John Taylor's Revelations: June 25 and 26, 1882

Revelation through John Taylor, received Sunday and Monday, June 25th and 26th, 1882 at Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, containing questions concerning the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage, as also Celestial Marriage and Plural Marriage, which the Church was currently practicing.  (John Taylor Papers, LDS Archives).  Holzapfel and Jones wrote that this revelation was given "just three months after U.S. president Chester Arthur signed the Edmunds Act into law on March 22, 1882.  The act began a new phase of the federal prosecution against the Church" (Holzapfel and Jones, "'John the Revelator': The Written Revelations of John Taylor", BYU Religious Studies Center, http://rsc.byu.edu/archived/champion-liberty-john-taylor/11-%E2%80%9Cjohn-revelator%E2%80%9D-written-revelations-john-taylor#_edn1). The practice of Plural Marriage was abandoned between the years 1890 and 1904:


Question: Is the law of Celestial Marriage a law
given to this nation or to the world?
2 Answer: No-- in no other sense than as the
gospel is given and in accordance with the laws
thereof. So far as it is made known unto men, it
is made know unto them as the gospel is made
known unto them, and is part of the New and
Everlasting Covenant.
3 And it is only those who receive the gospel that
are able to, or capable of, entering into this
covenant.
4 Have I not said through My servant Joseph
Smith that all kingdoms are governed by law?
And if they receive not the law of the gospel, they
cannot participate in the blessings of Celestial
marriage, which pertains to Mine elect.
5 No person or people or nation can enter into
the principle of Celestial marriage unless they
come in by Me, saith the LORD, and obey the law
of My gospel through the medium of him who is
appointed unto this power as made known unto
My people through My servant Joseph in a
Revelation on the eternity of the marriage
covenant, including the plurality of wives.
6 I have therein stated that , "all those who have
this law revealed unto them must obey the same;
for behold I reveal unto you a New and an
Everlasting Covenant; and if ye abide not that
covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can
reject this covenant and be permitted to enter
into My glory."
7 Furthermore, "And as pertaining to the New
and Everlasting Covenant, it was instituted for the
fullness of My glory; and he that receiveth a
fullness thereof must and shall abide the law, or
he shall be damned, saith the Lord God."
8 It is again written that, "all kingdoms have a
law given."
9 The Celestial kingdom, including the promise
of Eternal Life, pertains to, "the church of the
Firstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through
Jesus Christ, His Son."
10 Therefore, such must be sanctified from all
unrighteousness, that they may be prepared for
the Celestial glory.
11 "For he who cannot abide the law of a
Celestial kingdom, cannot abide a Celestial glory;"
12 "And he who cannot abide the law of a
terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial
glory;"
13 "And he who cannot abide the law of a
telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory;
therefore, he is not meet for a kingdom of glory.
Therefore, he must abide a kingdom which is not
a kingdom of glory."
14 Each of the persons inhabiting these several
kingdoms shall be quickened by the same power
that pertains to the kingdom that they are
destined to inherit, whether Celestial, terrestrial,
or telestial; and shall receive of their respective
glories.
15 And again it is written, "And again, verily I
say unto you, that which is governed by law is
also preserved by law, and perfected and
sanctified by the same."
16 "That which breaketh a law, and abideth not
by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself,
and willeth to abide in sin, cannot be sanctified
by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment."
17 It is further written, speaking of Celestial
marriage, "And verily I say unto you, that the
conditions of this law are these: All covenants,
contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows,
performances, connections, associations, or
expectations that are not made and entered into,
and sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, of him
who is anointed, both as well for time and for all
eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and
commandment, through the medium of Mine
anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to
hold this power (and I have appointed unto My
servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days,
and there is never but one on the earth at a time
on whom this power and the keys of this
priesthood are conferred) are of no efficacy,
virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from
the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto
this end have an end when men are dead."
18 This law is a Celestial law, and pertains to a
Celestial kingdom. It is a New and Everlasting
Covenant, and appertains to thrones, principalities,
powers, dominions, and eternal increase in
the Celestial kingdom of God.
19 You are not now sent to proclaim this
principle to the United States, nor to the world,
nor to urge it upon them. It is not for them as a
nation or nations, only as many as accept the law
of My gospel, and are governed thereby.
20 Behold, if you were to preach this principle
unto them, and they said, we accept it, could you
then administer it unto them? Verily I say unto
you, nay.
21 Have I not said, "Behold, Mine house is a
house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a
house of confusion."
22 "Will I accept of an offering, saith the LORD,
that is not made in My name?"
23 "Or will I receive at your hands that which I
have not appointed?"
24 "And will I appointed unto you, saith the
LORD, except it be by law, even as I and My
Father ordained unto you, before the world was?"
25 "I am the LORD thy God, and I give unto you
this commandment: that no man shall come unto
the Father but by Me or by My word, which is
My law, saith the LORD."
26 "And everything that is in the world, whether
it be ordained of men, by thrones, or
principalities, or powers, or things of name,
whatsoever that may be, that are not by Me, saith
the LORD, shall be thrown down, and shall not
remain after men are dead, neither in nor after
the resurrection saith the LORD your God."
27 "For whatsoever things remain are by Me,
and whatsoever things are not by Me shall be
shaken and destroyed."
28 " Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the
world, and he marry her not by Me nor by My
word, and he covenant with her so long as he is
in the world and she with him, their covenant
and marriage are not of force when they are
dead, and when they are out of the world;
therefore, they are not bound by any law when
they are out of the world."
29 You ask, what shall we do? Thus saith the
LORD, obey My law and seek not to become a
law unto yourselves, nor trust to outside
influences; but seek in the way appointed to the
Lord your God.
30 Ye are My spokesmen, I am your God; and as
I have before said, I now again say: Henceforth
do as I shall command you.
31 Concerning the course taken by the United
States, they have a right to reject this law
themselves, as they have a right to reject the
gospel; but it is contrary to the provisions of the
Constitution, which is the supreme law of the
land, for them to prohibit you from obeying it.
32 Therefore, abide in My law which I have
revealed unto you, saith the Lord God, and
contend for your rights by every legal and
constitutional method and in accordance with the
institutions, laws, and Constitution of the United
States.
33 Be humble, be faithful, be diligent; seek unto
Me and it shall be made know unto you from
time to time what My will is pertaining to this
matter.
34 I am the Lord your God, hearken to Me, and
obey My law, and your enemies shall be
confounded, and My kingdoms shall be
victorious.
Even so, Amen.

