Kingdoms of Glory

Brigham Young
There is a great difference in the individual capacity of people. Some can receive much more than others can: hence we read of different degrees of glory. How many kingdoms glory of there are, I know not; and how many degrees of glory there are in these kingdoms, I know not; but there are multitudes of them. Paul speaks of three, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon saw three, and multitudes more have we seen by the Spirit of revelation, according to the capacity of our understandings. Can we so live and direct ourselves as to receive glory, immortality, and eternal lives? We can. Then love not the world, nor the things of the world. Desire not that which is not for us, but desire only that which God has ordained for our benefit and advancement in the science of eternal life; then can we advance with accelerated speed in the things of God.
JD 9:107

Brigham Young
The kingdoms that God has prepared are innumerable. Each and every intelligent being will be judged according to the deeds done in the body, according to his works, faith, desires, and honesty or dishonesty before God; every trait of his character will receive its just merit or demerit, and he will be judged according to the law of heaven as revealed; and God has prepared places suited to every class. The Savior said to his disciples—“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” How many kingdoms there are has not been told to us: they are innumerable. The disciples of Jesus were to dwell with him. Where will the rest go? Into kingdoms prepared for them, where they will live and endure.
JD 8:154

Thus Shall My Church be Called in the Last Days

October 1945 George Albert Smith
I would like to suggest to you, my brothers and sisters, that we honor the name of the Church. It is not the church of James and John, it is not the church of Moroni, nor is it the church of Mormon. It is the Church of Jesus Christ. And while all these men were wonderful and notable characters, we have been directed to worship God in a church that bears the name of his Beloved Son. I wish that our young people as they grow up would keep that fact in mind. We have become so accustomed to being called the Mormon Church by all our friends and neighbors throughout the world, that many people do not know the proper name of the Church, and I think the Lord would expect us to let them know that.

April 1948 George Albert Smith
It is his Church. He gave it his name, and he advised us that it should be so called. . . . Don't let the Lord down by calling this the Mormon Church. He didn't call it the Mormon Church. . . . I sometimes feel disappointed that so many of us seem to be timid, if I may use that term, and give this Church that the Lord has permitted us to be identified with rather a casual reference. I am so proud of membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when I think that all the blessings of the world may be mine as a member of his Church, and if I were not a member how many blessings there may be lost for me.

October 1948 George Albert Smith
This is our Father's Church. He gave it its name. . . . I am sure we will show our appreciation of that great and wonderful name by respecting it, and not be found calling ourselves Mormons as the world nicknames us. The name Mormon to many people in the world means anything but the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact they do not know what it means. I congratulate you as members of the Church, that you belong to the Church of Jesus Christ; live in the age when his Church has been organized and has been given his name. If we are faithful and devoted to the end of our lives, when we go to the other side we will find we shall not belong to some other Church such as the Church of St. John or St. Peter or St. Paul or Mormon, or that of any of the Apostles or great men who have lived upon the earth, but we will find that we belong to the Church of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Let us remember that, and let us respect it, brethren and sisters, and not be careless about it.

April 1961 Marion G. Romney
How about the name of this Church? What is it? It is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." How did it get the name? Did Joseph Smith select it? No. The Lord Jesus Christ himself told Joseph Smith to name this Church "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." . . . . I bear you my testimony that this statement is true, and this witness which I bear will be binding upon you; for I, like my brethren of the presiding councils of the Church, am a called and ordained personal witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. This Church is the Church of God. We do have the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we will live it, we will gain the promised blessings.

April 1990 Russell M. Nelson
Today I would like to speak about a name. We are all pleased when our names are pronounced and spelled correctly. Sometimes a nickname is used instead of the real name. But a nickname may offend either the one named or the parents who gave the name. The name of which I shall speak is not a personal name, yet the same principles apply. I refer to a name given by the Lord: “Thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (D&C 115:4.) Note carefully the language of the Lord. He did not say, “Thus shall my church be named.” He said, “Thus shall my church be called.” Years ago, its members were cautioned by the Brethren who wrote: “We feel that some may be misled by the too frequent use of the term ‘Mormon Church.’” Before any other name is considered to be a legitimate substitute, the thoughtful person might reverently consider the feelings of the Heavenly Parent who bestowed that name.

October 1990 Gordon B. Hinckley
Many of our people are disturbed by the practice of the media, and of many others, to disregard totally the true name of the Church and to use the nickname “the Mormon Church.” Six months ago in our conference Elder Russell M. Nelson delivered an excellent address on the correct name of the Church. He quoted the words of the Lord Himself: “Thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” He then went on to discourse on the various elements of that name. I commend to you a rereading of his talk.

April 1995 Russell M. Nelson
Speaking of correct names, we are reminded of a proclamation given by the Lord: “Thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”. He did not say, “Thus shall my church be named.” He said, “Thus shall my church be called.” Members have been cautioned by the Brethren, who wrote: “We feel that some may be misled by the too frequent use of the term ‘Mormon Church’”.

April 2011 Boyd K. Packer
Obedient to revelation, we call ourselves The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rather than the Mormon Church. It is one thing for others to refer to the Church as the Mormon Church or to us as Mormons; it is quite another for us to do so.

October 2011 M. Russell Ballard
The Lord Jesus Christ knew how important it was to clearly name His Church in these latter days. In the 115th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, He Himself named the Church. . . . Because the full name of the Church is so important, I echo the revelations from the scriptures, the First Presidency’s instructions in letters of 1982 and 2001, and the words of other Apostles who have encouraged the members of the Church to uphold and teach the world that the Church is known by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the name by which the Lord will call us at the last day. It is the name by which His Church will be distinguished from all others. . . . Let us develop the habit within our families and our Church activities and our daily interactions of making it clear that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the name by which the Lord Himself has directed that we be known. . . . As the First Presidency asked in their letter of February 23, 2001: “The use of the revealed name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints… , is increasingly important in our responsibility to proclaim the name of the Savior throughout all the world. Accordingly, we ask that when we refer to the Church we use its full name wherever possible.”

April 2014 Boyd K. Packer Foremost and underpinning all that we do, anchored throughout the revelations, is the Lord’s name, which is the authority by which we act in the Church. Every prayer offered, even by little children, ends in the name of Jesus Christ. Every blessing, every ordinance, every ordination, every official act is done in the name of Jesus Christ. It is His Church, and it is named for Him—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . . I bear my witness that the Savior lives. I know the Lord. I am His witness. I know of His great sacrifice and eternal love for all of Heavenly Father’s children. I bear my special witness in all humility but with absolute certainty, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

April 2014 M. Russell Ballard
I have felt the clear impression to follow up today on two of my previous general conference messages. In the October 2011 conference, I urged that we remember these important words of the Lord: “For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” With these words, the Lord makes clear that this is not only a formal title but also the name by which His Church is to be called. Given His clear declaration, we should not refer to the Church by any other name, such as “Mormon Church” or “LDS Church.” . . . . Brothers and sisters, let us follow up and develop the habit of always making it clear that we belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

October 2018 Russell M. Nelson
Today I feel compelled to discuss with you a matter of great importance. Some weeks ago, I released a statement regarding a course correction for the name of the Church. I did this because the Lord impressed upon my mind the importance of the name He decreed for His Church, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . It is the command of the Lord. . . . My dear brothers and sisters, I promise you that if we will do our best to restore the correct name of the Lord’s Church, He whose Church this is will pour down His power and blessings upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints, the likes of which we have never seen. We will have the knowledge and power of God to help us take the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.

Joseph Smith's Covenant to Tithe

The following is a covenant that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery made to tithe. It is taken from the journal of Joseph Smith.

29 November 1834—Friday

This evening Joseph and Oliver united in prayer for the continuance of blessings, after giving thanks for the relief which the Lord had lately sent us by opening the hearts of certain brethren from the east to loan us $430. After conversing and rejoicing before the Lord on this occasion we agreed to enter into the following covenant with the Lord, viz:

That if the Lord will prosper us in our business, and open the way before us that we may obtain means to pay our debts, that we be not troubled nor brought into disrepute before the world nor his people, that after that of all that he shall give us we will give a tenth, to be bestowed upon the poor in his Church, or as he shall command, and that we will be faithful over that which he has entrusted to our care and that we may obtain much: and that our children after us shall remember to observe this sacred and holy covenant: after us. And that our children and our children's [children] may know of the same we here subscribe our names with our own hands before the Lord:

Joseph Smith Jr
Oliver Cowdery.

The Joseph Smith Papers Journals Volume 1, pp. 46-47

Selections from The Words of Joseph Smith

Selections from The Words of Joseph Smith
Book Review

Page 41

Now this Enoch God reserved unto himself that he shoud not die at that time and appointed unto him a ministry unto terrestiral bodies of whom there has been but little revealed, He is reserved also unto the presidency of a dispensation, and more shall be said of him and terrestrial bodies in another treaties13

Page 41

for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a revealer14 to those who diligently seek him. Now the doctrine of translation is a power which belongs to this priesthood, there are many things which belong to the powers of the priesthood and the keys thereof that have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world.15

Page 41

There place of habitation is that of the terrestrial16 order and a place prepared for such characters, he had in he held in reserve to be ministring angels unto many planets, and who as yet have not entered into so great a fulness as those who are resurrected from the dead.

Page 42

thus we behold the Keys of this priesthood consisted in obtaining the voice of Jehovah19 that he talked with him in a familiar and friendly manner,

Page 60

God the father took life unto himself precisely as Jesus did.9

Page 60

The devil has no power over us only as we permit him; the moment we revolt at anything which comes from God the Devil takes power.

