The Testimony of Jesus: Priesthood: Fulness of the Gospel: New and Everlasting Covenant: Prophets

Some may feel I am jumping to conclusions. There are many scriptures that I have left out, it is up to you to find them to connect these things. I am just showing one or two examples for each bullet point. Not writing a novel here.

Salvation cannot come without revelation; it is in vain for anyone to minister without it. No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a Prophet. No man can be a minister of Jesus Christ except he has the testimony of Jesus; and this is the spirit of prophecy. Whenever salvation has been administered, it has been by testimony. Men of the present time testify of heaven and hell, and have never seen either; and I will say that no man knows these things without this.Joseph Fielding Smith (editor), Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 160

Joseph explains you cannot be a prophet without the spirit of prophecy, without a testimony, without revelation, and no man knows these things without seeing heaven and hell. That was the problem with all the early religions, it was a bunch of people preaching without "a testimony" or "revelation".

“John the Revelator says that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy [see Revelation 19:10]. Now if any man has the testimony of Jesus, has he not the spirit of prophecy? And if he has the spirit of prophecy, I ask, is he not a prophet? And if a prophet, will he not receive revelation? And any man that does not receive revelation for himself must be damned, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. For Christ says, ask and you shall receive; and if he happens to receive anything, I ask, will it not be a revelation? And if any man has not the testimony of Jesus or the spirit of God, he is none of his, namely Christ’s. And if not his, he must be damned "

What is the Testimony of Jesus? It is God's testimony of You that you are saved.

“THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS” meant according to Joseph Smith. “First Chapter second Epistle of Peter. The first four verses are the preface to the whole subject. There are three grand Keys to unlock the whole subject. First what is the knowledge of God, Second what is it to make our calling and election sure. Third and last is how to make our calling and election sure. Ans, it is to obtain a promise from God for myself that I shall have Eternal life. that is the more sure word of prophecy. Peter was writing to those of like precious faith with them the Apostles First TO BE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE THAT IS THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS.” (WJS, pg 209) 

It is God declaring you as His.

I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalms 2:7)

What is the more sure word of prophecy?

• The more sure word of prophecy means knowing that one is sealed up unto eternal life:D&C 131:5–6; (cf. D&C 88:1-5)

• Lets revisit 2 Peter 1. Here he discusses the calling and election made sure (vs 9). Refer to my post on the Doctrine of Election. Than later he says:

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 We have also a more sure word of prophesy; where unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

The voice of God:
And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name. (Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 14:29)

Ok lets see what this is talking about.

"25 And Melchizedek lifted up his voice and blessed Abram.
26 Now Melchizedek was a man of faith, who wrought righteousness; and when a child he feared God, and stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire.
27 And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch,
28 It being after the order of the Son of God; which order came, not by man, nor the will of man; neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years; but of God;
29 And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name.
30 For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself; that every one being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course;
31 To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world.
32 And men having this faith, coming up unto this order of God, were translated and taken up into heaven."(JST 14:25-32)

The same order required for translation. After the covenant God made with Enoch. After the order of the Son of God, came by His own voice not by Man.

Lets revisit with this quote. There are countless examples of this in the scriptures search them out.

It is God declaring you as His.

I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalms 2:7)

Priesthood of God:
Oath and Covenant states:

33 For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. 34 They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God. 
42 And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels charge concerning you. (D&C 84: 33-34, 42)

Verse 32, priesthood is plural. Verse 42 it is singular. One of these two priesthoods is only given by the voice of God another is through the "lineage of our fathers". Joseph talked about three degrees. We will discuss them in another post.

When one obtains these two priesthoods, they become the sons of God, as testified by "his own voice" out of heaven. This includes the fulness of the prieshtood.

The Order of Enoch

 ...Ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch (JST Gen 14:27)

JST, Genesis 9:21–23.Compare Genesis 9:16–17 

21 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, which I made unto thy father Enoch; that, when men should keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch which I have caught up unto myself. 

