Entering The Presence of the Lord: Teachers

Never cease striving until you have seen God face to face. (Joseph Smith Papers, Documents, Minutes and Blessings, 21 February 1835)

Joseph taught what the Lords servants teach the children of men.

"Abraham blessed his posterity: He wanted to bring them into the presence of God.They looked for a city, &c.--Moses sought to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God, through the power of the Priesthood, but he could not.[see D&c 84:23-25] In the first ages of the world they tried to establish the same thing--& there were Elias's [page 10] raised up who tried to restore these very glories but did not obtain them. But (Enoch did for himself & those that were with Him, but not for the world. J.T.)
...
Men at the present time testify of Heaven & of hell,& have never seen either--& I will say that no man knows these things without this. "(TPJS , See also TJS Chapter 18)

True messengers sent by God always teach others that they may also enter into the rest of the Lord while in the flesh. This is what the Book of Mormon entire message is meant to covey, helping us become like Him that we may enter into His presence and become Sons of God by being born again of both spirit and body.

This is the purpose of the doctrine of Christ.

This is what Moses did,

" 23 Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;
24 But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his angerwas kindled against them, swore that they should notenter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.
25 Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also;" (D&C 84:23-25)

This is what happens when a group of people cannot enter into the presence of God due to unbelief and wickedness. The Lord takes away the fulness of the priesthood or as Joseph stated regarding the priesthood being taken away during Moses time, "That portion which brought Moses to speak with God face to face was taken away; but that which brought the ministry of angels remained. All the prophets had the Melchizedek Priesthood and were ordained by God himself." TPJS, pp. 180-81".

This is what the scriptures call being endowed from upon High. Being endowed means receiving a gift or blessing from 'God Himself". Upon high is the heavens or the presence of God which the scriptures call the 'mysterries of Godliness". For without this greater priesthood no man can see God and live therefore an ordination or receipt of this greater priesthood is first required by God through the veil. (D&C 84:22) 

Elders Endowed From Upon High

Zion was put of (failed to be established in Josephs day) because they failed to become worthy of these blessings by sanctifying themselves, repeating what has happened before as in the day of moses which the Lord purposefully put into D&C 84 a section about the redemption of Zion, and receiving their Endowments from upon High. Zion will not come until a group finally is willing, interested, and seeks after these things because he will not Give us anything we do not first desire and ask for. Only by asking and seeking will it be opened unto us.

"9 Therefore, in consequence of the transgressions of my people, it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion—
11 And this cannot be brought to pass until mine elders are endowed with power from on high.
13 Therefore it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season, for the redemption of Zion."(D&C 105)

Those after the Holy Order of God are simply teachers using the only method given them, persuasion without compulsion or control. The Book of Mormon states what they do,

6 And thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest (Alma 13:6)

The reason they "also" teach others to enter the presence of God is first because they have FIRST obtained that promise. Than they seek to declare that word by preparing OTHERS to enter the presence (rest) of God also.

Doctrine of Christ

"Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do. And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be." (2 Nephi 32:6-7)

Zion
All the holy prophets, as Joseph stated, sought for the same thing to bring the saints into the presence of God. The city of Enoch succeeded therefore they were preserved through the flood and brought up to an innumerable company of angels. Christ second coming will be as the first, some group will rise up and enter the presence of God and invite Him, having become Sons of Daughters to Him, here. He will not come unless he is first invited by His family. To invite him we need to first become His sons and daughters. He will perform His work openly yet the world will hardly take notice just like his first Coming the world largely ignored it.

Do we desire to obtain what all the prophets before us has tried to do?  Do we desire to do what the entire message of the Book of Mormon tries to prepare us to do? For blessed are the pure in heart they shall see God.

A Day To Prepare to Meet God
The Book of Mormon warns us about this life,

30 And now, my brethren, I would that, after ye have received so many witnesses, seeing that the holy scriptures testify of these things, ye come forth and bring fruit unto repentance. 

[You cannot repent unless you have an accurate knowledge of what you are repenting of therefore we are first required to seek or search the scriptures. The D&C defines repentance as gaining further light and knowledge or light and truth (intelligence), because you must have knowledge of the gospel in order to live it correctly. (D&C 130:18) Apostasy comes from forgetting what God has already revealed even when people continue on believing they are doing His will.]

31 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; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.
32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

 [Right here, right now. Not the next life. You prepare to meet him now. Now is the day to perform your labors and seek after these things. You don't prepare to meet him in some other life after death but you prepare here and now.]

33 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; for after this day of life, which is given 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.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possessyour bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. (Alma 34)

This is because if you have not obtained the blessings that are freely given to all here and now and are promised in the scriptures, than you cannot say in THAT day that you will be worthy of these same blessings. You cannot say you can fully sanctify yourself in that day to enter the presence of God because the day of this life was given to prepare for eternity. You cannot say you will return without an absolute knowledge of these things for yourself as stated in D&C 88:15 and 2 Peter (Calling and Election).