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mormon doctrine bruce r mcconkie quorum of the twelve apostles 1972-1985 © 1966 deseret book company

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mormon doctrine bruce r mcconkie mormon doctrine bruce r mcconkie sudbr.org sud-br.blogspot.com 2 1966 by bookcraft inc.

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mormon doctrine bruce r mcconkie mormon doctrine bruce r mcconkie sudbr.org sud-br.blogspot.com 2 1966 by bookcraft inc.

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about this book about this book mormon doctrine bruce r mcconkie 1 teaches the doctrines of the gospel in a plain and simple way 2 explains the true principles of revealed religion 3 interprets a host of hard and difficult scriptural passages 4 digests and outlines the important doctrines of the kingdom 5 summarizes the fundamental teachings about christ salvation and the kingdom of god 6 analyzes what men must do to gain peace here and eternal life hereafter 7 covers the whole field of revealed religion mormon doctrine is the ideal book for all who seek salvation through the knowledge of him who said teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you d c 88:77 7 © 1966 deseret book company all rights reserved no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher deseret book company p.o box 30178 salt lake city utah 84130 this work is not an official publication of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints the views expressed herein are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the church or of deseret book company deseret book is a registered trademark of deseret book company sudbr.org 3 sud-br.blogspot.com 4

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preface preface this work on mormon doctrine is designed to help persons seeking salvation to gain that knowledge of god and his laws without which they cannot hope for an inheritance in the celestial city since it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance of god and his laws and since man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge of jesus christ and the plan of salvation it follows that men are obligated at their peril to learn and apply the true doctrines of the gospel this gospel compendium will enable men more effectively to teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom to be instructed more perfectly in theory in principle in doctrine in the law of the gospel in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of god that are expedient for them to understand d c 88:77-78 for the work itself i assume sole and full responsibility salt lake city utah june 1 1958 bruce r mcconkie second edition from the time the first copies came from the press this compendium of mormon doctrine has found a wide and gratifying acceptance among doctrinal students in all parts of the church in publishing this second edition as is common with major encyclopedic-type works experience has shown the wisdom of making some changes clarifications and additions salt lake city utah september 1 1966 bruce r mcconkie 5 6

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abbreviations abbreviations scriptural references are abbreviated in a standard and self-identifying way other books are cited by author and title except that the following oft-cited works are referred to by title only little james a richards franklin d compendium roberts brigham h outlines of ecclesiastical history smith joseph history of the church vols 1 to 6 lectures on faith teachings of the prophet joseph smith cited as teachings smith joseph f gospel doctrine smith joseph fielding doctrines of salvation vols 1 to 3 essentials in church history man his origin and destiny progress of man way to perfection talmage james e articles of faith taylor john gospel kingdom mediation and atonement woodruff wilford discourses of wilford woodruff young brigham discourses of brigham young cited as discourses a aaron aaron see aaronic priesthood aaronites levi melchizedek moses presiding bishop priesthood sons of moses and aaron to aaron goes the honor as a perpetual memorial through all generations of having his name used to identify the lesser levitical or aaronic priesthood d c 84:18-27 107:1 20 as a possessor of the melchizedek priesthood aaron held a position of prominence and leadership among the elders ex 18:12 john taylor items on priesthood p 5 indeed with moses nadab abihu and 70 of the elders of israel aaron saw the god of israel before the existence of the aaronic order and when moses went up into the mount of god aaron and hur were left in a position of presidency over the other elders ex 24 but when the law of carnal commandments was added to the gospel because of transgressions then aaron and his sons were chosen to bear that priesthood by which the lesser law was administered gal 3 aaron s position then became comparable to that of the presiding bishop of the church john taylor items on priesthood pp 5-6 also before the institution of the levitical priesthood aaron was chosen by the lord to act as a minister with and a spokesman for moses his younger brother ex 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 16 after the beginning of the aaronic order aaron and his sons after him were anointed priests unto israel ex 28 29 30 num 3 4 aaron s call to the levitical ministry stands as the perfect example of the choosing of legal administrators to do the lord s work ever since that day the legality of priestly administration has been 7 8

