There have been a few transitional times in the history of the Lord’s church upon the earth which I feel are calling for more attention. These were times when the revealed church became fulfilled, and a new church with elevated laws and understanding was born. Exploring these transitional periods can shed light on the Lord’s great desire to elevate His children and bring them home.
The most notable church transition occurred between Judaism which was revealed by Jehovah unto Moses, and that earliest form of religion we have come to think of as Christianity given by Jesus Christ. Both churches, though now altered from their original purity, continue to operate simultaneously. Both contain principles, rites, rituals, and doctrines that at one point were revealed to man directly from heaven, though once again, many of those practices have been altered from their original form.
In the early 1800’s the Lord saw fit once more to initiate an upgrade to His church, which I take to mean Christianity at large, but in a truer sense, those who love him and try to follow him. These are His words to Joseph Smith in 1829, one year before the restoration of His new and higher church:
And for this cause have I said: If this generation harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them. Now I do not say this to destroy my church, but I say this to build up my church; Therefore, whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. – Doctrine and Covenants 10:53-55
I love the Lord’s frequent reference to the existing set of believers as His Church, and I love His tender mercy in wanting to build it up. I am so grateful that He did. I have been so blessed by the higher truths restored to earth in the last 200 years. I also recognize the Lord’s eternal reverence for the principle of agency in allowing His children not to accept the upgrade.
Nephi recognized this duality of simultaneous higher and lower church operation in the latter-days when he referred to those saints of the church of the Lamb, and those who are covenant people of the Lord (1 Nephi 14:14). These simple statements suggest that the major difference between the two church’s is in their authorized covenant making practices. I am a witness that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only institution that is authorized to initiate those sacred and eternal covenants that allow man to walk back into God’s presence. At the same time, I recognize many beautiful truths that are held by many religions of the world.
What members of that church may not realize is that another major church upgrade is coming. The Lord also told Nephi in the same chapters from above that the time we currently live in known as the Day of the Gentiles would have an end. While the LDS church is currently the Lord’s approved institution for administering His gospel, it is not the same institution that will build New Jerusalem and welcome the return of the Savior Jesus Christ – that responsibility falls on Israel, not Gentiles.
As a Telestial institution in a Telestial world, it isn’t possible for Telestial hearts to create the Terrestrial foundation, with Terrestrial beliefs, faith, ordinances, and overall Terrestrial conditions described throughout scripture for that glorious day without first going through a major transition – a transition I might suggest the magnitude has not occurred since Adam and Eve partook of the fruit and their Terrestrial earth became Telestial. We seem to be on the brink of reversing that very act.
It is a transition that wont’ be easy. Letting go of old and false beliefs, and preparing for the elevated light, knowledge, and understanding that comes from Terrestrial living will challenge the faith and beliefs of Telestial saints. Even now as the Lord pours out His spirit and mysteries on many of His children in preparation for that day, many resist such truths because they are ‘before their time’ as it were. The Lord in His wisdom is letting the transition occur naturally and slowly. It is the only way to soften and prepare us for the gospel Christ will teach when this world is Terrestrial.
This gradual release of next generation doctrine follows the pattern He followed at the Savior’s first coming to the Nephites:
… the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming – that they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God. – Alma 16:16-17
Too much doctrine too soon could be a detriment to His children, and unless it begins now, we might not be ready for His next return. Terrestrial doctrines such as Multiple Mortal Probations, higher laws of marriage, and others are currently being restored to those seeking the mysteries among a Telestial body of resistance of the masses. This generally resistant attitude to higher truth may be a contributing factor to the need for pruning the loftiness of the vineyard which has overgrown the roots of the tree (Jacob 5:48).
The scriptures make it clear that before that great future Millennial day there is first a period called the Day of Tribulation which appears to provide the necessary spiritual tempering for the souls of those who will welcome the Savior’s return. After this cleansing and spiritual elevation of the Saints of God takes place, it appears the work of gathering the elect from the four quarters of the earth will truly accelerate (1 Nephi 14:10-17) and fulfill the prophecy of Joseph Smith that the church of God will fill the earth.
And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose founder is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants, which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel.
While many of those members will surely come from covenant members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, after a short time period that church will mostly be comprised of those who Isaiah referred to as foreigners, eunichs, outcasts, and strangers – or in the language of our culture, “Non-members”:
Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him. His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter – Isaiah 56:3-8
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Listen to Julie and Eric here for more on this subject
I love that angels may visit us unawares. It is a testimony to me to know that we interact with them throughout life. I wish that those who recognize that they were touched by their presents that we could share these unique visits. Otherwise I question if the war will be here on our earth and the New Jerusalem established, will there be New Jerusalems on other planets also? If so who will fight on those planets? Will all planets be celestialized? Are all just being done one at a time? I know I just opened a can of worms…..