An Introduction

to the Doctrine of the Abrahamic Covenant and the birthright

which include the doctrines of race and lineage

In our modern world the doctrines relating to race and lineage may seem archaic, even racist. The idea of a birthright, seems offensive to our modern culture of self definition and equality. It is essential that we understand the distinction between the wrongs of our cultural past, and the eternal truths of the plan of salvation. If we fail to understand this distinction we may become bigoted, self abasing, or worse: we may fail to live up to our destiny as the children of God. God’s doctrines are never the result of racism or to fit the culture or understanding of the times, God’s doctrines are eternal truths that transcend all cultures and times. It is our own prejudice that prevents us from fully understanding God’s plan for all his children.

Many Latter-Day Saints are shocked to learn of the teachings of prophets and apostles in our dispensation on these subjects because the issue is a sensitive one, and many are afraid to look too deeply into it. If however we desire to know for ourselves the whole truth, and the fullness of the gospel, we must be fearless in our quest for truth, light and knowledge. As difficult as these doctrines may be to accept, they are necessary to our understanding of the plan of salvation and the new and everlasting covenant revealed for our exaltation. As you read, pray for a spirit of love and discernment that you will be able to understand the purposes of God in sending his children into this diverse and beautiful world.

We are the children of God. All mankind shares the potential to become like our Father in Heaven. in our rights, our potential and in our fundamental nature we are equal. Yet on this earth we face the fact that inequality also exists, not only in our individual abilities, but in our desires, our intelligence, and our personalities. God knew that not all of his children would desire the same heaven or the same life, nor would all accomplish their goals with equal success. In his infinite mercy and wisdom, he allows us the privilege of self determination. We can become whatever we desire to become. This is true now, and was also true in our pre-mortal life.

The key to understanding our current place in this world, to understand the callings we were fore-ordained to accomplish and why we were born in different families, different races, and in different circumstances, lies in a proper understanding that this life is neither the beginning nor the end of our eternal journey. Each person came to this earth with a calling and a mission to perform, and these callings are as unique as the individuals ordained to carry them out. We are living between a judgment, or fore-ordination, that was sealed upon is before birth, and awaiting another judgment after our resurrection. Both are significant to our place in the Kingdoms of Heaven, both determine our circumstances on the earth, both are dependent on our agency and come as the natural consequences of commitments we made, and will make, of our own free will and choice.

There is no injustice in the plan of salvation, there is no racism, or bigotry, in the doctrines of salvation. The earth was created by our Father as a place for each of us to play our part in the grand drama of life. The end of this story will be joy and glory for all men and women, where we each can enjoy whatever light, knowledge, and glory we desire.

Men were never all the same, even though all are created equal. When the foundations of the earth were laid all of us shouted for joy, but not all men desired the same kingdom or the same destiny. Some of Heavenly Father’s children desired one kingdom of glory, and some desired another. Whether it was a Celestial kingdom, a Terrestrial one, or Telestial, God has given each of us the agency to pursue the life we desire, and when this life is over we will be rewarded with the life we choose.[2] The same principle was true even before this earth. Our circumstances here were determined by the choices we made there, and the mission we were to perform here. Thus there is no injustice in the unequal circumstances of our birth. Birth is not an accident.

This life is also not the end goal of the trials we endure. Some suffer while others prosper in this life, some are born only to die a short time later. Some lives are filled with leisure while others are filled with suffering from the cradle to the grave. But all these inequalities are nothing but the moment of tempering, the flash in the pan, when the true metal of our character will become manifest. Our lives are but a single breath, a twinkling of the eye, and then eternity rolls on forever.

God knows what we are, and what we can become. He gives some great learning, and others are dull, but all are precious in his sight, all have a divine destiny. Our duty is first and foremost to Love.[3] And if we progress in our learning further than others in this life it does not make us any more precious than others in the sight of God.[4]

With these truths in mind, let us each seek the destiny, and purpose, for which each of us were fore-ordained before this life. Let us remember that God is just, and that when we are born to different races and different birthrights, we are but continuing the saga we began in the presence of God in eons past. Remember that the end of this story is the highest glory, the highest good which each man and woman chooses for themselves. In this life not everyone will accept the Gospel, indeed not all accepted it in the pre-mortal life either. We can only seek to help, honor and lift others, and remind them of the glory of their former and future estate. When we learn a truth we are but remembering what we already knew before. Those who accept the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, are those who already accepted it before. All of God’s children who will accept the grace of Christ, either here or hereafter, will receive all the light, knowledge and joy, they are willing to receive. Our challenge in this life is not to change our destiny, but to live up to it!

The Prophet Joseph Smith stated: “Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of Heaven before the world was. I suppose I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council”[5] In recognition of this truth, would it not be futile to attempt to ordain any man not foreordained to that priesthood?

We cannot change the decrees of God[6], or the callings we chose in the pre-mortal life, any more than we could change the color of our skin. The world makes no distinction between the races and recognizes no covenant birthright or chosen people, but the word of God is replete with a commission to the children of Israel, who inherited a birthright as the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We have a special calling and mission to perform for our fellow man. We are not chosen to exercise dominion over others, but to serve them, as Abraham was promised “through thee and thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”[7] This royal priesthood can only be conferred upon the children of the covenant, and those who are adopted into the house of Israel, it cannot be taken and given to another people. Why? because this is the order of God’s priesthood. God knows who he is sending to earth, and the conditions these spirits will be born under. This process is not governed by chance, it is in perfect order. thus we see another reason why adultery, and fornication are so sinful. Sexual sins are a rejection of the law of God to send his children to the earth into families where they will be able to partake of the everlasting covenant.

