The Priesthood Keys- Part Two

Virtually every D&C commentary Including the one by Smith and Sjodahl, will tell you that the parable of the Nobleman and his Vineyard, otherwise known as the parable of the redemption of Zion, given in section 101, is speaking about the failure of the Saints to build the Jackson county Temple during 1831-1834.

The online commentary sponsored by the church makes the same mistake with the following declaration-

"DC 101:43-62 The Parable of the Nobleman and his Vineyard"

"This parable is given to explain why the saints in Jackson County suffered persecution and affliction. Interestingly, the Lord is speaking to his faithful saints and still uses parables to illustrate his point."

All of these commentaries give a false explanation of what the parable had reference to.

That parable was not speaking about the Jackson county temple nor was it speaking about the early years of the restoration movement.

As you know, the commandment to build the Nauvoo Temple was given in section 124 in 1841.

What you might not be aware of, is the fact that Joseph gave a discourse in Nauvoo on July 19, 1840 in which he prophesied that the great and high watch tower would be built in Nauvoo.

He began is discourse by reading the parable in section 101.

Following that, he went on to prophesy that the Saints would not be committed to urgently building the tower.

The spirit of prophecy within him showed him that the Saints would be somewhat complacent in building the temple because the initial years in Nauvoo would be peaceful.

The Saints would not initially be under the persecution they had become accustomed to in Kirtland and Jackson County.

He further predicted that the enemy would come as a thief in the night and scatter the servants abroad.

Of course, the rest is history. The Saints did not complete the temple. The enemy did scatter the Saints abroad.

"We shall build the Zion of the Lord in peace until the servants of that Lord shall begin to lay the foundation of a great and high watch Tower and then shall they begin to say within themselves what need hath my Lord of this tower seeing this is a time of peace & Then the Enemy shall come as a thief in the night and scatter the servants abroad…"

According to Joseph Smith, the great and high watch tower in the parable had reference to the temple that the Lord would command them to build in Nauvoo.

As you can see, everything I have been telling you about the temple never being completed resulting in the church being rejected with its dead is not only verifiable according to historical documents, it is also actually validated by this incredible prophecy by Joseph Smith.

But the prophesy gets even more interesting.

Let us continue-

"when the seed of these 12 Olive trees are scattered abroad they will wake up the Nations of the whole Earth Even this Nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground and when the constitution is upon the brink of ruin this people will be the Staff up which the Nation shall lean and they shall bear away the constitution away from the very verge of destruction Then shall the Lord say go tell all my servants who are the strength of mine house my young men and middle aged &c come to the Land of my vineyard and fight the battle of the Lord"

The prophet reveals that the posterity of the LDS Saints four generations ago will play an important part in waking up the nation when the Servants return. It will be under the direction of the Servants of the Lord that return according to the parable.

He points out that the waking up takes place at the time when the constitution is upon the brink of ruin.

Could we be getting close to that point in time?

In fact, according the prophecy, it is only because of Gods people that the constitution is preserved.

But notice how the Prophet refers to the posterity of the early Saints as the "Seed of the Olive Trees" instead of as a church.

This is, of course, because section 124 points out that the church will be rejected as a church at the time that the Saints fail to build the tower in the sufficient time allotted.

The prophecy of Joseph's is referring to the posterity of the Saints as the SEED of the TWELVE OLIVE TREES, or in other words, as the latter day tribes of Israel.

Praise God almighty even though they lose their status as a church, they retain their tribal entity!

Thank goodness for patriarchal blessings.

The prophecy then speaks of the Kings and Queens and the rulers of the earth that will come, which is referencing the parts of section 124 that speak of the proclamation that will go forth to the kings and rulers of the earth.

Remember, section 124 had not even been given yet!

Praise God for the spirit of prophecy found in Joseph Smith, one of the greatest prophets that has ever lived!

Let us continue with one of the greatest prophesies ever recorded. A prophecy that has been rejected by official commentaries of the apostate church.

"Then the Kings & Queens shall come then the rulers of the Earth shall come.."

It appears to me that the next event in the sequence has to do with the gathering of the "rich and the learned, the wise and the noble", as mentioned in section 58. Don't jump to conclusions about what section 58 is speaking about.

I have mentioned the subliminal message regarding that event previously… hopefully you understand what it is really referring to.

After that great feast, there will be another one-

Section 58 spins it this way-

"And after that cometh the day of my power; then shall the poor, the lame, and the blind, and the deaf, come in unto the marriage of the Lamb, and partake of the supper of the Lord, prepared for the great day to come."

Compare that to the next statement in Joseph's prophecy-

"then shall all saints come yea the Foreign saints shall come to fight for the Land of my vineyard for in this thing shall be their safety and they will have no power to choose but will come as a man fleeth from a sudden destruction"

Of course Joseph is referring to the second harvest. He is speaking about those who did not respond to the first invitation but waited for the second one. (holy first, righteous second)

The next part of the prophecy addresses an event to take place in Nauvoo just a few years after his prophecy wherein he alludes to his own martyrdom-

"But before this the time shall be when these who are now my friends shall become my enemies and shall seek to take my life and shall be m there are those now before me who will more furiously pursue me and the more dilligently seek to my life and be more blood thirsty upon my track than ever were the Missouri Mobbers You say among yourselves as did them of old time it is I & is it I But I know these things by the visions of the Almighty."

