LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 131
Instructions by Joseph Smith the Prophet, given at Ramus, Illinois, May 16 and 17, 1843.
1–4, Celestial marriage is essential to exaltation in the highest
heaven; 5–6, How men are sealed up unto eternal life is explained; 7–8,
All spirit is matter.
1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; 2 And in
order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the
priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; 3
And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. 4 He may enter into the other,
but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.
Note: There is no marriage after this lifetime.
The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to
Him and asked Him, saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies,
having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up
offspring for his brother. Now there were with us seven brothers. The
first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife
to his brother. Likewise, the second also, and the third, even to the
seventh. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the
resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had
her.” Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing
the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection, they
neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels of God in
heaven. Matthew 22:23-30
5 (May 17th, 1843.) The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s
knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the
spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood.
Note: The New Covenant abolished the priesthood.
Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a
High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true
tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest
is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, it is
necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on
earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the
gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the
heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to
make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things
according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now He has
obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of
a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if
that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been
sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold,
the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to
the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them
by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not
continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. For
this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after
those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write
them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My
people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother,
saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them
to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember
no more.” In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first
obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to
vanish away. Hebrews 8
6 It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.
Note: Love conquers ignorance.
Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Ephesians 6:24
7 There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter,
but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes; 8
We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it
is all matter.
Note: Joseph Smith was ignorant.
Matter defined: physical substance in general, as distinct from mind
and spirit; (in physics) that which occupies space and possesses rest
mass.