Unraveling the Mystery of Godliness - Part 2 : See the Whole Court

In part 1 of “Unraveling the Mystery of Godliness,” a personal anecdote with my grandchildren mentioned basketball. In review, the subject of dribbling was discussed and the difference between knowing how to dribble and proficiency in dribbling. Dribbling by a novice requires concentration of sight and coordination on the ball. Through practice and “muscle memory” a proficient dribbler turns their focus away from the ball to the court. The acquisition of this skill enables players to identify and exploit opportunities during the game. Opportunities that collectively elevate all five players, accomplishing more than they can individually.

These principles are applicable to the mystery of godliness. Frequently we recite the mantra faith, repentance, baptism, and reception of the Holy Ghost as foundational principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Repeating the mantra and mechanical participation in ordinances is like knowing how to dribble without proficiency.

A summation of the purpose of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is to repair what was broken by the fall of Adam and Eve. The intention is to restore mankind to the presence of God through a process; transforming them into His image and attributes. The process of transformation is the mystery of godliness. Like dribbling, practice of basic principles leads to experience and character development; the “muscle memory” of our beings.

Memorizing the mantra and following ordinances mechanically without focused consideration of practical application of principles is like knowing how to dribble without proficiency. Joseph Smith explained what God requires of us if we are to understand eternal progression:

“. . . the things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, O man! If thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity-thou must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God, than the vain imaginations of the human heart! None but fools will trifle with the souls of men.

How vain and trifling have been our spirits, our conferences, our councils, our meetings, our private as well as public conversations-too low, too mean, too vulgar, too condescending, for the dignified characters of the called and chosen of God, according to the purposes of His will, from before the foundation of the world! We are called to hold the keys of the mysteries of those things that have been kept hid from the foundation of the world until now. Some have tasted a little of these things, many of which are to be poured down from heaven upon the heads of babes; yea, upon the weak, obscure and despised ones of the earth [us] . . .” (TPJS., p.137, emphasis added).

We come to this mortal endeavor with no recollection of what we experienced before the foundation of this earth. Since the days of Jesus modern Christianity has condensed from something requiring “time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts” as the “only” means of finding them out. Some believe a casual confession of sin and reliance on the mercy of Christ alone is the means to obtaining eternal blessings. It has become our traditional excuse for ignorance of God and His “things.”

Joseph Smith is the dispensational head of the original Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. Through him we learn what God requires of us and how to obtain it. Through generations following Joseph Smith mainstream Christianity and Joseph’s teachings have been corrupted and diluted. Regarding the prior quotation, Denver Snuffer explains:

“We qualified in the pre-earth life for the things obtained here. What we receive in this life is an extension of and fulfillment of the promises we obtained before birth. The bounds of our habitation are set for us now, based upon what we did then. It appears clear this life will set bounds for us in the next life, as well. Given the risk we may be limiting our eternity by what we fail to receive here, it makes the most sense to receive as much as possible while in mortality. It makes sense we should seek the face of God here, so it becomes our inheritance to receive that presence in the next life.

-The things of God really are of deep import. Only time, experience, and careful, ponderous and solemn thoughts can find them out. Provided, of course, there is a real desire to know the things of God accompanied by obedience to His commandments. If you don’t desire them, you won’t ask and won’t receive. And if you do desire them, you will ask and you will obey. It is self-regulated, in that sense. Everyone decides for themselves just how much or an advantage in the world to come they are willing to acquire here” (The Second Comforter-Conversing with the Lord through the Veil, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.414-415, emphasis added).

The “accuser” entices us into complacency toward the things of God. Through those who serve the accuser’s purposes, knowingly or ignorantly, the accuser deceives us in many ways. Complacency, deflection, distraction, or vain ambition. All temptations are strategic methods steering us away from the straight and narrow path. The Father’s path the Savior precisely walked.

“Now, therefore, know that Jesus is the Messiah, the Walker in the Path who has proven for evermore that Father Ahman sent Him into the world to prove His Father’s path” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of St. John 12:21, emphasis added).

The Savior walked the Father’s path with precision and perfection. By expressly following the Father’s instructions Jesus obtained the “mind of the Father.”