Yes that is right. Joseph knew that some of his most loyal brethren, like William Law and his brother and the Higbies and others who were so loyal to Joseph when they first began establishing Nauvoo, would eventually turn against him and seek his life.

So, how is it that the latter day tribes are able to make contact with the servants when they return?

Why is it the privilege of the latter day tribes to do so and by what priesthood keys are they able to accomplish this?

Obviously, according to what I have demonstrated in the history of the church, the Aaronic priesthood was the only of the three priesthoods that remained in the church after the martyrdom…

..and the church had been condemned and rejected… left with the law of carnal commandments and telestial law.

In fact the Aaronic priesthood was the only one of the three priesthoods that came with the promise that it would remain on the earth for an extended period of time-

"and this [priesthood] shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." (D&C 13)

We know from doing scriptural key word searches that the time when the sons of Levi offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness is when the 3^rd watch opens up. (see Malachi and section 128)

Have you ever wondered why it was so important for the Aaronic priesthood to remain on the earth?

In fact, have you ever wondered why it even needed to be restored?

After all, the patriarchal priesthood can officiate in all of the ordinances that the Aaronic priesthood can, plus officiate in the ordinances that actually have the ability to save us in a higher kingdom.

Why did the Lord even bother to restore the ancient order of the Levitical priesthood to the latter day Gentile church?

I would submit to you that in fact, the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints does have in its possession and does administer the priesthood keys that will be instrumental in making contact with the servants of the Lord and in ushering in the greater light when the next restoration begins.

What keys are those that I am speaking of?

"…the keys of the ministering of angels"

I hate to contradict a faith promoting story that was recently given in general conference, but the keys of the ministering of angels has nothing to do with the Aaronic priesthood boys doing kind acts of service.

They actually have to do with the literal reception of ministering angels who are sent with messages, information and additional priesthood keys.

A text book example of how Joseph and Oliver were ministered to by angels would be the restoration of the first two priesthoods.

Another would be found in section 110, when four angels appeared to Joseph and Oliver to give them information as well as priesthood keys and dispensational keys.

Since there are precious few documented cases where the ministering of real angels has taken place during the last four generations, it is, I suppose, understandable that our leaders might be tempted to morph the doctrine of ministering angels and redefine what it means.

Let me suggest however, that even though the keys of the ministering of angels has largely been dormant in previous generations, they are still here, and when the appointed time comes and faith is increased in the earth, the keys of the kingdom will once again be given to mortal man on the earth through these Aaronic priesthood keys.

This is what section 65 is referring to-

1 Hearken, and lo, a voice as of one sent down from on high, who is mighty and powerful, whose going forth is unto the ends of the earth, yea, whose voice is unto men—Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

2 The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.

3 Yea, a voice crying—Prepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the Bridegroom.

4 Pray unto the Lord, call upon his holy name, make known his wonderful works among the people.

5 Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth.

6 Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on earth, that thine enemies may be subdued; for thine is the honor, power and glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Think about those words in red.

Joseph, Sidney and Oliver are going to need to commit the keys of the kingdom of God upon mortal men when they return just the same way that they received them… via the ministration of angels.

That is what Joseph was referring to when he said,

"Men and angels are to be co-workers in bringing to pass this great work…" TPJS page 84.

We often read section 65 as if it is a revelation referring to a past event. However it is actually a prophecy pertaining to a future event.

The chapter heading says

"Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Hiram, Ohio, October 1831. HC 1: 218. The Prophet designates this revelation as a prayer."

This is a prophetic prayer about a future event!

And the future event was not something that would be taking place during the life of Joseph Smith, in fact, there was no need for it to take place at the time it was given because the keys of the kingdom had already been committed unto men on the earth by angels!

Yes it is true that all prophecies have a dual fulfillment, and in that sense, the prophetic prayer had a typological application to the keys of the kingdom that had already been given to Joseph Smith by the ministering of angels, however, the literal fulfillment of the prophetic dream had reference to the restoration of those same keys, to mortal men, in the 3^rd watch, when the final restoration takes place!

Indeed, the Seer and the Spokesman will return as ministering angels to commit the keys of the kingdom to mortal men living on the earth at this time.

And I am suggesting that the mortal men that will be the first to entertain Joseph, Sidney, Oliver and others and to receive the keys of the kingdom, will be among the literal seed of the twelve tribes of Israel who have received the Aaronic priesthood from the priesthood tribe that is called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints.

In the next part of this series, I will drill down a little further into the Parable of the Olive Trees contained in the Book of Mormon to show that the SOMETHING that the Lord and his Servant did to PRESERVE the roots from the 2^nd watch to the 3^rd watch was synonymous with the SOMETHING NEW that the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that needed to be done for the temporal (and eventually the spiritual) SALVATION of the apostate latter day church.

More later.. keep watching