Moses further suggests that the temporal creation of our current flora and fauna happened after the temporal creation of Adam and that the accounting of each “day” of creation may have only been related to the spiritual creation-

“And out of the ground I, the Lord God, formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and commanded that they should come unto Adam, to see what he would call them; and they were also living souls; for I, God, breathed into them the breath of life, and commanded that whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that should be the name thereof.” Moses 3:19

Of course, this is all just one possible explanation of the very complex accountings of the creation. We will likely reach the closest understanding we can of the creation through a careful study and comparison of all accounts- in Genesis, Moses, and Abraham- in combination with a careful study of the natural sciences. Any explanation we can devise, however, will merely be speculation and we will only be certain of the methods and order God used in the creation when such is clearly revealed and explained to us by Him.

Gramps

Dear Gramps,

Thank you so much for your answers to questions. It is so enlightening. I am wondering about the earth’s renewal to it’s previous state of glory. I know that Brigham Young stated that when the earth was created that it was near the throne of God, and when Adam and Eve fell that the earth also fell into our solar system.  Is there any statement that when it is renewed it will return back to where it previously was? It makes sense to me. The reason I ask is because one of the signs of the second coming is the sun being darkened and the stars falling from the sky. It would seem to me that if the earth were suddenly thrust from where it now is to somewhere else in the cosmos that our sun would suddenly seem to be darkened and it would appear the stars were falling from the sky. Do you have any comments or references on this subject. Thanks so much.

Sandy

Answer

Sandy,

There are many scriptural references which speak of the darkening of the sun and moon and the falling of the stars as it concerns the second coming of Christ. When we remember that much of what is written in these accounts is symbolic and that the concepts of light, spirit, and intelligence are all intricately connected, we can see that what is to come is a type of things which have already been.

If, for example, you were to read Revelations 8 and 9 with our premortal existence in mind, you would notice some interesting connections. Take Revelations 8:12-

“And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.”

Replace stars with spirits, and you will recognize its correlation to D&C 29:36 –

“And it came to pass that Adam, being tempted of the devil—for, behold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency.”

Before Christ comes to earth again, we will see a literal manifestation of these signs in the heavens, just as they did at his resurrection and before he visited the Nephites.

“But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead.” Helaman 14:20

Even now, there are stars which will blink out for various periods of time, refusing to shine (D&C 34:9). We can see the light of these pulsar stars as they rotate, but for reasons still unknown to scientists such stars will “turn-off” and after a certain time turn back on. There is hope that research into these stars will bring us a better understanding of the nature of light itself. We do know that it is a regular phenomenon, which has nothing at all to do with the movement of the earth but rather with the nature of the stars themselves and the light which shines forth from them. So these signs have happened, are happening, and will continue to happen without the earth having to be knocked out of it’s orbit at all.

Brigham Young’s statement that the earth was once close to God and will return there is actually related to an entirely different scientific theory- the Big Bang. Here is Brigham’s statement:

“When the earth was framed and brought into existence and man was placed upon it, it was near the throne of our Father in heaven. And when man fell – though that was designed in the economy, there was nothing about it mysterious or unknown to the Gods, they understood it all, it was all planned – but when man fell, the earth fell into space, and took up its abode in this planetary system, and the sun became our light. When the Lord said – “Let there be light,” there was light, for the earth was brought near the sun that it might reflect upon it so as to give us light by day, and the moon to give us light by night. This is the glory the earth came from, and when it is glorified it will return again unto the presence of the Father, and it will dwell there, and these intelligent beings that I am looking at, if they live worthy of it, will dwell upon this earth.” Brigham Young Journal of Discourses, 17:161

According to the Big Bang Theory, all of matter, even time itself, was created and began with an explosion. Everything is expanding outward from the center point of that explosion and will continue to do so until the purposes of our time and creation have been fulfilled. It is believed by scientists that at some point in our future, the universe will reverse its expansion and instead be drawn inward. Abraham’s vision of the heavens supports this theory and give us an even greater understanding of the placement of the stars:

“And the Lord said unto me: These are the governing ones; and the name of the great one is Kolob, because it is near unto me, for I am the Lord thy God: I have set this one to govern all those which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest.

And the Lord said unto me, by the Urim and Thummim, that Kolob was after the manner of the Lord, according to its times and seasons in the revolutions thereof; that one revolution was a day unto the Lord, after his manner of reckoning, it being one thousand years according to the time appointed unto that whereon thou standest. This is the reckoning of the Lord’s time, according to the reckoning of Kolob.

