|
|
| (22 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{JosephSmithPortal}}
| | #REDIRECT [[Question: Why did Joseph describe the United Order in revelation as "everlasting" and "immutable and unchangeable" until Jesus comes?]] |
| {{draft}}
| |
| | |
| ==Criticism==
| |
| Critics claim that Joseph gave a false prophecy when he described the United Order in revelation as "everlasting," "immutable and unchangeable," "until I [Jesus] come."
| |
| | |
| ===Source(s) of the criticism===
| |
| *{{CriticalWork:Abanes:One Nation|pages=462, 617 n. 14}}
| |
| | |
| ==Response==
| |
| | |
| The relevant scripture reads (color emphasis added for clarity):
| |
| | |
| :1 Verily I say unto you, my friends, I give unto you counsel, and a commandment, concerning all the properties which belong to the order which I commanded to be organized and established, to be a united order, and <font color="red">an everlasting order</font> for the benefit of my church, and for the salvation of men until I come—
| |
| :2 <font color="blue">With promise immutable and unchangeable, that inasmuch as those whom I commanded were faithful they should be blessed with a multiplicity of blessings;</font>
| |
| :3 But inasmuch as they were not faithful they were nigh unto cursing.
| |
| :4 Therefore, inasmuch as some of my servants have not kept the commandment, but have broken the covenant through covetousness, and with feigned words, I have cursed them with a very sore and grievous curse.
| |
| :5 For I, the Lord, have decreed in my heart, that inasmuch as any man belonging to the order shall be found a transgressor, or, in other words, shall break the covenant with which ye are bound, he shall be cursed in his life, and shall be trodden down by whom I will;
| |
| :6 For I, the Lord, am not to be mocked in these things—({{s||DC|104|1-6}})
| |
| | |
| Several points need to be made:
| |
| | |
| * the practice of the Order is not prophesied to be "<font color="blue">immutable and unchangeable</font>." Rather, the Lord says that the ''promise'' is "immutable and unchangeable"—and, that promise is that "inasmuch as those whom I commanded were faithful, they should be blessed with a multiplicity of blessings.
| |
| * the United Order is to be <font color="red">everlasting</font>—that is, it is always the Lord's highest law. Temple-worthy Latter-day Saints promise to observe the law of consecration. They are not, at present, commanded to enter the United Order, but covenant to do so if asked.
| |
| * the Lord makes it clear (verses 3-6) that some might break the covenant, and suffer the penalty. Thus, failure to live the law is not failure of a prophecy, but failure to live a commandment.
| |
| | |
| ==Biblical parallels==
| |
| | |
| There are other
| |
| | |
| ==Conclusion==
| |
| | |
| | |
| ==Endnotes==
| |
| | |
| | |
| ==Further reading==
| |
| ===FAIR wiki articles===
| |
| {{ProphecyWiki}}
| |
| ===FAIR web site===
| |
| {{ProphecyFAIR}}
| |
| ===External links===
| |
| {{ProphecyLinks}}
| |
| ===Printed material===
| |
| {{ProphecyPrint}}
| |