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determined by whether the professing minister was called of god as was aaron heb 5:4 d c 27:8 132:59 that is by revelation and ordination and with the full approval of the body of the lord s true worshipers aaronic priesthood aaronic priesthood see aaron aaronites bishops deacons john the baptist keys law of moses levites melchizedek priesthood ordinations priesthood priesthood of elias priesthood offices priesthood quorums priests quorum presidents teachers when the lord first gave the law of carnal commandments the preparatory gospel to school israel for a future time when again they could enjoy the gospel fulness of necessity a lesser order of priesthood was conferred to administer the lesser law heb 7:12 inspired version ex 34:1-2 this lesser priesthood d c 85:11 was conferred upon aaron and his sons after him ex 28 29 30 lev 1:11 3:2 13:2 num 18 as an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations ex 40:15 num 25:10-13 it was also conferred upon substantially the whole house of levi who were between 30 and 50 years of age num 3 4 hence it is called the aaronic or levitical priesthood the two names are synonymous d c 107:1 6 10 aaron and his sons after him held the keys of the aaronic priesthood and acted in the full majesty and power of this levitical order many of their functions were comparable to those of bishops and priests in this dispensation though the rest of the ordained levites held the fulness of the aaronic priesthood heb 7:5 and participated in the offering of sacrifices they did not hold the keys of the aaronic ministry many of their functions were comparable to those of teachers and deacons in this dispensation num 3 4 2 chron 29 mal 3:3 d c 13 doctrines of salvation vol 3 pp 111-114 from aaron to john the baptist the hereditary nature of the levitical priesthood was in active operation teachings pp 318-319 d c 84:18 26-27 30 107:13 this priesthood in that day was conferred solely upon worthy members of the special lineage chosen to receive it it came to individuals by descent because of father and because of mother as contrasted with the melchizedek priesthood which was without father without mother without descent heb 7:3 john the baptist was a descendant of aaron and held the keys of the aaronic priesthood teachings pp 272-273 there was no aaronic priesthood among the nephites prior to the ministry of the resurrected lord among them for none of the tribe of levi accompanied the nephite peoples to their promised land few members of the tribe of levi gathered with the fold of israel in the meridian of time few have come back to the fold of their fathers in this dispensation and there were none among the nephites to whom our lord ministered consequently beginning in the day of the primitive church the lesser priesthood was spread out among the body of the people and was no longer confined exclusively to the chosen lineage when the latter-day kingdom is perfected and when the other tribes of israel are gathered and receive their blessings under the hands of ephraim the first to gather d c 133:26-35 then the sons of levi again will stand forth in the majesty of their calling and offer again an offering unto the lord in righteousness d c 13 john the baptist as a resurrected personage came to joseph smith and oliver cowdery on the 15th of may 1829 and made the first conferral of levitical priesthood in this dispensation d c 13 27:8 since then as the needs of the ministry warranted the offices of bishop priest teacher and deacon have all been revealed as part of this aaronic ministry the priesthood of aaron is called the lesser priesthood because it is an appendage to the greater or the melchizedek priesthood and has power in administering outward ordinances d c 107:1314 though it is a lesser priesthood it is yet one of great majesty and power it holds the keys of the ministering of angels meaning that those who hold it and are faithful have the key whereby they can open the door to the receipt of visitations from heavenly messengers d c 13 84:26-27 107:20 faith repentance and baptism comprising as they do the preparatory gospel fall within its province though the laying on of hands for the gift of the holy ghost is not a prerogative that attends it perfection does not come by the levitical order and this lesser priesthood is not received with an oath heb 7:11 21 teachings p 323 but it is a preparatory priesthood the priesthood of elias the schooling ministry which prepares its worthy and faithful ministers for the oath and covenant and perfection that appertain to the melchizedek order that those who train themselves to receive the melchizedek priesthood by magnifying their callings in the aaronic priesthood must be true and faithful and worthy for the final receipt of the greater priesthood is self-evident indeed one of the reasons the lord destroyed korah and his band of levites was that they being unworthy sought the high priesthood also inspired version num 16 aaronites aaronites see aaron aaronic priesthood levites sons of moses and aaron descendants of aaron specially honored as the priests of israel were called aaronites 1 chron 12:27 27:17 descent and genealogical proof thereof were of vital importance the children of the priests when the temple was to be rebuilt in jerusalem sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy but they were not found therefore were they as polluted put from the priesthood ezra 2:61-63 neh 7:63-65 abaddon abaddon see apollyon destroyer devil hell this expression of hebrew origin was used by john as a name for satan rev 9:11 it is the same as the greek apollyon and means literally the destroyer it was used anciently to mean hell as shown in the marginal reading of psalm 88:11 abominable church abominable church see church of the devil abomination of desolation abomination of desolation see abominations second coming of christ signs of the times daniel spoke prophetically of a day when there would be the abomination that maketh desolate dan 11:31 12:11 and the phrase was recoined in new testament times to say the abomination of desolation spoken of by daniel the prophet matt 24:15 aside from the prophetic setting and relying solely on the plain meaning of words we would conclude that this phrase abomination of desolation would have reference to some great act or status of corruption and befoulment of contamination and filthiness which would bring to pass destruction ruination devastation desolation such is the case these conditions of desolation born of abomination and wickedness were to occur twice in fulfilment of daniel s words the first was to be when the roman legions under titus in 70 a.d laid siege to jerusalem destroying and scattering the people leaving not one stone upon another in the desecrated temple and spreading such terror and devastation as has seldom if ever been equalled on earth of those days moses had foretold that the straitness of the siege would cause parents to eat their own children and great loathing and evil to abound deut 28 and of the same events our lord was led to say for then in those days shall be great tribulation on the jews and upon the inhabitants of jerusalem such as was not before sent upon israel of god since the beginning of their kingdom until this time no nor ever shall be sent again upon israel and except those days should be shortened there should none of their flesh be saved jos smith 1:12-20 then speaking of the last days of the days following the restoration of the gospel and its declaration for a witness unto all nations our lord said and again shall the abomination of desolation spoken of by daniel the prophet be fulfilled jos smith 1:31-32 that is jerusalem again will be under siege for i will gather all nations against jerusalem to battle again the severity of the siege and the extremities of brutal conflict born of wickedness and abomination will lead to great devastation and 9 10