Page 61

he quoted a passage from the testament where Jesus said all things that he had saw the father Do he had done & that he done Nothing But what he saw the father do John the 5th [verse 19]20

Page 62

Joseph said that before foundation of the Earth in the Grand Counsel that the Spirits of all Men ware subject to opression & the express purpose of God in Giveing it a tabernacle was to arm it against the power of Darkness

Page 68

God saw that those intelegences had Not power to Defend themselves against those that had a tabernicle therefore the Lord Calls them togather in Counsel & agrees to form them tabernicles so that he might Gender the Spirit & the tabernicle togather so as to create sympathy for their fellowman

Page 72

Those who resist the spirit of God, are liable to be led into temptation, and then the association of heaven is withdrawn from those who refuse to be made partakers of such great glory—God would not exert any ccompulsory means and the Devil could not; and such ideas as were entertained by many were absurd.2

Page 77

The only way to obtain truth and wisdom, is not to ask it from books, but to go to God in prayer and obtain divine teaching.15

Page 78

This doctrine was the burden of the scriptures. Those saints who neglect it, in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own salvation.23

Page 80

he also said if we did not accuse one another God would not accuse us & if we had no accuser we should enter heaven he would take us there as his backload if we would not accuse him he would not accuse us & if we would throw a cloak of charity over his sins he would over ours for Charity coverd a multitude of sins & what many people called sin was not sin & he did many things to break down superstition3

Page 81

The reason we do not have the secrets of the Lord revealed unto us is because we do not keep them but reveal them,6

Pages 82-83

Mormonism has no Summa Theologica. Notwithstanding this, the following example of independent yet consistent doctrinal affinity can be multiplied. In a meeting of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles held in Salt Lake City 22 April 1849, John Taylor asked President Brigham Young, "If Elijah, David, Solomon and the Prophets had the High Priesthood, how it was, [because] the Lord took it away with Moses." The question was discussed at length and finally "Pres_t Young said he did not know, but wished he did." John Taylor then offered his feelings on the question. The minutes record, "Brother Taylor thought perhaps the Lord conferred it himself upon some at times whom he had considered worthy, but not with permission for them to continue it down upon others" ("Record of the Acts of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles," 1849 Record Book, p. 39, Church Archives).

Page 84

"President [Brigham Young] gave it as his opinion that the Earth did not dwell in the sphere in which it did when it was created, but that it was banished from its more glorious state or orbit of revolution for man's sake" ("Record of Acts of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles," 1849 Record Book, p. 41, Church Archives).

Page 92

Alexander Neibaur, born in Ehrenbriesten, France (now Germany), was baptized by Isaac Russell in Preston, England, in April 1838. In 1841 he came to Nauvoo, where he practiced dentistry. The Neibaur Journal is located in the Church Archives. [Alexander recorded his hearing of Joseph Smith's telling of the first vision, wherein he recounted Joseph saying the Savior has blue eyes. See https://youtu.be/YG4O4Y-xpSo ]

Page 106

the Lord takes many away even in infancy that they may escape the envy of man. The sorrows & evils of this present world & they were two pure & to lovly to live on Earth, Therefore if rightly considered wo have, instead of morning we have reason to rejoice, as they are deliverd from evil & we shall soon have them again,''

Page 120

Man, or Jesus. No one can truly say he knows God7 until he has handled something, and this can only be in the Holiest of Holies. 137 Joseph Smith intended that women would receive ordinances promising them that they would be queens and priestesses in eternity. Moreover, Joseph Smith conveyed the impression that husbands and wives would receive the fulness of the priesthood blessings, through which they would be promised life as long as it would be desirable to them (see 5 October 1840, note 13).

Page 149

discussed his understanding of these matters fully even with his closest associates. See Andrew F. Ehat, " 'It Seems Like Heaven Began on Earth': Joseph Smith and the Constitution of the Kingdom of God." Brigham Young University Studies 20 (Spring 1980):254-57.

Page 179

I answer No! I ask no Jurisdiction in [local] religious matters I merely give my opinion when asked.

Pages 180-81

James Burgess Notebook32 Remarks on the comeing of the Son of Man by Joseph Smith the Prophet. Made in Nauvoo Christ says no man knoweth the day or the hour when the Son of Man cometh.33 This is a sweeping argument for sectarianism against Latter day ism. Did Christ speak this as a general principle throughout all generations Oh no he spoke in the present tense no man that was then liveing upon the footstool of God knew the day or the hour But he did not say that there was no man throughout all generations that should not know the day or the hour. No for this would be in flat contradiction with other scripture for the prophet says that God will do nothing but what he will reveal unto his Servants the prophets34

Page 182

President Joseph stated that the business of the conference had closed. & the remainder of the conference would be devoted to instruction—it is an insult to the meeting to have people run out of meeting Just before we close, if they must go let them go 1/2 an hour before. No Gentleman will go out of meeting Just at close.

Page 187

The beasts which John saw and speaks of as being in heaven were actually living in heaven, and were actually to have power given to them over the inhabitants of the earth precisely according to the plain reading of the revelations. I give this as a key to the Elders of Israel.

Page 196

It is my meditation all the day & more than my meat & drink to know how I shall make the saints of God to comprehend the visions that roll like an overflowing surge, before my mind.

Page 200

14 May 1843 (Sunday). Yelrome, Hancock County, Illinois.1 Wilford Woodruff Journal Sunday The meeting was opened by Singing, & Prayer By W Woodruff Then Joseph the Seer arose & said It is not wisdom that we should have all knowledge at once presented before us but that we should have a little then we can comprehend it.

Page 204

God judgeth men according to the light he gives them.3

Page 206

These are but hints of those things that were revealed to Peter, and verily brethren there are things in the bosom of the Father, that have been hid from the foundation of the world,19 that are not Known neither can be except by direct Revelation

Page 234

Last Monday morning certain men came to me.—Bro Joseph Hyrum is no prophet he cant lead the church, you must lead the Church—if you resign I felt curious—& said—here we learn in a priesthood after the order of Melchisedeck—Prophet priest & king. & I will advance from prophet to priest & then to King8 not to the kingdoms of this earth but of the most high god.

Page 244

To all those who are disposed to say to set up stakes for the almighty—will come short of the glory of god. To becom a joint heir of the heirship of the son he must put away all his traditions.5

Page 244

The sectarian world are going to hell—by 100s 1000s 1000 000! 3 grand orders of priesthood referred to here.6 1st. King of Shiloam—power & authority over that of Abraham holding the key & the power of endless life.—angels desire to look into it, but they have set up to many stakes, god cursed the children of Israel because they would not receive the last law from Moses.7— by the offering of Isaac.8—if a man would attain—he must sacrifice all to attain to the keys of the kingdom of an endless life What was the power of Melchisedick twas not P. of Aaron &c. a king & a priest to the most high God. a perfect law of Theocracy holding keys of power & blessings, stood as God to give laws to the people, administering endless lives to the sons and daughters of Adam9 kingly powers, of anointing.10—Abram says Melchisedek.— away I have a priesthood.—

Page 245

Joseph also said that the Holy Ghost26 is now in a state of Probation which if he should perform in righteousness he may pass through the same or a similar course of things that the Son has.

Page 247

What was the design of the Almighty in making man, it was to exalt him to be as God,43

Page 253

ignorance of the world in reference to their true condition, and relation. Reading the experience of others, or the revelations given to them, can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God. Knowledge of these things, can only be obtained by experience in these things, through the ordinance of God set forth for that purpose.3 He remarked that the disappointment of hopes and expectations at the resurrection, would be indescribably dreadful.

Page 253

He assured the saints that truth in reference to these matters, can, and may be known, through the revelations of God in the way of his ordinances, and in answer to prayer. The Hebrew church "came unto the spirits of just men made perfect, and unto an innumerable company of angels, unto God the Father of all, and to Jesus Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant;" but what they learned, has not been, and could not have been written.4

Page 253

But so it was, wherever light shone, it stirred up darkness. Truth and error, good and evil, cannot be reconciled.

Page 254

The spirits of just men are made ministering servants to those who are sealed unto life eternal.

Page 255

Let the elders & saints do away light mindedness and be sober.—

Page 263

The full keys for inquiring of the Lord by the sealing power of Elijah (Helaman 10:5-7 [4-10]), which the Prophet received in the Kirtland Temple (D&C 110:13-16), had not as yet been conferred on anyone else (see 27 August 1843 discourse); however, here he is teaching that revelation is the rock of the Church (see D&C 128:10-11), that he saw the conferral of these keys as essential to the completion of his mission (see 5 October 1840, note 19).

Page 269

9. The Prophet would not explain to the congregation at large the meaning of the passages of scripture he quoted, but they did have particular meaning to one listener, Benjamin F. Johnson.

On the 1st day of April A.D. 1843, [Benjamin testified,] President Joseph Smith, Orson Hyde, and William Clayton and others came from Nauvoo to my residence in Macedonia or Ramus in Hancock Co. Illinois, and we[re] joyfully welcomed by myself and family as our guests. On the following morning, Sunday April, 2nd, President Smith took me by the arm for a walk, leading the way to a secluded spot within the adjacent grove, where to my great surprise, he commenced to offer to me the principle of plural or celestial marriage, but I was more astonished by his asking me for my sister Almera to be his wife. I sincerely believed him to be a prophet of God, and I loved him as such, and also for the many evidences of his kindness to me, yet such was the force of my education, and the scorn that I felt unvirtuous that under the first impulse of my feelings I looked him calmly, but firmly in the face and told him that, "I had always believed (you) to be a good man, and wished to believe it still, and would try to;" and that, "I would take for him a message to my sister, and if the doctrine was true, all would be well, but if I should afterwards learn that it was offered to insult or prostitute my sister I would take his life." With a smile he replied "Benjamin, you will never see that day, but you shall live to know that it is true, and rejoice in it.. . . He also told me that he would preach a sermon that day for me, which I would understand, while the rest of the congregation would not comprehend his meaning. His subject was the ten talents spoken of by the Savior, "unto him that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundantly, but from that hath not (or will not receive) shall be taken away that which he hath, (or might have had.)" Plainly giving me to understand that the talents represented wives and children as the principle of enlargement throughout the great future, to those who were heirs of Salvation (Joseph F. Smith, "40 Affidavits on Celestial Marriage," book 2, pp. 3-5, Church Archives).