“ . . . the Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, a personage of tabernacle, made or fashioned like unto man, or being in the form and likeness of man, or rather, man was formed after his likeness and in his image — he is also the express image and likeness of the personage of the Father, possessing all the fullness of the Father, or the same fullness with the Father, being begotten of him, and was ordained from before the foundation of the world to be a propitiation for the sins of all those who should believe on his name, and is called the Son because of the flesh — and descended in suffering below that which man can suffer, or in other words, suffered greater sufferings and was exposed to more powerful contradictions than any man can be. But notwithstanding all this, he kept the law of God and remained without sin, showing thereby that it is in the power of man to keep the law and remain also without sin. And also, that by him a righteous judgment might come upon all flesh, and that all who walk not in the law of God may justly be condemned by the law and have no excuse for their sins. And he being the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and having overcome, received a fullness of the glory of the Father — possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the holy spirit that bears record of the Father and the Son, and these three are one, or in other words, these three constitute the great matchless, governing, and supreme power over all things, by whom all things were created and made that were created and made. And these three constitute the Godhead and are one: the Father and the Son possessing the same mind, the same wisdom, glory, power, and fullness, filling all in all — the Son being filled with the fullness of the mind, glory, and power, or in other words, the spirit, glory, and power of the Father — possessing all knowledge and glory, and the same kingdom: sitting at the right hand of power, in the express image and likeness of the Father — a mediator for man — being filled with the fullness of the mind of the Father, or in other words, the spirit of the Father, which spirit is shed forth upon all who believe on his name and keep his commandments. And all those who keep his commandments shall grow up from grace to grace and become heirs of the Heavenly kingdom and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, possessing the same mind, being transformed into the same image or likeness, even the express image of him who fills all in all: being filled with the fullness of his glory, and become one in him, even as the Father, Son, and holy spirit are one” (RE T&C 110, Lectures on Faith 5:2, emphasis added).

The Savior walked the path of the Father, in other words, Jesus received specific direction from the Father and through obedience to what the Father taught, obtained the Father’s mind and attributes, becoming “like Him.” Through strict obedience, the Lord became “One” with the Father providing a springboard for us to emulate and become “One” with them.

“I [Jesus] have many things to teach that will be used to judge you; and the one who sent me [the Father] is the Source of all truth. I am teaching what he has sent me to teach and he provided my message. They did not understand that he was speaking the words of Father Ahman [Heavenly Father]. Then Jesus added, When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am Son Ahman [literal Son of the Father], and that I have done nothing on my own; but as my Father has taught me, I repeat his words. He sent me and accompanies me here; the Father has never abandoned my side. I always do the things that please him.

When he spoke these words, many believed on him.

Then Jesus addressed those Jews who believed on him, Only if you continue to follow my teachings will you be my students indeed, because you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free . . .” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of St. John 6:16-18).

To obtain the blessing of spiritual rebirth, or receiving the mind of the Father or “Holy Spirit,” we are required to follow the teachings of Jesus. Those He obtained from the Father. Perfection in the process of learning to walk the straight and narrow path is not required of us in this life, as it was the Savior. Only progress. We are responsible for ourselves [agency] and those we assist in their journey. Ultimately, Christ is the only Savior, but He shares with us opportunities to serve Him by repenting and serving others.[1]

Our agency is a gift from God[2] opening a broad expanse of privilege and opportunity to improve upon ourselves and the world in general. Agency with ignorance may be an equally damning influence if we choose to shrink from the challenges designed to teach us the mysteries of godliness.

“For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God (that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins) [like unto the Son of God] who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way, for he himself also is encompassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof, he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man takes this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest, but he [He, the Father] that said unto him [the Son of God], You are my Son; today I have begotten you. As he says also in another place, You are a priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedek — who in the days of his [Melchizedek] flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him [Christ] that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he [Melchizedek] feared, though he was a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. (This alludes to Melchizedek and not to Christ.)” (RE Hebrews 1:12, emphasis added).

Melchizedek [new name for Shem, son of Noah] learned to be obedient to the Savior through suffering, first when he disobeyed, and then for obedience and loyalty to God in the face of persecution from his peers. The sufferings of Melchizedek led him to prayers and supplications with “strong crying and tears” as he sought God’s mercy and deliverance from his sins and ignorance. Self-awareness of sin is stirred by conviction of our conscience, a gift given to mankind by God’s love for us. [3] It warns those who heed it when they veer from the Father’s path. On the same path, the Savior walked to perfection. His teachings and example direct us to and how to stay on our Father’s path. We must eventually walk it precisely if we are to obtain what Jesus received, the mind of the Father. We may not be prepared to do so now, but the Atonement of Jesus Christ allows us as many opportunities as necessary to obtain that objective if we continue to progress. [4]

“. . . We ask, then: Where is the prototype? Or where is the saved being? We conclude as to the answer of this question there will be no dispute among those who believe the Bible that it is Christ. All will agree in this, that he is the prototype or standard of salvation, or in other words, that he is a saved being. And if we should continue our interrogation, and ask how it is that he is saved, the answer would be, because he is a just and holy being. And if he were anything different from what he is he would not be saved, for his salvation depends on his being precisely what he is and nothing else. For if it were possible for him to change in the least degree, so sure he would fail of salvation and lose all his dominion, power, authority, and glory, which constitutes salvation. For salvation consists in the glory, authority, majesty, power, and dominion which Jehovah possesses, and in nothing else, and no being can possess it but himself or one like him. Thus says John in his first epistle, 3:2,3 [1 John 1:13]: Behold, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And any man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure. Why purify himself as he is pure? Because if they do not, they cannot be like him” (RE T&C 110, Lectures on Faith 7:9, emphasis added). [5]

