On Faith and Healing

The other day I had a friend tell me a story about a woman from her mission. This woman was the only member of her family, but had a terrible sickness causing her legs to rot away. She had the faith to be healed and asked many times for the Elder's to come and give her a blessing that she might be healed, but she never was. Now my friend poised the question: "Why was she not healed? Couldn't she have done even greater good if she had the mobility to move and act as she willed, than being confined to a wheelchair or her bed? She had the faith, why was she not healed?"

Her question made me think of the New Testament and all the examples in which Christ healed people. To some he healed them the first time he saw them. To others he passed by them everyday of his life and many times throughout his ministry and did not heal them till later in his ministry (John 5:1-16). And to others, he waited until they died before he came unto them (John 11:1-46). The question then is why did he heal some immediately, others after years of passing them by, and others after they had died? Why did he not heal them all immediately, especially if they had the faith to be healed? And what about those he never healed? I think in each of these examples as well as in modern day examples we need to look at the whole picture: who was present, why was the miracle performed, what was the purpose of the miracle, and how were others affected by the miracle. Each of these plays a pivotal point in the questions of why.

To those of us with limited knowledge we might rashly ask "Why?" before knowing the whole picture. In each instance in the bible, the purpose for the miracle was different. Let's look at some examples:

1. Healing as a teaching point:

Man with withered hand healed on Sabbath (Matt 12:9-13; Mark 3: 1-5; Luke 6:6-10)
-Christ enters the synagogue to find a man with a withered hand. The people set him up and ask if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath trying to find reason to accuse him. Christ tells them it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath and gives the sheep in the pit as an example. Heals the man's hand in front of the Pharisees. They go out and seek council against him.

Man with dropsy healed on the Sabbath (Luke 14:1-6)
-Christ goes to eat bread in the homes of one of the chief Pharisees on the Sabbath. In the midst there is a man with dropsy. Christ asks if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? They don't answer. Christ heals the man and lets him go. Christ then teaches about the ox and ass in the mire. Again they didn't answer.


2. Healing out of compassion

Peter's Mother in Law healed (Matt 8:14-15; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39)
-Christ comes to Peter's house and heals Peter's mother-in-law from a fever with the touch of his hand. She arises and ministers unto those in the room.

38 yr old man with infirmity is healed on the Sabbath (John 5:1-16)
-At the time of a feast in Jerusalem Christ goes to the pool of Bethesda. Here lie a great multitude of impotent folk (blind, halt, withered, etc.) Christ only heals one man. He talks with the man who has been there 38 years, and tells him to take up his bed and walk. And it was the Sabbath. The Jews tell the man it is not lawful for him to carry his bed because it was the sabbath. He doesn't know that Jesus healed him so he can't answer the Jews who told him to do so. Christ later finds him in the Temple and tells him to sin no more lest a worse thing befalls him. The man tells the Jews and they seek to kill him because he performed a miracle on the Sabbath.

Widow of Nain's son Raised from the dead (Luke 7:11-17)
-Dead man carried out of the city. Lord sees the crowd and has compassion on the woman. Tells the woman to weep not and then tells the young man to Arise. The young man sits up and begins speaking. Fear comes on all and they glorify God calling Christ a prophet.

Man born blind healed on Sabbath (John 9:1-39)
-Christ passes by a man blind since birth. His disciples ask who sinned, the man or his parents that he was born blind. Christ says neither, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. After teaching his disciples that he is there to work the works of God, he spits on the ground and anoints the man's eyes with clay. He then tells the man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. The man went, washed, and came seeing. All this was done on the Sabbath. The Pharisees ask the man how he received his sight. The man tells them how it was done. The Pharisees are divided as to whether the man who performed the miracle is of God because he performed a miracle on the Sabbath. They ask the man, he says the healer is a prophet. They did not believe that he was blind until they called his parents and asked about the man. The parents tell them that they know this to be their son and that he was indeed born blind, but they don't know how he received his sight. They tell the Pharisees to ask the man. The Pharisees determine that the healer is a sinner. They question the man again. The man getting frustrated tells them he already told them and they wouldn't believe and asks if they will be this man's disciple. They say nope, only Moses. The man testifies the healer is a man of God. The man is then cast out of the synagogue. Christ hearing that they had cast out the man goes and finds him and asks him if he believes in the Son of God. The man asks who he is that he might believe. Christ tells him it is he. The man believes and worships Christ.

