Had some comments about this episode.
On translated beings and angels, some thoughts I’ve had over the years are that a few people before Christ’s resurrection were translated because of the priesthood keys they held. Moses, Elijah, and presumably Alma and Ether to name a few. Moses and Elijah we know were translated, while Alma and Ether seem to let on very strongly that they were likely translated. I’ve got my opinions on that, but that’s a side point. After Christ’s resurrection, we only know of four more translated beings, that being John and the three unnamed Nephites. I don’t think their transformation was temporary like Moses’ transfiguration after speaking with the Lord on Mount Sinai (be it book of Moses or book of Exodus), since they went forth in that power and had great power over the elements and over death. Their works were truly miraculous, and they seem to me to have power that no ordinary man had to do the work they were called to do. My opinion is they are on par with resurrected beings with what they can do despite not having the same physical changes being made to them, since they seem to operate all in the same capacity, looking at Peter (resurrected), James (resurrected), and John (translated) as examples of that. They at least need physical bodies to lay hands on to confer priesthood keys, and either kind of post-humous physical body seems to work as well as a mortal body. I know I make it sound more technical, but it seems the Lord has taken great care with these details, so I try to have an eye for them.
For temples, it is important to note that only the signs and tokens discussed in the endowment are under covenant to not be spoken of outside of certain circumstances within the temple. While it should be done so respectfully, everything else is fair game.
For animal sacrifice, (pardon the prophet drop, but he is THE prophet of this dispensation, so it has some more weight in my opinion) the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “It is generally supposed that sacrifice was entirely done away when the Great Sacrifice [i.e., the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus] was offered up, and that there will be no necessity for the ordinance of sacrifice in future: but those who assert this are certainly not acquainted with the duties, privileges and authority of the priesthood, or with the Prophets.
“The offering of sacrifice has ever been connected and forms a part of the duties of the Priesthood. It began with the Priesthood, and will be continued until after the coming of Christ, from generation to generation. …
“These sacrifices, as well as every ordinance belonging to the Priesthood, will, when the Temple of the Lord shall be built, and the sons of Levi be purified, be fully restored and attended to in all their powers, ramifications, and blessings. This ever did and ever will exist when the powers of the [Melchizedek] Priesthood are sufficiently manifest; else how can the restitution of all things spoken of by the holy Prophets be brought to pass? It is not to be understood that the law of Moses will be established again with all its rites and variety of ceremonies; this has never been spoken of by the Prophets; but those things which existed prior to Moses’ day, namely, sacrifice, will be continued.”
-Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Chapter 6 (then I just used Ctrl+F to jump to “animal”)
I have been wondering about sacrifice for several months now. It was not unique to the Law of Moses, but it was done away with when the Law of Moses was fulfilled. It’s sometimes hard to distinguish to two. Lately, actual blood Levites (from the Kohanim family, or more easily known as sons of Aaron) of the Jewish faith have begun restoring animal sacrifice in preparation for the building of the temple in Jerusalem and the sanctification of the mount it sits on. They’ve done extensive research on the furnishings of the ancient temple, what the temple should look like, where it should be, and even dedicated an altar for sacrifice in the meantime. They believe the Messiah will help them in offering a special red cow, the 10th of it’s kind, and my opinion is that that jives with what we read in D&C about the sons of Levi learning to offer again offerings in righteousness, since the details of that are unclear. It would also better explain this random revelation about a Levite automatically being a High Priest if the Lord restored the Jews to the covenant, brought them into His fold, and taught them of Him. I think the OT Lord talks about how the priesthood is their (the Levites) right forever anyways. If all rites and ordinances of the gospel are to be restored, that will be one of them, and I think most members get hung up on patriarchal blessing tribe lineage to be adopted into the House of Israel. Real, blood descendants of each tribe still exist, but they’re “lost” as we describe it modernly.
One of the myths that I hear brought up from time to time, and that is perhaps more detrimental to members, is associated with lineage. For some reason, most white people think Hispanics are ALL tribe of Manasseh and/or Lamanite, when they’re not. This has a similar ring to it as assuming black people are all descendants of Cain or are all intrinsically cursed as seen by the color of their skin. Hispanics have told me that it’s usually, but not always, followed by racist behavior. That white members shouldn’t associate with them, date them, marry them, or that they don’t have to preach the gospel or aren’t as blessed. They don’t get callings, or get “less important” callings. It’s all around rough. President Nelson and his wife Wendy shared an experience a few years back about when she asked a group of sisters to identify themselves bby lineage, and all but Levi were present at that meeting (Levi was later found in a Mission president’s wife one plane ride later). Sister Nelson followed up with her finding out that, while that was a really cool exercise to show how Israel is being gathered, we should not be asking people for details found in their personal patriarchal blessings. My guess is we shouldn’t assume details either.