The scriptures are replete with passages identifying God’s people, and commanding them not to mix with other nations. This does not mean that God countenances prejudice, only that He sends each of us to earth, through the process of birth, into families, each with a calling and mission to perform. This covenant was renewed with Joseph Smith in our dispensation, and is renewed with every family that enters the Abrahamic Covenant through Celestial Marriage and the sealing ordinances.[8] This covenant entitles us by birthright to the fullness of the priesthood. It obligates us to live up to the fullness of that covenant or no longer be numbered with the house of Israel.[9] It also gives us the responsibility to use that priesthood to bless all the families of the earth.[10]

There is no room for the evils of pride and prejudice in the hearts of God’s people because of their responsibilities and privileges. As the prophet Nephi declared: “None of these iniquities come of the Lord; for He doeth that which is good among the children of men ; and He doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and He inviteth them all to come unto Him and partake of His goodness; and He denieth none that come unto Him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and He remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.”[11]

Let the knowledge of your heritage and birthright lift your ambition to the service of God. Do not let this knowledge lead you to denigrate your fellowman, but let us use it to honor every man in his station. We need not be anxious that not all our friends or family choose to live in the way that leads to celestial glory, let us instead glory in our God who will save all men and raise them up to the place prepared for them. Then we can shout for joy with them and enjoy with them, all the happiness they are willing to receive.

As you read, it should be borne in mind that both the vision of Mosiah Hancock and the declarations of President Dyer are full of symbolism, and analogies to the principles of the Gospel, and show us the general pattern of Gods purpose. We will profit most from a careful reading of their words by looking for the principles of salvation and hints as to the purpose of the priesthood in blessing all of God’s children. Pray for the spirit to be with you in this study, and he will teach you your place in the plan of the Eternal Father.



FOR WHAT PURPOSE?[12]

Selections from the discourse by President Alvin R. Dyer[13]



(Original transcript located in the LDS Church Archives)

“It is recommended that each missionary should read this message several times in order to get a better understanding of the purpose of the restored Gospel.”[14]

We have talked a lot about missionary work and heard the testimonies of those who have spoken. I want to talk to you a little bit now about something that is not strictly missionary work.

There was an episode that took place in the Korean War that was very hard for me to take, and hard for me to understand. I am sure that it was much harder for those who were in it, who were called upon to endure the privations of that terrible war or any war for that matter. In the interrogations that were made of our young men, there were less than 5% of them that even knew why they were fighting, and what was meant by liberty and freedom and the American way of life. They did not have any reason or rhyme for what they were there for.

I would feel rather embarrassed as a leader of the Church if anyone of our missionaries did not know what he is in the mission field for. If you were asked the question as to why you were here and what you were doing in the mission field, and all you could say is that, “I am here preaching the Gospel, and I have been sent out here, I know the Gospel is true, and I have a testimony of it.” If that is all you could say, you don’t have a full meaning for the purpose of missionary work. We have always felt that if you would place in the hearts and minds of anybody the reasons for doing things and the purpose behind it, you wouldn’t have to worry about what the person would do. If you young men and women know why you are here and why the Lord is so anxious for us to preach the Gospel today, and then would ask yourselves a number of questions connected with that, such as: Why is it that you were born today instead of 2,000 years ago? Why is it that you are sitting in this room today and were for some reason not born in the day of Moses or in the day when Christ was upon the earth? Or do you think that that is just something haphazard that it just happened that way – that nobody had anything to do with it. You would ask another question maybe. Why is it that you are white and not colored? Have you ever asked yourselves that question? Who had anything to do with your being born into the Church and not born Chinese or Hindu or a Negro? Is God such an unjust person that He would make you white and free and make a Negro cursed under the cursing of Cain that he could not hold the Priesthood of God? Who do you think decided and what is the reason behind it? Then maybe you would ask yourselves another question. Why is it that you were kept in the Spirit World until the Last Dispensation to come forth among the children of men? Was there any reason for that, and who decided it? When you begin to get the answers to those questions, then perhaps you will understand why the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being preached in the world today, and the plan of salvation is taking its effects upon people. I think that every missionary ought to know the answers to these questions. When he does know the answers, he stands before the Lord without excuse to go forth and labor with all his strength to serve the Lord.

There isn’t anyone in this room that would have the fantastic notion that this life is of any great duration. This life is merely a pinpoint or speck in the eternity of man’s existence. It is over so fast that it is merely a short period of time in the existence of eternal life of man here upon the earth, just a few short hours in the plan of the Gospel according to the Lord’s reckoning of time. The whole plan of life – its whole period – comes and goes within just a few short hours of the Lord’s time. To us it is many thousands of years. I want to talk to you just briefly about this, not with any information that you would convey to your investigators, but that you, yourselves, may have a better understanding of what we are doing in the mission field today, and why it is that we come to you with encouragement to work with all your strength to get people into the Church, and why we set goals. It isn’t for the purpose of a goal. That is just a kind of game between us to become physically motivated to go out and do our best and work as a team and as a mission. The real purpose behind this is more far-reaching than that. I will read to you from the Pearl of Great Price “And the Lord said unto me” – speaking to Abraham – “These two facts do exist, that they are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other, there shall be another more intelligent than they” – indicating that in the pre-existence[15] there are three divisions of spirits. “These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other – there shall be another more intelligent than they – I am the Lord their God, I am more intelligent than they all.”[16]

This statement of Abraham’s is directly connected with the Degrees of Glory, because we are taught that when people die, all shall be resurrected who are born in this life – Sons of Perdition and all. They are then, after the Spirit World, assigned into one of these three Degrees of Glory – the Celestial, the Terrestrial, and the Telestial. Others who were spun off out of that go into outer darkness, because there is no light in them. They can no longer repent, and because they can no longer repent, they can no longer be governed by law. Therefore they became Sons of Perdition and are not worthy to go into a Degree of Glory. The consequence of that is that they shall go with Lucifer and the unembodied[17] spirits who never were permitted to take upon themselves a body of flesh and bone. You remember the scripture that missionaries very often use in Corinthians when Paul is speaking of the three divisions of people. We often use the scripture as a resurrection scripture, but we do not apply it properly. If you will read it carefully, it says “Such are they in the resurrection.”[18] Which means that Paul is calling to the attention of those that listen to him that there are three Degrees of Glory of people, who are in preparation on the earth while they live here.[19]

