Messenger Magazine
It has become a common belief amongst many Latter-day Saints that the atonement of Jesus extends to other earths like ours. This teaching is common in wards throughout the world, and is mentioned in books about the Savior by several by modern Mormon authors. But is this a revealed doctrine or just a popular theory, and what have the scriptures and prophets had to say on this subject?
Because of the sacred nature of many of the doctrines revealed to Joseph Smith, and due to the ridicule and persecution that many of the world would have given them, the Prophet taught many things in secret to only his most trusted associates. However, not all of his friends proved to be trustworthy, and they shared with the world, usually in some twisted form, those things he had taught them in purity.
William Law was one such person, who revealed publicly what had been taught to him in private. This he did in the infamous Nauvoo Expositor, and in a neighboring newspaper known as the Warsaw Message. In this latter publication he tried to put into rhyme the deepest of doctrines that had been imparted to him by Joseph Smith, but which he now sought to mock. The principle which he took most exception to was plural marriage, which he described in the following language:
“The song of the righteous is a prayer unto me”1 said the Lord to Emma Smith in a revelation received by her husband, the Prophet Joseph. God had instructed her to compile a hymnbook, and with the help of William W. Phelps they put together a uniquely Mormon set of sacred songs to be sung by the Latter-day Saints whenever they might meet together.
Hymns praise God, but also tells stories and illustrate the beliefs of those that sing them. Within their pages different editions of hymn books trace the history of the faiths to which they belong. At different times and under different circumstances there may have been more hymns on persecution, or the passing of loved ones, or a longed for blessing.
A look at different Mormon hymn books since the time the first was published can also give us a record of changes that might have occurred in the beliefs in the LDS Church. It is hard to argue that the Saints didn’t believe in something they sung about in every congregation throughout the world, and which was printed in hymn books for that purpose by the church they were members of. Read the rest of this entry »
Adam is Man
Although the name Adam doesn’t appear in the King James Version of the Bible until over half way through the second chapter of Genesis, in the original Hebrew language Adam appears in the first sentence regarding the creation of man and woman, when it tells us “God created man in His own image … male and female created He them.”1 Read the rest of this entry »
Before he ascended into heaven, the resurrected Jesus gave one last sermon, in which he stated:
“… these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”1
“In Jerusalem there is a gate called ‘the eye of the needle’ through which a camel could not pass until it stooped down to make it through the entrance.” This story has been taught to children in Sunday schools and by parents for at least two hundred years.1 It teaches about the need to bow or kneel before God in order to take the path back to his presence. Read the rest of this entry »
To The Latter-day Saints -
The experience of mankind has shown that the people of communities and nations among whom wealth is the most equally distributed, enjoy the largest degree of liberty, are the least exposed to tyranny and oppression and suffer the least from luxurious habits which beget vice.
Truth2 holds no brief with any sort of “ism” that has for its aim the destruction of human liberty. Men who engage in movements which encourage religious intolerance, are actuated by the spirit of the evil one, whether they be churchmen or otherwise. The Gospel plan is based upon the “Free agency of man.” Men are at liberty to worship God as they choose, or not to worship Him at all, so long as they do not infringe on the liberties or rights of others. This is true also as pertaining to our government. We are guaranteed certain inalienable rights under the Constitution of the United States, and any movement tending to proscribe or deny such rights is anti-Christ and should be resisted in all proper ways. …
Before you ask me to give up my lifestyle, show me that yours works. Show me that a monogamist marriage is sacred, that it works for at least a lifetime. Currently, more than 60 percent don’t. Show me children who don’t fret and worry about “if” and “when” their family will be torn apart. Read the rest of this entry »
At the death of President Joseph F. Smith the LDS Church stood at a crossroads. He was the last Church leader alive to have known the Prophet Joseph, and was the last prophet at the head of the Church who lived Plural Marriage whilst in that calling. With his passing came the end of an era. Who could fill his shoes? Read the rest of this entry »