Woman healed on Sabbath (Luke 13:11-17)
-Woman has an infirmity 18 years. Christ sees her and tells her she is free from her infirmity and then lays his hands on her and heals her. She glorifies God. The ruler of the synagogue is upset and tells Christ about the creation and the 10 commandments (of which Christ implemented both). Christ calls them hypocrites for taking their animals to water on the Sabbath. He then says shouldn't this woman, who is a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hast bound, be loosed from her infirmity on the Sabbath? After saying this, his adversaries were ashamed and the people rejoiced that she was healed.

*Raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-46)
-Christ is informed that Lazarus is dieing. He determines to wait a couple of days where he is at before going to see Lazarus. Lazarus dies and then he goes to go bring him back to life. When he tells his disciples that Lazarus is not dead, but sleepeth, they say it is well. Christ then plainly tells them that Lazarus is dead, and he is going to go raise him from the dead. He does so and the people marvel.

Malchus ear is healed (Luke 22:50-51)
-As the men come to take Christ, Peter steps forward and cuts of a servant of the High Priest's ear. Christ rebukes Peter and then immediately heals the man of his cut off ear.


3. Healing because he is asked to do so (faith of others)

Healing the noble man's son (John 4:46-54)
-Noble man beseeches Christ to come and heal his son. Christ tells him he won't believe unless he sees signs and miracles. The man persists that Christ come. Christ tells him his son is healed, and so the man goes on his way. The man finds out the next day when he gets back to his house that his son was healed from the moment Christ said he was, and his whole household believe on Jesus.

Multitude Healed (Matt 8:16-17; Mark 1:32-34; Luke 4:40-41)
-Many possessed with devils are brought unto Christ. He casts out the devil with his word, and heals all them that are sick. "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Leper Healed (Matt 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:17-26)
-Leper comes and worships the Lord and asks if the Lord is willing to cleanse him. Christ puts forth his hand and touches the man and heals him. Tells him to tell no man but to go his way and show himself unto the priest and offer a sacrifice at the temple.

Centurion's servant healed (Matt 8:5-13; Luke 7:2-10)
-A Centurion comes unto him and tells him that his servant is sick of palsy. Christ says he will come unto him to heal him. The centurion says he is not worthy to have the Lord in his home, but instead asks the Lord to speak the word only and his servant will be healed. All marveled who heard this, including Christ. He tells the multitude that the faith of a gentile will be greater than the faith of the house of Israel. Christ says the word and the servant is healed immediately.

Man with Devil, Blind and Dumb is healed (Matt 12:22-30)
-Man is brought unto him possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb. He heals the man of all three symptoms. The people's response is to say "Is this not Joseph's Son?" "This fellow doth cast out devils by Beelzebub." Christ then has to tell that their logic makes no sense, and that if they are not with him they are against him. The people ask for other signs.

Daughter of Jarius raised from the dead (Matt 9:18-26; Mark 5:22-43; Luke 8: 41-56)
-A ruler of the synagogue, Jarius, falls at the feet of Christ and asks him if he will come and lay his hand upon his sick daughter and heal her. Him and his disciples go. She dies while they are enroute. Christ tells the man to not be afraid but to believe. He kicks out the minstrels and people making noise and has Peter, James and John come inside. He takes her by the hand and says: "Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."  He tells the parents to tell no body and charges them to give her something to eat.

2 Blind men healed (Matt 9:27-31)
-As Jesus is leaving an area, 2 blind men follow him and cry out "Thou Son of David, have mercy on us!" As he enters a house the blind men come to him. He asks them if they believe he can heal them. They say yes, he touches their eyes, and says "According to your faith, be it unto you." He tells them to tell no man. They instead spread his fame abroad in the whole country.

People healed by touching the hem of his garment (Matt 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56)
-Christ comes into the land of Gennesaret. The men of the place call all the diseased to come from throughout the whole country. They ask that if they only touch the hem of his garment. As many as touch are healed completely.

A Dumb demonized man is healed (Matt 9:32-34; Luke 11:14-26)
-People bring a man who is dumb and possessed with a devil. Christ casts out the devil, and the man receives his voice. The pharisees determine that he casts out devils through the prince of devils. Christ then does a teaching lesson on how the Kingdom of God is set up.

