"This high priesthood being after the order of his Son, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from eternity to all eternity, according to his foreknowledge of all things—"
Now we encounter comments that everyone seems to use about this priesthood. It is "without beginning of days or end of years." It is "from the foundation of the world."
It is "prepared from eternity to eternity."
It is "prepared from eternity to eternity."
When did eternity end and mortality begin?
When does mortality end and eternity begin again?
What does the phrase "from eternity to eternity" really refer to?
Do we pass "from eternity" then back "to eternity" as part of this mortal experience?
What went on before, back in the first "eternity?" We read elsewhere of this peaceful existence during "millennial" conditions, which end with rebellion, disputes and a war. Was Satan loosed in an earlier eternity after some season of peace to stir the hearts of men to anger one with another? (See Rev. 20: 7-9.) Was he cast out to hell, or the Telestial Kingdom, where we presently reside? What went on? How often would the Lord have gathered us as a hen gathers her chicks, but we would not be gathered? (I suppose His asking and the lack of an answer implies a great number.)
What went on before, back in the first "eternity?" We read elsewhere of this peaceful existence during "millennial" conditions, which end with rebellion, disputes and a war. Was Satan loosed in an earlier eternity after some season of peace to stir the hearts of men to anger one with another? (See Rev. 20: 7-9.) Was he cast out to hell, or the Telestial Kingdom, where we presently reside? What went on? How often would the Lord have gathered us as a hen gathers her chicks, but we would not be gathered? (I suppose His asking and the lack of an answer implies a great number.)
What is it about what went on before, in the earlier "eternity," that allows God to possess His perfect "foreknowledge of all things" now?
What is this strange doctrine and the implications which flow from them? Was Joseph Smith trying to tell us this in the later Nauvoo talks? (Maybe we should read them again...)
How is one to take it all in? How is the priesthood tied to this prior eternity? Why do we get side-tracked into the subject of "from eternity to eternity" when we learn about this endless priesthood which is without beginning of days or end of years?
What is really going on? How can we learn of the truth? Is there no prophet who can declare it to us?
The suspense is killing me. I'm hoping to get answers. I'm hoping you want them too. I'm confident if you ask the Lord, He will answer you. He intends to pour out knowledge upon the heads of the Saints. If we will stop making others accountable for what we learn, and go to Him to receive what He offers, by the power of the Holy Ghost you may know the truth of all things. I read that somewhere... But the words are mine, now.
So, since "Eternal is [His] name", is the priesthood "being prepared from eternity to eternity" referring to it being passed from one God to the next?
ReplyDeleteStrange Doctrine indeed. Not sure we will find the answers in the next month Ensign. :).
ReplyDeleteAnother observation:
It is not just eternity to eternity... but from eternity to ALL eternity. A good question to ask would be...What is the difference between eternity and ALL eternity?
When my grandfather appeared to my mom to ask her to please get his temple work done for him, my dad made the comment that he must have had priesthood authority to do this. I'd never heard of this before... but it seems to tie in here...
ReplyDeleteRandy has left a new comment on your post "Alma 13:7":
ReplyDeletefrom David Christenson (the institue instructor) he mentions that instead of eternity being like "this ring" (a wedding band). It is more like a slinky :) without beginning of days or end of years. Something like "One Eternal Round" being one full round of the slinky, but never coming back on it's self.
The mysteries of Godliness leave me in awesome wonder!
and some intersting quotes....
** "There is no change in the eternal and everlasting priesthood. It is without beginning of days or end of years. It is from eternity unto eternity. By the power of that priesthood God, our Eternal Father, has organized all worlds and redeemed all worlds that have ever been redeemed." - Wilford Woodruff, Deseret Weekly News 38:450, March 5, 1889
** "The priesthood of the Son of God is from everlasting to everlasting; it is without beginning of days or end of years, or time. It is without father, without mother, without descent; it is the power by which the worlds are and were created and the power by which they are now held in existence and by which all that are yet to come will be organized, governed, controlled and sustained." - Brigham Young, "Brigham Young" by Nibley, p. 453, October, 1869
[Reposted by the CM because I deleted it on accident]
You said: "Do we pass "from eternity" then back "to eternity" as part of this mortal experience?"
ReplyDeleteIs it possible we do this more than once? Eternal liveS?
I was wondering the same thing with regard to "eternal lives." We seem to put it in the context of eternal posterity, but could there be more to it than that?
ReplyDeleteCould D&C 19 be helpful here again? From eternity to all eternity. Is it a name? Does this describe in detail the One who gives, and when all the others are ready to receive? Also think "prepartory redemption". Jr. Gods? Does this mean that ALL those who are ready, will receive it FROM the ONE? He employs no servant, and is the One who gives, even to every last one who is worthy?
ReplyDeleteBingo! DKD worlds without number, progression due to faithfulness, a third if the host of heaven, born in the covenant, etc... could explain a lot.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite explanation of the "eternal lives" means can be found here: http://www.freeread.com/archives/eternal_lives.php
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
Denver's blog entry a while back on a parable about a boy and his father may take on new meaning.
ReplyDeleteDan said, "Denver's blog entry a while back on a parable about a boy and his father may take on new meaning."
ReplyDeleteDan, which post was that parable in?
The parable is from April 10, 2010. I'm not saying Denver had "eternal lives"in mind or anything of the like with the parable,but I recalled this blog entry while reading these comments.
ReplyDeleteHere's a question:
ReplyDeleteDid we live our premortal life in some way on the Telestial world before it became a Telestial world? Did we then lived on the Terrestrial world before it was Terrestrial? Now we are living on a world that will become a Celestrial world, but we must be mortal before it becomes such a high kingdom?
Just some questions that popped in my head as i read this post.
Tina
Sorry to hassle you, Dan -- I just looked at all 3 posts from April 10th and can't find it. Can you give me the name of the post, please. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry Kisi, I gave you the wrong date. It's April 14th. It's titled "A Parable"
ReplyDelete