The first two passages of scripture quoted by the Prophet fit into the background Benjamin Johnson gives, but the last does not so readily. Later, in a discourse given 16 July 1843, the Prophet made plainer his reason for quoting John 3:6. Joseph Smith said, "[That] the earthly is the image of the Heavenly shows that [it] is by the multiplication of Lives that the eternal worlds are created and occuped [for] that which is born of flesh is flesh that which is born of spirit is spirit" (Franklin D. Richards account of 16 July 1843 (2) discourse). Joseph had previously taught that resurrected beings will have "spirit in their [veins] & not blood" (Wilford Woodruff account of 20 March 1842 discourse). The implication is that if your body is not resurrected, your children will be born flesh and bones, but that if your body is resurrected and has spirit in its veins your children will be spirits.

Page 274

2. On 8 October 1875 Brigham Young gave a discourse on the resurrection that taught the same point as the Prophet is here teaching. No doubt Brigham Young based his discourse on this teaching of the Prophet. See Ben E. Rich, Scrapbook of Mormon Literature 2 vols. (Chicago: Henry C. Etten & Co., Press, n.d.) 2:40-51. Brigham Young and others often alluded to this concept of the resurrection. See for example Journal of Discourses 13:76.

Page 279

6 May 1843 1. See History of the Church, 5:383-84. Not in Teachings. The History of the Church account is an amalgamation of the reports in the Joseph Smith Diary and the Nauvoo Neighbor. The report by Levi Richards is here published for the first time. A reminiscent account of this discourse by James Burgess contains the essential details found in the other three accounts published here, and adds that the "Constitution and Government would hang by a brittle thread." In the month of May 1843. Several miles east of Nauvoo. The Nauvoo Legion was on parade and review. At the close of which Joseph Smith made some remarks upon our condition as a people and upon our future prospects contrasting our present condition with our past trials and persecutions by the hands of our enemies. Also upon the constitution and government of the United States stating that the time would come when the Constitution and Government would hand by a brittle thread and would be ready to fall into other hands but this people the Latter day Saints will step forth and save it. General Scott and part of his staff on the American Army was present on the occasion. I James Burgess was present and testify to the above (James Burgess Notebook, Church Archives).

Page 286

Those who come in here and have received their washing & anointing will [later] be ordained Kings & Priests, and will then have received the fullness of the Priesthood, all that can be given on earth. For Brother Joseph said he had given us all that could be given to man on the earth (Heber C. Kimball Journal kept by William Clayton, 26 December 1845, Church Archives).

Page 297

7. At this time Joseph Smith was not willing to discuss the temple ordinances of conferral of the fulness of the priesthood, of marriage for time and eternity, or of sealing children to parents; nevertheless, he indicated that the conferral of the fulness of the priesthood was a "sealing . . . on top of the head", of which the phrase "sealed in their foreheads" was symbolic. Furthermore, Joseph Smith here taught that it was through the ordinance of conferral of the fulness of the priesthood that men could be qualified to be a part of the special missionary force of the last days which would number 144,000 high priests (D&C 77:8-11,14). When Cornelius P. Lott and his wife received these ordinances on 4 February 1844, the Prophet indicated that "the selection of [the] persons to form that number had already commenced." He had already conferred these blessings on at least 17 men (History of the Church, 6:196 and Wilford Woodruff Journal, under date given).

Page 298

A DIAGRAM OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. The above diagram shows the order and unity of the kingdom of God. The eternal Father sits at the head, crowned King of kings and Lord of lords. Wherever the other lines meet, there sits a king and a priest unto God, bearing rule, authority, and dominion under the Father. He is one with the Father, because his kingdom is joined to his Father's and becomes part of it. The most eminent and distinguished prophets who have laid down their lives for their testimony (Jesus among the rest), will be crowned at the head of the largest kingdoms under the Father, and will be one with Christ as Christ is one with his Father; for their kingdoms are all joined together, and such as do the will of the Father, the same are his mothers, sisters, and brothers. He that has been faithful over a few things, will be made ruler over many things; he that has been faithful over ten talents, shall have dominion over ten cities, and he that has been faithful over five talents, shall have dominion over five cities, and to every man will be given a kingdom and a dominion, according to his merit, powers, and abilities to govern and control. It will be seen by the above diagram that there are kingdoms of all sizes, an infinite variety to suit all grades of merit and ability. The chosen vessels unto God are the kings and priests that are placed at the head of these kingdoms. These have received their washings and anointings in the temple of God on this earth; they have been chosen, ordained, and anointed kings and priests, to reign as such in the resurrection of the just. Such as have not received the fulness of the priesthood, (for the fulness of the priesthood includes the authority of both king and priest) and have not been anointed and ordained in the temple of the Most High, may obtain salvation in the celestial kingdom, but not a celestial crown. Many are called to enjoy a celestial glory, yet few are chosen to wear a celestial crown, or rather, to be rulers in the celestial kingdom. While this portion of eternity that we now live in, called time, continues, and while the other portions of eternity that we may hereafter dwell in, continue, those lines in the foregoing diagram, representing kingdoms, will continue to extend and be lengthened out; and thus, the increase of our kingdoms will increase the kingdom of our God, even as Daniel hath said: "of the increase of his kingdom and government there shall be no end." All these kingdoms are one kingdom, and there is a King over kings, and a Lord over lords. There are Lords many, and Gods many, for they are called Gods to whom the word of God comes, and the word of God comes to all these kings and priests. But to our branch of the kingdom there is but one God, to whom we all owe the most perfect submission and loyalty; yet our God is just as subject to still higher intelligences, as we should be to him. . . .These kingdoms, which are one kingdom, are designed to extend till they not only embrace this world, but every other planet that rolls in the blue vault of heaven. Thus will all things be gathered in one during the dispensation of the fulness of times, and the Saints will not only possess the earth, but all things else, for, says Paul, "All things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's" (Orson Hyde, "A Diagram of the Kingdom of God." Millennial Star9 [15 January 1847]:23-24).

Page 300

19. When the Church historians amalgamated the entries from the Joseph Smith Diary and the William Clayton Diary to create the version of this discourse that was published, the passage that the blessings conferred by the ordinance of sealing parents and children was unconditional. The wording of the published version suggests that the children of parents who receive the fulness of the priesthood can never fall. This previously unpublished, more complete account of the Prophet's idea docs contain a conditional. Clearly this is a more reasonable and consistent doctrine: if it were not for such a conditional, the concept would contradict significant doctrines taught by Joseph Smith, not the least of which would be a contradiction of his article of faith that "men will be punished for their own sins."

Page 303

20. 2 Corinthians 12:1-4. 21. The Prophet here teaches that though Abraham had not yet received the fulness of the priesthood, he had received from the Lord the promise of an innumerable posterity both for this world and in the world to come (D&C 132:28-31). Joseph Smith, however, clarifies that Abraham's endowment (Abraham Facsimile Number 2, figures 3 and 7) was greater than that which his descendants Aaron and Levi would be allowed; and thus "Abraham's" Patriarchal Priesthood (the ordinances of the endowment and patriarchal marriage for time and eternity) comprehended the Aaronic portion of the endowment. Additionally, the Prophet here clarifies that the Patriarchal Priesthood was not the same as the crowning ordinances of the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Elias returned the authority of promising innumerable posterity, but Elijah restored the authority of the fulness of the priesthood (D&C 110:12-16). Aside from this theological commentary, it is important to point out that the Prophet's teachings fit perfectly within a historical context. Joseph Smith administered the first ordinances of the Patriarchal Priesthood on 4 May 1842 when he gave both the Aaronic and Melchizedek portions of the endowment to nine men in his store in Nauvoo (see History of the Church, 5:1-2, or Teachings, p. 137; and H. W. Mills, "DeTal PaloTal Astilla," Annual Publications—Historical Society of Southern California 10 [Los Angeles: McBride Printing Company, 1917]: 120-21). By a year later, most of the nine received the ordinances of marriage for time and eternity. In particular, the Prophet and his wife, Emma, and James and Harriet Adams were sealed on 28 May 1843 (Joseph Smith Diary, Church Archives). Similarly, Hyrum Smith and his wife, Mary Fielding, Brigham Young and his wife, Mary Ann, and Willard Richards and his wife, Jennetta, were all sealed the next day. But the higher ordinances that confer the fulness of the priesthood had not as yet been administered. However one month and a day after this 27 August 1843 discourse, Joseph and Emma received the anointing and ordination "of the highest and holiest order of the priesthood" (Joseph Smith Diary, 28 September 1843, Church Archives). Hence by 27 August 1843, "Abrahams patriarchal power .. . [was] the greatest yet experienced in [the] church." As abstract as this may seem, the Prophet was not the only one who understood the relationship between these three orders of priesthood blessings that he said were illustrated in Hebrews 7; they who received these ordinances also understood these relationships. For example, Brigham Young later discussed in public discourse the relationship between the Aaronic and Patriarchal orders of the endowment as follows: When we give the brethren their endowments, we . . . confer upon them the Melchizedek Priesthood; but I expect to see the day, when we shall . . . say to a company of brethren, you can go and receive the [endowment] ordinances pertaining to the Aaronic order of Priesthood, and then you can go into the world and preach the Gospel, or do something that will prove whether you will honor that Priesthood before you receive more. Now we pass them through the [temple] ordinances of both Priesthoods in one day. (Journal ofDiscourses,10:309, quoted in John A. Widstoe, Discourses of Brigham Young [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1973], p. 396). Perhaps more important than his later understanding of the relationship between the Aaronic and Melchizedek portions of the endowment is the fact that three weeks before this 27 August 1843 discourse, Brigham Young demonstrates that the Prophet made clear to those who had received the endowment and patriarchal marriage ordinances, that they had not as yet received the fulness of the priesthood. On 6 August 1843, Brigham Young said, "If any in the church [have] the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood [I do] not know it. For any person to have the fullness of that priesthood, he must be a king and priest." Since he had received, with eight others, an anointing in 1842 promising him he would, if faithful, eventually receive another anointing actually ordaining him a king and a priest, Brigham Young therefore added, "A person may be anointed king and priest long before he receives his kingdom (History of the Church, 5:527, which is quoted verbatim from the contemporary account kept by Wilford Woodruff). Based on his understanding from Joseph the Prophet, Brigham Young said of this third order of priesthood blessings, "Those who . . . come in here [the Nauvoo Temple] and have received their washing & anointing will [later, if faithful], be ordained Kings & Priests, and will then have received the fullness of the Priesthood, all that can be given on earth. For Brother Joseph said he had given us all that could be given to man on the earth" (Heber C. Kimball Journal, kept by William Clayton, 26 December 1845, Church Archives, italics added). This is the theological and historical context for the Prophet's comments on the three orders of temple blessings outlined in this extremely important discourse.