Greek woman's daughter healed (Matt 15:22-28; Mark 7:25-30)
-A woman approaches the crowd and cries out to Christ telling him that her daughter has a devil. He ignores her and doesn't say anything unto her. Then his disciples tell him to send her away for she cried after them as well and wouldn't leave them alone. Christ then tells his disciples he is not sent to the gentiles, but to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. The woman then comes to Christ and begs him to help her. Christ tells her it is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs. She then says but still the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the master's table. Christ seeing her faith says "be it unto thee even as thou wilt," and her daughter was made whole from that hour.

Deaf with speech impediment healed (Mark 7:32-37)
-People bring a deaf man with a speech impediment and asked Christ to lay his hands on the man. Christ takes the man away from the multitude and puts his fingers in the man's ears, then spits and touches the man's tongue. Looking up to heaven Christ says "Be opened" and immediately the man can hear and speak. Christ tells them to tell no one. Again they published it even more.

Blind man healed (Mark 8:22-26)
-Christ comes to Bethsaida, and the people bring unto him a blind men and ask him to touch him. Christ takes the blind man by the hand and leads him out of the town. Christ puts spittle on the mans eyes and then puts his hands on them and asks the man what he can see. The man says "men as trees, walking." Christ then puts his hands on the man again and the man's sight is restored completely. Christ tells him to neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

Demoniac boy healed after failed attempts by disciples (Matt 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9: 37-43)
-Christ comes to his disciples and finds the scribes questioning them. He asks what are they questioning his disciples. A man says that he brought his son, which had a dumb spirit, to the disciples of Christ to have him be healed, and they could not do it. Christ calls his disciples faithless and asks how long he needs to be with them. He tells them to bring the boy forth. The boy falls to ground foaming at the mouth. Christ asks the father how long the boy has been like this. The man says since a child. The man then says the demon has tried to kill the son on many failed attempts. He then asks Christ if he can do anything for his child. Christ tells him he believes all things are possible. The man says he believes and asks Christ to help his unbelief. Christ then tells the deaf and dumb spirit to come out of the boy and enter into him no more. The demon causes a scene and nearly kills the kid when he is cast out. Christ raises the boy by the hand after man thought he had died. He later tells his disciples that this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.

10 Lepers healed (Luke 17:11-19)
-As Christ enters a village, 10 lepers meet him from afar off and asked Christ to have mercy on them. Christ tells them to go and show themselves unto the Priests. As they went they were cleansed. One turns back and glories God, and falls at Christ's feet giving him thanks. Christ asks about the other 9, then tells the one that his faith hath made him whole and to go on his way.

Sight restored to Bartimaeus and another beggar (Matt 20:29-34; Mark 10: 46-52; Luke 18:35-43)
-In Jericho a blind man sitting by the wayside begging hears the multitude and asks what is going on. They tell him Jesus is coming. He cries out to Jesus to have mercy on him. Jesus commands the man to be brought to him. Christ asks what the man wants to be done unto him. The man asks to receive his sight. Christ tells him to receive his sight, his faith hath saved him. The man receives his sight and begins to follow Christ as one of his disciples, glorifying God.


4. Healing to silence a Devil

Unclean spirit cast out on Sabbath (Mark 1:23-28; Luke 4:31-37)
-Man with unclean spirit was in the synagogue on the Sabbath and began making a scene while Christ was teaching. Christ commanded the unclean spirit to be quiet and to come out of the man. Whole multitude is amazed and his fame is spread abroad. (Christ shows that he is one with authority).

2 demonized men healed (Matt 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39)
-2 men filled with devils come out of the tombs and cause issues making sure no one can pass by. The devils ask if Christ is there to torment them before the judgement day. They then ask if they can go into the heard of swine. Christ says one word: "Go" and they go into the heard of 2000 swine and run off the cliff and drown. The whole city kicks Christ out of their midst after he destroys their livelihood and disobedience to the Law of Moses.


5. Healing because the faith of the individual is too great to ignore

Woman with issue of blood (Matt 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48)
-A woman with an issue of blood 12 years hears of the fame of Christ and approaches from behind and touches the hem of his garment while he passes by. Christ knowing that she has just been healed, stops the multitude and has her come forth and explain what she did. He tells her her faith made her whole, to go in peace and be whole of her plague.

Thus it seems miracles were performed anciently for diverse reasons. The same is true today. And in the case where a miracle is not performed, do we have the faith not to be healed?

The Mystery of Elias Revealed

From the Bible Dictionary we learn that Elias is a title and refers to a variety of individuals who have held specific roles and missions in the establishment of God's Kingdom here on the earth. Elias is a Forerunner, a Preparer of that which is to come, and a Restorer of that which once was, and is to be again.