And the Lord said unto me: The planet which is the lesser light, lesser than that which is to rule the day, even the night, is above or greater than that upon which thou standest in point of reckoning, for it moveth in order more slow; this is in order because it standeth above the earth upon which thou standest, therefore the reckoning of its time is not so many as to its number of days, and of months, and of years…

And thus there shall be the reckoning of the time of one planet above another, until thou come nigh unto Kolob, which Kolob is after the reckoning of the Lord’s time; which Kolob is set nigh unto the throne of God, to govern all those planets which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest.” (Abraham 3:3-5 & 9)

Gramps

I have just prepared and taught lesson eight, “The Holy Ghost”. I found it to both instructive and inspiring. Particularly, gaining an understanding how Peter could have denied the knowing of the Saviour and the apostles losing heart following the Saviour’s death. However one question was asked which could not be answered and I was hoping you might help. Was the gift of the Holy Ghost first bestowed following the Saviour’s resurrection or during the early days of the Old Testament/Book of Mormon. In other words, who do we know was the first mortal to be bestowed with the gift of the Holy Ghost?

Anthony, from England

Dear Anthony,

The ordinance of baptism, practiced since the days of Adam, is inseparably connected with the gift of the Holy Ghost. Orson Pratt said the following:

“Let me . . . say, that if we have repented of and been baptized for the remission of our sins, if we do not seek after the birth of the spirit also, our baptism will avail us nothing; they must go hand in hand–the birth of the water first and then the birth of the spirit” (Journal of Discourses, Vol.17, p.150 – p.151).

That Adam received the Holy Ghost is evidenced by the following scriptures:

And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will (Moses 5:9).

And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation (D&C 107:56).

We have record that the Holy Ghost was bestowed on those that were baptized in the time of Nephi in the Book of Mormon.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism–yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost (2 Nephi 31:13).

When the Savior was on the earth during his mortal ministry, those who were received into the Kingdom by baptism did not immediately receive the Holy Ghost. Since one of the principle functions of the Holy Ghost is to testify of the Savior, there was no need for that witness while the Savior was living among men. He was his own witness.

It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me (John 8:17-18).

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:25-26).

However, when the resurrected Savior appeared among the Nephites, he taught them the gospel, instructed them to be baptized and to receive the gift of Holy Ghost.

Now Christ spake these words unto them at the time of his first appearing; and the multitude heard it not, but the disciples heard it; and on as many as they laid their hands, fell the Holy Ghost (Moroni 2:3).

Gramps

I have a question. If God is eternal and we are too, then what made God our Heavenly Father before us, since our intelligences have both no beginning (We are all eternal).Our ages (if you can speak of age) are the same. What factor decided that God came forth from the intelligences to become a spiritual being before us. And His father before him. And those who will come after us. Again we have always lived, there was no beginning or end. Regards

David, from Europe

Dear David,

Man is a trinity in his organization. To speak of the age of man we must consider each of his integral parts.

Physical Man: This part of our triple nature is obvious. Born of mortal parents, we all know our birth dates. From then until now is how old we are.

Spiritual Man: Man’s spirit is a physical entity.

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 (D&C 131:7).

The spirit occupies space and has essentially the same form and dimensions as the physical body that it inhabits. The spirit came into being in the same manner as physical bodies come into being. It was born of Heavenly Parents. We do not remember the date of our spiritual births, but the age of the spirit would be counted from that point. Jesus Christ was the first born son of God. He is our elder brother, and all the human family are brothers and sisters to each other-all children of the same Father in Heaven.

Intelligent Man: As when a mortal child is born the preexisting spirit enters the body giving it independent life, so also when a spirit is born the preexisting intelligence enters the spirit body giving it independent life. The intelligences that, in company with the spirit, inhabit the body of man, are the thinking part of us-the cognitive part, the part where knowledge is accumulated and where it resides. Prior to entering the spirit body the intelligences were not born, were not fabricated, were not suddenly brought into existence. They are eternal; they have always existed; they have had no beginning and will have no end. As such, they are co-eternal with the Intelligence that is God. The difference between the intelligence that is God and the intelligences that are us is described in the Book of Abraham 3:19-

And the Lord said unto me: These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all.

Let’s understand this scripture. It does not say that in the ranking of the intelligences (quality) of all the intelligences (entities) God merely stands as the first in a linearly descending order, but he is more intelligent than they all!! He is more intelligent than the sum total of all the other intelligences. This is why he is God. Not only are all the other intelligences subject to his perfect will, but all the matter in the universe, all the spirits in the universe, all the forces in the universe are not only subject to his will, but exist through his creation and are under the dictates of his power.

Gramps

I have 2 sons in the military service. They were given servicemen scriptures which contain Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. Why don’t they also get the King James Bible?

