Heaven And Hell

I've recently enjoyed reading the experiences of Emanuel Swedenborg.  He claimed visions and spiritual gifts seldom enjoyed in his day or ours.  Some of his writings seem to verify his claim.  His visions apparently began Easter weekend on 6 April 1744 and persisted thereafter.  He was in his 50s at the time.   

Since I recently mentioned the ministry of angels, I thought I'd share something I read earlier today.  The following is from one of his books, originally published in Latin in 1758 and translated to English in 1886:  

 "I have seen a thousand times that angels are human forms, or men; for I have conversed with them as man with man, sometimes with one alone, sometimes with many in company; nor did I discover in their form anything different from the form of man; and I have repeatedly wondered that they were such. And lest it should be said that it was a fallacy, or a visionary fancy, I have been permitted to see them in a state of full wakefulness, when I was in the exercise of every bodily sense, and in a state of clear perception. I have also frequently told them that men in the Christian world are in such blind ignorance concerning angels and spirits, as to believe them to be minds without form, and mere thoughts, concerning which they have no other idea than as of something ethereal, in which there is somewhat vital; and because they thus ascribe to them nothing human except a thinking principle, they imagine that they cannot see, because they have no eyes; nor hear because they have no ears; nor speak, because they have neither mouth nor tongue. The angels said in reply, that they knew such a belief exists with many in the world, and that it is the prevailing belief among the learned, and also, to their astonishment, among the clergy. They also assigned as a reason for this, that the learned, who were the leaders, and who first broached such ideas concerning angels and spirits, thought of them from the sensual conceptions of the external man; And they who think from these, and not from interior light, and the general idea implanted in everyone, must of necessity adopt such fictions; because the sensuals of the external man can comprehend only what is within nature but not what is above it, thus nothing whatever of the spiritual world. From these leaders as guides, the false notion concerning the angels was communicated to others, who did not think for themselves, but from them; and they who first think from others, and make the things so thought matters of their faith, and afterwards view them as such from their own understanding, can with difficulty recede from them; wherefore they generally acquiesce in confirming them. They further said that the simple in faith and heart have no such idea concerning the angels, but think of them as heavenly men, because they have not extinguished by erudition what was implanted in them from heaven, nor can they conceive of anything without a form. Hence it is that angels are always represented in temples, both in sculpture and painting, as men. Concerning what is thus implanted from heaven, they added, that it is the Divine communicated by influx to those who are in the good of faith and life.

"From all my experience, which is now for many years, I can declare and affirm that the form of the Angels is in every respect human; that they have faces, eyes, ears, breasts, arms, hands, feet; that they see, hear, and converse with each other; in a word, that they lack nothing which belongs to man, except the material body. I have seen them in a light, which exceeds by many degrees the noonday light of the world; and in that light I observed all parts of their faces more distinctly and clearly than ever I did the face of man on earth. I have also been permitted to see an angel of the inmost heaven. His countenance was brighter and more resplendent than the faces of the angels of the inferior heavens. I examined him closely, and his form was perfectly human. It is, however, to be observed, that angels cannot be seen by man with his bodily eyes, but with the eyes of the spirit which is within him; because the spirit is in the spiritual world, and all things of the body are in the natural world. Like sees like, because from like. Besides, everyone knows that the organ of bodily vision, which is the eye, is so gross that it cannot see even the smaller things of nature except by the aid of optical glasses; much less, then, can it discern those which are above the sphere of nature, as are all things in the spiritual world: nevertheless, these are seen by man when he is withdrawn from the bodily sight, and the sight of his spirit is opened. This is effected in a moment, when it pleases the Lord that man should see spiritual things" (Swedenborg, Heaven and Hell, pp. 49-51).

On The Ministry Of Angels

Not all who have seen angels are saved, or even good men (1 Ne. 3:29-31).  But the scriptural pattern indicates all saved men have been ministered to by angels.  

While angels declare repentance, they are not the source of one's conversion.  That is the primary function of the Holy Spirit.

Moroni Finishes His Record, Conclusion

Moroni's last recorded words include an exhortation to deny not the power or gifts of God.  God worketh by power according to the faith of the children of men (Moro. 10:7).  The gifts of God are given for the profit of man (Moro. 10:8).  Among these gifts, he once again mentions the necessity of the ministry of angels (Moro. 10:14).

These gifts will never be done away as long as the earth shall stand, for the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever (Moro. 10:19).  Unbelief will be the only cause for their ceasing (Moro. 10:19, 24).  If the gifts and power of God have ceased then there shall be none that doeth good, no not one (Moro. 10:25).