This is the point at which we learn to stop concentrating on the ball bouncing off the floor and gain proficiency in dribbling. It’s the point at which Lehi, in his dream ceases following the man in white and bows and pleads with God for deliverance from mists of darkness.[6] The fact the man dressed in white he follows may be cleansed in the blood of Christ is irrelevant to us and our salvation. Lehi had to petition God directly to obtain the fruit of the Tree of Life. No one can do it for us. The personal effect of the fall of Adam and Eve on us is only remedied when we are renewed in our relationship with God. No one else could lead Lehi out of the dark mists, and no one is allowed to do it for us.

Vicarious representation is an Aaronic, preparatory principle having no power to save. The Melchizedek Priesthood makes provision for all to represent ourselves at the veil and converse directly with the Lord through the veil.[7]

In the Restorations beginning, Joseph Smith taught the first principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ are “faith, repentance, baptism, and gift of the Holy Ghost.” Near the end of his life, his eyes moved away from focusing on dribbling the ball to “see the court” in its entirety. [8] It was time to look upon the expansive opportunity God gives us and focus on becoming righteous, as He is.

“These are incomprehensible ideas to some, but they are simple. It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that [1] we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that [2] he was once a man like us; yea, that [3] God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did; and I will show it from the Bible . . . The Scriptures inform us that Jesus said, As the Father hath power in Himself, even so hath the Son power-to do what? Why, what the Father did. The answer is obvious-in a manner to lay down His body and take it up again. Jesus, what are you going to do? To lay down my life as my Father did, and take it up again. Do we believe it? If you do not believe it, you do not believe the Bible. The Scriptures say it, and I defy all the learning and wisdom and all the combined powers of earth and hell together to refute it.

Here, then, [4] is eternal life-to know the only wise and true God; and [5] you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the [6] same as all Gods have done before you, namely by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until [7] you attain to the resurrection of the dead [9], and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. [10] And I want you to know that God, in the last days, while certain individual are proclaiming his name, is not trifling with you or me . . . What did Jesus do? Why; I do the things I saw my Father do when worlds come rolling into existence. [8] My Father worked out his kingdom with fear and trembling, and [9] I must do the same; and [10] when I get my kingdom, I shall present it to my Father, so that he may obtain kingdom upon kingdom, and it will exalt him in glory. [11] He will then take a higher exaltation, and I will take his place, and thereby become exalted myself. So that Jesus treads in the tracks of his Father and inherits what God did before; and [12] God is thus glorified and exalted in the salvation and exaltation of all his children. It is plain beyond disputation, and you thus learn some of the first principles of the Gospel, about which so much hath been said.

When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel-you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you pass through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave . . .” (TPJS. pp.346-348, emphasis added).

“These are incomprehensible ideas to some, but they are simple.” Even common sensical. The concepts explained by Joseph Smith are not complex. They are logical. Complexity is introduced when false teachings complicate matters by introducing the concept of time. [11] Christians, and particularly Mormons, find Joseph Smith’s teachings conceptually believable when applied to others. Yet, applying them to ourselves individually is incomprehensible and unattainable because we cannot conceive of accomplishing what Joseph Smith describes within bounds of this mortal existence. We believe we are more self-aware of our weaknesses and incapabilities. The outcomes described by him are conceptually possible but remain beyond our reach in this lifetime. After all:

“. . . Therefore this life has become a probationary state, a time to prepare to come face to face with God . . .” (C of C, Alma 9:6, emphasis added).

The concept this life is the only time for us to prepare to meet God is the intellectual obstacle. It makes what Joseph Smith and the Lectures on Faith taught seemingly impossible to conceive of or attain sufficient faith. It’s difficult to believe we can successfully accomplish those objectives prior to passing mortality. This seemingly impossible task accomplished by the Savior in one brief lifetime is beyond our wildest dreams. For most, if not all, rightfully so. His success involved more knowledge; more experience through many more cycles of growth.

Theoretically, we know it is possible because the Savior accomplished it. Based upon our current understanding, perfection is beyond anything a typical mortal is likely to do. The foundation of the accuser’s false teachings is the concept it must all be done in mortality, on this earth. We tend to believe any other outcome falls short of God’s requirements or, His grace blankets any need to do so. To reconcile the realization of this outcome with the enormity of the task, the mercy of Christ is turned to “magic fairy dust” [12] that in an incomprehensible way makes it all possible. Saved by grace alone makes acceptance of the concept enticing because it absolves us of responsibility to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” [13] The magic fairy dust solution is a false distraction deceiving us into believing it is reasonable to      “relying exclusively on the merits of Him who’s powerful to save” [14] absolving us of responsibility for receiving the gift He offers. [15]

The Atonement of Christ, of which the suffering of Jesus is truly beyond anything mortals comprehend, is not a magic fairy dust solution to the problems of the Fall of Adam. What the Atonement does is provide endless opportunity to advance beyond the grave. Opportunity to advance “grace for grace” and then “grace to grace” [16]

To address the idea “this life is the time to prepare to meet God,” it’s important to see if Alma was communicating the idea that everything associated with the salvation of mankind must be accomplished in mortality. Is Alma contradicting what Joseph Smith taught about learning beyond the veil and after we die?