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I do not care what office you hold in the Church—you may be an apostle, you may be a patriarch, a high priest, or anything else—but you cannot receive the fullness of the priesthood and the fullness of eternal reward unless you receive the ordinances of the house of the Lord. . . . Then [the door is] open so you can obtain all the blessings which any man can gain. . . . You can have ["the fullness of the Lord's blessings"] sealed upon you as an elder, if you are faithful; and when you receive them, and live faithfully and keep these covenants, you then have all that any man can get. There is no exaltation in the kingdom of God without the fullness of the priesthood" (Joseph Fielding Smith, first address to the Priesthood as President of the Church, 4 April 1970, The Improvement Era 73 [June 1970]: 65-66). Regarding Abraham's receiving the "power of an endless life" after he offered his son Isaac, see note 29, this discourse.

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Abraham indicated his willingness to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1-14). 30. One of the major milestones, if not the major milestone, of the Latter-day work was to be the restoration of the fulness of the priesthood (D&C 124:28). The Prophet's "mission . . . [was to] firmly [establish] the 306 The Words of Joseph Smith dispensation of the fullness of the priesthood in the last days, that all the powers of earth and hell [could] never prevail against it" (History of the Church, 5:140, or Teachings, p. 258). What was this fulness of the priesthood? The most concise but inclusive definition of the authority of the fulness of the priesthood was given by Joseph Smith in his 10 March 1844 discourse when he said, "Now for Elijah; the spirit, power and calling of Elijah is that ye have power to hold the keys of the revelations, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood and of the Kingdom of God on the Earth and to receive, obtain and perform all the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God . . . [to] have power to seal on earth and in heaven." However, the Prophet had not as yet administered the ordinances that made men kings and priests. Brigham Young said three weeks before this discourse that no one yet in the Church had the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood, "For any person to have the fullness of that priesthood, he must be a king and priest" (History of the Church, 5:527, which is quoted verbatim from the original source kept by Wilford Woodruff, Church Archives). These ordinances were instituted on 28 September 1843 and in the next five months were conferred on twenty men (and their wives, except for those whose names are asterisked): Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Newel K. Whitney, William Marks, John Taylor, John Smith, Reynolds Cahoon, Alpheus Cutler, Orson Spencer, Orson Hyde*, Parley P. Pratt*, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, Levi Richards*, Cornelius P. Lott, William W. Phelps, Isaac Morley, and Orson Pratt.* As George Q. Cannon later said, Previous to his death, the Prophet Joseph manifested great anxiety to see the temple completed, as most of you who were with the Church during his day, well know. "Hurry up the work, brethren," he used to say, "let us finish the temple; the Lord has a great endowment in store for you, and I am anxious that the brethren should have their endowments and receive the fullness of the Priesthood. . . . Then," said he, "the Kingdom will be established, and I do not care what shall become of me." Prior to the completion of the Temple, [Joseph Smith] took the Twelve and certain other men, who were chosen, and bestowed upon them a holy anointing, similar to that which was received on the day of Pentecost by the Twelve, who had been told to tarry at Jerusalem. This endowment was bestowed upon the chosen few whom Joseph anointed and ordained, giving unto them the keys of the holy Priesthood, the power and authority which he himself held, to build up the Kingdom of God in all the earth and accomplish the great purposes of our Heavenly Father." Knowing that Sidney Rigdon was the only member of the First Presidency to survive the martyrdom but knowing too that he had not received the ordinances of the fulness of the priesthood, George Q. Cannon added this significant comment: "It was by virtue of this authority, on the death of Joseph, that President Young, as President of the quorum of the Twelve, presided over the Church" (Journal of Discourses, 13:49). Joseph Smith's followers did believe he "firmly established the dispensation of the fullness of the priesthood . . . that all .. . earth and hell [could] never prevail against it." See notes 21, 22, 29, and 38, this discourse.

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4. In his 27 June 1839 discourse (Richards's Pocket Companion account), Joseph Smith said that when the ancients obtained the blessings of the Second Comforter— "Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn"—the Lord taught them face to face and gave them a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. While the Prophet stated there were things they received that were unlawful to utter (2 Corinthians 12:4[l-4]; 3 Nephi 17:17; 19:34 [32-34]; 28:12-14; D&C 76:115), yet there was a general theme revealed to all. That theme pertained to the future destiny of man before and during the earth's millennial state.

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7. James Adams was one of the nine men to whom the Prophet gave the patriarchal priesthood keys of revelation in May 1842 (see 5 October 1840, note 19).

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I shall take the broad ground then that if we have or Can receive a portion of knowledge from God by immediate revelation by the same source we can receive all knowledge.

Page 329

Now for Elijah, the spirit power & calling of Elijah is that ye have power to hold the keys of the revelations ordinances, oricles powers & endowments of the fulness of the Melchezedek Priesthood13 & of the Kingdom of God on the Earth & to receive, obtain & perform all the ordinances belonging to the Kingdom of God even unto the sealing of the hearts of the hearts fathers unto the children & the hearts of the children unto the fathers even those who are in heaven.14

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This spirit of Elijah was manifest in the days of the Apostles in delivering certain ones to the buffitings of Satan that they may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus, they were sealed by the spirit of Elijah unto the damnaton of Hell untill the day of the Lord or revealtion of Jesus Christ23

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I have asked of the Lord concerning his coming & while asking, the Lord gave me a sign & said in the days of Noah I set a bow in the heavens as a sign & token that in any year that the bow should be seen the Lord would not come, but their should be seed time—harvest during that year, but when ever you see the bow withdraw, it shall be a token that their shall be famin pestilance & great distress among the nations." But I take the responsibility upon myself to prophesy in the name of the Lord, that Christ will not come this year as [William] Miller38 has prophecyed, for we have seen the bow.

Page 335

A Revelation So long as we see the bow in the cloud seed time & harvest shall continue that year when the bow shall cease55 then shall come famine wars &c after which the sign of the son of man shall be seen in heaven.56

Page 347

A question will Mothers have their children in Eternity yes, yes, you will have the children But as it falls so it will rise, It will never grow,56 It will be in its precise form as it fell in its mothers arms. Eternity is full of thrones upon which dwell thousands of children reigning on thrones of glory not one cubit added to their stature

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as the Child dies so shall it rise from the ded & be living in the burng. of God.87—it shall be the child as it was bef it died out of your arms Children dwell & exercise power in the same form as they laid them down

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—the heads of the Gods appointed one God for us18—& when you take a view of the subject it sets one free to see all the beauty holiness & perfection of the God—

Page 385

8. All ordinances of the temple that are done for the living, including marriage for time and eternity and the fulness of the priesthood, can also be done for the dead (see James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord [Salt Lake City:

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27. Although David was anointed a king by the Prophet Samuel, it was not, according to this teaching of Joseph Smith, after the order of the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood (see 1 Samuel 16:12-13). For this reason, when David ordered the murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 11), he did not commit the unpardonable sin.

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29. Concerning the David of the Last Days to rule in Jerusalem see 2 Samuel 7:8-29 (esp. v. 8-19); Ezekiel 34:23-25; 37:21-28; Zechariah 3; Isaiah 55:3-5; Jeremiah 30:4-9; Psalms 89:1-4; and D&C 113:5-6.

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32. In conjunction with making your calling and election sure, the Lord grants this privilege of asking and receiving. See JST Genesis 14:31 (26-32); Isaiah 65:24; John 21:20-23; Helaman 10:5(4-10); 3 Nephi 28:1, 3, 10 (1-14); D&C 7:1 (1-8), 50:26-29; 76:55,59 (51-61); 101:27 (cf. 27 June 1839, note 9); 124:95, 97; 132: 40(40-49).

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52. Taken together, Ezekiel 1:1, Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Acts 7:56; 1 Nephi 1:8; 11:14, 27, 30; 12:6; Helaman 5:48; 3 Nephi 17:24; 28:13; Ether 4:9; D&C 76:12, 19; 93:15; 107:19; 110:1, 11; 137:1, 138:11, 29; Moses 7:3 (cf. Moses 1:2-11, 24-41) Joseph Smith-History 1:16-20, 43 (27-43), 68; and Teachings, pp. 9, 51, 151, 312, 328, 338, 339, 345, 350, and 371 show that the phrase "heavens opened" usually refers to a direct heavenly vision on the order of the blessings attending the visitation of the Second Comforter (see 27 June 1839, note 15). Compare the two visions of Newel Knight recorded in History of the Church, 1:83 and 85.