Manaus Brazil Open House and Dedication

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that the public Open House for the Manaus Brazil Temple are from Friday 18 May 2012 through Saturday 2 June 2012, excluding Sundays.

Manaus Brazil Temple

The Temple will be formally Dedicated on Sunday 10 June 2012 in three sessions.  The dedicatory sessions will be broadcast throughout Brazil.

Kansas City Missouri Temple open house

The open house for the Kansas City Missouri Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be held from 7-21 April 2012, excluding Sundays.  Admission is free.  On Sunday 6 May 2012, the House of the Lord will be dedicated in three sessions.

LDS Church Statement on Temple in France

From newsroom.lds.org, published on Friday, 15 July 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah:

"President Thomas S. Monson said today that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hopes to build its first temple in France on property on the outskirts of Paris.

"Customarily, new temples are announced by the president of the Church at one of the Church's general conferences, after local government building approvals and property acquisition have been secured.  Although the local government approval process for the French temple is still under way, French newspapers were already reporting Church plans to build at Le Chesnay, near Versailles, and this prompted today's announcement.

"Church spokesman Scott Trotter said that the Church has been working for many months with local officials.  More details will be given later.

"There have been several previous attempts to find a suitable site for a French temple, but none were finalized.  French members of the Church wishing to visit a temple usually travel to those in neighboring European countries [such as Spain, Germany, or the Netherlands]."

LDS Temple Stained Glass Windows

This is a stained glass window (one of many) that are now in the Nauvoo Temple

The above window symbolizes eternal perfection, because upside down stars can be drawn inside the pentagon in succession (if the geometry in the lines and angles of the succeeding stars are correct), causing the design to go on forever.

Stained glass window in the Baptistry of the Nauvoo Templ

The above picture represents the need for all of us, living and dead, to be baptized as Christ our Savior was.

In the lobby of the Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple

This is a depiction of the Mormon Pioneers' Trek to the Salt Lake Valley in 1846-1847.