“When Alma had finished speaking these words, the people became even more surprised. But Antionah, who was a chief ruler, stepped forward and asked: What is this that you’ve said, that man would rise from the dead and be changed from this mortal state to an immortal state, so the soul can never die? [This is the question Alma responded to.] What does the scripture mean that says God placed cherubim and a sword of fire east of the Garden of Eden so our first parents couldn’t enter and eat the fruit of the tree of life and live forever? Obviously it was impossible for them to live forever. Alma replied: This is what I was about to explain. We see that Adam fell by eating the forbidden fruit, according to God’s word. We see because of his fall all mankind became lost and fallen. Now if it had been possible for Adam to have then eaten the fruit of the tree of life, there would be no death and God’s word would have been empty, making God a liar, since He said: If you eat, you will certainly die. And death has come upon mankind, the death mentioned by Amulek, which is the temporal [temporary] death. Nevertheless, mankind is given time to repent. Therefore this life has become a probationary state, a time to prepare to come face to face with God. It’s a time to prepare for the endless state we talked about, which is after the resurrection of the dead. [As Joseph Smith said, the time after we passed through the veil and could learn beyond the grave] Now if it weren’t for the plan of redemption established at the foundation of creation, there wouldn’t be any resurrection of the dead. But there is a plan of redemption that provides the resurrection of the dead we mentioned” (C of C Alma 9:6, emphasis added).

Death falls upon all mankind, but the Atonement of Jesus Christ delivers them from the grave; enabling them to live beyond death and advance. Every moment of our existence, pre-mortal, mortal, and post-mortal is the time to prepare to meet God. Preparation is not restricted to our earthly experience. It was in a process prior to birth and continues after death, if we repent and increase in light and knowledge. [17] Mortality and choices we make here influence opportunities we are offered after death. [18] Each “cycle” [19] is adjusted to offer experience and knowledge drawing us closer to God and transformation into His image.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ offers continuous opportunities to those who repent and increase in further light and knowledge. We, like the Savior, are expected to accomplish the transformation over numerous cycles beginning prior to our birth.

“Even what we envision as the highest heaven, is a condescension for those who sit enthroned, able to dwell in everlasting burnings. Else why in section 130 would you be given a white stone that reveals things that pertains to “a higher order of kingdoms,” when you are in the Celestial Kingdom? This is because where you are now, at this moment, in this meeting, hearing my voice in this room today, is about halfway to where you need to grow. It has been almost infinite in the time that has been required to get you here today. Much more will be required before you will arrive at the point at which you will be precisely as Christ became.

I might add where Christ has arisen to dwell in everlasting burnings is about halfway to where things ultimately can go in this “higher order of kingdoms” spoken of in Section 130. You say it's necessary in this condition to have a physical body in order to come down here and perform, and you say that rightly. But there are other places beyond this. There are places where, in everlasting glory, the personages dwelling there are of “spirit, glory, and power” like The Father”  [20]  (Christ-Prototype of the Saved Man, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.18-19, emphasis added).

One of the great mysteries of godliness is how the Atonement of Jesus Christ provides those who repent and “Ask, Seek, Knock” [21] the change of heart and mind of the Father.

How quickly we transform depends on how long we require to gain experience in previous and future cycles; and what more is required for us to advance. Many of us may fall short of obtaining promises extending to our next life.

We are blessed to receive promises from the Father because of the righteousness of our Patriarchal Fathers. We speak often of Abraham and the promises God made to Him. Through him and other Patriarchal Father’s we are blessed to receive promised blessings because of their righteousness. We obtain those blessings when we follow their examples of righteous living. Our lives should be a testimony of their righteous parentage. This subject is addressed in Part 3.

[1] “I tell you this so you can learn wisdom, and so you can learn that when you’re in the service of your fellow man, you’re only in the service of God . . .” (C of C Mosiah 1:8, emphasis added).

[2] “The Lord said unto Enoch, Behold these, your brethren, they are the workmanship of my own hands; and I gave unto them their intelligence, and in the Garden of Eden man had agency. And unto your brethren have I said, and also gave commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should serve me, their God . . .” (RE Genesis 4:17, emphasis added).

“Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise, there is no existence. Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man, because that which was from the beginning [pre-mortality] is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light, and every man whose spirit receives not the light is under condemnation. For man is spirit, the elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fullness of joy; and when separated, man cannot receive a fullness of joy. The elements are the tabernacle of God, yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples, and whatever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple” (RE T&C 93:10, emphasis added).