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14. A little learning is a dangerous thing. Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring, There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us up again. —Alexander Pope (1688-1744)

John 5:39 “Search the Scriptures” KJV Mistranslation

One of the most popular verses of scripture used to encourage people to study the scriptures is John 5:39: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” While it is important to search the scriptures, this verse was not given as an injunction to search the scriptures. The King James translators missed a word which changes the meaning of the passage. This verse, in King James language, should have been translated: “Ye search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life . . .” Jesus was castigating the Jews who relied on their knowledge of the scriptures even while rejecting Him, who was the subject of the scriptures. The point: eternal life is found in Jesus Christ, not in knowing or memorizing verses of scripture. It is entirely possible for one to study the scriptures and yet not know Christ. Such was the state of the Jews to whom Jesus was speaking. Despite the fact they searched the scriptures, Jesus reproved them: “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:40)

For an interesting comparison of alternative translations of this verse, see: http://classic.net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Joh&chapter=5&verse=39

Joseph Smith on Revelation

He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a revealer to those who diligently seek him. Now the doctrine of translation is a power which belongs to this priesthood, there are many things which belong to the powers of the priesthood and the keys thereof that have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world. (5 October 1840; Original Manuscript, in the hand of Robert B. Thompson; The Words of Joseph Smith 41)

The only way to obtain truth and wisdom, is not to ask it from books, but to go to God in prayer and obtain divine teaching. (3 October 1841; Times and Seasons 2:577-78; The Words of Joseph Smith 77)

The reason we do not have the secrets of the Lord revealed unto us is because we do not keep them but reveal them. (19 December 1841; Wilford Woodruff Journal; The Words of Joseph Smith 81)

Jesus in his teaching says upon this rock I will build my Church & the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. What rock? Revelation. (22 January 1843; Wilford Woodruff Journal; The Words of Joseph Smith 158)

Verily brethren there are things in the bosom of the Father, that have been hid from the foundation of the world, that are not Known neither can be except by direct Revelation. (21 May 1843; Howard and Martha Coray Notebook; The Words of Joseph Smith 206)

Reading the experience of others, or the revelations given to them, can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God. Knowledge of these things, can only be obtained by experience in these things, through the ordinance of God set forth for that purpose. He remarked that the disappointment of hopes and expectations at the resurrection, would be indescribably dreadful. . . . . He assured the saints that truth in reference to these matters, can, and may be known, through the revelations of God in the way of his ordinances, and in answer to prayer. The Hebrew church "came unto the spirits of just men made perfect, and unto an innumerable company of angels, unto God the Father of all, and to Jesus Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant;" but what they learned, has not been, and could not have been written. (9 October 1843; Times and Seasons 4:331-32; The Words of Joseph Smith 253)

I shall take the broad ground then that if we have or can receive a portion of knowledge from God by immediate revelation by the same source we can receive all knowledge. (21 January 1844; Wilford Woodruff Journal; The Words of Joseph Smith 318)

Was Jesus Married? Did He Have Children?

Official Church Position

The belief that Christ was married has never been official church doctrine. It is neither sanctioned nor taught by the church. While it is true that a few church leaders in the mid-1800s expressed their opinions on the matter, it was not then, and is not now, church doctrine.

(Dale Bills, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

Bruce R. McConkie

In an address to CES faculty, Bruce R. McConkie referred to a July 1899 Solemn Assembly in the Salt Lake Temple, wherein statements were made that Christ was married:

Well, since we are quoting the brethren, let’s just say a little more — it’s not a bit uncommon. They had meetings where the brethren got up and spoke in the name of the Lord and said: “There are present in this congregation people who are the descendants of Christ.” Well sure! I know a man to whom a patriarch told this— not meaning adopted into the family of Christ. Now, George Q. Cannon was one of these who they announced, as I remember, was a man who was a literal descendant of Christ. Well, I know some others who are.

(Address to faculty of the Church Education System conducted during the first term of summer school, 15 June 1967 at Brigham Young University. This excerpt was transcribed from a tape of the lecture on file in the Recording Library of the Church Education System in Salt Lake City. Dynasty of the Holy Grail, Mormonism’s Sacred Bloodline, Vern G. Swanson, Page 388.)

David O. McKay

On 10 October 1966 in a letter to a Sister Sharon Pokriots of Provo, the prophet David O. McKay gives a much less direct answer to her question. ‘Was Jesus married?” His secretary writes back on his behalf:

Dear Sister Pokriots,

President McKay, who is under a heavy schedule of duties and meetings associated with the general jurisdiction of the Church, in addition to doctor’s orders to curtail his activities as much as possible, has asked me to acknowledge from him your letter of September 29, 1966, wherein you ask if “Christ is Married.” I have been directed to tell you that there is no scripture or revelation on this subject. The wisest presumption upon this and related subjects mentioned in your letter is that the status of Christ, a member of the godhead, so far transcends the status of human beings and what they can attain in a lifetime of utter and complete faithfulness and perfection, that we should suspend and defer all concern about His [marital] status.

Secretary: Claire Middleness

(Dynasty of the Holy Grail, Mormonism’s Sacred Bloodline, Vern G. Swanson, Page 387.)

Joseph Fielding Smith

In a letter written 17 March 1963 to the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Joseph Fielding Smith, J. Ricks Smith of Burbank, California, asked two questions. The first involves Isaiah 53:l0: “What is meant by “he shall see his seed?” On the original letter, near the quotation of the scripture, President Smith placed a single asterisk after the word “seed.” Then, below in the margin, in typical Joseph Fielding Smith fashion, he notes, “*Mosiah 15:10-12 Please read your Book of Mormon!” The letter continues: “Does this mean that Christ had children? In the temple ceremony we are told that only through temple marriage can we receive the highest degree of exaltation and dwell in the presence of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Christ came here to set us the example and, therefore, we believe that he must have been married. Are we right?” This time President Smith uses two asterisks just after the word “married.” Then below he notes “**Yes! But do not preach it! The Lord advised us not to cast pearls before swine!” He then signed the original letter and sent it back to Brother J. Ricks Smith.

(J. Ricks Smith, “Letter to Joseph Fielding Smith, March 17, 1963, with Reply.” This letter is in the BYU Special Collections. Dynasty of the Holy Grail, Mormonism’s Sacred Bloodline, Vern G. Swanson, Page 386.)

On 18 October 1963 a number of new missionaries were being endowed in the Salt Lake Temple before departing on their missions. One missionary recorded: At the end of the session we were escorted to a large upper room and told to wait. [We] did not know what was happening. In a few moments, Joseph Fielding Smith walked in and stood behind the pulpit. He explained that since this was the first time through the temple for each of us, he was there to answer any questions that we may have had. The first question came from an elder who asked, “President Smith, was Christ married?” I was appalled at the brazenness of that elder, but Brother Smith just paused for a few moments, and then replied; “Yes, Christ was married, To Mary Magdalene. But don’t teach it.” I wrote that in my journal that day, and have treasured it ever since.

(Dynasty of the Holy Grail, Mormonism’s Sacred Bloodline, Vern G. Swanson, Page 387.)

Joseph F. Smith

Now, my little friends, I will repeat again in words as simple as I can and you talk to your parents about it, that God, the Eternal Father is literally the Father of Jesus Christ. Mary was married to Joseph for time. No man could take her for eternity because she belonged to the Father of her Divine Son.”

(Conference address, 22 September 1914; published in Box Elder News, 28 January 1915; also in Clark, Messages of the First Presidency, 4:330)

LDS president Joseph F. Smith spoke that the “patriarchal order of marriage” was “the same law that Our Heavenly Father” has kept. “The word of the Lord to us was that if we did not obey we could not go where our Heavenly Father dwells. A man obeying a lower law is not qualified to preside over those who keep a higher law.”

(Wilford Woodruff Journal, (14 October 1882), 8:126)

“Joseph F. Smith did not think that Jesus who descended through polygamous families from Abraham down and who fulfilled all the Law even baptism by immersion would have lived and died without being married.”

(Quoting Joseph F. Smith in Wilford Woodruff Journal, 8:187 (22 July 1883))

“Joseph F. Smith spoke one hour & 25 minutes. He spoke upon the marriage in Cana at Galilee. He thought Jesus was the bridegroom and Mary & Martha the brides. ... [He] spoke upon these passages to show that Mary & Martha manifested much closer relationship than merely a believer which looks consistent.”

(Quoting Joseph F. Smith in Wilford Woodruff Journal, 8:187-88 (22 July 1883))

George Q. Cannon

There are those in this audience who are descendants of the old Twelve Apostles—and shall I say it, yes, descendants of the Savior Himself. His seed is represented in this body of men.

(Journal of Rudger Clawson (2 July 189), 74-75 quoted in Dynasty of the Holy Grail, Mormonism’s Sacred Bloodline, Vern G. Swanson, Page 372.)

Lorenzo Snow

Following Pres. Cannon, President Snow arose and said that what Bro. Cannon had stated respecting the literal descendants among this company of the old apostles and the Savior Himself is true—that the Savior’s seed is represented in this body of men.

. . . .

There are men in this congregation who are descendants of the ancient Twelve Apostles and shall I say it, of the Son of God Himself, for He had seed, and in the right time they shall be known.

(Anthony Ivins Journal (2 July 189), LDS Archives; quoted in Dynasty of the Holy Grail, Mormonism’s Sacred Bloodline, Vern G. Swanson, Page 372.)

Brigham Young

The man Joseph, the husband of Mary, did not, that we know of, have more than one wife, but Mary the wife of Joseph had another husband. (Journal of Discourses, 19 August 1866, 11:268) “Also, the bridal feast at Cana of Galilee, where Jesus turned the water into wine, was on the occasion of one of his own marriages.”

(Young (Denning), Wife No. 19, 307. Dynasty of the Holy Grail, Mormonism’s Sacred Bloodline, Vern G. Swanson, Page 81.)

Brigham Young’s nineteenth wife wrote, “Jesus Christ was a practical polygamist; Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, were his plural wives, and Mary Magdalene was another.”

(Young (Denning), Wife No 19, 307. Dynasty of the Holy Grail, Mormonism’s Sacred Bloodline, Vern G. Swanson, Page 85.)

The scripture says that He, the Lord, came walking in the temple, with His train; I do not know who they were unless His wives and children.

(Journal of Discourses (13 November 1870) 13:309.)

Orson Hyde

It will be borne in mind that once upon a time, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and on a careful reading of that transaction, it will be discovered that no less a person than Jesus Christ was married on that occasion.