Now let’s suppose, to make this more plain, that the earth would end at this instant, that there would be no one upon the earth, that life would cease and that judgment was immediate. Obviously, the people who had been living on the earth would be assigned to one of these three places. Therefore, the people who are living upon the earth today are the embryos of these three kingdoms. The suggestion here by Abraham is that they were born into this life with this same degree of division. There were three divisions of mankind in the pre-existence, and when you are born into this life, you are born into one of these three divisions of people. There is an imposed judgment placed upon everyone who leaves the Spirit World just the same as there will be when they leave this life and go into one of three places. When they left the Spirit World, they had already been judged by what they had done in the Spirit World and in their previous life. From the judgment is determined how they shall be born in this life.[20] When you understand that, you know that God is not unjust to cause a righteous spirit to be born as a cursed member of the black race or to be cursed as one of the other people who had been cursed. Everything is in order. The procreation of man is orderly and is in accordance with the plan of life and salvation.[21]

In keeping with this thought, when Noah went into the Ark, here again he took with him his three sons – one representing the chosen lineage, the second representing the lineage of adoption, and the third representing the cursed lineage. Thereafter, when men began to be born again as sons of Noah, either through the lineage of Shem, Japheth, or Ham. Those who have been cursed in the pre-existence were born through the lineage of Ham.[22]

I suppose, and you may often have heard missionaries say it, or have asked the question: “Why is a Negro a Negro?” And you have heard this answer: “They were neither hot nor cold, so the Lord made them Negroes.” This of course, is not true.[23] The reason that spirits are born into Negro bodies is that those spirits rejected the Priesthood of God in the pre-existence.[24] This is the reason why you have Negroes upon the earth.

You will observe that when Cain was influenced by the power of Lucifer to follow him and to fall down and worship him in the beginning, it was then that the Lord came to him and said, “Cain, if you will abide the law, if you will keep the commandments, you too can be acceptable unto me.”[25] But Cain rejected the counsel of God. He rejected again the Priesthood as his forebears had done in the preexistence, Therefore, the curse of the pre-existence was made institute through the lines of Cain, Consequently, you have then the beginning of the race of men and women into which would be born those in the pre-existence who had rejected the Priesthood of God.

There was another division in the pre-existence -those who were not valiant in the acceptance of the Gospel. You see, there is a great difference between one who accepts and one who accepts and does something about it. We had a division in the pre-existence for those who did not accept the responsibility of the Priesthood, neither did they fully accept the plan of salvation that was advanced by the Christ, They, therefore, in accordance to the plan of the Gospel, became those of the lineage of adoption.

I want to read to you a very important scripture in the Old Testament. We talk about studying books and reading manuscripts to prepare ourselves to teach the Gospel, but there are very few missionaries who have even studied the Old Testament. The 10th Chapter of Genesis, according to my information, has had at least 2,000 volumes written about it – just about this chapter. It is so important, because the whole plan and purpose of life was understood by the ancient people of Israel, and they knew and understood what was meant by the teachings of the Old Testament here given to us by Moses. I want to read something to you and make an explanation. “And Ham the Father of Canaan” – this is the 9th Chapter of Genesis – “saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father -and their faces were backward and they saw not their father’s nakedness.”[26]

Now, that is a Hebrew story, in legend form, that merely implicates the fact that Ham reinstated the curse of the pre-existence when he rejected the Priesthood of Noah, and in consequence of that he preserved the curse on the earth. Therefore, the Negroes to be born thereafter, or those who were to become Negroes, were to be born through the loins of Ham. All of this is according to a well worked-out plan, the millions and billions of spirits waiting birth in the preexistence would be born through a chosen channel or race of people.

Consequently, the cursed were to be born through Ham. We cannot accept this story literally, because in order to understand that, you have to read the Pearl of Great Price very carefully. Because in the early days when the Egyptian government was established under its first rulers, the Pharaohs, they worked up a system that was exactly like the Priesthood of God, It was exactly like the Patriarchal Order, but knowing they could not claim the birthright, they thought to capitalize on the form or the order of administration. The Pearl of Great Price tells us specifically that they knew that they could not hold the Priesthood, yet they used the same type of organization.[27]

Gradually, the sons of Pharaoh began to denounce the concept and assumed unto themselves that they were princes, and not the descendants of Ham. There is a great deal more to it than that, but I wanted to point this out to you. That all of this that we talk about with people is not just merely a little message that we proclaim to them, but all that we are doing is part of a great plan that we inaugurated under the direction of the Christ in the pre-existence. Listen to what Noah said to his other two brethren:

“And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his young son had done unto him, And he said, cursed is Canaan – a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren, And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem – and Canaan shall be his servant.”[28]

Who is Shem? Shem is what is known as the father of Shemitics. He became the father of the children of Israel. Through the lines of Shem and his descendants were born Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and then twelve sons or Princes of Israel. Therefore, Shem became the father, or the progenitor, of those who were to be born into this life who were the noblest of the intelligences whom Abraham speaks of here when he said, “Not withstanding that these two spirits are intelligent, and one is more intelligent than the other,”[29] there is still another spirit or another division that is more intelligent than both of them. Then subsequent to that, he said to Abraham, “Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was – and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; and God saw these souls that they were good, and He stood in the midst of them, and He said: “These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them, thou wast chosen before thou wast born.”[30]

This is true with everyone who fits into the category of the descendants of Shem who became the literal sons and daughters of Israel.