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desolation and the city shall be taken and the houses rifled and the women ravished and half of the city shall go forth into captivity zech 14 it will be during this siege that christ will come the wicked will be destroyed and the millennial era commenced in a general sense this expressive designation abomination of desolation also describes the latter-day terrors to be poured out upon the wicked wherever they may be and so that the honest in heart may escape these things the lord sends his missionaries forth to raise the warning voice to declare the glad tidings of the restoration lest desolation and utter abolishment come upon them the elders are commanded to reprove the world in righteousness of all their unrighteous and ungodly deeds setting forth clearly and understandingly the desolation of abomination in the last days d c 84:114 117 also go forth among the gentiles for the last time as many as the mouth of the lord shall name to bind up the law and seal up the testimony and to prepare the saints for the hour of judgment which is to come that their souls may escape the wrath of god the desolation of abomination which awaits the wicked both in this world and in the world to come d c 88:84-85 through me upon the gentiles which blessing upon the gentiles shall make them mighty above all unto the scattering of my people o house of israel and they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land nevertheless when they shall have received the fulness of my gospel then if they shall harden their hearts against me i will return their iniquities upon their own heads saith the father and i will remember the covenant which i have made with my people and i have covenanted with them that i would gather them together in mine own due time that i would give unto them again the land of their fathers for their inheritance which is the land of jerusalem which is the promised land unto them forever saith the father 3 ne 20:25-29 as a sign that ye may know the time when these things shall be about to take place the lord said that a free nation would be set up on the american continent that the gospel would be restored and that the book of mormon would come forth and when these things come to pass that thy seed shall begin to know these things it shall be a sign unto them that they may know that the work of the father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of israel 3 ne 21 abominations abominations see abomination of desolation church of the devil signs of the times sin wickedness those practices which are so vile hateful and detestable as to excite and deserve loathing are called abominations idolatry and every form of sex immorality for instance are so classified lev 18 abrahamic dispensation see dispensations abrahamic dispensation abraham s bosom abraham s bosom see paradise spirit world our lord in the parable of lazarus and the rich man uses the term abraham s bosom to mean paradise abraham the friend of god not at that time having been resurrected was continuing his life in the paradise of god the same place to which the righteous beggar went luke 16:19-31 the expression connotes the close fellowship and harmony that exists among the righteous in the paradisiacal sphere of peace and rest abrahamic covenant abrahamic covenant see adoption celestial marriage children of the covenant covenants exaltation gathering of israel hope of israel melchizedek priesthood new and everlasting covenant restoration of the gospel abraham first received the gospel by baptism which is the covenant of salvation then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood and he entered into celestial marriage which is the covenant of exaltation gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity abra 2:6-11 d c 132:2950 included in the divine promises to abraham was the assurance that christ would come through his lineage and the assurance that abraham s posterity would receive certain choice promised lands as an eternal inheritance abra 2 gen 17 22:15-18 gal 3 all of these promises lumped together are called the abrahamic covenant this covenant was renewed with isaac gen 24:60 26:1-4 24 and again with jacob gen 28 35:9-13 48:3-4 those portions of it which pertain to personal exaltation and eternal increase are renewed with each member of the house of israel who enters the order of celestial marriage through that order the participating parties become inheritors of all the blessings of abraham isaac and jacob d c 132 rom 9:4 gal 3 4 to fulfil the covenant god made with abraham having particular reference to the fact that the literal seed of his body would be entitled to the blessings of the gospel the priesthood celestial marriage and eternal life abra 2:10-11 a number of specific and particular things must take place in the last days the gospel must be restored the priesthood be conferred again upon man the keys of the sealing power given again to mortals israel gathered and the holy ghost must be poured out upon the gentiles all this has of course already taken place or is in process of fulfilment 1 ne 14:5-7 15:12-20 19:14-17 22:325 2 ne 6:6-12 9:1-2 10:7-15 11:5 29:1 3 ne 15 20 21 ether 13:1-13 this is the very day when the identity of those who are heirs according to the covenant d c 52:2 who are lawful heirs according to the flesh d c 86:8-11 is being made known to the nephites the resurrected lord proclaimed ye are of the house of israel and ye are of the covenant which the father made with your fathers saying unto abraham and in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed the father having raised me up unto you first and sent me to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities and this because ye are the children of the covenant and after that ye were blessed then fulfilleth the father the covenant which he made with abraham saying in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed unto the pouring out of the holy ghost 11 abraham s children abraham s children see adoption children of the covenant israel tribes of israel we be abraham s seed the jews said and so they were in the literal sense but in the gospel sense abraham s children are those who do the works of abraham for their blood is thereby cleansed and purified as was abraham s and they are adopted into his lineage abra 2:8-11 d c 84:33-41 132:29-33 teachings pp 149-150 hence our lord replied to the jews if ye were abraham s children ye would do the works of abraham ye do the deeds of your father ye are of your father the devil and the lusts of your father ye will do john 8:31-47 absolution absolution see forgiveness abstinence abstinence see word of wisdom abyss abyss see bottomless pit 12

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accountability accountability see agency baptism infant baptism original sin theory salvation of children temptation years of accountability personal accountability for all of one s acts underlies the whole gospel plan and is the natural outgrowth of the law of free agency without such personal responsibility free agency could not operate for neither rewards nor punishments would follow the exercise of agency and if there were no rewards or punishments there would be no salvation or damnation and so the whole plan of salvation would vanish away 2 ne 2:11-16 but contrary to the false doctrine which denies personal responsibility for sin and says instead that men are predestined to salvation or damnation the lord has said that men will be punished for their own sins second article of faith articles of faith pp 52-73 and that they will be judged according to the deeds done in the flesh rev 20:12 accordingly men are accountable for all their acts both temporal and spiritual d c 42:32 104:13 accountability for civic and governmental acts is included we believe that governments were instituted of god for the benefit of man and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them both in making laws and administering them for the good and safety of society d c 134:1 in fact the lord established the constitution of the united states that every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity according to the moral agency which i have given unto him that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment d c 101:77-80 acts of god acts of god see god judgments of god signs of the times common custom designates the calamities of nature as acts of god in courts of law for instance floods earthquakes volcanic eruptions hailstorms and the like since they apparently are wholly outside the realm of human control are called acts of god this view of things is particularly offensive to those branches of modern christendom which specialize in the false view that deity is light love and goodness and never manifests himself except through attributes of this sort in actuality the hand of the lord is seen in all things including the calamities of nature he has given laws unto all things including the forces of nature and by these laws those forces are operated governed and controlled d c 88:42-45 one of these laws is that the righteousness or wickedness of men directly affects the operation of the forces of nature crops grow for the righteous who pay tithing mal 3:7-12 the rains come and the productivity of the soil is enhanced when men keep the commandments lev 26:3-5 by listening to the whisperings of the spirit many righteous persons have been led out of the paths of impending calamities conversely when the fulness of the lord s wrath has rested upon wicked cities and nations the inhabitants of those places have been placed in the way of acts of god which would destroy them these things are seen in the whole record of god s dealings with men adam with the exalted title of michael the archangel led the hosts of the righteous in the war in heaven rev 12:7-9 and the first man of all men have i called adam the lord says which is many moses 1:34 3:7 6:45 abra 1:3 1 ne 5:11 d c 84:16 that is adam was placed on earth as the first of the human family and given a name which signifies many as pertaining to the greatness of the posterity which should flow from him as to the manner in which adam was placed on earth the first presidency of the church joseph f smith john r winder and anthon h lund has given us this plain statement he took upon him an appropriate body the body of a man and so became a living soul all who have inhabited the earth since adam have taken bodies and become souls in like manner man began life as a human being in the likeness of our heavenly father true it is that the body of man enters upon its career as a tiny germ or embryo which becomes an infant quickened at a certain stage by the spirit whose tabernacle it is and the child after being born develops into a man there is nothing in this however to indicate that the original man the first of our race began life as anything less than a man or less than the human germ or embryo that becomes a man man his origin and destiny p 354 adam s great part in the plan of redemption was to fall from the immortal state in which he first existed on earth and thus bring mortality and death into the world this he did bringing temporal and spiritual death into the world from the effects of which deaths the atonement of christ was foreordained as a ransom after the fall adam and eve became the parents of all living moses 5:11 d c 27:11 1 ne 5:11 2:23-25 we are his descendants and there are no persons who have ever lived on earth who have not had this same ancestry he is the father of the human family [the head of the human family teachings p 157 father adam was one of the most noble and intelligent characters who ever lived he began his earth life as a son of god endowed with the talents and abilities gained through diligence and obedience in preexistence he is the head of all gospel dispensations teachings pp 167-169 the presiding high priest under christ over all the earth presides over all the spirits destined to inhabit this earth teachings pp 157-159 holds the keys of salvation over all the earth and will reign as michael our prince to all eternity d c 78:16 he was baptized moses 6:64-66 married for eternity for death had not yet entered the world moses 3:21-25 had the fulness of the gospel moses 5:57-59 and following 930 years of existence after the fall went on to the paradise of god to await a glorious resurrection with christ and the righteous saints he has returned to earth in our day bringing keys and authorities to the prophet joseph smith d c 128:21 will soon preside at the great adam-ondi-ahman council d c 116 and finally will reign over his righteous posterity in the patriarchal order to all eternity doctrines of salvation vol 1 pp 90-106 adam-god theory adam-god theory see adam ancient of days birthright celestial marriage exaltation god godhood michael the archangel patriarchal chain patriarchal order plurality of gods cultists and other enemies of the restored truth for their own peculiar purposes sometimes try to make it appear that latter-day saints worship adam as their father in heaven in support of their false assumptions they quote such statements as that of president brigham young to the effect that adam is our father and our god and the only god with whom we have to do this statement and others of a similar nature is perfectly consistent and rational when viewed in full gospel perspective and understood in the light of the revelations relative to the patriarchal chain binding exalted beings together full and detailed explanations of all important teachings on these points are readily available doctrines of salvation vol 1 pp 96-106 faithful members of the church worship the father in the name of the son by the power of the holy spirit and view adam in his proper high place as the pre-existent michael the first man and presiding high priest under christ over all the earth for all time and as the one who will again lead the armies of heaven in the final great war with lucifer there is a sense of course in which adam is a god but so also in the same sense are abraham isaac and jacob moses and all the ancient prophets peter james and john and all the righteous saints of all ages including those of both high and low degree adam adam see adam-god theory adamic language adam-ondi-ahman ancient of days battle of the great god eve fall of adam first flesh first man forbidden fruit michael the archangel pre-existence war in heaven our knowledge about adam and the exalted station held by him in the eternal providences of the almighty begins with an understanding of his pre-existent work and mission by his diligence and obedience there as one of the spirit sons of god he attained a stature and power second only to that of christ the firstborn none of all the billions of our father s children equalled him in intelligence and might save jesus only he sat in the council of the gods in the planning of the creation of this earth and then under christ participated in the creative enterprise abra 3:22-26 he was foreordained to come to earth as the father of the human race and when lucifer and one-third of the hosts of heaven rebelled 13 14