(Journal of Discourses, 4:259.)

Then you really mean to hold to the doctrine that the Savior of the world was married; do you mean to be understood so? And if so, do you mean to be understood that he had more than one wife? . . . For I tell you it is the chosen of God, the seed of the blessed, that shall be gathered. I do not despise to be called a son of Abraham, if he had a dozen wives; or to be called a brother, a son, a child of the Savior, if he had Mary, and Martha, and several others as wives: and though he did cast seven devils out of one of them, it is all the same to me.

(Journal of Discourses (6 October 1854) 2:80-83.)

How was it with Mary and Martha, and other women that followed him [Christ]? In old times, and it is common in this day, the women, even as Sarah, called their husbands Lord; the word Lord is tantamount to husband in some languages, master, lord, husband, are about synonymous. In England we frequently hear the wife say, “Where is my master?” She does not mean a tyrant, but as Sarah called her husband Lord, she designates hers by the word master.’

(Journal of Discourses (6 October 1854) 2:81-82.)

Orson Pratt

Indeed, the Psalmist, David, prophesies in particular concerning the Wives of the Son of God. We quote from the English version of the Bible, translated about three hundred and fifty years ago: All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia: when thou comest out of the ivory palaces, where they have made thee glad, Kings’ daughters were among thine honorable wives: upon thy Right hand did stand the Queen in a vesture of gold of Ophir.

(Orson Pratt, The Seer 1, 11 (November 1853): 170.)

Next let us enquire whether there are any intimations in Scripture concerning the wives of Jesus. We have already, in the 9th no. of this volume, spoken of the endless increase of Christ’s government. Now, we have no reason to suppose that this increase would continue, unless through the laws of generation, whereby Jesus, like His Father, should become the Father of spirits; and, in order to become the Father of spirits, or, as Isaiah says, “The Everlasting Father,” it is necessary that He should have one or more wives by whom He could multiply His seed, not for any limited period of time, but forever and ever: thus He truly would be a Father Everlastingly, according to the name which was to be given Him.

The Evangelists do not particularly speak of the marriage of Jesus; but this is not to be wondered at, for St. John says:

There are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. (John 21:25)

One thing is certain, that there were several holy women that greatly loved Jesus—such as Mary, and Martha her sister, and Mary Magdalene; and Jesus greatly loved them, and associated with them much; and when He arose from the dead, instead of first showing Himself to His chosen witnesses, the Apostles, He appeared first to these women, or at least to one of them—namely, Mary Magdalene. Now, it would be very natural for a husband in the resurrection to appear first to his own dear wives, and afterwards show himself to his other friends. If all the acts of Jesus were written, we no doubt should learn that these beloved women were us wives.
(Orson Pratt, The Seer 1 (October 1853): 159-60.)

From the passage in the forty-fifth Psalm, it will be seen that the great Messiah who was the founder of the Christian religion, was a polygamist, as well as the Patriarch Jacob and the prophet David from whom He descended according to the flesh. Paul says concerning Jesus, Verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Abraham the polygamist, being a friend of God, the Messiah chose to take upon himself his seed; and by marrying many honorable wives himself, show to all future generations that he approbated the plurality of wives under the Christian dispensation, as well as under the dispensations in which His polygamist ancestors lived.

(Orson Pratt, The Seer 1, 11 (November 1853): 172.)

We have now clearly shown that God the Father had a plurality of wives, one or more being in eternity, by whom He begat our spirits as well as the spirit of Jesus His First Born, and another being upon the earth by whom He begat the tabernacle of Jesus. . . . We have also proved that both God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ inherit their wives in eternity as well as in time; and that God the Father has already begotten many thousand millions of sons and daughters. ... it being expressly declared that the children of one of His Queens should be made Princes in all the earth.

(Orson Pratt, The Seer 1 (1853): 172.)

Jedediah M. Grant

He [Celsus] says, “The grand reason why the Gentiles and philosophers of his school persecuted Jesus Christ, was because he had so many wives; there were Elizabeth, and Mary, and a host of others that followed him.” . . . tie grand reason of the burst of public sentiment in anathemas upon Christ and his disciples, causing his crucifixion, was evidently based upon polygamy, according to the testimony of the philosophers who rose in that age. A belief in the doctrine of a plurality of wives caused the persecution of Jesus and his followers. We might almost think they were “Mormons.”

(Journal of Discourses (7 August 1853), 1:345-46.)

Heber C. Kimball

In his biography on Heber C. Kimball, Stanley Kimball quoted the Apostle as saying “that Christ was married—indeed that Christ was married to both Mary and Martha and that the famous wedding of Cana was in reality Christ’s own wedding.”

(Kimball, Heber C. Kimball, 274 (citing Mary Ellen Kimball Journal, 54.))

Satan's Influence in Government

Joseph Fielding Smith

The present turmoil and contentions in the world are due to the fact that the leaders of nations are getting their inspiration from Satan, not from the Lord. His Spirit is withdrawn from them, according to his promise, in spiritual things. The Lord would be glad to direct them, but they seek not his counsel. The spirit of the evil one is placing in their minds vain and fantastic notions and leading mankind farther away from the truth as they boast in their own strength, while the Almighty sits in the heavens and no doubt laughs at their folly.
(Answers to Gospel Questions. vols. 1-4. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957-1966. Pg. 156)

Joseph Fielding Smith

Satan has control now. No matter where you look, he is in control, even in our own land. He is guiding the governments as far as the Lord will permit him. That is why there is so much strife, turmoil, and confusion all over the earth. One master mind is governing the nations. It is not the President of the United States; it is not Hitler; it is not Mussolini; it is not the king or government of England or any other land; it is Satan himself.”
(Doctrines of Salvation. Compiled by Bruce R. McConkie. 3 vols. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1954-56. 3:315)

Ezra Taft Benson

I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding in every segment of our society. (See D&C 1:14-16; D&C 84:49-53.) It is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before. Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world. (See Ether 8:18-25.)”
(General Conference, Oct. 1988)

Mormon Leaders on Population Control

Russell M. Nelson 

Another excuse some use to justify abortion relates to population control. Many in developing nations unknowingly ascribe their lack of prosperity to overpopulation. While they grovel in ignorance of God and His commandments, they may worship objects of their own creation (or nothing at all), while unsuccessfully attempting to limit their population by the rampant practice of abortion. They live in squalor, oblivious to the divine teaching-stated in the scriptures not once, but thirty-four times-that people will prosper in the land only if they obey the commandments of God. (General Conference, April 1985)

Harold B. Lee 

Satan turns great issues of the day into concerns for the Church. Do you realize that Satan has decreed that he will use all of his considerable power to thwart the work of Jesus Christ on the earth? That power enables him to turn some of the great issues of the day into the challenges of the Church. The women's liberation front, at least the extremist areas, challenges the teachings of the Church concerning the sister's role as homemaker and her key role as supporter and thus to share in the blessings of the priesthood. This whole movement strikes at the heart of one of the great and the most fundamental teachings pertaining to your lives. We hear so much about this world ecology. Experts develop theses around fully justified pollution problems, then all too often conclude that the solution to these problems lies in birth and population control—again, a direct challenge to the word of God as revealed by his prophets. (Teachings of Harold B. Lee, 43)

Ezra Taft Benson 

The precepts of men would have you believe that by limiting the population of the world, we can have peace and plenty. That is the doctrine of the devil. Small numbers do not insure peace; only righteousness does. After all, there were only a handful of men on the earth when Cain interrupted the peace of Adam's household by slaying Abel. On the other hand, the whole city of Enoch was peaceful; and it was taken into heaven because it was made up of righteous people. And so far as limiting the population in order to provide plenty is concerned, the Lord answered that falsehood in the Doctrine and Covenants when he said: "For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves." (D&C 104:17.) (General Conference, April 1969)

Knowledge Beyond Faith

Richard G. Scott

Use Jesus Christ as your example for life. Use His teachings as your handbook and never make exceptions to them. When I was your age I tried with all my heart to grow in faith and testimony of Him. What I tell you now is not based on faith - I know He lives.

Speech at BYU-Hawaii Graduation, July 2, 1994.

Brigham Young's Prophecy of Labor Saving Devices

"Cars, planes, telephones, computers, and so forth enable us to do so much more than ever before. But they can also distract us from doing what, eternally, really matters most. Susa Young Gates once asked her father, President Brigham Young, how it would ever be possible to accomplish the great amount of temple work that needed to be done. 'He told her there would be many inventions of labor-saving devices, so that our daily duties could be performed in a short time, leaving us more and more time for temple work. The inventions have come, and are still coming, but many simply divert the time gained to other channels, and not for the purpose intended by the Lord.'"

W. Jeffrey Marsh, “Training from the Old Testament: Moroni’s Lessons for a Prophet,” Ensign, Aug. 1998, 10; quoting Archibald F. Bennett, “Put On Thy Strength, O Zion!” Improvement Era, Oct. 1952, 720.

Farrar on Death & Self-Importance

The world hardly attaches any significance to any life except those of its heroes and benefactors, its mighty intellects, or its splendid conquerors. But these are, and must ever be, the few. One raindrop of myriads falling on moor or desert or mountain—one snowflake out of myriads melting into the immeasurable sea—is, and must be, for most men the symbol of their ordinary lives. They die, and barely have they died, when they are forgotten; a few years pass, and the creeping lichens eat away the letters of their names upon the churchyard stone; but even if those crumbling letters were still decipherable, they would recall no memory to those who stand upon their graves. Even common and ordinary men are very apt to think themselves of much importance; but, on the contrary, not even the greatest man is in any degree necessary, and after a very short space of time—

"His place, in all the pomp that fills
The circuit of the summer hills,
Is that his grave is green."