Elias's in Chronological Order

Noah (The Angel Gabriel): He who "stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion. These men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven" (HC vol 3. ch 26. pg 385).

Gabriel was sent as an Elias (D&C 27:7) to Zacharias, a priest of Aaron, who was serving in the temple burning the holy incense and offering prayers unto God. Gabriel appeared on the right side of the altar of incense and there gave prophecy that Zacharias would bear a child, and his name would be John and would be given one of the missions of Elias "to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:5, 8-25,57-80).

He was also sent to Mary to announce that she would bear the Christ child (Luke 1:26-56)

He was also probably the angel sent to Joseph in various dreams to provide reassurance and direction on how to protect the Christ child from evil forces (Matt 1:20-25; 2:13-15, 19-23).

He was probably also the angel who warned the wise men in a dream to depart another way after visiting the Christ child (Matt 2:12).

And as a continuation of his forerunner Elias mission, was also probably the angel who ordained John at 8 days old (the day of his circumcision and naming ceremony) "to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power" (D&C 84:27-28). And then once John was baptized when 8 years old, (D&C 84:28; JST Gen 17:11) Gabriel was probably the angel that instructed him to baptize as he (John) had been baptized and gave him this knowledge whereby he might know the Son of Man: "Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizeth with the Holy Ghost" (JST John 1:31-34).


Esaias: A High Priest and Prophet who lived in the days of Abraham, and who was ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood under the hand of God (D&C 84:11-13). Esaias was also blessed of Abraham and very well could've been given the keys of the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham (which is that through the continuation and bestowal of the Priesthood of God from one High Priest to the next, all the families of the earth who receive the gospel will be blessed and will have opportunity to be heirs of the kingdom of God and partakers of all the blessings associated with that kingdom (D&C 132:28-32; Abr 2:9-11). Esaias ordained Gad to this priesthood, who ordained Jeremy, who ordained Elihu, who ordained Caleb, who ordained Jethro, who ordained Moses (D&C 84:6-11). On April 3rd, 1836, an Elias figure (possibly Esaias in this instance) appeared unto Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry in the Kirtland Temple and committed unto them "the dispensation of gospel of Abraham, saying that in [them] and [their] seed all generations after [them] should be blessed" (D&C 110:12).


Elijah: A prophet feared by many in his day because of the mighty works wrought among the children of men (1 Kings 17 - 2 Kings 2). To him was given the sealing power, to seal on earth and in heaven. He was the last man who held this power until the days of Christ. This power enabled him to seal up the heavens so that it did not rain for 3.5 years (Luke 4:25-26; 1 Kings 17:1, 9-24; James 5:17-18). This power also included with it the the spirit and mission of Elias "to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make read a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17; Mal 4:5-6; D&C 2:1-3; 27:9; 110:13-16; 128:17-18). Because of his unforgettable accession into heaven via a chariot of fire, and Malachi's prophesy that he would come again to the earth, many awaited his coming anxiously and even continue to set out a chair for him to this day. And come he did, not just once, but twice as is recorded. He came to the Mount of Transfiguration as an Elias figure and as a translated being, and bestowed this sealing power upon Peter, James, and John (Matt 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-9). He later came to the Kirtland Temple on April 3rd, 1836 as Elijah to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry and bestowed this sealing power upon them to enable them to begin again the work of baptizing for the dead to create a welding link between all the generations of the earth (D&C 110:13-16). Another one of Elijah's roles was to make intercession to God against Israel (Romans 11:2-4; 1 Kings 19:10-14).


John, Son of Zacharias, The Prophet of the Highest (also known as The Baptist): His mission as an Elias was very specific as he was to prepare the way before the Lord, make straight his way, and to begin to build up followers that would follow Christ (Matt 11:7-11; JST Matt 11:15; JST Matt 17:11-14; Mark 9:11; JST Mark 9:12-13; JST John 1:6-8,15,20-22). As an Elias he was received by only a few and rejected by many. It was prophesied that he would go forth in the spirit and power of an Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children via baptism for the remission of sins (Luke 1:13-17, 76-80; D&C 27:7). He baptized many, including the Son of God and preached that Christ would come as an Elias to restore all things (JST John 1:20-22, 26-28). Although he baptized many, Christ baptized more, and his disciples baptized even more than Christ (JST John 4:1-4). After his death, he came as a translated being to the Mount of Transfiguration to ordain Peter, James, and John to the Aaronic Priesthood (Mark 9:2-3, 5-9; JST Mark 9:4). He later came on May 15, 1829 to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on the banks of the Susquehanna River to restore the Aaronic Priesthood to them (D&C 13:1; D&C 27:8).


