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CHAPTER 13Men are called as high priests because of their exceeding faith and good works—They are to teach the commandments—Through righteousness they are sanctified and enter into the rest of the Lord—Melchizedek was one of these—Angels are declaring glad tidings throughout the land—They will reveal the actual coming of Christ. [About 82 B.C.] |
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1 AND again, my brethren, I would
cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments
unto his childrena; and I would
that ye should remember that the Lord God aordained
priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach
these things unto the people.
2 And those priests were ordained after the aorder of his Son, in a bmanner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption.
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1a I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children Now when one knows the future to come, it is often a matter of so looking forward with a certain degree of 'historical knowledge' as to what was there and then in the future so performed and done. Thus when one looks forward to the grand meeting at Adam-ondi Ahman, because we do know of such things as do happen then though they have not yet occured, it might so be said that be are indeed 'citing our minds forward upon them in respect to that which is then performed according to our knowledge now'. The prophecies of the Nephites from the time of Lehi and Nephi has been of such order of knowing things yet to come even as though they have already come and are. Now this is the case of the ordination of the Apostles of the Lord who were anointed and ordained to be high priests and apostles after the order of Melchizedek. And that calling was so forordained in the preexistance according to the foreknowledge of God. |
1a
Alma 8:23 (11, 23);
D&C 84:17 (17-19); Moses 6:7; Abr. 2:9 (9, 11) 2a D&C 107:3 (2-4) b Alma 13:16
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3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being
acalled and bprepared from the
cfoundation of the world according to the
dforeknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith
and good works; in the first place being left to echoose
good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly
great ffaith, are gcalled with a holy
calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according
to, a preparatory redemption for such.
4 And thus they have been acalled to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and bblindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great cprivilege as their brethren. 5 Or in fine, in the first place they were on the asame standing with their brethren; thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their heartsa, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son, who was prepared—
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5a this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts Now because of God's ability to have a foreknowledge of all thigns, it was and is possible for him to know whom among us would respond unto his word and would not so harden our hearts against him. And unto us was the foreordination to be high priests after the order of God, after the order of the Son of God. Thus we were so called and foreordained to obtain such during this time according to the mind and will and understanding of our God. |
3a
D&C 127:2;
TG
Election;
TG
Foreordination b D&C 138:56 c Alma 12:30 (25, 30); Alma 22:13; TG Man, Antemortal Existence of d TG God, Foreknowledge of e TG Agency f TG Priesthood, Qualifying for g TG Called of God 4a Ether 12:10 b TG Spiritual Blindness c 1 Ne. 17:35 (32-35) 5a Rom. 2:11; 2 Ne. 26:28
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6 And thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the
high priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the
children of men, that they also might enter into his
arest—
7 This high priesthood being after the order of his Son, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being awithout beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from beternity to all eternity, according to his cforeknowledge of all things—
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6a
Alma 12:37;
Alma 16:17;
TG
Rest 7a Heb. 7:3; Abr. 1:3 (2-4) b TG Eternity c TG God, Foreknowledge of TG God, Omniscience of
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8 Now they were aordained after this
manner—being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy
ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which
calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or
end—
9 Thus they become ahigh priests forever, after the order of the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, who is without beginning of days or end of years, who is full of bgrace, equity, and truth. And thus it is. Amen.
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8a
TG
Priesthood, Melchizedek TG Priesthood, Oath & Covenant 9a TG High Priest, Melchizedek b John 1:17 (14, 17); 2 Ne. 2:6 Moses 1:6; TG Grace
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10 Now, as I said concerning the holy order, or this
ahigh priesthood, there were many who were ordained and
became high priests of God; and it was on account of their exceeding
bfaith and crepentance, and their
righteousness before God, they choosing to repent and work righteousness
rather than to perish;
11 Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were asanctified, and their bgarments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb. 12 Now they, after being asanctified by the bHoly Ghost, having their garments made white, being cpure and spotless before God, could not look upon dsin save it were with eabhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.
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10a
D&C 84:18 (6-22);
D&C 107:53 (40-55) b TG Priesthood, Magnifying Callings c TG Spirituality 11a Lev. 8:30; Moses 6:60 (59-60) b 1 Ne. 12:10; Alma 5:21-27; 3 Ne. 27:19-20 12a Rom. 8:1-9; D&C 11:12-13; TG Sanctification b TG Holy Ghost, Baptism of c TG Purity d Rom. 12:9; 2 Ne. 4:31; Mosiah 5:2; Alma 19:33 e Prov 8:13; Alma 37:29
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13 And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves
before God, and bring forth afruit meet for repentance,
that ye may also enter into that rest.
14 Yea, humble yourselves even as the people in the days of aMelchizedek, who was also a high priest after this same order which I have spoken, who also took upon him the high priesthood forever. 15 And it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid atithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed.