This is a part of the plan the world does not know anything about. The Christian churches never mention it. They never teach it because they know nothing about it.

Noah made another promise at this time, and he said, “God shall enlarge Japheth, and He shall dwell in the house or tent of Shem.”[31] What is the house or tent of Shem? The House of Israel. Therefore, descendants of Japheth shall be enlarged, and they shall be permitted to dwell in the House of Israel. Therefore, we call the descendants of Japheth the children of the adoption. Now, who are the descendants of Japheth? The descendants of Japheth are in all of Europe. They are in America. They are in Japan and Korea, They are in India, and all of these people can be traced. For example, we have here the generations of Shem as the Lord gives it to us in Chapter 10 of the Book of Genesis. These ancient prophets were careful to preserve these generations, and these genealogies, knowing their full meaning, which the world doesn’t understand but which we know by revelation from the Lord.

“Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah:

Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and unto them were born sons after the Flood.”[32] The sons of Japheth: Gomor they are the French, Magog – they are the slavs, and Madai – they are among the Hindu, the Korean, the Indian, the Japanese and the Filipino. We know who the people are who migrated eastward through India into the area of Tungus and then into Korea and Japan. This is the reason today why we are having such tremendous success among the Koreans and the Japanese, because it is the day the Gospel is to be preached to them. Then he goes on to say, Javan – the people of Greece and Italy, and of Turkey; Meshech – the Mezhecites, the Muskavites, the Russians; Tiras – the Siberians.[33] These were the descendants of Japheth.

The day was to come, according to Noah, that these people and their descendants would come in and dwell in the tent, of the house of Shem, or the House of Israel. You have to know that and understand it to know what the Lord is doing today in preaching the Gospel unto the Gentiles because this is the day of the Gentile. We are preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles. They are the people of Europe. They are the people of America. This is the time of the Gentile. [until the times of the gentiles were fulfilled. See D&C 45:25-30]

Only one portion of the House of Israel is being called and they are the children of Ephraim. Every one of you here, I assume, has had a patriarchal blessing. Is there anyone here who is not of the lineage of Joseph? You see what I mean? They are the only ones of the House of Israel that are being called the lineage of Joseph through Ephraim and Manasseh, and there is reason for that.

I want to mention again the teaching of Christ unto the Nephites. You will find this in the 21st chapter of 3 Nephi; the sign of the Father’s work, the glorious destiny of the repentant Gentiles, the condemnation predicted for the impenitent, and the coming of the new Jerusalem, or the city of Zion. Then the Lord, Himself, speaking unto the Nephites said this: “And verily I say unto you, I give unto you a sign, that ye may know the time when these things shall be about to take place – that I shall gather in from their long dispersion, my people, O House of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion.”[34]

Then He goes on to tell that the first of this day shall be the day of the Gentile, and you read that entire chapter. I won’t take the time to do it, but He says in that, “For my sake shall the Father work a work, which shall be a great and a marvelous work among them; and there shall be them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them.”[35] – the Prophet Joseph Smith – “But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my hand; therefore, they shall not hurt him, although he shall be marred because of them, Yet I will heal him, for I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.”[36]

The Prophet Joseph Smith suffered martyrdom, but was not harmed, and he said to his brother in Carthage prison just before he was shot, “Fear not, brethren, they may take our lives and destroy the body, but they cannot kill us.” For this is what the Lord is saying here. If you will read the rest of the chapter, you will read how the Gospel is to be taken to the Gentiles. The Lord said in verse 22, “But behold! If the Gentiles will repent” – meaning who? The French, the German, the Norwegian, the Swedish, the Finnish, the people of Denmark, and the people all over the countries of Europe. “If they will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my Church among them and they shall come in unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance,”[37]

This was spoken of before by Nephi, you will read it in the 13th and 14th chapters of first Nephi where the Lord makes plain that the day will come when the Gentiles will receive the Gospel and will come in and be numbered among the children of Israel. I read just one of these scriptures although there are many found in 1 Nephi. There is another found in 1 Nephi, chapter 14, starting with the first verse. “And it shall come to pass that if the Gentiles” – let me explain again now who the Gentiles are, in the eyes of a Jew everyone who is not a Jew is a Gentile. But correctly speaking, the Gentiles are the descendants of the House of Japheth, the oldest son of Noah. The cursed people are the descendants of Ham. The chosen people are the descendants of Shem – the three sons of Noah. Through these lineages the spirits that compare with their station are born in this life. This is why you have colored people, why you have Asiatic people, and why you have white people. The Lord is speaking of the Gentiles, “And it shall come to pass that if the Gentiles” – the descendants of Japheth – “shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in the day that He shall manifest Himself unto them in the word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks”[38] in other words, where they have resisted the Church, resisted conversion, the Lord will remove the stumbling blocks “and if they harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of their father: yea, they shall be a blessed people.”[39]

You see, this is the promise that was made anciently by Noah when he blessed Japheth. Because why? Because he did not rebel against the Priesthood that Noah held like Ham did, and neither did Shem.

We have a fulfillment of this scripture. When the Kirtland Temple was finished, there was a number of ancient prophets that made their appearance in the temple. The Christ was the first to come and receive the Temple and gave instructions to Joseph Smith, many of which we have not been privileged to know about. Following this there appeared unto them Moses and then came Elias and then came Elijah – each of them committing the keys of their specific work.[40]

Let me call your attention to the keys of Elias. In the first place, who is Elias? Elias is Noah, Here we have the same one who gave the covenant unto Japheth anciently, that he would be blessed and that we would come in and dwell in the House of Shem. He returned to earth to give the keys unto the Prophet Joseph Smith to fulfill the promise made to Abraham that through the loins of Abraham, or the chosen seed, all the children of the earth would be blessed. Soon after 1836 the Lord gave the revelation to send missionaries and commence work among the Gentiles in England, and labor in 1850 in France, and then in northern Italy and then these other countries. This was not done, however, until Noah returned the “Key.”

