Living Works

2003-4-3 05:46:00

John Z and C,
You have brought up enough items to warrant a book. I do not have time to go into much detail. Also, we must consider that most members of the list are not familiar with Mormon Doctrine and some would be lost with extensive discussion on the subject.

For those with Mormon background, I would offer this. The religions of the world are preparatory schools for real learning. If you read the archives you will discover many teachings that go beyond that which is given out in the scriptures or by church authorities. There are many people who are ready for more than is given out through the churches.

The following seems to be an important question to John Z, so I will answer this with a few comments.

Question by John Z:
I know this topic may seem to be merely for the LDS (Mormon) people, but I see it having a wider impact.

The reason is because JJ often quotes either Joseph Smith or the Mormon scriptures that came thru him.

Why? I assume it is because JJ believes Joseph was who he claimed to be -- a prophet from God, who DID receive divine revelation.

THE $64 QUESTION: Was he, or wasn't he?


JJ:
You ask this as if Joseph Smith was unique.

Actually, everyone who achieves soul contact is a prophet, just as were the teachers in the days of old.

Joseph Smith did have soul contact and received many true revelations suited to the consciousness of his time.

John Z:
If he was, do we then "cherry pick" the doctrine and revelations we like, and cast aside the rest?

JJ:
When quoting any teacher I attempt to pick what is true rather than what is not true. I am not aware of casting anything aside.

Even so, any teaching, whether it be from an angel, God or man, that does not register with the soul should be put aside or at least on the shelf. Sometimes there are a dozen avenues of truth one can pursue and the soul will guide you to learn just one of them. Maybe the other eleven have valid points, but you cannot learn all things at once. Other times the soul will steer you away from a path because of great error contained thereon.

John Z:
If he was, do we not take seriously his claim that he received the Aaronic Priesthood, being ordained by John the Baptist?

This is pretty clear. Joseph was ORDAINED. This is nothing to indicate the event was "symbolic".

Joseph was COMMANDED to baptize Oliver. Why would a messenger sent from God come all that way to command Joseph to do a "dead work"?

(Quotes account of visitation of angel) And, if it is NOT a "dead work"; if the ordination was real (and not symbolic) ... where does that leave us?


JJ:
Why did God establish a system of dead works through Moses?

Because that was all the consciousness of the masses could handle.

Why did God establish a church that would have dead works?

Again, this was all the consciousness of the people could handle. We are told that the laws of Moses were a "schoolmaster" to prepare the people for Christ.

Even so, the dead works of the churches are training wheels to prepare the people to accept and appreciate the living works manifested through the soul.

John Z:
SO ... the $64 question (again) ... was Joseph Smith who he claimed to be? Did this event take place?

JJ:
Joseph Smith was who he claimed to be, but not who the members of the church understand him to be. The event did take place, but establishing a gathering place for those who were used to dead works (but had the possibility of graduating to living works) was part of the plan.

I do not have time to write on the Priesthood at the moment but plan on writing about it another time.

JJ