22 And this is mine everlasting covenant, that when thy posterity [Good fruit] shall embrace the truth, and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy;  

23 And the general assembly of the church of the firstborn shall come down out of heaven, and possess the earth, and shall have place until the end come. And this is mine everlasting covenant, which I made with thy father Enoch.(cf Moses 7:62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth , to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten)

The covenant is about preserving the Family of God. The vine, the grafting of the children of God. (Jacob 5)

 The New and Everlasting Covenant
This is the covenant from the beginning that which has to come back in its fullness to build zion, this is the covenant you have to receive now by sacrifice, this is the covenant each of us must learn in order to be saved, and the holy order that Joseph attempted to restore which has not been restored in its fullness yet.

Now this mediator was not a mediator of the new covenant; but there is one mediator of the new covenant, who is Christ, as it is written in the law concerning the promises made to Abraham and his seed. Now Christ is the mediator of life; for this is the promise which God made unto Abraham. (JST, Galatians 3:20)

 Lds.org references these two scriptures for it.

The Lord sent the fulness of his gospel, his everlasting covenant: D&C 66:2; ( D&C 133:57; ) (Guide To the Scriptures)
57 And for this cause, that men might be made partakers of the glories which were to be revealed, the Lord sent forth the fulness of his gospel, his everlasting covenant, reasoning in plainness and simplicity— (D&C 133:57)

132;6 And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fulness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God.

The Fulness of the Gospel IS the Everlasting Covenant 
If you want to enter into the same order of Enoch you must receive the new and everlasting covenant.

The fulness of the everlasting gospel, on the other hand, is the higher program of salvation which is concerned with developing in man the divine truths, powers, gifts, and blessings of the Holy Spirit until he is able to partake of the divine nature, or glory, of God and make his calling and election sure to a fulness of glory in the resurrection. . . . The earthly program of this higher phase of the plan of life and salvation is consummated when man receives the fulness of the sealing power of the priesthood. (Hyrum L. Andrus, Principles of Perfection [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1970], 17.)

Jesus Christ is the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ 

14 Of whom we bear record; and the record which we bear is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision. (DC 76:14)

The following vision in D&C is where they receive the fulness.

20 And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness; (D&C 76:20)

Cross reference this with 2 nephi 32:6-7, the cusp of the gospel of Jesus Christ which bestows the fulness thereof in verse 6 when one is ready.

Fulness:
1. to be in the presence of the Son
2. to be brought into the presence of the father
3. to receive of his fulness
4. to be instructed by them and angels in the visions of heaven

The Fulness of the Gospel: The fulness of the priesthood
I will make this a new post titled "Fulness of the Priesthood"

Remembering the Covenant of the Book of Mormon
Title page to the Book of Mormon that were part of the translation of Joseph from the golden plates says the following about the purpose of the Book of Mormon:

Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations (book of Mormon title page, par 2)

We already talked about what this covenant was, the new and everlasting covenant. This covenant is what preserves a posterity (same promise given to Abraham) that the seed shall "continue" in the world and out of the world (D&C 132:30)

The Whole Church is Under Condemnation

President Benson said:

Unless we read the Book of Mormon and give heed to its teachings, the Lord has stated in section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants that the whole Church is under condemnation: “And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.” (D&C 84:56.) The Lord continues: “And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written.” (D&C 84:57.)

Now we not only need to say more about the Book of Mormon, but we need to do more with it. Why? The Lord answers: “That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; (President Benson, April 1986, Cleansing The Inner Vessel)

This has not been lifted. We must do the works of Abraham, receive this covenant of the Father. More on this with the Fulness of the Priesthood.

Do you want these things for yourself?

1 In the land of the Chaldeans, at the residence of my fathers, I, Abraham, saw that it was needful for me to obtain another place of residence;
2 And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right where unto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers. (Abraham 1:1-2)

Ask, Knock, it shall be opened unto you.

Sealings and the Power of Elijah
From the churches josephsmith.net website they have three quotes about the Family and the Sealing power of elijah.

Family
This is the spirit of Elijah, that we redeem our dead, and connect ourselves with our fathers which are in heaven, and seal up our dead to come forth in the first resurrection; and here we want the power of Elijah to seal those who dwell on earth to those who dwell in heaven.
History of the Church, 6:252.