The Book of Mormon begins and ends with visions, angels, and the voice of God.  These bookends reveal a primary theme that runs throughout its story.  It is this: those who seek salvation, seek to know God and his Holy Son Jesus.  A part of that search for God is that true messengers come to instruct in the way of life and salvation.  They help prepare men for Christ.  They provide the sought after further light and knowledge.  They often declare repentance.  It has ever been thus.  The Book of Mormon is a witness that this is true.  It is an invitation for all men to come unto Christ.  It is a record of men who have walked the path.

Moroni spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, and with the tongue of angels.  If we cannot understand his words it will be because we seek not, nor ask.  If we reject his message we cannot be brought into the light, but must perish in the dark (2 Ne. 32:1-4).  He exhorts us to seek for every good gift, not excluding the ministry of angels (Moro. 10:30).  

To these angels is given power to seal men in their foreheads against the season which is to come (D&C 77:11).  They have power to prepeare men and women for the church of the Firstborn (ibid.).  They are a part of the process of sanctification.  You cannot be sanctified except it be by the grace of God, and unless you partake of His power (Moro. 10:33).  

The visitation of angels often seems unlikely and unbelievable to those who've not experienced them, and the messages shared by those taught by angels are often unpopular (Alma 21:5-6).  The religious who are proud are inescapably found fighting against God's messengers.  They would rather pride themselves in their sanctuaries, in their rites and culture (ibid).  They are angered by the truth.  This has been the pattern throughout history, anyway.  It's remarkably similar in our day. 

Eventually, God will show unto us all that the things this great prophet wrote are verily true (Moro. 10:29).

Moroni Finishes His Record, Part 7

Mormon's sermon on faith, included in Moroni 7, enters the topic of the ministry of angels (Moro. 7:22).  Angels were sent to minister "unto the children of men" to teach them about Christ.  This statement about angels ministering unto men is general, not limited to a small group of leaders.  All men and women may and should receive angels, or true messengers.  These messengers are sent from the presence of God to teach them how to "begin" to exercise faith in Christ (Moro. 7:25).  This is the beginning of revealed religion.

It is by this faith that men are saved, and "become the sons of God" (Moro 7:26).  Mormon tries to convince his audience that miracles haven't ceased because Christ left and ascended into heaven.  Miracles haven't ceased, and angels haven't ceased to minister unto the children of men (Moro. 7:29).  They are subject unto Christ and are sent by him unto men (Moro. 7:30).

As long as there is one man left upon the earth to be saved, so long as time shall last, angels will be sent to minister unto that man (Moro. 7:36).  Does this not imply that the ministry of angels is in some way inescapably tied to your salvation?  Can you be saved without the ministry of angels?  In other words, can you be prepared in all things, and be brought to the veil to meet your Lord without the guidance of true messengers?  What does the temple teach about this?  Do the teachings of the temple validate Mormon's testimony?

It is by faith that angels come to minister unto man (Moro. 7:37).  If angels have ceased to minister unto men, it is because of unbelief, and their religion is vain (ibid.).  "For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name (Moro. 7:38).

Both Mormon and Moroni speak unto you as if you were present (Morm. 8:35).  In order for their message to have the intended impact, you must actually believe the text is speaking to you personally.  Many in the Church insist passages like this are not meant to be taken personally.  You should read the text carefully and ask yourself if you're willing to believe that.

Remember that you cannot justify your standing before God by a reference to Joseph Smith's own experiences with angels.  Joseph Smith's personal experiences are no more a fair assessment of your own standing before God than Moses' experiences were a reflection of the righteousness of the children of Israel.  Nor are Joseph's personal experiences a good determinant of the Church's present condition.  In fact, Mormon said our churches "have become polluted" because of our pride (Morm. 8:36).  "The holy church of God" has been polluted from the inside out (Morm. 8:38).  Hugh Nibley always said it was an inside job.

The things Moroni included for us as he finished his record should be more helpful to us than we tend to allow them to be.  His words are corroborated by the testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith.  In the vision of the telestial world he saw that those who were to be heirs of salvation would be ministered to by angels (D&C 76:88).  They receive instruction from true messengers if they seek redemption from the fall.
 