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all exalted beings become joint-heirs with christ and inherit the fulness of the father s kingdom having entered in at the gate of celestial marriage and having pressed forward in righteousness overcoming all things they pass by the angels and the gods to their exaltation and glory in all things then shall they be gods because they have no end therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting because they continue then shall they be above all because all things are subject unto them then shall they be gods because they have all power and he angels are subject unto them d c 132:19-20 of all these adam is the chief presiding under christ and the father in the patriarchal order over all the rest there is no mystery about this doctrine except that which persons ignorant of the great principles of exaltation and unfriendly to the cause of righteousness have attempted to make adamic dispensation adamic dispensation see dispensations adamic language adamic language see book of remembrance gazelam languages tongues in the beginning god gave adam a language that was pure perfect and undefiled this adamic language now unknown was far superior to any tongue which is presently extant for instance the name of god the father in this original language is man of holiness signifying that he is a holy man and not a vague spiritual essence moses 6:57 this first language spoken by mortals was either the celestial tongue of the gods or such adaptation of it as was necessary to meet the limitations of mortality and adam and his posterity had power to speak read and write it way to perfection pp 60-69 in writing of the saints in the day of the first man moses says and a book of remembrance was kept in the language of adam for it was given unto as many as called upon god to write by the spirit of inspiration and by them their children were taught to read and write having a language which was pure and undefiled moses 6:5-6 the beauty and power of this adamic language is indicated by a statement made by moroni to the lord about the brother of jared who spoke the original and pure language thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art unto the overpowering of man to read them ether 12:24 during the millennium it appears that men will again have power to speak and write the adamic language of that day the lord says he will turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the lord to serve him with one consent zeph 3:9 in some instances when the saints speak in tongues the language impressed upon them by the power of the spirit is the pure adamic tongue adam-ondi-ahman adam-ondi-ahman see adam ahman garden of eden millennium second coming of christ signs of the times adam was the first man of all men ahman is one of the names by which god was known to adam adam-ondi-ahman a name carried over from the pure adamic language into english is one for which we have not been given a revealed literal translation as near as we can judge and this view comes down from the early brethren who associated with the prophet joseph smith who was the first one to use the name in this dispensation adam-ondi-ahman means the place or land of god where adam dwelt apparently the area included was a large one at least the revelations speak of the land the valley and the mountains of adam-ondi-ahman they tell us that christ himself established the foundations of adam-ondi-ahman d c 78:15-16 and that it included the place now known as spring hill daviess county missouri d c 116 far west missouri also appears to be included in the land of adam-ondi-ahman on april 17 1838 the lord commanded his saints to assemble at far west which place he said was holy ground and there they were to build a city d c 115 by july 8 of that year william marks and newel k whitney had not left their temporal concerns in kirtland ohio and were not assembling with the saints coming to 15 zion in rebuking them the lord said this is there not room enough on the mountains of adam-ondiahman and on the plains of olaha shinehah or the land where adam dwelt that you should covet that which is but the drop and neglect the more weighty matters therefore come up hither unto the land of my people even zion william marks was told that he was to preside in the midst of my people in the city of far west and newel k whitney was told to come up to the land of adam-ondi-ahman and be a bishop unto my people d c 117 the early brethren of this dispensation taught that the garden of eden was located in what is known to us as the land of zion an area for which jackson county missouri is the center place in our popular latter-day saint hymn which begins glorious things are sung of zion enoch s city seen of old we find william w phelps preserving the doctrine that in adam-ondi-ahman zion rose where eden was and in another hymn written by the same author in the days of the prophet joseph smith we find these expressions this earth was once a garden place with all her glories common and men did live a holy race and worship jesus face to face in adam-ondi-ahman we read that enoch walk d with god above the power of mammon while zion spread herself abroad and saints and angels sang aloud in adam-ondi-ahman her land was good and greatly blest beyond old israel s canaan her fame was known from east to west her peace was great and pure the rest of adam-ondi-ahman hosannah to such days to come the savior s second coming when all the earth in glorious bloom affords the saints a holy home like adam-ondi-ahman one of the greatest spiritual gatherings of all the ages took place in the valley of adam-ondi-ahman some 5,000 years ago and another gathering of even greater importance relative to this earth s destiny is soon to take place in that same location our revelations recite three years previous to the death of adam he called seth enos cainan mahalaleel jared enoch and methuselah who were all high priests with the residue of his posterity who were righteous into the valley of adam-ondi-ahman and there bestowed upon them his last blessing and the lord appeared unto them and they rose up and blessed adam and called him michael the prince the archangel and the lord administered comfort unto adam and said unto him i have set thee to be at the head a multitude of nations shall come of thee and thou art a prince over them forever and adam stood up in the midst of the congregation and notwithstanding he was bowed down with age being full of the holy ghost predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation d c 107:53-56 at that great gathering adam offered sacrifices on an altar built for the purpose a remnant of that very altar remained on the spot down through the ages on may 19 1838 joseph smith and a number of his associates stood on the remainder of the pile of stones at a place called spring hill daviess county missouri there the prophet taught them that adam again would visit in the valley of adam-ondi-ahman holding a great council as a prelude to the great and dreadful day of the lord mediation and atonement pp 69-70 at this council all who have held keys of authority will give an accounting of their stewardship to adam christ will then come receive back the keys and thus take one of the final steps preparatory to reigning personally upon the earth dan 7:9-14 teachings p 157 16