You see, as in Elias the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be preached unto the Gentiles. Don’t you see that what we are doing is a great deal more important than just filling a two year period as a missionary and then going home? We are working out the plan which the Father laid in the beginning as to what would transpire. What has actually happened? The Lord is preparing men and women today to become heirs of the Celestial Kingdom. This is the only work that is being done. The work for the Terrestrial Kingdom has not even been started yet. It will not start until the work for the Celestial Kingdom is finished. Then all who are to go into the Terrestrial Kingdom, will continue until all have made covenant and have received the promise to go into that Kingdom. All of these things will be done in their proper order.

Why is the work being done for the Celestial Kingdom first? Why is that in your patriarchal blessing it says that you will come forth in the morning of the First Resurrection? Because only those who come forth in the morning of the First Resurrection will go into the Celestial Kingdom. Those who come forth in the evening of the First Resurrection will go into the Terrestrial Kingdom, and this will be the end of the First Resurrection. The Second Resurrection will be for those who go into the Telestial Kingdom and those who eventually become Sons of Perdition.

All of this is in accordance with a well-worked out plan of procreation and judgment until the final work that the Lord has intended for men is over.

There is another thing that you must understand for yourselves, and that is this life, or the day of this life, so far as the Gospel is concerned, begins the day you were born and ends after the period of the Spirit World – not when you die in this life. So, the day of this life, so far as the plan of life is concerned is from the day you were born until the end of your period in the Spirit World. For this reason, then, we can function and carry on the program that the Lord has intended in the Spirit World so that they can be preached to and have work done for them here upon the earth, and that work will be bound in the worlds that are to come.

Now I want to go back again to the statement of Abraham and to emphasize here the importance of what we are doing. “Now the Lord has shown unto me, Abraham, the Intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; and God saw these souls that they were good and He stood in the midst of them and He said, These will I make my rulers.”[41]

All right, what did the Lord mean by that? I call your attention now to the washing and anointing that you received in the Temple. All of you have been through the Temple, I assume. When you went into the washing and anointing room where you were washed and anointed with oil and water, you were given a new name, and you were promised that someday you would be called up to be a king and a priest or a queen and a priestess. Don’t ever suppose that this is for this life. It is not. It is for the next life, and the Lord is preparing today, the rulers that will be administrators of this, that is the Celestial Kingdom must be peopled first because it becomes the Kingdom of Administration, so all of it becomes part of the plan. The Terrestrial Kingdom will receive its administrators through the Christ and the Melchizedek Priesthood, and there will be a system of government establishment upon that kingdom. The Telestial Kingdom will receive its administration through the ministering angels of the Celestial Kingdom, and they will have their form of government, but they will exist and live under a government. They will be controlled by laws and growth – all in accordance with the plan of the Lord – the same in the Terrestial and Celestial Kingdoms.

Now, let us suppose that we were a board of directors here today and we were going to establish a vast corporation that would hire millions of men and women. Would we go out and hire all these men right at the outset, or would we first build an administrative building and hire executives or administrators and then place them over the control and govern? It is the same thing in the plan of life. The Celestial Kingdom must be founded first because it becomes the Kingdom of Administration. The Lord has revealed these things to us. They are very plain, and what we are striving for today is to find those whom the Lord wants to make His rulers.

We like to think that the Gospel is going to be received by everyone, but it isn’t. I call to your attention to the statements of the Christ when he said, “Straight is the gate and narrow the way, … and few there be that find it.”[42] There won’t be many, but these the Lord has chosen in the pre-existence, if they are worthy and prove their worthiness in this life and this probation, then they

receive the endowment. When they get the endowment, they are promised that they will be leaders, We call them kings and priests, but the correct word in our terminology would be administrators, a leader, an executive, who will go into these other degrees of glory.

Now you see how the plan opens up, and there is purpose and meaning as to what we are doing? I have often said this, it is a frightening thought, but it is undoubtedly true, that only those who are worthy of leadership will enter the Celestial Kingdom, because that is the Kingdom of Administration. Others who are less valiant, who do not have the qualities of leadership and direction will necessarily have to settle for the Terrestrial Kingdom.

I don’t know whether the knowledge of the revelation of these things will have an effect upon you as a missionary, but know that it has an effect upon me, because if am to fulfill my destiny and my purpose here in this life as has been given me and proven to me by my pre-mortal[43] identity, then I would do everything in my power to measure up to what was in the preexistence, because if we could this day, by some miraculous means be permitted to see who we were, I wouldn’t be President Dyer up here or you wouldn’t be Elder Smith or Brown or President Gunderson. Oh, no! You would be someone else, and the day will come when you will know who you are, because you are a person of nobility in the pre-existence. If you were not, you would have been born into one of these other channels, and you would not have been born in this day and age, because the Lord has withheld the choice spirits of the pre-existence to come forth in this the last dispensation, and the reason for this is obvious. Why? Because in the world, will be just that many righteous spirits who supported Him and sustained Him and who accepted Him in the pre-existence. That is why today am telling you how to preach the Gospel to the people. They do not need to have long teaching, These people today who are accepting the Gospel know all about it because they have been selected to know. That is why they recognize it when they feel the charge and the impact of testimony and spirit. Then it all unfolds to them, and many of them are even more brilliant than we are because of the place which they once held.