Inside the Palmyra New York Temple (just outside the Sacred Grove)

Joseph Smith's own words concerning the events of the First Vision are:   

"After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. . . . I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. . . . When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! (JS-H 1:15-17)"

Christ and His Apostles on the road to Emaus, Manhattan New York Temple

Adam and Eve expelled from the Garden of Eden.  Hanging in the Grand Staircase in the Salt Lake Temple

The above picture is in color, but the colored version is not as impressive where I found it.  It may be see on LDS.org as photo 36.  Some non-Mormons wonder why Adam and Eve were so foolish as to get kicked out of the Edenic Garden wherein they labored before the Fall.  However, Lehi, a prophet who lived in the Ancient Americas, explained why it was necessary for Adam and Eve to fall.  Said he,

"And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden.  And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.  And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.  But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.  Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. . . . And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth.  And they have brought forth children; yea, even the family of all the earth (2 Nephi 2:22-25, 19-20)."

Latter-day Saints know that the Fall of Man was necessary in bringing for God's Plan of Redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Mormon Theology no. 18 - The Endowment of the Holy Priesthood

Probably the most talked about LDS doctrine by the world, but surely the least understood, is the Latter-day Saint Temple Endowment ceremony.  In the pioneering-era of Utah, "the ceremony of Endowment . . . occupies usually about eight hours (History of Utah, 1540-1886, [1889], p. 357-358)."  Now it lasts about two hours.

In order to proceed, we must first define the word "endowment".  I like the way dictionary.com defines the word: "an attribute of mind or body; a gift of nature"  Dear reader, pay careful attention to the words "attribute" and "gift".  President Brigham Young defined the LDS Endowment in these words.  Said he, "Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, … and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell (JD 2:31)."

Creation Room of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple

To fully understand the nature of the Endowment, one must understand that the structure, teachings, wordings, and symbols in the Endowment did not come from the wisdom of man, but from the wisdom and revelations of God.  The first endowments given in the last dispensation were given on 4 May 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois by Joseph Smith, Junior.  Of these events the Prophet wrote,

"I spent the day in the upper part of the store . . . instructing . . . in the principles and order of the Priesthood, attending to washings, anointings, endowments and the communication of keys pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood, and so on to the highest order of the Melchizedek Priesthood, setting forth the order pertaining to the Ancient of Days, and all those plans and principles by which any one is enabled to secure the fullness of those blessings which have been prepared for the Church of the First Born, and come up and abide in the presence of the Elohim in the eternal worlds (HC 5:1-2)."

Alberta Canada Temple Garden Room

What we learn in the Endowment pertains to the purpose of life.  Said President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Here we have sketched before us the odyssey of man’s eternal journey from premortal existence through this life to the life beyond. Great fundamental and basic truths are taught with clarity and simplicity well within the understanding of all who hear (Ensign, March 1993, p. 5-6)."  The fundamental truths President Hinckley speaks of are the attributes of God, whether taught by spoken words or symbols.  The definition above said, "an attribute of mind or body; a gift of nature."  Surely the Endowment speaks essentially of the attributes of the Great Mind of the Universe, and a gift of nature's Creator Himself.

World Room of the Manti Utah Temple

As mentioned before, the Endowment teaches us about the Plan of Salvation.  Elder John A. Widstoe once wrote, 

"The temple ordinances encompass the whole plan of salvation, as taught from time to time by the leaders of the Church, and elucidate matters difficult of understanding. . . . The endowment and the temple work as revealed by the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith … fall clearly into four distinct parts: The preparatory ordinances; the giving of instruction by lectures and representations; covenants; and, finally, tests of knowledge. I doubt that the Prophet Joseph, unlearned and untrained in logic, could of himself have made the thing so logically complete (“Temple Worship,” The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine 12 [April 1921]: p. 58)."

 Salt Lake Tempe Terrestrial Room

Most importantly, we make covenants during the Endowment.  Elder James E. Talmage tells us of them.  He said,  

"The ordinances of the endowment embody certain obligations on the part of the individual, such as covenant and promise to observe the law of strict virtue and chastity, to be charitable, benevolent, tolerant and pure; to devote both talent and material means to the spread of truth and the uplifting of the race; to maintain devotion to the cause of truth; and to seek in every way to contribute to the great preparation that the earth may be made ready to receive her King,—the Lord Jesus Christ. With the taking of each covenant and the assuming of each obligation a promised blessing is pronounced, contingent upon the faithful observance of the conditions (The House of the Lord, p. 100)."

Celestial Room in San Diego California Temple

In order to enter the temple, one must be worthy.  The qualifications begin with baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the only true and living church on the face of the earth.  I know the teachings of the Lord's House are simple yet profound, peaceful and yet powerful.  Jesus Christ does indeed dwell within His temples, only in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.