Jesus Christ: In addition to the Elias who would come to prepare the way of the Lord was an Elias who would come to restore all things. John taught that this was Christ (JST John 1:21-22, 26-30).


John the Beloved, (also known as The Revelator): In addition to John's calling to write many things pertaining to the last days, was his calling to be an Elias to gather together the twelve tribes of Israel and restore all things. In the 10th Chapter of Revelations, John was given a little book to eat and was instructed that he would prophesy again among many people, nations, tongues, and kings the things contained therein (Rev 10:1-11). We learn from D&C 77:14 that John eating up this book was his acceptance of the calling to be an Elias to gather the tribes of Israel and restore all things. This is further mentioned in the 7th chapter of Revelations where John comes as The Angel from the East to gather and seal up the twelve tribes of Israel prior to the earth being refined by the 4 angels of each quarter of the earth (Rev 7:1-9; D&C 77:9). We also learn that this Elias who is to gather the twelve tribes of Israel, has been given "the keys to bring to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days" (D&C 27:6).


Joseph Smith: Along with Jesus Christ and John the Revelator acting in the mission of Elias to restore all things, Joseph Smith was also given this role to restore all things and received keys and power from previous prophets through a variety of heavenly interactions to do so (D&C 132:40,45; D&C 13, 20, 27, and 110). Of special note is the description of the sealing power and what it really entails as received under the hand of Elijah in the Kirtland Temple (D&C 132:46-48; D&C 110:13-16).


Additional Notes About Elias:
1. He was present in the spirit world when the Lord came to organize his leaders to preach the gospel to them which were spirits (D&C 138:38-60). This was the same Elias as on the Mount of Transfiguration. Elijah was also present in both instances, meaning that this Elias was John the Baptist.
2. Elias was a figure well-known and talked about among the Jews.
3. Elias was thought to be a savior figure (Matt 27:46-49; Mark 15:34-36).
4. Elias was often seen as not from of this earth as he was given powers over earthly elements, including death, and did things that the people could not understand, and prophets including Christ were often thought of to be the return of Elias, since many of their prophets would disappear from among the people and not come back (Moses, Elijah, etc.) (Mark 6:14-16; Mark 8:27-29; Matt 16:13-16; Luke 9:7-9).
5. Many to this day claim to be followers of Elias and some of the other prophets, even though they never have received the gospel, the prophets, nor the everlasting covenant (D&C 76:98-101).

On Baptism and Authority

The role of missionaries in our church is an interesting one. To the everyday Christian believer they may see missionaries as trying to convert them to a different faith, on the basis that God makes salvation contingent on a correct belief.

This assumption is only partially correct though.  In all actuality, the salvation of one's soul is not based on belief, but on the correctness of the ordinance performed and the authority by which it was performed thereby insuring the validity of the saving ordinance.

In Heaven there will not be a "Catholic" faith, a "Jewish" faith, a "Muslim" faith, or even a "Mormon" faith. All of that will dissolve at the veil when we leave this life. Instead, there will simply be "The Church of the Firstborn" (Heb 12) made up of those who are followers of the Gospel of Christ and have made the necessary steps to be allowed to enter God's kingdom.

The only thing that will matter in the after life is the validity of the saving ordinances that were performed for the individuals thereby enabling them to return to God's presence. Salvation is granted not based on belief, but on the ordinances performed, the covenants made and kept by the individual, and God's grace (as even after all we do it is still up to Him at the end of the day to let us back into His presence).This definition is salvation is the great stumbling block by which so many get hung up on without realizing it. They misunderstand how salvation is granted and obtained.

When somebody asks a missionary if their "baptism" was valid or not, the correct is "It depends on whether it was performed in the proper manner, by one with the authority to perform such an ordinance, and whether the individual has honored the covenants they made at his or her baptism." If any of the criteria is not met, then no, his or her's baptism was not valid.

The next question for an individual to ask the missionaries would be: "Is there anyone with the authority to baptize then, and how would I know if they have the authority as they claim, and if the method of baptizing is correct?"