This is not like any other day in the history of the world, The Lord is preparing to make His stand. The Lord is now preparing to establish His Kingdom, the Kingdom that will govern the earth for 1,000 years before we go into the judgment period that leads into the establishment of the degrees of glory. In consequence of that, He has widely chosen the ones that are to come into the world in this day and age. It is a battle. He fought the power of Lucifer in the pre-existence. He had to use His best spirits to defeat him, and here again He will have to do the same thing, and He knows that. Now, what does that mean in probation? In the sight of our Heavenly Father he has made this life a probation which means that a person who is born in a lower division can accelerate through this life to a higher division. For example, if a colored person, being born into the Telestial division will receive and accept the Gospel, he can be elevated to the Celestial division or to the Terrestrial division. That is the purpose of the probation, That is why the Lord set the plan of the Gospel so that those who had not merited it in the pre-existence may merit it here through this life or probation. Don’t you see that? Don’t you see the purpose of the probation, the planning of the Gospel, to provide even this last opportunity in this life while men are taking upon themselves the element of body to have another chance to improve their place over what they had done in the pre-existence?

Now I want to read to you from the Book of Mormon on that. This scripture will have new meaning to you, I am sure, as you understand the things that I have spoken. The Prophet Alma understood this very plainly and want you to pay particular attention to what he says. This is found in the 34th chapter, beginning with the 31st verse. I am sure that you have read it, but let’s read it now for this concept. “Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation,” What is the time and the day? From the beginning of birth to the end of the Spirit World. That is the time and the day of your salvation. “And therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.”[44]

Don’t you see? All a man has to do is repent and open his heart to the Lord, and immediately the plan will be made known unto him. That doesn’t say the missionary will make it known unto him; the power of the Holy Ghost will make it known unto him. He already knows it because he stood in the councils and supported and sustained this plan. He recognized the prophets, etc. “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God.”[45]

If life did not extend beyond the grave, then why did Christ go to the Spirit World? Why do we send our missionaries to the Spirit World, undoubtedly where Elder Wheat went? Isn’t it something that he was driving on the highway doing missionary work? In the twinkling of an eye he was doing missionary work in the Spirit World. He had changed from life to death still a missionary. It came upon him, and he never even knew what happened. I know just as well as I know anything that he is still preaching the Gospel.

Many of the people of the world like the descendants of Meshech who are-living in Russia, live and die without hearing the Gospel and go to the Spirit World. We do not have access to them, so the Lord teaches them the Gospel in the Spirit World, because their government won’t let us do it here. Then their descendants hear of it, and they, themselves, wield great influence. In this way the Gospel is preached unto all nations, kindreds, and tongues.

“Now behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God, behold the days of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.”[46]

Now listen closely, “And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end.” What is the end? The end of the Spirit World is this life. “For after this day of life:”- or from birth until the end of the Spirit World “Which is given to us to prepare for eternity. Behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.”[47]

Do you see how plain this is? If we do not improve ourselves from one division to another born into this world in a lower division, improving ourselves to one of the higher, then we can do nothing about it. “If we do not improve our time and our place in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed,” It is just as simple as anything can be simple.

I wanted to talk to you about that today, because I wanted you know the reason why you are preaching the Gospel. There is a purpose behind it and knowing this as you do and knowing your nobility – what kind of a missionary are you going to be from this day to the end of your mission? I know what kind you want to be. There will be no more wasted time because it is imposed upon you. The necessity of continuing your nobility, that you may prove your place, that you may be a ruler and a king and a queen and a priestess as you were promised in the Temple of God if you were faithful in fulfilling your obligation.

I have always thought and have proven the point many times that if you will place into the mind of a boy or a girl, firmly, that they are noble persons, born of noble heritage in the pre-existence, they will never stoop to anything that is sordid. They just won’t do it. You don’t need the preaching and harassments of young people. All you need to do is accept that as your ideology, and what you do from now on will be the important thing in your life, because I have made known to you today something that you may not have known before, but you know it now because the Spirit bears record.

May the Lord bless you in it and bless you with the knowledge. I bear record of this truthfulness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sons of God[48]

Although the Lord created all the world and we are all “the offspring of God”[49] only those who are members of His church holding the priesthood are considered to be “sons of God.”[50] He further said, “But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.”[51] From Paul we read, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”[52] The blessing of being a son of God is to be “an heir of God through Christ”[53] this blessing is attained only through faithful obedience to the Lord’s commandments.

First Presidency Statement

17 August 1949

The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the priesthood at the present time. The prophets of the Lord have made several statements as to the operation of the principle. President Brigham Young said: “Why are so many of the inhabitants of the earth cursed with a skin of blackness? It comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the holy priesthood, and the law of God. They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the holy priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to.”

President Wilford Woodruff made the following statement: “The day will come when all that race will be redeemed and possess all the blessings which we now have.”

The position of the Church regarding the Negro may be understood when another doctrine of the Church is kept in mind, namely, that the conduct of spirits in the pre-mortal existence has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality and that, while the details of this principle have not been made known, mortality is a privilege that is given to those who maintain their first estate; and that the worth of the privilege is so great that spirits are willing to come to earth and take on bodies no matter what the handicap may be as to the kind of bodies they are to secure; and that among the handicaps, failure of the right to enjoy in mortality the blessings of the priesthood is a handicap which spirits are willing to assume in order that they might come to earth. Under this principle there is no injustice whatsoever involved in this deprivation as to the holding of the priesthood by the Negroes.