Journals are Helpful

In 1836, just three years after his baptism, Wilford Woodruff was called as a seventy.  The next year he recorded the following prayer in his journal:

"O Lord I ask thee in the name of Jesus Christ thy Son, to look upon thy servant Willford, who now occupies a place in Kirtland, this first Stake of Zion, which thou has appointed in this last Dispensation, & fulness of times for the gathering of thy Saints.  O God of Israel, inspire the heart & pen of thy Servant at this time, & hear & answer the Petition which he will put up unto thee at this time, & remember the Covenant which they servant Willford will make with thee at this time, O mighty God of Jacob.  O Lord thou hast spared my life, to behold the commencem of 1837.  May my life, health, & strength be precious in thy Sight, through the year.  Wilt thou save me by thy grace from all sin, & the Powers of temptation, which try the souls of men.  Wilt thou give me favor during this year, with God & the Saints.  Wilt thou bless me while in school, & in meeting with the quorum of the Seventies, & while attending all other meetings in Kirtland for Divine worship.  O Lord if it be thy will, give me the privilege of recording in this years Journal great blessing, Pronounced upon my head from mine annointing & from under the hands of the Patriarch JOSEPH.  & an account of Great visions, & the opening of the heavens, & and the Revelation of JESUS CHRIST Unto me that I may be a special witness of Thee.  O Lord.  & may I also have the administering of Holy angels, that I may be taught of the Eternal things of the Priesthood.  If I am called to preach thy word this year, may I be bless with souls for my hire.   If I visit my kinsman, wilt thou make me an instrument, of bringing them into thy Celestial Kingdom.  & I Covenant with Thee, Heavenly FATHER, to go & come at thy bidding.  I ask the above blessing, through the Priesthood in the name of JESUS CHRIST AMEN" (Dean C. Jessee; BYU Studies Vol 12; 4:373, emphasis mine).

Is the gospel different today than it was then?  Why do members of the Church not share the same desire for spiritual things today as Wilford Woodruff did then?  What has changed?  Are members less spiritual?  What about our present culture discourages this kind of seeking?  I'm grateful when I read journals of the early Saints.  

The Prophet Abinadi, Part 2

The Prophet Abinadi, Part 2

“And except they repent and turn to the Lord their God, behold, I will deliver them into the hands of their enemies; yea, and they shall be brought into bondage; and they shall be afflicted by the hand of their enemies.

“And it shall come to pass that they shall know that I am the Lord their God, and am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of my people.

“And it shall come to pass that except this people repent and turn unto the Lord their God, they shall be brought into bondage; and none shall deliver them, except it be the Lord the Almighty God.

“Yea, and it shall come to pass that when they shall cry unto me I will be slow to hear their cries; yea, and I will suffer them that they be smitten by their enemies.

“And except they repent in sackcloth and ashes, and cry mightily to the Lord their God, I will not hear their prayers, neither will I deliver them out of their afflictions; and thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me” (Mosiah 11:21-25).

Because God loves his children and desires to save them, the message of repentance has been sent from God from the beginning.  Adam and his family were taught the gospel of repentance by the Lord and angels sent by Him (Moses 5:58; 6:1, 23,57).  All other righteous patriarchs and prophets received and taught the gospel of repentance (Moses7:10-12; 8:19-20; Ezek. 14:6; 1 Ne. 1:4; Alma 5:32-33, among many others).  The opposite of a message of repentance would be the message of flattery delivered by king Noah and his priests.  Flattery is not borne of love, but of lies.  It is the anti-Christ that will use flattery as a tool (Jacob 7:2).

Helaman 12 is an excellent sermon on the “unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men” (Hel. 12:1).  The sermon is true of men and women from the beginning of the earth until the end.  Men tend to “forget the Lord their God…and this is because of their ease, and their exceeding great prosperity” (v. 2).  Things haven’t changed.  We remain the same.  While in this telestial world there is a persistent need to combat the decaying force of entropy that is ever-present.  Men not only lose hair and muscle with the advance of time, but are always losing “light and truth” (D&C 93:39). 

Consistent with that truth therefore, is that the message men need to hear has never changed.  The message required to bring men to the Son of God 6000 years ago, was the same message required to bring men to the Son of God 2000 years ago, and is the same today.  In a revelation given to the Prophet in 1833 this is verified:

“Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on me name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth me commandments, shall see my face and know that I am” (D&C 93:1).

In our day the Lord commanded Joseph Smith to share the message of repentance.  Those who repent can be reconciled to Christ and “know that [He is]” while in the flesh. 

In order to combat the constant decay of light and truth, prophets reveal and restore lost truths, and always preach repentance, pointing people to Christ.  If the message “inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ” you may know “with a perfect knowledge it is of God” (Moro. 7:16).   

Whether it is sooner or later, the Lord does visit “the iniquities of [His] people.”  This he has spoken, and he excuses not himself.  But before the house comes crashing down, the Lord always gives fair warning by the voice of “his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).  This is why Abinadi was sent to the people.  It seems only one man received the message.  Though wolves in sheep’s clothing will flatter you, prophets warn of God’s judgment.  Look to the scriptures for the pattern.  It is unmistakable.  The only message that will not be compromised in the unfolding of the Lord’s “strange” work is the message of repentance (D&C 101:95).