Gospel Questions

Studying the gospel as presented by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has answered a multitude of questions that I have had about where I came from, why I am here on Earth, where I will be going after I die, and what I will be doing there. But, as I learn new principles I also find I have many more questions come to mind. Most of these questions have little to do will my salvation and are more along the line of curiosities. Most times there are not easily documented answers to these questions and so trying to research these answers often leads to speculation. Many people are opposed to spending energy on speculation. But I believe if it is done in a balanced way, it is actually part of the Lord's plan. There are two principles of the gospel that I feel supports this approach:

Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19
18 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.
19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.

2 Nephi 28:30-31
30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Godhead

Identity of the Holy Ghost.
Christ was married and had children.

Miscellaneous

Dispensations

How many are there?
What are they?
Heads of dispensations?
Purposes of?
Timelines of?

Adultry in the Old Testament

Was it a worse offense for women than men? If so, why? Examine story of the daughter who sleeps with her father and the consequences of that. What about the woman caught in adultry in Jesus's time? Why was the woman to be stoned but not the man. Wasn't he also caught in the act? Does this relate to the patriarical order in heaven? Does it also have some basis in the principles behind polygamy?

The principle of acceleration in regard to the second coming of Christ

There is something to the fact that the events preceeding the second coming will occur with increasing frequency. There is the concept of a woman going thru pregnancy and how so much happens just before the baby is born. Find the reference that compares the second coming to this. Is there other information that supports this?

Are the true principles of the gospel black and white?

We are taught that circumstance affects the judgment. For example, we say that knowledge is a prerequisite for consequence. If someone doesn't know something is wrong then the judgment is quite different. The consequence for premarital sex before you are endowed is quite different than after. Everyone must be taught the gospel here or in the afterlife and given a choice to accept or reject before the judgment so it can be a fair judgment. The examples go on and on. But could it be that when the true principle behind all of these circumstances are peeled away that you do end up with a black or white principle. You might see gray when you consider adultry before your calling and election vs. after. But isn't the true principle really that no unclean thing can enter the presence of God. Even after your calling and election you still have to pay the price for your sin.

Adultry after your Calling and Election

What is the correct understanding about commiting adultry after your calling and election are made sure? See D&C 132:19, 26-27

Plan of Salvation

Spirit children from the 2nd degree in the Celestial Kingdom.

Redeem the Dead

During the millennium will temple work be done for all the dead or only those who accept the gospel?

Q. What is the identity of the Holy Ghost?

Analysis:

The Holy Ghost is certainly a unique member of the Godhead. He is the only one that is spirit and although we know quite a lot about how is supposed to help us, we really know very little about his background. Just a few things to consider are:

Is the Holy Ghost really a calling that could be filled by many people?
Could Joseph Smith have served as the Holy Ghost at some time?
Could Adam have served as the Holy Ghost at some time?

Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, p.322 (referring to Joseph Smith)
"Many men," said he, "will say, 'I will never forsake you, but will stand by you at all times.' But the moment you teach them some of the mysteries of the kingdom of God that are retained in the heavens, and are to be revealed to the children of men when they are prepared for them, they will be the first to stone you and put you to death.

"It was this same principle that crucified the Lord Jesus Christ, and will cause the people to kill the prophets in this generation."

What! would even the Saints have so done? Did not some of those who were Saints then, so do?

Had not Joseph said many times -- are not men now living who heard him say: "Would to God, brethren, I could tell you who I am! Would to God I could tell you what I know! But you would call it blasphemy, and there are men upon this stand who would want to take my life."

Ehat & Cook, Words, Franklin D. Richards "Scriptural Items": 27 August 1843 (Sunday Morning), p.245
3d That of Melchisedec who had still greater power even power of an endless life of which was our Lord Jesus Christ which also Abraham obtained by the offering of his son Isaac which was not the power of a Prophet nor apostle nor Patriarch only but of King & Priest to God to open the windows of Heaven and pour out the peace & Law of endless Life to man & No man can attain to the Joint heirship with Jesus Christ with out being administered to by one having the same power & Authority of Melchisedec Joseph also said that the Holy Ghost ²⁶ is now in a state of Probation which if he should perform in righteousness he may pass through the same or a similar course of things that the Son has.

Ehat & Cook, Words, 27 August 1843 Note, p.305
26.& George Laub's report of the 16 June 1844 discourse includes the following similar statement: "But the Holy Ghost is yet a Spiritual body and waiting to take to himself a body, as the Savior did or as God did, or the gods before them took bodies." Franklin D. Richards's account is less vague and represents the clearest statement on the personal identity of the Holy Ghost.