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addresses addresses see sermons in the old testament record christ is frequently referred to under the hebrew word adonai a term having reference to god meaning literally my lord but usually translated as lord adoption adjuration adoption see born again israel joint-heirs with christ sons of god sons of moses and aaron by the law of adoption those who receive the gospel and obey its laws no matter what their literal blood lineage may have been are adopted into the lineage of abraham abra 2 9-11 the effect of the holy ghost upon a gentile the prophet says is to purge out the old blood and make him actually of the seed of abraham such a person has a new creation by the holy ghost teachings pp 149-150 those who magnify their callings in the melchizedek priesthood are promised that they will be sanctified by the spirit unto the renewing of their bodies they become the sons of moses and of aaron and the seed of abraham d c 84:33-34 indeed the faithful are adopted to the family of christ they become the children of christ his sons and his daughters they are spiritually begotten for their hearts are changed through faith on his name thus being born of him becoming his sons and his daughters mosiah 5:7 paul explained the doctrine of adoption by saying as many as are led by the spirit of god they are the sons of god because they receive the spirit of adoption being or becoming israelites to whom pertaineth the adoption rom 8:14-24 9:4 gal 4:5 eph 1:5 adjuration see exorcism administering to the sick administering to the sick see administrations administrations administrations see consecration of oil faith healings laying on of hands is any sick among you let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him anointing him with oil in the name of the lord and the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the lord shall raise him up jas 5:14-16 these words of james aptly summarize the practice of the church in all ages where administrations are concerned d c 42:43-44 66:9 mark 5:23 6:5 16:18 luke 4:40-41 13:11-13 acts 28:8 administrations are of two parts anointings and sealings both performances are accompanied by the laying on of hands it is the policy of the church that administering to the sick should be done at the request of the sick person or someone vitally concerned so that it will be done in answer to faith those called to perform the ordinance should encourage the sick person to rely on the lord s promise whatsoever thing ye shall ask the father in my name which is good in faith believing that ye shall receive behold it shall be done unto you moro 7:26 if need be the sick person should be encouraged to keep the commandments so that he can have faith and be entitled to the blessings of the lord in the performance of the administration one of the elders should anoint the sick person with oil on or near the crown of the head for the restoration of his health ordinarily he should not seal the anointing pure olive oil which has been consecrated for the anointing and healing of the sick in the household of faith should be used taking consecrated oil internally or using it for anointing or rubbing afflicted parts of the body is not part of the ordinance of administering to the sick after the anointing two or more elders should lay their hands on the head of the sick person and with one of them acting as voice seal the anointing the one speaking should offer such prayers pronounce such blessings give such promises say such things and rebuke the affliction all as the spirit of the lord may dictate ordinarily one administration is sufficient for one illness although in serious cases or where other circumstances seem to dictate the propriety of such a sick person may be administered to several times during one illness it is also the common practice if a sick person has recently been anointed for those performing a second administration merely to give the sick person a blessing in the authority of the priesthood in an emergency where only one elder is present or available he may either give the sick person a blessing or he can both anoint and seal in a formal administration ordinances of administration with actual healings resulting therefrom are one of the evidences of the divinity of the lord s work where these are there is god s kingdom where these are not there god s kingdom is not sincere investigators must necessarily beware of the devil s substitutes of the true ordinances adoration adoration see worship adultery adultery see damnation fornication sex immorality sign-seeking telestial law 1 thou shalt not commit adultery ex 20:14 deut 5:18 d c 42:24 sex immorality stands next to murder in the category of personal crimes it is most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the holy ghost alma 39:5 anciently the penalty therefor was death the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death lev 20:10 deut 22:21-29 in the initial day of judgment at the second coming of our lord christ will be a swift witness against the adulterers and they shall be burned as stubble mal 3:5 4:1 adulterers shall be cast down to hell to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire and their eventual destiny after suffering the torments of the damned until the second resurrection shall be that of the telestial kingdom d c 76:103-106 they shall not inherit the kingdom of god 1 cor 6:9-11 adultery opens the flood gates of wickedness in general physical disease divorce illegitimacy violence broken homes and a host of evils always attend adulterous acts there never was an adulterer for instance who was not also a liar the two always go together adulterers are sign-seekers matt 12:39 16:4 their spirits are diseased so as to hinder them in recognizing and accepting the gospel truths and thus becoming heirs of salvation adulterous acts are born spiritually before they are committed temporally they proceed out of the heart matt 15:19 mark 7:21 as a man thinketh in his heart so is he prov 23:7 therefore whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart matt 5:27-28 3 ne 12:17-28 he that looketh on a woman to lust after her or if any shall commit adultery in their hearts they shall not have the spirit but shall deny the faith and shall fear d c 63:16 when the day comes that men live again as they did in the golden era of nephite history the perfect law of marriage then whoso shall marry her who is divorced shall be guilty of adultery 3 ne 12:3132 matt 5:31-32 whosoever putteth away his wife and marrieth another committeth adultery and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery luke 16:18 matt 19:9 adonai adonai see christ lord 17 18