A relative insignificance, then, is, and must be, the destined lot of the immense majority, and many a man might hence be led to think, that since he fills so small a space—since, for the vast masses of mankind, he is of as little importance as the ephemerid which buzzes out its little hour in the summer noon—there is nothing better than to eat, and drink, and die. But Christ came to convince us that a relative insignificance may be an absolute importance. He came to teach that continual excitement, prominent action, distinguished services, brilliant success, are no essential elements of true and noble life, and that myriads of the beloved of God are to he found among the insignificant and the obscure. "Si vis divinus esse, late ut Deus," is the encouraging, consoling, ennobling lesson of those voiceless years. The calmest and most unknown lot is often the happiest, and we may safely infer that these years in the home and trade of the carpenter of Nazareth were happy years in our Saviour's life.

Frederic W. Farrar, The Life of Christ, Chapter VII, pages 88-89.

Near Death Experiences and Visions of the Last Days

Much ado has been made over books that give titillating and detailed descriptions of near death experiences and last-days events. Such books are heavily advertised and rumored to be terrific sellers. I have serious reservations about such books for several reasons.

First, the acceptance of these books as revelations violates the doctrine found in Doctrine and Covenants 43:1-7:

1 O hearken, ye elders of my church, and give ear to the words which I shall speak unto you.
2 For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations from my hand.
3 And this ye shall know assuredly—that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
4 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead.
5 And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments;
6 And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me.
7 For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed.

The gate referenced in verse seven is the established organization of the Church, not Amazon.com, Cedar Fort Inc., Sprinkcreek Books, or even Deseret Book. The second reason I have reservation about such books is that it violates the principle of keeping spiritual confidences. I have assembled quotes from authoritative sources on this principle here. Associated with this principle is the scripture in Alma: “It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.” (Alma 12:9.) By publishing sacred experiences, one is certainly not imparting according to the heed and diligence of another, rather, one is casting sacred pearls before swine.

The third reason I have reservation about these books is that it seems strange for one to seek to monetarily profit from a real revelation. When Paul wrote the Corinthians, he said, “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:33) If those who publish these books wish to simply benefit their brothers and sisters with the content of their supposed revelations, I do not see the reason they charge more than their cost of publishing the revelation. Moreover, they are not sharing the revelation online, where others could access it at no cost. Rather, they are charging market prices and heavily marketing their books.

Ultimately, each person must decide for themselves what they will receive as truth. “And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (Moroni 10:5)

The Inadvisability of Releasing Someone to the Lord in a Blessing

On dedicating the sick and suffering to the Lord, Improvement Era 25:1122, October, 1922.

The editors of the Era, President Heber J. Grant and Edward H. Anderson, in publishing this letter of the First Presidency written to an unnamed "inquirer," stated: "Questions have been asked as to what extent the custom prevails among the elders of the Church of dedicating the very sick, or the suffering, to the Lord when they are administered to, thus presumably giving them up to death. The question is further as to the extent or advisability of this custom. The First Presidency have considered this matter, and . . . say:"

ON DEDICATING THE SICK AND THE SUFFERING TO THE LORD

The custom which is growing in the Church to dedicate those who appear to be beyond recovery, to the Lord, has no place among the ordinances of the Church. The Lord has instructed us, where people are sick, to call in the elders, two or more, who should pray for and lay their hands upon them in the name of the Lord; and "if they die," says the Lord, "they shall die unto me; and if they live, they shall live unto me." No possible advantage can result from dedicating faithful members of the Church to the Lord prior to their death. Their membership in the Church, their devotion to the faith which they have espoused, are sufficient guarantee, so far as their future welfare is concerned. The administration of the ordinances of the Gospel to the sick, is for the purpose of healing them, that they may continue lives of usefulness until the Lord shall call them hence. This is as far as we should go. If we adhere strictly to that which the Lord has revealed in regard to this matter, no mistake will be made.
Messages of the First Presidency, Volume 5, page 219.

Mormon Leaders on Playing Cards

Ezra Taft Benson

We should refrain from card playing, against which we have been counseled by the leaders of the Church. (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 460)

Spencer W. Kimball

We hope faithful Latter-day Saints will not use the playing cards which are used for gambling, either with or without the gambling. As for the gambling, in connection with horse racing or games or sports, we firmly discourage such things. (Opening Address General Conference October 1974 “God Will Not Be Mocked”)

Harold B. Lee

Elder Lee was classified by many as being a conservative or a fundamentalist. Certainly one manifestation of this was his contempt for card playing. Once while setting up a new mission in Billings, Montana, he was inspired to preach on this subject and put to flight a nest of bridge-playing sisters. He taught his daughters to totally avoid face cards, which sometimes were used for evil purposes, and to even avoid the appearance thereof. At the beginning of the New Year in 1947, he went with Sister Lee to a dinner party at the home of a dear friend, but left promptly after dinner when he learned that the entertainment for the evening was to play Rook, which he regarded as a substitute for regular playing cards and a complete waste of time. (Harold B. Lee: Prophet and Seer by Brent L. Goates, 211)

Joseph Fielding Smith

Card playing and all other games of chance should be avoided as the gate of destruction. All such practices have been discountenanced by the Authorities of the Church from the beginning of our history. When the Mormon Battalion was called into the service of the country, President Brigham Young addressed the volunteers and said that he wished them to prove themselves to be the best soldiers in the service of the United States. He admonished the captains to be fathers to the men in their companies and to manage the officers and men by the power of the priesthood. They should keep themselves clean, teach chastity and gentility. There was to be no swearing, and no man was to be insulted. They were to avoid contention with Missourians—their enemies —and all other persons. They were to take their Bibles and copies of the Book of Mormon with them and study them but not impose their beliefs on others. They were to avoid card playing, and if they had cards with them, they were to burn them. If they would follow this instruction, he promised them that they would not be called on to shed the blood of their fellow men. (Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol. 1, 193)

Heber J. Grant

I want to say that we expect every president of a stake and every bishop of a ward to teach the people the truth. We want them to tell the people that they are expected to obey the Word of Wisdom, to be honest tithe-payers, to remember the covenants that they make in the temples of God, and not mutilate their garments: that we expect them to quit playing cards; and that we expect them to do their duty as saints, and to preach the Gospel by living it. (General Conference April 1929)

By the way, I hear that card playing is becoming very, very popular, and that the Church must be in favor of card playing because the Church authorities never say anything against it. From the time I was a child and read the Juvenile Instructor, published for the benefit of the people, I have read nothing except condemnation of card-playing and the wasting of your time in doing something that brings no good, bodily, intellectually, or in any way, and sometimes leads your children to become gamblers, because they become expert card-players. The Church as a Church requests its members not to play cards. I hope you understand me, and I want you to know that I am speaking for the Church when I ask the people to let cards alone. (General Conference April 1926)

Joseph F. Smith

How can a man or a woman as a teacher in the Sunday school or as one occupied in any other ecclesiastical duty, who is in the habit of playing cards, say to the children, "You must not do it, because it is a waste of time and it may result in your ruin?" Who can give such advice who is in the habit of doing it himself? . . . . It cannot be done, or, if it is done, it will be without force and without effect, except, perhaps, to brand with hypocrisy any such parent who gives such advice to his children and it breeds contempt in the minds of the children when the parents undertake to teach them to be better than they are themselves, or not to do things which they themselves indulge in. (General Conference October 1903)

I have been grieved with the knowledge that persistent card playing is gaining an alarming foothold among the people. The Saints have been often warned against the evil in the past. President George Q. Cannon has spoken strongly and written clearly against this immoral habit; and President Snow, also with voice and pen, has set the seal of his condemnation upon it. I wish, too, to declare against card-playing with all the force and influence at my command, and to place myself on record as being opposed to it in any and all forms and under any and all conditions. I warn the Saints, and especially the young people, that it is a dangerous practice, and urge all to leave it alone, repent of the evil, and turn to profitable and healthful pastimes and recreations. (Improvement Era Editorial 1903)

Some seven years ago card-playing was extensively indulged in by the people. Through the efforts put forth against it, at that time, many abandoned the game, and for several years card-playing was tabooed. But evidently it was not completely killed, for recent reports have come that the evil is being revived among the people. I hope a hint to the Saints on this matter is enough, and that every member of the Church will determine to leave card playing alone hereafter. At present I desire only to repeat and emphasize what I said in the ERA at that time, and trust it will have the desired effect. (Improvement Era Editorial 1911)

Dallin H. Oaks

One type of gambling that has been vigorously criticized by our leaders is card playing. Cards may, of course, be played without playing for money, but the relationship between card playing and gambling is so close and the practice of card playing itself partakes of so many of the disadvantages of gambling that card playing has come under condemnation regardless of whether or not gambling is involved. (Ensign November 1972)

William H. Bennett

We should not use playing cards because the prophets of God have counseled against it. That in itself should be sufficient reason to leave them alone. (Questions and Answers, New Era, Sept. 1974, 12)

Bruce R. McConkie

Members of the Church should not belong to bridge or other type of card clubs, and they should neither play cards nor have them in their homes. By cards is meant, of course, the spotted face cards used by gamblers. To the extent that church members play cards they are out of harmony with their inspired leaders. Innocent non-gambling games played with other types of cards, except for the waste of time in many instances, are not objectionable. (Mormon Doctrine, 113)

Vaughn Featherstone

Self-indulgence is as addictive in all its forms as are drugs, nicotine, or alcohol. Reading pornography is addictive. To cease reading such material requires great self-control and the suffering of withdrawal symptoms as great as those caused by giving up smoking or drinking. Gambling, watching television to excess, overeating, oversleeping, uncontrolled thinking, lusting, swearing, telling dirty or lewd stories, dressing immodestly, lying, cheating, playing cards—all are addictive. Those with these problems have difficulty changing. They suffer strong withdrawal pains. Conversely, the life of self-denial builds strength of character, integrity, health, self-control, confidence, and self-respect. (Self-Denial, November 1977 New Era)

Are Caffeine and Cola Drinks Against the Word of Wisdom?