The First Presidency

George Albert Smith

J. Reuben Clark, Jr.

David O. McKay

Selections From the Journal of Mosiah Hancock

When about twenty-one years of age, I was permitted by the power of God, to go into His presence and into my former abode. I saw the Eternal Father on His throne and His wives on His left side, all shining in glory, I saw the Savior and knew Him. It takes the power of the Holy Ghost to tell the difference between the Father and the Son, they look so much alike. Jesus said: ‘Mosiah, I have brought you here to show you how it was before you went to the earth.’ I had been to the earth; everything looked so natural and familiar. I seemed to have been a companion of the Savior and talked with him like a friend. Again, He spoke to me and said: ‘Look and see man as he came forth.’ I looked in the direction indicated and saw an innumerable line of God’s children extending further than I could see. They were arranged in pairs, male and female, and passed in front of the Eternal Father who named them; and they were clad in long white robes with girdles tied around the waists; each pair seemed to have been created mates.

When thus clothed; they were arranged in classes of about two hundred; the males sitting in front and the females behind them. They were taught in the arts and sciences, and everything necessary to make the heart happy The teachers of the classes received the instruction they imparted from certain notable ones, who in turn got their directions from the Father and the Son- I thought I was one to overlook the classes; I also saw Joseph, Brigham and many others engaged in this work of education. I thought as some became more efficient than others they were advanced from class to class I thought my name was Mosiah, and the names of the other brethren there were the same as upon the earth. All at once there was a gathering of these spirits and the voice of the Great Eternal, for that is what we called God there, spoke: ‘Oh, ye my children,’ and His voice penetrated throughout space, so countless were His offspring ‘We have an earth prepared for you, on which you can dwell and have a chance to come up, thru obeying our Heavenly laws.’

I there heard the question asked: ‘Who will go down and set an example of humility and faithfulness to these my children, and fulfill the law, that they may be brought, thru obedience to our laws, back into our presence?’

I thought I saw one in the express image of the Father say, ‘Father, I will go down and set a pattern of humility and patience, and overcome all, that your children, thru my example, may be brought back again.’ How noble, I thought, He looked when He offered Himself so patiently before the children of our Father.

I saw another, who seemed to be like a very high military officer who arose and said: ‘I will go down to yonder earth and surely I will bring all your children back to you so none of them shall be lost.’

The plan of the first was accepted as being the only sure plan for an exaltation The plan of the second was rejected with great kindness, but the second was not satisfied; and while the first stood in great humility by the side of the Father, the second with many who stood in with him, went about among the Heavenly hosts to advocate the plan, that was put forth as the rights of the second. This one was Lucifer, a son of the morning, for he had been with the Father for countless ages, and learned his lessons well, and he had been no dull scholar. Finally Lucifer openly rebelled against the Father and the Son and six other mighty ones who stood faithful with them and declared, ‘I will have it my way.’ I saw the faithful ones gather around the Father and the Son, and Lucifer’s workers gathered around him, when Michael, arose and said, ‘We will decide the contest’ It seemed that a platform was extended into space,. upon which we could operate. We who were faithful to the Father and the Son, had a white star upon us, and the others chose a red star, about one third of the males and females would not accept of either star, they accepted God, but withdrew from the conflict, the females taking the males by the arm, said, ‘Come, let us not take part. Let us retire-‘

When the hosts of Lucifer were cast out after the manner of spiritual warfare, they had no power to return. When they were all cleared from the platform and Satan and his followers were all cast down, their female companions wept, and we all wept.

No females took part against the Father and the Son, but all took sides in their favor, except the ones who declined the priesthood as already mentioned. After the tears were dried, from our eyes, the voice of the Great Eternal spoke again and said, ‘Hear, O ye my children;’ His voice penetrating the immensity of space so that all could hear it; it is decreed by the Great Eternal that the females shall not follow their males in their banishment. But for every male that kept his first estate and fought valiantly for the Father and the Son, there were two females. Again it is decreed that those males who have taken no part in the priesthood during this great conflict shall keep their females and a race of servants shall they be.’ I then saw that the notable ones who had taken such an interest in the rights of the Father and the Son were appointed to gather up those lone females whose companions had been cast down They were again placed in classes, each man having two females in the ranks behind him. I there saw that they were again taught in their classes. I next saw Michael, and his companion Eve, proceed a long way off, to people the earth where Lucifer and his followers had been cast. As time passed, other notable ones followed as they were appointed. During all this time the classes met frequently, being taught by instructors appointed. Each member knew his or her own-place, and took it each time, and the best of order prevailed. They were asked, first the males, and then the females behind them, ‘Will you obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ, when you go to that earth?’ Some would answer, yes, but not all. Some could be asked, Will you obey that law which placed the Gods on high? And in a few cases I would hear the females say, ‘I want my own mate’ Again the question would be asked, ‘If you will not join the Church of Christ, what do you wish to be? He would sometimes say, ‘I wish to be a judge, or an officer of high rank among the people ‘ Then he would be asked, ‘Will you sustain the laws of God and also the rights of all mankind?’ and the answer in every instance was, ‘yes.’

I saw there that those who were proficient in their classes were advanced more rapidly until they became most perfect in those heavenly teachings, but some males, even there in Heaven would neglect their females and their classes and not meet with them. They would go off, arm in arm, as men now go, not having any desire for their duties. But I never saw a female leave her place in the class assigned her by the Heavenly powers.

I saw Abraham, when he came back from the earth, and many of the notable ones, when they came back to be crowned I saw them step upon the platform of the Gods and receive their crowns, and enter into their exaltations. At last I saw the time when Joseph was to go forth, and the voice of the Great Eternal said, ‘Oh, my neglected daughters, gather around these my faithful servants who have been faithful in teaching you the principles of righteousness and of our kingdom, that others may come up and have the chance to be glorified-‘ I saw many of them gather around Joseph and form a ring with him and the Savior in the center. They made a covenant with him that they would meet him on the earth and help him establish that great work upon the earth. I saw many of them gather around Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and many other notable ones, and around many who have not become so notable. They formed rings around each of them with Christ in the center each time, for He rehearsed to them the Covenant. They would take each other by the hand, in the circle and bow their faces down to Him, in the center, and in the most solemn manner agree to meet them here, until every one of those neglected daughters was provided for; and they were filled with such joy that their songs made a paradise of the realm.