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is it possible to repent of adultery and gain forgiveness of sins so as to be saved in the celestial kingdom of god yes in most cases no in some forgiveness with resultant celestial salvation depends upon the light and knowledge of the one guilty of the grossly wicked adulterous relationship worldly people who repent with all their hearts accept baptism and then conform to the lord s law shall be saved even though guilty of adultery before accepting the truth 1 cor 6:9-11 3 ne 30 speaking to members of the church in 1831 prior to the restoration of the temple covenants and ceremonies the lord said thou shalt not commit adultery and he that committeth adultery and repenteth not shall be cast out but he that has committed adultery and repents with all his heart and forsaketh it and doeth it no more thou shalt forgive but if he doeth it again he shall not be forgiven but shall be cast out d c 42:24-26 after a person has advanced in righteousness light and truth to the point that the fulness of the ordinances of the house of the lord have been received so that he has been sealed up unto eternal life and his calling and election has been made sure then as expressed in the prophet s language the law is if a man commit adultery he cannot receive the celestial kingdom of god even if he is saved in any kingdom it cannot be the celestial kingdom history of the church vol 6 p 81 doctrines of salvation vol 2 pp 92-94 2 in a spiritual sense to emphasize how serious it is the damning sin of idolatry is called adultery when the lord s people forsake him and worship false gods their infidelity to jehovah is described as whoredoms and adultery jer 3 8-9 hos 1:2 3:1 by forsaking the lord his people are unfaithful to their covenant vows vows made to him who symbolically is their husband christ is the advocate with the father meaning that he pleads the cause of the righteous in the courts above d c 29:5 32:3 62:1 110:4 moro 7:28 1 john 2:1 listen to him who is the advocate with the father who is pleading your cause before him saying father behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin in whom thou wast well pleased behold the blood of thy son which was shed the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified wherefore father spare these my brethren that believe on my name that they may come unto me and have everlasting life d c 45:3-5 afflictions afflictions see patience signs of the times tribulations afflictions including sorrow adversity tribulation calamity and trouble all these are the common lot of mankind they are an essential cart of this probation be patient in afflictions d c 31:9 66:9 frequently afflictions are imposed as a result of disobedience and they could be avoided by righteousness if zion for instance observe not to do whatsoever i have commanded her the lord said i will visit her according to all her works with sore affliction with pestilence with plague with sword with vengeance with devouring fire d c 97:26 101:1-9 agency advent advent see second coming of christ agency see freedom knowledge law light of christ plan of salvation predestination pre-existence agency is the ability and freedom to choose good or evil it is an eternal principle which has existed with god from all eternity the spirit offspring of the father had agency in pre-existence and were thereby empowered to follow christ or lucifer according to their choice moses 4:3 d c 29:36-37 it is by virtue of the exercise of agency in this life that men are enabled to undergo the testing which is an essential part of mortality moses 3:17 4:3 7:32 abra 3:25-28 four great principles must be in force if there is to be agency 1 laws must exist laws ordained by an omnipotent power laws which can be obeyed or disobeyed 2 opposites must exist good and evil virtue and vice right and wrong that is there must be an opposition one force pulling one way and another pulling the other 3 a knowledge of good and evil must be had by those who are to enjoy the agency that is they must know the difference between the opposites and 4 an unfettered power of choice must prevail agency is given to man as an essential part of the great plan of redemption as with all things appertaining to this plan it is based on the atoning sacrifice of christ as lehi expressed it because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever knowing good from evil to act for themselves and not to be acted upon save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day according to the commandments which god hath given wherefore men are free according to the flesh and all things are given them which are expedient unto man and they are free to choose liberty and eternal life through the great mediation of all men or to choose captivity and death according to the captivity and power of the devil for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself 2 ne 2:26-30 10:23 alma 13:3 hela 14:31 agency is so fundamental a part of the great plan of creation and redemption that if it should cease all other things would vanish away all truth is independent in that sphere in which god has placed it to act for itself as all intelligence also otherwise there is no existence d c 93:30 expanding and interpreting this revealed principle lehi said it must needs be that there is an opposition in all things if not so righteousness could not be brought to pass neither wickedness neither holiness nor misery neither good nor bad wherefore all things must needs be a compound in one wherefore if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead having no life neither death nor corruption nor incorruption happiness nor misery neither sense nor insensibility wherefore it must needs have been created for a thing of naught wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation wherefore this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of god and his eternal purposes and also the power and the mercy and the justice of god 20 adversary adversary see agency devil satan this name for satan signifies that he is the enemy of all righteousness opposes every good thing with evil and is the arch foe of every upright person endowed with agency he came out in open rebellion in pre-existence and has ever since been the chief antagonist of every righteous cause for it must needs be that there is an opposition in all things 2 ne 2:11 be sober be vigilant peter said because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour 1 pet 5:8 adversities adversities see afflictions advocacy advocacy see advocate atonement of christ expiation intercession mediation propitiation reconciliation our lord acts according to the law of advocacy or intercession in pleading the cause of his faithful saints before the tribunals of eternity d c 45:3-4 advocate advocate see advocacy atonement of christ christ expiator intercessor mediator paraclete propitiator reconciler 19