[3] “So everything that invites and persuades to do good and to love God and to serve Him is inspired by God. Therefore be careful, my dear people, not to judge what’s evil to come from God, or what’s good and from God to come from the accuser. You are required to determine, so you can distinguish good from evil. The way to determine things is as plain as the daylight is from the dark night, so you can know it clearly. Because the Spirit of Christ is given to everyone so they can tell good from evil. Therefore I’ll show you how to decide. Everything that invites to do good and persuades to believe in Christ is sent out by the power and gift of Christ. Therefore you’re able to know clearly it comes from God. But anything that persuades people to do evil and not to believe in Christ and deny Him and not to serve God, then you’re able to know clearly that it comes from the accuser. This is how the accuser works; he doesn’t persuade anyone to do good — no, not one — and neither do his angels or those who subject themselves to him. Now, since you understand the light by which you can decide things, and this light is the light of Christ, take care you don’t make the wrong decision; because you’ll be judged by the standard you judge with. So I implore you to search diligently using the light of Christ in order to know good from evil. And if you embrace every good thing and don’t condemn it, you’ll certainly be a child of Christ” (C of C Moroni 7:3, emphasis added).

Practical example of application: “Now when king Benjamin had finished speaking the words that had been delivered to him by the angel of the Lord, he looked around at the crowd. Because the fear of the Lord overcame them, they had fallen to the ground. They looked at themselves in their carnal state, feeling no better than dust on the ground. In unison, they cried out: Have mercy on us and purify our hearts with Christ’s atoning blood, that we might receive a remission of our sins. They believed in Jesus, the Son of God who created all things, heaven, and earth, and who would come down to mankind.

After they had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord embraced them and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins. And according to what king Benjamin had taught them, and because of the great faith they had in Jesus Christ, they gained peace of conscience. And king Benjamin resumed teaching them, saying: My friends, my brothers and sisters, my relatives, and my people, please listen for I have more to say. If you’ve come to realize, upon hearing about God’s goodness, that you’re nothing, worthless, and fallen, then I say, if you also understand God’s unmatched power, wisdom, patience, and long-suffering for mankind and comprehend that the atonement was planned at the outset of creation to provide salvation for anyone who puts their trust in the Lord, keeps His commandments diligently, and continues in faith until the end of their life, the life of the mortal body, then you’re the one who receives salvation through the atonement. Salvation was prepared for mankind when creation was first planned. It’s available to all individuals who have lived since the Fall of Adam, those who are currently living, and those who will live in the future until the end of the world. There’s no other means of obtaining salvation besides what I’ve taught you” (C of C Mosiah 2:1-2, emphasis added).

[4] “And it came to pass, as the voice was still speaking, he cast his eyes and beheld the earth, yea, even all the face of it; and there was not a particle of it which he did not behold, discerning it by the spirit of God. And he beheld also the inhabitants thereof, and there was not a soul whom he beheld not. And he discerned them by the spirit of God, and their numbers were great, even as numberless as the sand upon the seashore. And he beheld many lands, and each land was called earth, and there were inhabitants upon the face thereof. And it came to pass that Moses called upon God, saying, Show me, I pray you, why these things are so and by whom you made them. And behold, the glory of God was upon Moses, that Moses stood in the presence of God, and he talked with him face to face. And the Lord God said unto Moses, For my own purpose have I made these things [ . . . Bring to pass the immortality and Eternal Life of man” (RE Genesis 1:7). Here is wisdom and it remains in me. And by the word of my power [Jesus] have I created them, who is my Only Begotten Son, full of grace and truth. And worlds without number have I created, and I also created them for my own purpose; and by the same I created them, who is my Only Begotten. And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many. But only an account of this earth and the inhabitants thereof give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds which have passed away by the word of my power, and there are many also which now stand, and numberless are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them” (RE Genesis 1:6, emphasis added).

[5] “And again, truly I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you. For he that is ordained of God and sent forth, the same is appointed to be the greatest, notwithstanding he is least and the servant of all. Wherefore, he is possessor of all things, for all things are subject unto him both in Heaven and on the earth: the life and the light, the spirit and the power, sent forth by the will of the Father through Jesus Christ, his Son. But no man is possessor of all things except he be purified and cleansed from all sin. And if you are purified and cleansed from all sin, you shall ask whatever you will in the name of Jesus, and it shall be done. But know this, it shall be given you what you shall ask” (RE T&C 36:5, emphasis added).