Howard W. Hunter

Live the spirit of the Word of Wisdom. We complicate the simplicity of the Word of Wisdom. The Lord said don't drink tea, coffee, or use tobacco or liquor and that admonition is simple. But we confuse it by asking if cola drinks are against the Word of Wisdom. The 89th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants doesn't say anything about cola drinks, but we ask questions that go beyond the simplicity of the lesson that has been taught. We know that caffeine is taken out of coffee and used as an ingredient of cola drinks. It seems to me that if we really want to live the spirit of the law we probably wouldn't partake of that which had been taken from what we were told not to drink. (Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, 105)

Vaughn J. Featherstone

I was over in England a while back and a bishop asked me, “What is the Church’s stand on cola drinks?”

I said, “Well, I can’t remember the exact wording of the bulletin, but I remember seeing the bulletin when I was a stake president. The Church, of course, advises against them.”

He said, “Well, I have read the Priesthood Bulletin, but that isn’t what it says to me.”

And I said, “Would you get your Priesthood Bulletin? Let’s read it together.” And so we found under the heading “Cola Drinks”: “… the leaders of the Church have advised, and we do now specifically advise, against use of any drink containing harmful habit-forming drugs. …” (The Priesthood Bulletin, Feb. 1972, p. 4.)

He said, “Well, you see, that doesn’t mean cola.”

I said, “Well, I guess you will have to come to your own grips with that, but to me, there is no question.” You see, there can’t be the slightest particle of rebellion, and in him there is. We can find loopholes in a lot of things if we want to bend the rules of the Church. (“A Self-Inflicted Purging,” Ensign, May 1975, 68)

N. Eldon Tanner

My nonmember friends seem to know a lot about the Church’s financial system and business interests. They say we own controlling interests in many national companies, some of which manufacture products that are against our standards, like liquor and tobacco companies. What can I tell them?”

Answer/President N. Eldon Tanner

Briefly you could quote the Church’s general policy to your friends. We do not own nor do we seek controlling interest in any major national company. In addition, the Church does not buy securities in any corporation that manufactures products such as cola drinks, publishing companies that print material that is not consistent with our standards, producers of alcoholic beverages, or tobacco companies. (“Q&A: Questions and Answers,” New Era, July 1975, 50)

Staying Healthy: Welfare Services Suggests How

Q. What are the health consequences of drinking caffeine drinks other than coffee? What is the position of the Church regarding their use?

A. The full answer to this question lies in the area of medical opinion and reliance on personal discernment. Cola beverages do contain caffeine and thus may be avoided in accordance with the spirit of the Word of Wisdom. The most current Church literature relating to the question is found in a Priesthood Bulletin statement dated February 1972: Volume 8, number 1, subheaded 6, paragraph 2:

“With reference to cola drinks, the Church has never officially taken a position on this matter, but the leaders of the Church have advised, and we do now specifically advise, against the use of any drink containing harmful habit-forming drugs under circumstances that would result in acquiring the habit. Any beverage that contains ingredients harmful to the body should be avoided.”

There is no current Church policy that would prevent a bishop from issuing a temple recommend to a person who consumes cola beverages. However, cola beverages contain caffeine in amounts that are approximately one-half to one-fourth the amount in a cup of coffee, depending upon the size of the bottle. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that certainly tends to become addictive in its use, with the attendant side effects of nervous system stimulants. Frequent use of cola beverages can lead to an addictive pattern similar to that observed in coffee drinkers. (Tambuli, Sept. 1981, 12)

George F. Richards

Some of our people quibble over the matter of tea and coffee, and say there is no mention of tea and coffee in the Word of Wisdom. I want to say to you that from the beginning of this Church, in the days of the Prophet Joseph, down to the present time, the leaders of this Church have interpreted that Word of Wisdom to include tea and coffee and all drinks that are habit-forming because of the caffeine and drugs they contain. (Conference Report, October 1938)

Rudger Clawson 

Scientific men have told us that in tobacco there is a deadly poison, and in tea there is a poison called tannin, in coffee a poison called caffeine. And we know that such must be the case, because these forbidden things are really and substantially narcotics, and a narcotic is something that is habit-forming. The things that are good for us are not habit-forming. We can take them up or put them down, but these bad habits very often and in most cases become masters of men; the habit is greater and stronger it appears than the individual. (Conference Report, October 1935)

John H. Taylor

We know the fundamental truth of the Word of Wisdom is based on a truth that cannot be eliminated or removed by any type of argument or reason. For instance, in coffee we have caffeine that is harmful, yet we sometimes reason that the same thing that makes coffee objectionable may not be so objectionable when it is used in some other way. It just indicates that we have not proven the thing so thoroughly that we have been able to hold fast to that which is good and make it a part of our lives. (Conference Report, October 1940)

Richard L. Evans

And now on the matter of morality: May I cite two significant sources: "The finest piece of mechanism in all the universe," said Dr. David Starr Jordan, of Stanford University, is the brain man and the mind which is its manifestation. . . . The sober man is the one who protects his brain from all that would do harm. . . . The Twentieth Century . . . will be strenuous, complex . . . [and] will ask for men of instant decision, men whose mental equipment is all in order. . . . No one can afford to look downward for his enjoyments. . . . The pleasures of vice are mere illusions, tricks of the nervous system, and each time these tricks are played it is more and more difficult for the mind to tell the truth. Such deceptions come through drunkenness and narcoticism. In greater or less degree all nerve-affecting drugs produce it: nicotine, caffeine, opium, cocaine, and [all] the rest, strong or weak. Habitual use of any of these is a physical vice. A physical vice becomes a moral vice, and . . . to cultivate vice is o render our mind incapable of normal action. . . . One and all, these various drugs . . . tend to give the impression of a power or a pleasure . . . which we do not possess. . . . One and all their function is to force the nervous system to lie. One and all the result of their habitual use is to render the nervous system incapable of ever telling the truth. . . . Indulgence . . . destroys wisdom and virtue; it destroys faith and hope and love. . . . Whatever you do, count all the cost." (Conference Report, October 1969)

Sterling W. Sill

And one of the most damaging sins and one that gives greatest strength to our death instinct is the violation of that great revelation given 132 years ago called the Word of Wisdom. Some violators of this law tend to excuse themselves because it appears to be such a small thing. It seems like just a little disobedience, a little caffeine a little nicotine, a little friendly indulgence in alcohol. Yet these are the springboards to disease, broken homes, immorality, disloyalty to God, physical death, and the death of many of our eternal interests. (Conference Report, April 1965)

H. Burke Peterson

“Is it against Church standards to drink cola beverages or any other beverage containing caffeine?” Answer/Bishop H. Burke Peterson

This is a very perplexing question to many. Maybe we should lead into its answer by first recounting a true story. Many years ago the ruler of Babylon was King Nebuchadnezzar. There was a war going on between Babylon and Judah. During the war King Nebuchadnezzar’s army was laying siege to Jerusalem. After capturing the city, the king, knowing of the fine quality of the Judean young people, instructed his leaders to capture certain of these young men of Israel who had royal blood in their veins. They were known to be strong of body and of mind and skillful in all wisdom. King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to raise them in his court that they might be a strength to his own people. The king set up a program where they would be given a daily provision of meat and wine—the same quality that he ate and drank. His plan was to have them thus fed and taught for three years and then to have them brought before him to be observed and tested with the thought in mind of then using the best of them as some of his country’s leaders.

Among those captured was a young man named Daniel and his three friends. When Daniel was told what he was to eat and drink, he was disturbed. He did not wish to eat the king’s food nor drink his wine for he knew it would be damaging to his body and mind. Now the Lord had made it possible for Daniel to become a good friend to the king’s chief servant. Daniel asked the chief servant if he could eat and drink something different that he might not defile his body. Daniel told the servant that he knew he and his friends would be stronger and wiser than all the other captured young men if he would allow them to eat proper foods. The servant was afraid the king would take his head if he disobeyed. However, Daniel talked the servant into letting him eat another kind of food and drink only water [page 37] for just ten days. This was to be a test to see if there wasn’t a difference between him and his friends and all the others. The chief servant consented, and at the end of the ten days Daniel said the servant looked upon them and “their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.”

After seeing the results, the chief servant then allowed these four to continue eating and drinking the good food they wished. The scripture says, “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” (Dan. 1:17.)

At the end of the three years King Nebuchadnezzar had them all brought before him to be questioned and tested. The record says that among them all, none was found like Daniel and his friends. In all matters of wisdom and understanding the king found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in his kingdom. What a tribute and blessing to four courageous young men who would not defile their bodies with food and drink that was not good for them! Even then Daniel understood the Lord’s law of health.

The Word of Wisdom is a guide to strengthening the body and mind and keeping them healthy so the spirit of the individual can function without impairment. If we understand the Word of Wisdom properly, we will do all things necessary to avoid weakening the marvelous temple the Lord has given us to house our spirit.

The revelation in the 89th section of the Doctrine and Covenants says: “And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man.” (D&C 89:10.)

We should notice the word wholesome and always consider the things that we take into our body as to whether they are wholesome or not. The scripture continues, “All these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.” (D&C 89:11.) Consider the word prudence. Would eating a whole apple pie or a cake or watermelon at one sitting be prudent? It is contrary to the principles embodied in the Word of Wisdom to take an excess of anything into our bodies. Two of the tests we can employ as we question the use of any food or beverage are: Is it wholesome? Is it prudent? As we know, some of us need more rest than others. These same principles imply that we should not tax our bodies beyond good judgment. Finally, remember that the Lord has counseled:

“For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.” (D&C 58:26.)

We know that cola drinks contain the drug caffeine. We know caffeine is not wholesome nor prudent for the use of our bodies. It is only sound judgment to conclude that cola drinks and any others that contain caffeine or other harmful ingredients should not be used.

For those who are willing to exhibit the same courage and good judgment as the boy Daniel: “And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.” (D&C 89:18–21.) (“Q&A: Questions and Answers,” New Era, Oct. 1975, 36)