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and if ye shall say there is no law ye shall also say there is no sin if ye shall say there is no sin ye shall also say there is no righteousness and if there be no righteousness there be no happiness and if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery and if these things are not there is no god and if there is no god we are not neither the earth for there could have been no creation of things neither to act nor to be acted upon wherefore all things must have vanished away 2 ne 2:1114 d c 29:39 agency is the philosophy of opposites and because these opposites exist men can reap either salvation or damnation by the use they make of their agency if it were not for the law of agency there could be no judgment according to works and consequently no rewards or punishments choose ye this day to serve the lord god who made you moses 6:33 is the voice of the lord to all people of all ages alma 30:8 josh 24:15 satan sought to destroy the agency of man moses 4:3 an eventuality which would have made the attainment of salvation impossible and accordingly he was cast out of heaven two great agencies on earth pattern their courses in accordance with lucifer s program of compulsion and seek to deny the inalienable right of agency to men these are the church of the devil and the communistic dictatorship both of which prosper proportionately as they are able to withhold truth from their adherents and compel them through fear to conform to the religious and party lines on the other hand it is the will of the lord that all agencies governments included should be so ordained that every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity according to the moral agency which i have given unto him that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment d c 101:78 churches which teach that men are predestined to gain salvation or damnation according to the election of god regardless of the acts of the individual find no place in their theology for the true doctrine of agency their reasoning is to this effect why is there any need for agency so as to be able to perform good works leading to salvation if your salvation is determined by deity on the basis of predestination regardless of works thus the false doctrine of predestination begets the false doctrine that men are not free to work out their own salvation as such is made possible through the atoning sacrifice of christ the church of england for instance in its articles of religion under the heading of free will says the condition of man after the fall of adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works to faith and calling upon god wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to god without the grace of god by christ preventing us that we may have a good will and working with us when we have that good will book of common prayer p 663 agency of course is exercised in accordance with law once a final choice has been made there is no turning back to seek the opposite goal men may exercise their agency to repent and turn to the lord in this life in which event they will be saved but if they choose to rebel against the light and work wickedness they will be damned and once they are damned there is no power of choice left whereby they can alter their course and gain salvation if men choose to commit suicide for instance they will continue to have agency in hell but they will not be able to use it to gain their lives back again the purpose of this life is to test men to see if they will take the bodies which have been given them and by the righteous exercise of agency make those bodies fit abodes for the spirit of god agnosticism is the doctrine that god is not known and cannot be known it is the concept that his existence can be neither proved nor disproved and hence it neither affirms nor denies that existence to the agnostics god is unknown and unknowable because they are unwilling to accept as proof the evidence of revelation and spiritual manifestations unless this is done no man can come to a knowledge of god for the things of god knoweth no man but the spirit of god the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of god for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 cor 2:11-14 similarly agnosticism rejects any knowledge about the ultimate origin of the universe from the gospel standpoint agnostics are properly classified as being in opposition to the truth however much they may claim to be neutral by neither affirming nor denying eternal truths yet that very neutrality makes them enemies of god in the ultimate analysis there is no such thing as neutrality he that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad matt 12:30 ahman ahman see god man of holiness son of man in the pure language spoken by adam and which will be spoken again during the millennial era zeph 3:9 the name of god the father is ahman or possibly ah man a name-title having a meaning identical with or at least very closely akin to man of holiness moses 6:57 god revealed himself to adam by this name to signify that he is a holy man a truth which man must know and comprehend if he is to become like god and inherit exaltation 1 john 3:1-3 d c 132:19-24 there is one revelation orson pratt said that this people are not generally acquainted with i think it has never been published but probably will be in the church history it is given in questions and answers the first question is what is the name of god in the pure language the answer says ahman what is the name of the son of god answer son ahman the greatest of all the parts of god excepting ahman what is the name of men sons ahman is the answer what is the name of angels in the pure language angloman this revelation goes on to say that sons ahman are the greatest of all the parts of god excepting son ahman and ahman and that angloman are the greatest of all the parts of god excepting sons ahman son ahman and ahman showing that the angels are a little lower than man journal of discourses vol 2 p 342 since god revealed himself to adam by certain names we might suppose that those names or variants of them would be preserved among succeeding generations even though people coming later developed false religions it is also not uncommon for important names to be carried from one language to another by transliteration rather than translation hence it is of more than passing interest to note that the egyptians worshiped a deity considered by them to be supreme whose name bears a striking resemblance to that of the true god as his name was recorded in the adamic language the egyptian deity ammon or amon or amen who corresponds to zeus of the greeks and jupiter of the romans was first worshiped as the local deity of thebes he was shown as a ramheaded god of life and reproduction later united with the sun-god to become a supreme deity he was known as amen-ra with the other gods as his members or parts it is also interesting to note that amen a transliterated word which is the same in egyptian hebrew latin greek anglo-saxon and english is one of the names of christ speaking to john on the isle of patmos our lord said these things saith the amen the faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of god rev 3:14 age of accountability age of accountability see years of accountability age of restoration age of restoration see times of restitution alchemy agnosticism alchemy see magic occultism sorcery alchemy is the great medieval science which bordering on magic and sorcery had as its objectives to transmute base metals into gold to discover the universal cure for diseases and to prolong life indefinitely agnosticism see apostasy atheism god infidels 21 22

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alcoholic beverages alcoholic beverages see strong drinks christ bears the title alpha and omega d c 19:1 63:60 68:35 75:1 81:7 112:34 132:66 rev 1 8-17 21:6 22:13 these words the first and last letters of the greek alphabet are used figuratively to teach the timelessness and eternal nature of our lord s existence that is that from eternity to eternity he is the same and his years never fail d c 76:4 alleluia alleluia see hallelujah alphus alphus see alpha and omega christ omegus almighty almighty see almighty god one of the name-titles of christ is alphus d c 95:17 a derivative of the greek alpha use of this title emphasizes our lord s high status of godhood in pre-existence he was god from eternity by diligence and obedience while yet a spirit being he became like unto god the father abra 3:22-24 almighty god almighty god see christ father in heaven god lord lord omnipotent omnipotence both the father and the son being omnipotent gods are designated by the name-titles almighty gen 49:25 rev 1:8 2 ne 23:6 hela 10:11 d c 84:96 121:33 almighty god gen 17:1 28:3 1 ne 17:48 d c 20:21 87:6 88:106 lord almighty d c 84:118 2 cor 6:18 and lord god almighty rev 4:8 11 17 21:22 d c 109:77 121:4 1 ne 1:14 2 ne 9:46 these designations signify that these holy beings have all power and unlimited might a deep sense of reverence is implicit in the use of each name-title altars altars see sacrifices temples in the days when sacrifices were required as part of true divine worship they were offered on raised earth or stone structures called altars noah gen 8:20 abraham gen 12:7 and lehi 1 ne 2:7 for instance built altars and offered sacrifices upon them altars were also found in the temples and perhaps in other holy structures at which god was worshiped alma 15:17 and where the faithful came to call on his name and confess their sins before him alma 17:4 today as anciently temples contain altars at which sacred ordinances including celestial marriage are performed john saw a golden altar in heaven before the throne of god rev 6:9 8:3 9:13 almsgiving almsgiving see church welfare plan dole employment idleness work almsgiving is the contribution of free gifts to relieve the poor the spirit that attends such a course is of god and finds its highest manifestation in the organized charitable enterprises of his earthly kingdom paul for instance in his day carried alms to the poor saints in jerusalem acts 24:17 he having first assembled the contributions from the saints in macedonia and achaia acts 11:29 rom 15:25-28 in modern times the major portion of the almsgiving of the saints is administered through the great church welfare plan giving alms is not an optional thing it is a command of the lord luke 11:41 12:31-34 verily verily i say that i would that ye should do alms unto the poor our lord said to his nephite saints but take heed that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them otherwise ye have no reward of your father who is in heaven therefore when ye shall do your alms do not sound a trumpet before you as will hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory of men verily i say unto you they have their reward but when thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth that thine alms may be in secret and thy father who seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly 3 ne 13:1-4 matt 6:1-4 prayers are answered for those who freely give alms to the poor but the heavens are sealed where the petitions of those who do not give alms are concerned if ye turn away the needy and the naked and visit not the sick and afflicted and impart of your substance if ye have to those who stand in need i say unto you if ye do not any of these things behold your prayer is vain and availeth you nothing and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith alma 34:28 acts 10 d c 88:2 112:1 amen see ahman christ prayer amen 1 in hebrew amen means truly certainly faithfully in english it means so be it and it has always had a distinctively religious usage saying amen is a proper means of making solemn affirmation rev 1:18 22:20 it is an utterance used in confirming agreements 1 kings 1:36 prayers and sermons are properly so ended matt 6:13 those who hear and concur in prayers and sermons should add their own amen 1 cor 14:16 indeed by saying amen concurrence is given to any worshipful utterance sermon or solemn declaration d c 88:135 ps 106:48 rev 5:13-14 19:4 there are about a score of instances in which the term is found in the bible nearly twice that many in the book of mormon and nearly every revelation in the doctrine and covenants is so closed as a result of unrighteousness it is amen to the priesthood of a man meaning that his priesthood comes to an end as far as being a power which would assure the bearer of eternal life is concerned d c 121:33-46 2 one of christ s names is amen rev 3:14 a title given to show that it is in and through him that the seal of divine affirmation is placed on all the promises of the father america america see american indians constitution of the united states inalienable rights signs of the times america meaning the united states of america is the gentile nation established on the western hemisphere in the last days by the power of the father so that the true church might be set up and preserved among men the american nation as such with all its freedoms rights and constitutional alpha and omega alpha and omega see alphus beginning and end christ eternity to eternity everlasting to everlasting first and last omegus 23 24