[6] “While my father was there in the wilderness, he told us: I’ve had a dream, or in other words, I’ve seen a vision. Because of what I’ve seen, I have reason to praise the Lord about Nephi, and about Sam as well. I have reason to think they will be saved along with many of their descendants. But, Laman and Lemuel, I’m very concerned for you. Indeed, it seemed like I saw a dark and gloomy wilderness. And I saw a man dressed in a white robe who stood before me. He talked to me and said I should follow him. As I followed him, I saw I was in a dark and dreary wasteland. After I had traveled for many hours in darkness, I began to pray to the Lord to help me, because of His many tender mercies. After I had prayed to the Lord, I saw a large and spacious field. Then I saw a tree with fruit that would make people happy. I went and ate some of the fruit, discovering it was sweet beyond measure, better than all that I had ever tasted before. I noticed its fruit was white, brighter than I had ever seen” (C of C 1 Nephi 2:7, emphasis added).

[7] “And the Lord confirmed a priesthood also upon Aaron and his seed throughout all their generations, which priesthood also continues and abides for ever, with the Priesthood which is after the holiest Order of God.

And this greater Priesthood administers the gospel and holds the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. Therefore, in the ordinances thereof the power of godliness is manifest, and without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the Priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto man in the flesh, for without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live” (RE T&C 82:11-12, emphasis added).

[8] “Before becoming Mormon Parley Pratt would have told you the same things as we find in

Joseph Smith’s much later Wentworth Letter. The “first principles of the Gospel” became a

rallying cry for people who wanted to have a New Testament church return to life. They claimed

the first principles of the Gospel could be found in the New Testament, and any restored church

would practice them. The overwhelming majority of early Mormon converts were drawn out of

the same restorationist religious landscape. They were all familiar with and talking about “the

first principles of the Gospel.” Joseph was conceding the point, and he used that as a reference to

structure his own explanation of “the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel” as found in

the Wentworth Letter.

But in this General Conference talk given April 1844, the restoration through Joseph

Smith was then far along. Further, Joseph was speaking to an audience who had been converted

to the restoration through him. At the time of this talk, Joseph was about 67 days away from his

death. This was the end of his ministry, not the beginning. Further, the audience he was addressing had been aboard the church for a while. They had listened to his sermons, and they

knew something more about God than John Wentworth and his readers.

Joseph Smith’s audience for this sermon had the Book of Mormon. His listeners were

largely converted through the Book of Mormon. They had Joseph’s revelations. Joseph had been

their Prophet, and he had taught them a great deal before April 1844. So when he returned to the

"first principles about which so much hath been said” he was speaking to those inside the

church, not to the unconverted and untaught. He was able to tell them much more about what the

Gospel really included. He opened up and declared they really are this: 

-Attaining to the resurrection from the dead,

-becoming Gods, and

-walking in the same path as our Lord walked.

These are the real first principles of the Gospel! That's why he wished he had the trumpet of an

archangel with which to declare it. He didn't have that. But I read his words as if they came from

an archangel” (Christ-Prototype of the Saved Man, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.21-22, emphasis added).

[9] “But even when we rise from the grave, we will still not have “attained [in] the

resurrection of the dead” nor hold the keys of the resurrection. No one will

until they, like Christ, have gone from exaltation to exaltation, until they can

obtain the power to resurrect all that depends upon them. For us “to attain to

the resurrection of the dead” requires us to have the power to resurrect not

only ourselves, but also those who are dependent on us. This is what the

prototype of the saved man did. This is Who we worship. This is who and

what we must precisely and exactly become” (Our Divine Parents, Denver Snuffer Jr., p18, emphasis added).

[10] ” I saw a great mountain, and upon the top thereof was the glory of the [Patriarchal] fathers. To reach the top, all were required to enter through a narrow pass. In the pass was a great beast, cruel and pitiless [the ”accuser”] . . . Among those who waited, however, was a man who knelt and prayed, and waited patiently for his Lord. After a great time, the Lord came to this man and took him by the hand and led him into the pass where the great beast guarded the way. As the Lord led, however, the beast was ever occupied with attacking others, and therefore its back was turned to the Lord and the man. And so they passed by unnoticed, safely to the top. The Lord sent the man to the Fathers who, when they saw the man, inquired of him, How came you to be here and yet mortal; the last who came here were brothers who had been slain [Joseph and Hyrum Smith], and you are yet alive? And the man answered, I waited on the Lord and he brought me here safely” (RE T&C 163:1 & 4, emphasis added).

[11] “Now there’s necessarily a period of time between the time of death and the time of the resurrection. Now I wanted to know about what becomes of the spirits of mankind from this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection. Now whether there’s more than one time appointed for people to rise, it doesn’t matter, because everyone doesn’t die at once, and that doesn’t matter. Everything is as one day with God, and time is only measured to mankind. Therefore there’s a time appointed to people when they will rise from the dead; and there’s a period of time between the time of death and the resurrection” (C of C Alma 19:5, emphasis added).