Had some comments about this episode.
On translated beings and angels, some thoughts I’ve had over the years are that a few people before Christ’s resurrection were translated because of the priesthood keys they held. Moses, Elijah, and presumably Alma and Ether to name a few. Moses and Elijah we know were translated, while Alma and Ether seem to let on very strongly that they were likely translated. I’ve got my opinions on that, but that’s a side point. After Christ’s resurrection, we only know of four more translated beings, that being John and the three unnamed Nephites. I don’t think their transformation was temporary like Moses’ transfiguration after speaking with the Lord on Mount Sinai (be it book of Moses or book of Exodus), since they went forth in that power and had great power over the elements and over death. Their works were truly miraculous, and they seem to me to have power that no ordinary man had to do the work they were called to do. My opinion is they are on par with resurrected beings with what they can do despite not having the same physical changes being made to them, since they seem to operate all in the same capacity, looking at Peter (resurrected), James (resurrected), and John (translated) as examples of that. They at least need physical bodies to lay hands on to confer priesthood keys, and either kind of post-humous physical body seems to work as well as a mortal body. I know I make it sound more technical, but it seems the Lord has taken great care with these details, so I try to have an eye for them.
For temples, it is important to note that only the signs and tokens discussed in the endowment are under covenant to not be spoken of outside of certain circumstances within the temple. While it should be done so respectfully, everything else is fair game.
For animal sacrifice, (pardon the prophet drop, but he is THE prophet of this dispensation, so it has some more weight in my opinion) the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “It is generally supposed that sacrifice was entirely done away when the Great Sacrifice [i.e., the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus] was offered up, and that there will be no necessity for the ordinance of sacrifice in future: but those who assert this are certainly not acquainted with the duties, privileges and authority of the priesthood, or with the Prophets.
“The offering of sacrifice has ever been connected and forms a part of the duties of the Priesthood. It began with the Priesthood, and will be continued until after the coming of Christ, from generation to generation. …
“These sacrifices, as well as every ordinance belonging to the Priesthood, will, when the Temple of the Lord shall be built, and the sons of Levi be purified, be fully restored and attended to in all their powers, ramifications, and blessings. This ever did and ever will exist when the powers of the [Melchizedek] Priesthood are sufficiently manifest; else how can the restitution of all things spoken of by the holy Prophets be brought to pass? It is not to be understood that the law of Moses will be established again with all its rites and variety of ceremonies; this has never been spoken of by the Prophets; but those things which existed prior to Moses’ day, namely, sacrifice, will be continued.”
-Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Chapter 6 (then I just used Ctrl+F to jump to “animal”)
I have been wondering about sacrifice for several months now. It was not unique to the Law of Moses, but it was done away with when the Law of Moses was fulfilled. It’s sometimes hard to distinguish to two. Lately, actual blood Levites (from the Kohanim family, or more easily known as sons of Aaron) of the Jewish faith have begun restoring animal sacrifice in preparation for the building of the temple in Jerusalem and the sanctification of the mount it sits on. They’ve done extensive research on the furnishings of the ancient temple, what the temple should look like, where it should be, and even dedicated an altar for sacrifice in the meantime. They believe the Messiah will help them in offering a special red cow, the 10th of it’s kind, and my opinion is that that jives with what we read in D&C about the sons of Levi learning to offer again offerings in righteousness, since the details of that are unclear. It would also better explain this random revelation about a Levite automatically being a High Priest if the Lord restored the Jews to the covenant, brought them into His fold, and taught them of Him. I think the OT Lord talks about how the priesthood is their (the Levites) right forever anyways. If all rites and ordinances of the gospel are to be restored, that will be one of them, and I think most members get hung up on patriarchal blessing tribe lineage to be adopted into the House of Israel. Real, blood descendants of each tribe still exist, but they’re “lost” as we describe it modernly.
One of the myths that I hear brought up from time to time, and that is perhaps more detrimental to members, is associated with lineage. For some reason, most white people think Hispanics are ALL tribe of Manasseh and/or Lamanite, when they’re not. This has a similar ring to it as assuming black people are all descendants of Cain or are all intrinsically cursed as seen by the color of their skin. Hispanics have told me that it’s usually, but not always, followed by racist behavior. That white members shouldn’t associate with them, date them, marry them, or that they don’t have to preach the gospel or aren’t as blessed. They don’t get callings, or get “less important” callings. It’s all around rough. President Nelson and his wife Wendy shared an experience a few years back about when she asked a group of sisters to identify themselves bby lineage, and all but Levi were present at that meeting (Levi was later found in a Mission president’s wife one plane ride later). Sister Nelson followed up with her finding out that, while that was a really cool exercise to show how Israel is being gathered, we should not be asking people for details found in their personal patriarchal blessings. My guess is we shouldn’t assume details either.