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13a
Luke 3:8 14a D&C 84:14; JST Gen. 14:25-40 (in Appendix LDS Ed.); TG Priesthood, History 15a Gen. 14:20 (18-20); Mal. 3:10 (8-10); TG Tithing
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16 Now these aordinances were given after this
bmanner, that thereby the people might look forward on the
Son of God, it being a ctype of his order, or it being his
order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their
sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord.
17 Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astraya; they were full of all manner of wickedness; 18 But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the aholy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father.
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17a his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray Now since God has a foreknowledge of each of us, does that mean that those who are so wicked in this estate are doomed unto destruction and were not those who God so knew before the foundation of the world? Now to give the hope of God unto all men let it be understood that even the people of Melchizedek had come into a state of iniquity, all having gone astray. But thus is the nature of this fallen estate, for the natural man is an enemy of God and the failties of it doeth lead many if not all into some degree of sin. Thus we are all commanded that we must needs repent. Now God's foreknowledge was not to so assign those who have done wickedly unto eternal damnation, but his foreknowledge was unto that understanding as to who it would be among us who would not hardern their hearts against God and his word, that when his word is so declared unto them that they will repent and come unto God, And thus it was that the people of Melchizedek did turn unto God and become a righteous people even unto being so translated even as was Enoch and his people. Thus may all who have done wickedness may have hope that they may be cleased and be raised up in him unto coming unto eternal life and to come unto the love of God in His kingdom forever. Yea, Christ came into the world not unto those who were 'whole' meaning those who were without sin. But he came into the world to call sinners unto repentance. Thus all sinners may have hope in Christ and none need be condemned if they will but turn unto Chirst. |
16a
A of F 5;
TG
Ordinance b Alama 13:2 c TG Jesus Christ, Types of in Anticipation 18a TG Priesthood
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19 Now, there were amany before him, and also there
were many afterwards, but bnone were greater; therefore, of
him they have more particularly made mention.
20 Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice. Behold, the ascriptures are before you; if ye will bwrest them it shall be to your own destruction.
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19a
Hel. 8:18;
D&C 84:14 (6-16); D&C 107:53 (40-55) b D&C 107:2 (1-4) 20a Alma 14:1, 8, 14; TG Scriptures, Value of b 2 Pet. 3:16; D&C 41:1
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21 And now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words unto
them, he stretched forth his hand unto them and cried with a mighty voice,
saying: aNow is the time to repent, for the day of
salvation draweth nigh;
22 Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the amouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us. 23 And they are made known unto us in aplain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being awanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard.
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21a
TG
Procrastination 22a Alma 10:20 (7-10, 20) 23a 2 Ne. 25:7-8; 2 Ne. 31:3; 2 Ne. 32:7; Jacob 4:13; Ether 12:39 b Jacob 7:26
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24 For behold, aangels are declaring it unto many
at this time in our landa; and this
is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive
his word at the time of his coming in his glory.
25 And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we aknow not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice. 26 And it shall be made known unto ajust and holy men, by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.
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24a angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land One need not suppose that the administration of angels comes only to the authorized high leadership of the church. While there is the proper order of things for the purposes of administering God's kingdom on earth, there is no private ownership of the ministering of angels to any particular select and elite group of either church members or even those outside of the church. The Lord and his angels do administer to all men in all times according to their faith and the good will and mind of the Lord. One such case is the administration of a vision to the father of a Lamanite women named Abish (Alma 19:16). He was not a member of the then church at all but because of this remarkable vision, he and his household including his daughter Abish were converted unto the Lord even before the missionary efforts of Ammon and his brethren. Therefore one needs not suppose that the Lord and his angels are ever unable to minister unto the needs of men either within or without the church though the church and it authorized leaders are the source of the proper ordiances and order of the kingdom. |
24a
Alma 10:10;
Alma 39:19 25a 1 Ne. 10:4; 3 Ne. 1:1 26a Ex. 22:31; Amos 3:7; W of M 1:17; D&C 49:8; D&C 107:29
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27 And now, my brethren, I awish from the inmost
part of my heart, yea, with great banxiety even unto pain,
that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not
cprocrastinate the day of your repentance;
28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and awatch and pray continually, that ye may not be btempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be cled by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, dmeek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; 29 aHaving faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the blove of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his crest.
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27a
Mosiah 28:3-4 b Mosiah 25:11 c TG Apathy; TG Procrastination 28a TG Prayer; TG Watchfulness b Rom. 7:23-24; 1 Cor. 10:13; D&C 64:20 c Alma 22:1; Morm. 5:17 d TG Forbearance; TG Love; TG Meekness 29a Alma 7:24 b Ps. 18:1; D&C 20:31; D&C 76:116; TG God, Love of c D&C 84:24
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30 And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring
down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be abound down by
the chains of bhell, that ye may not suffer the second
cdeath.
31 And Alma spake many more words unto the people, which are not written in athis book.
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30a
TG
Bondage, Spiritual b TG Damnation; TG Hell c TG Death, Spiritual, Second 31a W of M 1:5; 3 Ne. 5:9 (8-12)
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