[12] ” . . . Do not think salvation consists of Christ magically applying ‘fairy dust’ to make us like Him. If Christ could “make” us like Him that would be Luciferian. It would abrogate free will. It would save

without respecting agency. We have the freedom to choose because without that we would not

exist. Therefore, to preserve our existence there cannot be any magic elevation of man. Rather,

man must ascend by degrees and through experience to become like God. And Jesus Christ is the

prototype who has proven this ascent is possible” (Christ: The Prototype of the Saved Man, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.15, emphasis added).

[13] “Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed — not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence — work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you, both to desire and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings, that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation — among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life — that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. Yea, and if I am offered a sacrifice upon the service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do you joy and rejoice with me” (RE Philippians 1:8, emphasis added).

[14] “Now, my dear people, after you’ve made your way onto this straightforward and narrow path, I want to ask if everything is done? I tell you: No. Because you’ve only come to this point by Christ’s word, with unshaken faith in Him, relying exclusively on the merits of Him who’s powerful to save. 20Therefore you must press on resolutely with constancy, purpose, and a firm belief in Christ, having a complete brightness of hope and a love for God and for all mankind. This is what the Father has said: If you press forward, feasting on Christ’s word, and persevere to the end, you will have eternal life” (C of C 2 Nephi 13:19, emphasis added).

[15] “ . . . For what does it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift  [and the sacrifice made to provide the gift]” (RE T&C 86:4, emphasis added).

[16] ” And I, John, saw that he received not of the fullness at the first, but received grace for grace. And he received not of the fullness at first, but continued from grace to grace until he received a fullness, and thus he was called, the Son of God, because he received not of the fullness at the first” RE T&C 93:4, emphasis added).

[17] ”  . . . And that which does not edify is not of God, and is darkness. That which is of God is light, and he that receives light and continues in God receives more light, and that light grows brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (RE T&C 36:4, emphasis added).

[18] “And again, truly I say unto you, the earth abides the law of a celestial kingdom, for it fills the measure of its creation and transgresses not the law. Wherefore, it shall be sanctified. Yea, notwithstanding it shall die, it shall be quickened again and shall abide the power by which it is quickened. And the righteous shall inherit it, for notwithstanding they die, they also shall rise again, a spiritual body. They who are of a celestial spirit shall receive the same body which was a natural body, even you shall receive your bodies. And your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are quickened. You who are quickened by a portion of the Celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fullness. And they who are quickened by a portion of the terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fullness. And also, they who are quickened by a portion of the telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fullness. And they who remain, shall also be quickened. Nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received. For what does it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.

And again, truly I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law, and perfected and sanctified by the same. That which breaks a law and abides not by law, but seeks to become a law unto itself, and wills to abide in sin, and altogether abides in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither of mercy, justice, or judgment. Therefore, they must remain filthy still” (RE T&C 86:4-5, emphasis added).

“In addition, my people, I would remind you of the moment the Lord God gave His children these commandments. Remember the Lord God ordained priests according to His Holy Order, which was according to the Order of His Son, to teach the people these things. Such priests were ordained to the Order of His Son in such a way, so that by it the people would recognize how to look forward to His Son for redemption. And this is how they were ordained: they were called and prepared from the foundation of creation according to God’s foreknowledge, because of their great faith and good works. In the first place [pre-mortality], since they were permitted to choose good or evil, they chose to do good and exercised great faith. As a result, they’re called with a holy calling that had been prepared with and according to the planned redemption for those who qualified. Therefore they were and are called to this holy calling because of their faith, while others chose to reject the Spirit of God because of their hard hearts and blind minds, and if it hadn’t been for this, they could have had the same status as their brothers. or to be brief: in the first place they had the same opportunity as the others and this holy calling was available from the beginning of creation for any who chose not to harden their hearts. It was made available by the Only Begotten Son who was prepared to provide the atonement. So they’re called by this holy calling and ordained to the High Priesthood of the Holy Order of God to teach His commandments to mankind, so they also could enter His rest” (C of C Alma 9:10, emphasis added).

[19] “God has been at this a long time. Christ has, likewise, been involved for many repeated

cycles of creation. Moses was told: “by the word of my power have I created them, which is mine

Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth. And worlds without number have I created;

and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine

Only Begotten.” It is endless and it is cyclical. “For behold, there are many worlds that have

passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are

they unto man but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.” This

is God’s great work. It has been going through cycles of creation, fall, redemption, judgment and

re-creation forever. It is endless” (Christ-Prototype of the Saved Man, Denver Snuffer Jr., p. 41, emphasis added).

[20] “. . . the Father being a personage of spirit, glory, and power: possessing all perfection and fullness . . .” (RE T&C 110, Lectures on Faith 5:2).