To which the missionaries would reply: "Yes, there are individuals who do have this authority to baptize and do it in the correct manner. We, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have that authority. We, the bearers of God's Priesthood authority in His Church are the only ones in the entire world with that authority. That is our unique claim to the world.

In the ancient world the Priesthood authority of God was given to Adam, our first parent. The priesthood line of authority continues as follows:
Adam --- Methuselah --- Noah --- Shem (Melchizedek) --- Abraham --- Esaias --- Gad --- Jeremy --- Elihu --- Caleb --- Jethro --- Moses --- Aaron --- his sons till Zachariah --- John the Baptist (D&C 84). Then when Christ came to the earth he restored the Melchizedek Priesthood, which was held by Adam --- Moses. (The Aaronic Priesthood was held by Aaron --- John the Baptist). Christ gave the Melchizedek Priesthood authority to his 12 disciples. After Christ's death the early Christian church struggled, and eventually all of these apostles were killed or taken from among men (such as John the Beloved who was translated). This authority was not passed on, but was lost from the earth. Thus no one had authority to baptize on the earth, or perform any other saving ordinances.

It wasn't until May 15, 1829, near Harmony, Pennsylvania that the authority to baptize was again brought back to the earth. John the Baptist appeared unto Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and restored the Aaronic Priesthood (D&C 13). Then a short time later, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were given the Melchizedek Priesthood by Peter, James, and John (D&C 27:12). This authority was passed on to the 12 apostles and has been passed on in an unbroken line of authority to all the priesthood bearers of God. Only they have the authority to baptize and administer the sacred saving ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The WHY behind all the commandments

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints there are many laws and commandments that we follow and observe to keep. Oftentimes, many of us ask the question WHY?

Why can't I date until I'm 16? Why can't I drink coffee, tea, alcohol, or wine? Why can't I have sex until I'm married? Why don't we go to bars, or clubs? Why are we honest with others? Why do we still keep the 10 commandments as well as the higher law? Why? Why? Why? The list goes on and on. So many whys.

The answers are actually quite simple. The answer to the why is a two-fold answer. The first reason is because we are being trained and taught obedience to the laws of eternity. For us to really progress and become as God in the hereafter, we must become perfectly and precisely obedient to all the higher laws, or such a responsibility will not be granted unto us. We must learn obedience in the little things, so to be offered responsibility over the greater things.

The second reason, which is often looked over in the church, is that everything we do is to enable us to serve in the temple. We pay a 10% tithe, we are honest in our dealings with our fellowmen, we obey the word of wisdom, the law of chastity, the law of the fast, etc. We are baptized, endowed, given the priesthood and given the garment to wear, all to serve in the temple. We must live perfectly upright and righteous to be worthy to enter the Lord's house and perform sacred saving ordinances for God's children. This is why we live and act the way we do as members of Christ's church. Otherwise, there is not sufficient reason to live all of these laws just to go to church or be a part of an organization like church. Sinners can attend church and are invited to do so without consequence or shame. Sinners who have repented and become whole without spot are invited to serve in the Lord's house. Granted, none of us are perfect nor can we be in this life, but where our heart lies and what our actions say is what matters in terms of serving the Lord in his holy house, and if deemed worthy by one of his representatives, then we are permitted to enter.

To be a god vs. a God

Today, I would like to dive into the God we know, what it means to be a god, and how there are varying degrees of godhood.

First off, I am going to define in the most pure form what it really means to be a god and the difference between a god and a God: To be a god means that priesthood power has been given unto you by a God, and that the intelligences honor the power that has been given unto you. Now, depending on the degree of the power given unto you entitles you the ability to command the intelligences, the elements, and matter to organize, to create, to change, or to destroy. In this regard there are varying degrees of bestowal and authority. While, at the same time a God receives his priesthood power from the intelligences themselves, and acts independent of other Gods because of the honor the intelligences have given unto him (D&C 29:36). A God of this nature has all power and authority given unto him to command and organize the intelligences, however, it is much more difficult to reach this nature of Godhood. To do so you have to prove yourself by showing that you will not only obey the higher laws of eternity with exactness now, but will do so for the eternities. If not, you will be stripped of your Godhood and removed from your office. The intelligences will no longer honor you, and your power will become void (Alma 42:13).

Diving in further, I will now discuss the how it is that Satan is a god, and the differences with how Christ is a god, how we are gods, and how oneday Christ will become a God and we will too.