The doctrine or sealing power of Elijah is as follows: If you have power to seal on earth and in heaven, then we should be wise. The first thing you do, go and seal on earth your sons and daughters unto yourself, and yourself unto your fathers in eternal glory.
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith (1976), 340.

The spirit, power, and calling of Elijah is, that ye have power to hold the key of the revelation, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood and of the kingdom of God on the earth; and to receive, obtain, and perform all the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God, even unto the turning of the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the hearts of the children unto the fathers, even those who are in heaven.
History of the Church, 6:251; spelling modernized.

Do you see how this relates with the fulness of the gospel and the fulness received by Joseph smith and the purpose of the everlasting covenant to be able to endure this great glory?

Plant or turn: Also can mean to make a covenant relationship. To enter a binding covenant, of the new and everlasting covenant to preserve a posterity. This is what it all points to (temple, the gospel of jesus christ, etc..). It All points to being sealed to Jesus Christ that we may have an continuation of our seed.

Background Material

I never know how much background knowledge someone has. Because of this this next part is to just connect a few things that are not pertinent to overlaying foundation of this topic and subsequent posts.

How do we Obtain a Promise from God? As Joseph said, "it[testimony of Jesus] is to obtain a promise from God for myself that I shall have Eternal life."

Abraham

Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Lecture 7: 17 Who cannot see, then, that salvation is the effect of faith? for as we have previously observed, all the heavenly beings work by this principle; and it is because they are able so to do that they are saved: for nothing but this could save them. And this is the lesson which the God of heaven, by the mouth of all his holy prophets, has been endeavoring to teach to the world. Hence we are told, that without faith it is impossible to please God; and that salvation is of faith, that it might be by grace to the end, the promise might be sure to all the seed. Romans 4:16. And that Israel, who followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law; for they stumbled at that stumbling stone. Romans 9:32. And Jesus said unto the man who brought his son to him, to get the devil who tormented him, cast out, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark, 9:23. These with a multitude of other scriptures, which might be quoted, plainly set forth the light, in which the Savior, as well as the Former Day Saints, viewed the plan of salvation: That it was a system of faith--it begins with faith, and continues by faith; and every blessing which is obtained, in relation to it, is the effect of faith, whether it pertains to this life or that which is to come.To this all the revelations of God bear witness. If there were children of promise, they were the effects of faith: not even the

In the post on Faith, I mentioned faith comes only by Sacrifice. Here Abraham Sacrificed his son giving him the faith to secure the promise.

And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should not taste of death; and they obtained not the promise until after their faith. (Ether 12:17)

30 Abraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins—from whose loins ye are, namely, my servant Joseph—which were to continue so long as they were in the world; and as touching Abraham and his seed, out of the world they should continue; both in the world and out of the world should they continue as innumerable as the stars; or, if ye were to count the sand upon the seashore ye could not number them.
31 This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham, and the promise was made unto Abraham; and by this law is the continuation of the works of my Father, wherein he glorifieth himself.
32 Go ye, therefore, and do the works of Abraham; enter ye into my law and ye shall be saved. (D&C 132:30-32)

God Desires all of us to be Prophets: Will we all be Damned? 

22 And there were exceedingly many prophets among us. And the people were a stiffnecked people, hard to understand. (Enos 1:22)

Lets take a step back and look at this one phrase from earlier.

Joseph said this above "And any man that does not receive revelation for himself must be damned" also they must have a "testimony of jesus" and said if any man receive revelation, has the spirit of prophecy which is the testimony of Jesus he will be a prophet. So how does this apply to us?

Moses:

Numbers 11:24 ¶And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the Lord, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.
25 And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventyelders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.
27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.
28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!

Moses did not forbid them for sharing revelations to the people, but he said, oh that we were all prophets and had the spirit upon us! These events are meant to increase faith, not be hidden under a bushel for no one to see.

McConkie said,

The fact is that every person should be a prophet for himself
(Elder Bruce R. McConkie, “Howto Get Personal Revelation” New Era magazine, June 1980)