Q. What is the evidence that Christ was married and even had children?

Analysis:

There is some speculation that Jesus Christ was married and may have even had children. With the harsh feelings that surrounded the life and death of Christ is could easily be that this aspect of his life was kept hidden to protect his wife and children. This easily falls within the pattern of our Heavenly Mother. It is a common belief that a Mother in Heaven does exist, perhaps even Mothers in Heaven, but almost nothing is said on the subject and it certainly is not doctrine. This page is to discuss evidence that might support these concepts.

Q. Could it be that couples do exist in the 2nd degree of the Celestial Kingdom, have spirit children, and those children are adopted by a family in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom?

Analysis:

We know very little about the 2nd degree (middle) kingdom in the Celestial Kingdom. I recently heard a theory that marriage might also exist in this kingdom but that when children are born that they are adopted by a couple in the highest degree. Try and find out more about the this kingdom.

Q. During the millennium will temple work be done for all the dead or only those who accept the gospel?

Analysis:

It is clear that there are people who have died that need ordinance work done yet that work will not be accomplished before the millennium. There are at least two factors that cause this.

We don't have the necessary records to identify the people. They have been lost, destroyed, or never existed.

We don't have enough time to perform all the work before the millenium.

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.2, p.120-121

WHY EARTH WOULD BE CURSED. The question naturally arises in the inquiring mind, "Why would the whole earth be smitten with a curse had not Elijah come with the keys of sealing which he held?"
The family organization must be intact. First husbands and wives must be sealed for time and for all eternity. When this is done, children born to them belong to them for time and all eternity and the family units are preserved.

Parents who have been married out of the new and everlasting covenant must be sealed for time and all eternity and then have their children sealed to them. When this is done, the ordinance is just as valid as it is in the case of those who were originally married according to the law of the Lord. In like manner, the children who are living may have the same ordinances performed for their ancestors who are dead.

Then each generation must be joined to the one which went on before. In this way eventually all the families which are entitled to celestial exaltation are joined together, from generation to generation, back to the time of our first parents, Adam and Eve. This will not all be done before the coming of our Lord, but the great work of the millennium will be the temple ordinances for the dead who are worthy to receive it.

The sealing power of Elijah makes it possible for this joining of the families, generation to generation, back to the beginning. Now, if these units of authority were not here, then the work of sealing, by which the family units are preserved, could not be performed; then the binding power by which all blessings are sealed in heaven, as well as on earth, would be lacking. If this were so, the earth would be smitten with a curse, for all work which had been done, without these binding or sealing ordinances, would fall to the ground unfulfilled.

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.2, p.166

SALVATION FOR DEAD IN LATTER-DAYS. The work of saving the dead has practically been reserved for the dispensation of the fulness of times, when the Lord shall restore all things. It is, therefore, the duty of the Latter-day Saints to see that it is accomplished. We cannot do it all at once, but will have the 1,000 years of the millennium to do it in. In that time the work must be done in behalf of the dead of the previous 6,000 years, for all who need it. Temples will be built for this purpose, and the labor in them will occupy most of the time of the saints.

By the time Christ comes we are expected to have done all that is within our power to do now for our dead. That does not mean we are going to do all that is to be done, because it will go on during the millennium. The great work of the millennium will be the salvation of the dead, and those who are on the other side will help us, too, by bringing us information. The ordinances for the salvation of the dead are mortal ordinances, because all these ordinances pertain to this life, and immortal beings cannot perform them.

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.2, p.251 - p.252

TEMPLE WORK DURING MILLENNIUM. During this time of peace, when the righteous shall come forth from their graves, they shall mingle with mortal men on the earth and instruct them. The veil which separates the living from the dead will be withdrawn and mortal men and the ancient saints shall converse together. Moreover, in perfect harmony shall they labor for the salvation and exaltation of the worthy who have died without the privileges of the gospel.

The great work of the millennium shall be performed in the temples which shall cover all parts of the land and into which the children shall go to complete the work for their fathers, which they could not do when in this mortal life for themselves.

In this manner those who have passed through the resurrection, and who know all about people and conditions on the other side, will place in the hands of those who are in mortality, the necessary information by and through which the great work of salvation for every worthy soul shall be performed, and thus the purposes of the Lord, as determined before the foundation of the world, will be fully consummated.

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.3, p.58

TEMPLE WORK BY MORTALS DURING MILLENNIUM. However, there shall be mortality upon the face of the earth during the thousand years, because of the great work that is to be accomplished of salvation for the dead. During that thousand years of peace the great work of the Lord shall be in the temples, and into those temples the people shall go to labor for those who have passed beyond and who are waiting to have these ordinances which pertain to their salvation performed for them by those who still dwell in mortality upon the earth. And so there shall be mortal men, but they shall live from the time of birth until they are 100 years old and shall then be changed suddenly.