1. The godhood of Satan
Satan is very proud of the fact that he has priesthood powers given unto him. He parades himself about on the earth calling himself the god of this world. Through priestcraft and false means, he persuades men and women to give him more power and honor, by subjecting their will unto his. He encourages men to create their own gods of worship, and deny the true and living God. He teaches all manner of false doctrine, and vanities, and encourages all who heed his voice that the laws of eternity are not real, nor in effect. In this manner he teaches that there is no God, no sin, and therefore no consequence. By his cunning and craft, he carefully leads his followers down into hell and spiritual bondage. Now is Satan really a god? The answer is yes. He has power and priesthoods given unto him by a God. Why has he be given such power we might ask? The answer is: for the greater designs of God and his plan. Satan is a key player in this plan. He does not realize that his power is only temporary though, and it will be stripped from him by God and Christ at the completion of this plan, and according to the laws of eternity and justice, which he has failed to honor.

Now the power given unto enables him to have power over the waters, and the ability to perform miracles like those shown unto Moses (Ex 7:11-12, 20-22; and 8:5-7), and the ability to tempt and try men. Because Satan has priesthood powers (in proper terms priestcraft powers)--enchantments, sorcery, magic, healing, and miracles can be performed. This is why miracles could be performed in the name of Beelzebub, and have them come to pass. However, Satan's power over the intelligences is limited to those that follow him. He does not have the honor of all intelligences. Thus when his miracles are performed they are lacking in perfection and completion and cannot be made whole except by the insertion of one of his subjects (demons) into that thing. He performs these "miracles" through priestcraft (false priesthood power) means by bestowing his subjects with temporal bodies into those mortals he subjected and brought under his reign. For this reason, anytime a demon was cast out, the miracle ceased and the man was placed back as he was before, and his imperfection (broken arm or leg, or whatever it was, suddenly became manifest again). (Now at the same time if a demon was cast out, and the individual was commanded to be healed in the name of Christ, then the intelligences, honoring the representative of Christ and true priesthood power, obeyed and became whole and complete as they were meant to function. In the words of Cleon Skousen in the Meaning of the Atonement: "You have not performed as you ought to of since the birth of this man. Into your proper places now!"  In this manner, the elements and intelligences became whole and complete in a perfect manner, according to the perfection of this Telestial world).

This is why we are warned over and over again, to not fall into temptation and give Satan any power over us. For as soon as we are in his power, and have given our will over to his, he can do with us as he wishes, and even place multitudes of demons within us. This was a problem since the beginning (with him gaining power over the serpents and tempting Mother Eve), and is still prevalent today in every country in the world. The priestcrafts of Satan, as well as his demons are still present today and practiced by his servants throughout the world today.

2. The godhood of Christ
Now, how is Christ a god? And how is his godhood different from Satan's?

First off, Christ is different from Satan, in that everything he has done and does, is in line with the Father's will, and the laws of eternity. Because of this, in the premortal realms he, along with many of us, were given power and priesthoods on loan from the Father. Under the direction of the father, we commanded and helped organize the intelligences, spiritual element and matter into orderly, beautiful things. As we were faithful, and acted in accordance with higher laws, treating our priesthood powers with respect and reverence, the Father gave us additional priesthoods and powers. Now in our growth and progression in the premortal realms, there came a point when we had grown as far as we could achieve with God's priesthood power, acting as god's under his reign, that it was time for us to become as he is: God's of our own. To do this, a grand council was set in place. One in which was proposed a plan to become a God. However, for it to work, one of us had to perfectly satisfy the demands of justice and make a purchase us from it's demands. Once this payment was made and completed in it's entirety, that individual would be granted Godhood by the intelligences, and to those who had also honored all the covenants, laws, and ordinances set forth by God, would be granted Godhood as well.

Thus, at the completion of this plan, there would be another grand council (graduation ceremony) in the which Christ would become a God and those of us, who had walked up to every law, ordinance, and covenant we had made on this earth and had entered into the new and everlasting covenant of celestial marriage would be granted Godhood as well. As we become Gods ourselves, we will be crowned with the ability to to organize, form and create spiritual matter and element into things of celestial order, and beauty (D&C 75:5).

We will graduate from being gods with priesthood power on loan from God, to God's ourselves, where the honor the intelligences give unto us will be our own power.

Those who have not walked up to every ordinance, covenant, and law and have instead lived lesser laws of a telestial, and terrestial nature, or even have only made covenants of baptism and endowment, will not receive this level of Godhood at this time, and instead will remain as angels to God.