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guarantees came into being and continues to exist so that a proper religious climate would prevail for the restoration and spread of the gospel 3 ne 21 lord is at hand philip 4:5 and john s even so come lord jesus rev 22:20 carry the same hope and encouragement american indians american indians see book of mormon jaredites jews medicine men mulekites nephites and lamanites tribes of israel when columbus discovered america the native inhabitants the american indians as they were soon to be designated were a people of mixed blood and origin chiefly they were lamanites but such remnants of the nephite nation as had not been destroyed had of course mingled with the lamanites 1 ne 13:30 2 ne 3:1-3 9:53 alma 45:13-14 d c 3:16-19 thus the indians were jews by nationality d c 57:4 their forefathers having come out from jerusalem from the kingdom of judah 2 ne 33:8-10 thus also they were of the house of israel lehi was of the tribe of manasseh alma 10:3 ishmael of the tribe of ephraim and mulek of the tribe of judah hela 8:20-22 we have no knowledge of the tribal affiliation of zoram and it is possible that other tribes may have been represented in the colony that accompanied mulek it was primarily the tribes of benjamin and judah which made up the kingdom of judah but there may have been a sprinkling of all the tribes intermingled with them the american indians however as columbus found them also had other blood than that of israel in their veins it is possible that isolated remnants of the jaredites may have lived through the period of destruction in which millions of their fellows perished it is quite apparent that groups of orientals found their way over the bering strait and gradually moved southward to mix with the indian peoples we have records of a colony of scandinavians attempting to set up a settlement in america some 500 years before columbus there are archeological indications that an unspecified number of groups of people probably found their way from the old to the new world in pre-columbian times out of all these groups would have come the american indians as they were discovered in the 15th century since the days of the spanish conquests and colonizations of mexico and south america there has been further dilution of the pure lamanitish blood but with it all for the great majority of the descendants of the original inhabitants of the western hemisphere the dominant blood lineage is that of israel the indians are repeatedly called lamanites in the revelations to the prophet and the promise is that in due course they shall blossom as the rose d c 49:24 that is become again a white and delightsome people as were their ancestors a great many generations ago anathema maranatha see anathema anathema maranatha ancestors ancestors see genealogical research ancient of days ancient of days see adam adam-god theory adam-ondi-ahman birthright michael the archangel patriarchal order having particular reference to his position as the patriarchal head of the human family the first man the first and oldest of all the great grand progenitor adam is known as the ancient of days d c 27:11 teachings pp 157-159 167-169 in this capacity he will yet sit in formal judgment upon ten thousand times ten thousand of his posterity and before him at adam-ondi-ahman will be brought the son of man to receive dominion and glory and a kingdom that all people nations and languages should serve him dan 7:9-14 angel angel see christ messenger of salvation messenger of the covenant our lord is called the angel by jacob in the blessing which he gave to ephraim and manasseh god before whom my fathers abraham and isaac did walk the god which fed me all my life long unto this day the angel which redeemed me from all evil bless the lads he said gen 48 15-16 the inspired version makes no change in this statement although a number of other matters in connection with the same occurrences are changed in that more perfect version obviously the meaning is that christ is the messenger of salvation the messenger of the covenant mal 3:1 the one carrying out his father s will moses 4:2 it may be that the king james translators were attempting to use language in the same way when they recorded the experience of moses at the burning bush in these words and the angel of the lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush and god called unto him out of the midst of the bush and said i am the god of thy father the god of abraham the god of isaac and the god of jacob ex 3:2-6 it was not an angel in the usual sense of the word but the lord jesus who appeared to moses in the bush the passage is more meaningful if the term the angel is interpreted in the same sense in which jacob used it in this instance the inspired version concurs by changing the account to read the presence of the lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire in the midst of a bush inspired version ex 3:2 thus showing that what the king james version calls the angel is the lord amusements amusements see recreation anarchy anarchy see signs of the times anathema anathema see damnation excommunication anathema is a greek word meaning accursed hence a person or thing cursed by god or his authority as for instance one who has been excommunicated is anathema rom 9:3 wo unto them who are cut off from my church for the same are overcome of the world d c 50:8 paul s statement if any man love not the lord jesus christ let him be anathema maranatha 1 cor 16:22 probably means let him be accursed until the lord comes maranatha an aramaic word meaning o our lord come appears to have been used by the primitive saints as a watchword or salutation by which they reminded each other of the promised second coming paul s statement the angel of light angel of light see devil angel of the bottomless pit angel of the bottomless pit see bottomless pit devil 26 25

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