Linda, from Idaho

Dear Linda,

The bible is universally available, while the scriptures of the Restoration are not. In addition, there is a particular and unique benefit to the scriptures written in and for our day. The Book of Mormon, in particular, is most valuable for a serviceman to read and study while in the service. It contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and in the words of Mormon,

Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked– And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out (Helaman 3:29-30).

Gramps

Gramps,

I seem to find myself in need of asking you another question. The thing is that I have been asked about the Book of Abraham. I felt as if I were a child for not knowing the answer. Would you happen to know the final dispensation of the original papyrus that the book of Abraham was translated from? I thank you ahead of time for I know if any one knows this it will be you.

Richard

Answer

Dear Richard,

The disposition of the papyri from which the Book of Abraham was translated in not known. There is some evidence and a general belief that the papyri and the mummies with which they were found were destroyed in the great fire in Chicago.

In 1967 some papyri fragments were found in the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art in New York City that were pasted onto a paper backing that contained Emma Smith’s handwriting. When this was verified by the museum the fragments were presented to President N. Eldon Tanner, of the First Presidency. Upon examination it was determined that these fragments were not those which were used in the translation of the Book of Abraham, although they were undoubtedly recovered from the same set of mummies as were the writings of Abraham and of Joseph. For some time after the death of the Prophet small pieces of papyri were sold by Emma Smith to different individuals. The fragments found in the Metropolitan Museum could well have been from among those that were acquired from Emma Smith.

The fragments, available for viewing as part of the Joseph Smith Papers Project contains the original for facsimile 1, but not facsimiles 2 or 3. While portions of the fragments portray scenes described by eyewitnesses who saw the scrolls, they do not match the descriptions given for the source of the Book of Abraham (see references to the “long roll” mentioned in the Gospel Topics Essay Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham). It is very likely that the source for the Book of Abraham (with the exception of facsimile 1) has been destroyed.

Gramps

What is the relationship of Kolob & Earth in the beginning and when the earth is turned to glass?

Byron

Dear Byron,

Kolob is the name of the planet nearest to the residence or planet upon which God resides.  Kolob by definition means the “the first creation”.  Abraham was given a vision wherein he learned concerning the universe.  He was shown the stars and that some of them were very great ones, one of these being Kolob.  We read in Abraham 3:   3 “And the Lord said unto me: These are the governing ones; and the name of the great one is Kolob, because it is near unto me, for I am the Lord thy God: I have set this one to govern all those which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest”.

Abraham is told that planets have different times of reckoning.  Our planet in relation to Kolob, which has the same reckoning as that of the Lord’s, is one thousand years of our time to one day of the Lord’s.  In Abraham 3, verse 9 it states:  “…Kolob is set nigh unto the throne of God, to govern all those planets which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest”.

Abraham was further instructed that the earth’s creation was after the Lord’s reckoning of time as the reckoning for this earth had not yet been established.  This would indicate that the earth was created in six thousand years according to our reckoning of time.

Joseph Smith asked the Lord concerning certain sections of Revelations.  One of these is recorded in Doctrine and Covenants section 77:  1″ What is the sea of glass spoken of by John, 4th chapter, and 6th verse of the Revelation?
It is the earth, in its sanctified, immortal, and eternal state”.  Just as we will go through death and resurrection, so will the earth.  After this takes place it will become the Celestial Kingdom and will be as a sea of glass, a crystal and a great Urim and Thummim to those residing there.  And this earth, kingdom, will be Christ’s.

Gramps

What is LDS Church policy regarding civil unions?

Garth

Garth,

When you refer to “civil unions”, I am assuming you mean civil marriages between a man and a woman that has been performed by an individual authorized by the local government.  The Church recognizes these marriages as binding.  They are honorable unions and there is no sin involved in these marriages.

We have always been counseled to obey the laws of the land, even when governments have not protected the rights of our members.  The 12th Article of Faith states:  “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”  Doctrine and Covenants section 134 is a statement regarding governments and laws in general.  This statement was adopted by the Church in August 1835 by a unanimous vote.

Governments in some countries have not given our Priesthood Leaders authority to perform marriages.  In these cases, the couple must be be married civilly prior to being sealed in the Temple.  This is especially true when the couple is being sealed in a Temple that is not located within the country they reside.  The Church supports the governments rulings in these cases as well and will not perform the sealing until the couple is legally married.

Because these marriages are performed under civil law, they are only binding for the duration of the couple’s life here on this earth.  Members who have been married civilly will be strongly encouraged to be sealed in the Temple so that there union is both for time and eternity.

Gramps