At last The time came for me to go to the earth. The Savior came to me and said, ‘Mosiah, it is time for you to prepare to go. You have been faithful so long here it is time for you to go, that you may return and be as we are.’ As I beheld Him, I thought, ‘How is it that I am not as you are now? For it seemed, that I knew nothing of the earth or the changes a probation there would make in me. However, I said, ‘Who will go down to that earth, and be my father, and help me that I may be brought in the ways of truth and righteousness?’ A male by the name of Levi stepped forth, in the presence of the Son, and said, ‘I will go down to yonder earth, and by the help of the Great Eternal, I will try to do as well by you as you have done for me, for I am grateful to you for all your kindness to me.’ He returned to his place, being an instructor of a class. I was one among others who was appointed to instruct him and the other teachers of classes. A female came out of the class and bowing before the Savior and me, said, ‘I will go down and be your mother.’ In a short time the man disappeared and was immediately followed by the woman. I knew my departure was near at hand and I asked, ‘If on my return I could have the same position I then held.’ Then the Savior said, Yes, and greater, but you have to go down to the earth, and take a lowly position and be misunderstood by man, even your brethren and endure many hardships and set an example of humility and patience, that you may return and enter the glory, even such as I have.’ He then added, ‘Your time is now come to take your mission to the earth,’ and He laid His hands on my head, as He had done to others, and set me apart for that important mission. He again said to me, ‘I will see you safely thru until you return again.’ I fully believe on that promise. It seemed as though a way was opened before me, and I dived down toward the earth with the speed of lightening and awoke while sailing thru space.

-Mosiah Hancock

Conclusion

In conclusion let us each of us remember that even though some are called to minister the priesthood and others are not, that regardless of his station no man should esteem himself above another, for the preacher is not better than the hearer, neither is the teacher any better than the learner, and thus are all equal, and all must labor, every man according to his strength.[54]

God’s plan of salvation is truly more expansive and wondrous than the mortal mind can comprehend. It is both intimately personal and universally applicable. All of us have a role to play in it, and all of us still have the opportunity to receive all the blessings we seek with pure intent, whether in this life or the next, regardless of our past, our calling now, or our race.

We must remember that obedience to the commandments of God is the first Law of heaven, and that even if we violate God’s law with good intentions the results can be disastrous. No man has the authority, and no mortal man will ever have the authority, to alter even one jot or title of what the Lord has said, and when we attempt to steady the ark of God[55] we only bring disaster upon ourselves. As Brigham Young prophesied: “Let this Church which is called the Kingdom of God on earth, summon the First Presidency, the Twelve, the High Council, the Bishopric, and all the Elders of Israel. Suppose we summon them all to appear here, and here declare that it is right to mingle our seed with the black race of Cain, that they shall come in with us, and be partakers with us, of all the blessings that God has given to us. On that very day and hour that we do so, the Priesthood is taken from this church and kingdom, and God leaves us to our fate.”[56]

This prophecy was literally fulfilled in 1978 when the First Presidency put out an official declaration that the priesthood would now be given to that lineage from which God had withheld it.[57] By doing so they attempted to exercise the priesthood contrary to the commands of God. Such an attempt is always fruitless, for whenever we attempt to exercise the priesthood in “any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens ‘withdraw themselves, the Spirit of the Lord is grieved, and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.”[58] Thus without even knowing it, we are bereft of the priesthood of God. “Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.[59]

The great example for us to follow was given to us by our father, the Prophet Abraham. God renewed this covenant, or royal priesthood, with him, just as it had been established from the time of Adam and even before the foundations of the earth were laid. We call this covenant, and the doctrine of race, “the Abrahamic covenant,” because of his example. Abraham first received the gospel by baptism, which is the covenant of salvation. Then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered into celestial plural marriage, which is the covenant of exaltation, gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase. Finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity.[60] Included in the divine promises to Abraham were the assurances that Abraham’s posterity would receive certain lands and an eternal inheritance.[61] These promises taken together are called the Abrahamic covenant. It was renewed with Isaac[62] and again with Jacob.[63]

The portions of the covenant that pertain to exaltation as an eternal family and eternal increase are renewed with each individual who receives the ordinances of celestial marriage.[64] Those of non-Israelite lineage, commonly known as gentiles, are adopted into the house of Israel, and become heirs of the covenant and the seed of Abraham, through the ordinances of the gospel.[65]

Being a literal heir to the Abrahamic covenant does not make one a “chosen person” per se, but does signify that this lineage is chosen to responsibly carry the gospel to all the peoples of the earth. Abraham’s seed have carried out the missionary activity in all the nations since Abraham’s day.[66].

To fulfill the covenant God made with Abraham—having particular reference to the fact that the literal seed of his body would be entitled to all of the blessings of the gospel,[67] a number of specific and particular things were promised to take place in the last days. The gospel was restored, the priesthood was conferred again upon men of Abraham’s lineage, the keys of the sealing power were given again to mortals, Israel must be literally gathered, and the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the gentiles until the times of the gentiles were fulfilled.[68]

The time has now come for the final gathering of the literal blood of Israel, preparatory to the establishment of the City of the New Jerusalem on the American continent. whatever role you choose to play in the prophesied plan of God, his work will go forward, with or without you. Let us therefore each labor for the benefit of all our fellow men. Each of us should give our all, and consecrate our lives to the plan of our Father. As we do so we will develop charity for all, and gratitude for the mission we were each fore-ordained to fulfill. What we need is the pure Love of Christ. With it we cannot fail in our calling, without it we are nothing.[69] “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his son, Jesus Christ, that ye may become the sons of God, that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.”[70]

Amen.