[21] ” Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you; for everyone that asketh, receiveth, and he that seeketh, findeth, and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened (3 Nephi 6:7). “Just after the caution to not give holy things to the unworthy, Christ reminds all of their obligation to ask, seek, and knock. If you will ask, it will be given to you. If you seek, you will find it. If you knock, things will be opened to you. But be careful not to give what is holy to the unworthy. These ideas are related in two ways: First, if you want what is holy, then stop being a dog or a swine. Ask, seek, and knock. Second, if you are one who is qualified and will receive holy things by your willingness to be repentant, then press forward by asking, seeking, and knocking. If you do, the things which are most holy will be given. For everyone that asketh, receiveth. Really? Everyone? Even you? That is what Christ is saying. However, the manner in which you will receive is illustrated by ‘The Missing Virtue’ in Ten Parables. Meaning that the effort to receive what you have asked the Lord could take nearly two decades, and a great deal of internal changing before you acquire what you lack. Receiving may include not only what you’ve asked to receive, but also everything you do not have in order to finally qualify to receive what you seek. What do you associate with findeth? Does it suggest to you active effort, or passive receipt? To find something you are missing (even a small thing) what must you do? If searching is required to locate, then what do you suppose the Lord is implying by the word findeth? What does it mean that it shall be opened? Does opening imply merely a view? Does it suggest also entering in? If it opens to view, and you then fail to enter in, has opening been worthwhile? Has anything been accomplished? Does it suggest that there is activity required of someone who has something opened unto them? It is my view that the words chosen all imply a burden upon the one who asks, seeks, and knocks. They are not entitled to anything just by speaking the words. They must make the effort to search into and contemplate the things they seek. Then they must change and repent of everything amiss in their lives that is revealed to them. This is to be done before they can see what is to be shown to them. If, for example, a person wants to see the other side of the mountain, they can ask daily for a view to be opened to them without ever seeing the other side. But if the Lord prompts them to take the path to the top, the Lord has given them the means to find and have opened to them the very thing they seek. Provided, of course, they are willing to walk in the path to the top of the mountain. When they remain on the valley floor, asking or demanding more, they are not really asking, seeking, and knocking. They are irritating and ungrateful. The Lord’s small means are capable of taking the one who seeks to the very thing they desire (Alma 17:8). But without cooperation with Him they can receive nothing. The Lord’s small means are how great things are brought to pass (1 Nephi 5:8). But for some people the Lord’s answers are never enough. However, when the humble who ask, seek, and knock follow Him in these small means, they will eventually stand in His presence and partake of eternal life. But not until they have done as all others have done before them.”

Mankind is impatient, wanting quickly what can sometimes only be obtained in patience. Human nature is to rush, but development requires patience. Some things require time and persistence to prepare one for the blessings they seek. Joseph remarked: The things of God are of deep import, and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out (T&C 138:18). This is the way of God. It is adapted to give all what they lack, even if they are unaware of what they lack. The Father always intends to give to those who ask, seek, and knock, just as Christ explained; the Father knows much more how to give good things to them that ask (3 Nephi 6:8). He will not merely give the thing requested. He will add to it such things as are needed to prepare them to be received. “This, then, is the process: We ask. Without a request, the laws governing things prevent bestowal. We can’t be given until first we ask. When we have asked, the Father will give. He will give every good gift needed, and not just what has been asked (3 Nephi 6:8). If there is (as is almost always the case) a gulf between what you have asked of Him and your capacity to receive it, then He will set about giving you every needful thing to enable you to receive. If you ask for strength, He will provide you with that experience necessary to develop the strength you seek. If you seek for patience you will be given Divinely ordained experiences by Him that are calculated to develop in you what you have sought. He knows you and knows what you need. Whatever is asked of Him, He will set about to ordain. It will come in a perfectly natural progression. It will occur in accordance with both natural and eternal law. If you fight against it, you prolong the time when you will receive what you have asked of Him. If you cooperate, it will flow unto you without compulsory means in a natural progression (T&C 139:6). If you do not ask, it will not be given. If you do not seek, you cannot possibly find. If you are unwilling to knock, the door will remain shut to you. But if you do these things, then you must cooperate with Him as He prepares you to receive what He will bestow. After asking, seeking, and knocking, then a process is invoked in which the Father prepares you to receive. You will receive as soon as He can prepare you by experience, by careful, thoughtful, ponderous thought through time and experiences adapted to give you what is asked. When, at last, you have been adequately prepared, you will have gone through exactly what every other soul before you has experienced to prepare them. There are no shortcuts. There are no exceptions. It is in accordance with laws ordained before the foundation of the world. Everyone who has obtained what you seek will have done so in conformity with the very same laws. The Father will work with you to prepare you to receive what you seek. This is a reaffirmation by Christ of the process and the Father’s role in bringing it to pass. If you trust Him, trust also His Father’s deliverance of you. You will be delivered. You will receive from Him who knows how to bestow every good gift what you have asked of Him” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, second edition, pp. 22-25, emphasis added).

Scott Roderick

10/24/25

Unraveling the Mystery of Godliness Part 2.pdf

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