![FairMormon Logo](https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021_fair_logo_primary.png)
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
MatthewBrown (talk | contribs) (added quotations) |
MatthewBrown (talk | contribs) |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
− | + | ||
=={{Criticism label}}== | =={{Criticism label}}== | ||
Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
'''This collection of quotes has been divided into two sections. The first section consists of statements from the LDS Church's official website indicating that the temple ordinances were 'revealed' by the Lord and 'restored' from antiquity. The second section consists of statements from scripture and the General Authorities of the LDS Church.''' | '''This collection of quotes has been divided into two sections. The first section consists of statements from the LDS Church's official website indicating that the temple ordinances were 'revealed' by the Lord and 'restored' from antiquity. The second section consists of statements from scripture and the General Authorities of the LDS Church.''' | ||
+ | |||
SECTION ONE: | SECTION ONE: | ||
Line 53: | Line 54: | ||
:Jesus Christ (D&C 124:38, 40) | :Jesus Christ (D&C 124:38, 40) | ||
− | “God sitting upon his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand Key-words of the | + | “God sitting upon his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand Key-words of the Priesthood.” |
“the grand Key-words of the Holy Priesthood, as revealed to Adam in the Garden of Eden, as also to Seth, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, and all to whom the Priesthood was revealed.” | “the grand Key-words of the Holy Priesthood, as revealed to Adam in the Garden of Eden, as also to Seth, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, and all to whom the Priesthood was revealed.” | ||
:Joseph Smith, explanations 3 and 7 for Facsimile #2 in the Book of Abraham | :Joseph Smith, explanations 3 and 7 for Facsimile #2 in the Book of Abraham | ||
Line 63: | Line 64: | ||
:George Q. Cannon, ''Gospel Truth'', 179 | :George Q. Cannon, ''Gospel Truth'', 179 | ||
− | “I think that portion of this revelation which I have read, will give you a general idea of the sacredness of the house of the Lord, which is to be built in the latter times, a place wherein the angels may come and visit, as they did in the ancient Temple; a place wherein you can receive all those ordinances which the Lord has revealed, and which He will, hereafter reveal, from time to | + | “I think that portion of this revelation which I have read, will give you a general idea of the sacredness of the house of the Lord, which is to be built in the latter times, a place wherein the angels may come and visit, as they did in the ancient Temple; a place wherein you can receive all those ordinances which the Lord has revealed, and which He will, hereafter reveal, from time to time.” |
:Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, vol. 16: --; 7 October 1873 | :Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, vol. 16: --; 7 October 1873 | ||
Line 78: | Line 79: | ||
:Franklin D. Richards, ''Collected Discourses'', 5:--, 5 October 1896 | :Franklin D. Richards, ''Collected Discourses'', 5:--, 5 October 1896 | ||
− | “the pattern of endowment garments was revealed from | + | “the pattern of endowment garments was revealed from heaven.” |
:Joseph F. Smith, ''Messages of the First Presidency'', 5:--, 1918 | :Joseph F. Smith, ''Messages of the First Presidency'', 5:--, 1918 | ||
− | “The endowment and the temple work as revealed by the Lord to the Prophet Joseph | + | “The endowment and the temple work as revealed by the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith.” |
− | John A. Widtsoe, "Temple Worship," in ''The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine'', 12 [April 1921]: 58; cited in Boyd K. Packer, ''The Holy Temple'' | + | :John A. Widtsoe, "Temple Worship," in ''The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine'', 12 [April 1921]: 58; cited in Boyd K. Packer, ''The Holy Temple'' |
− | “The Ancient Order of the Endowment Revealed . . . . The ancient order of the endowment | + | “The Ancient Order of the Endowment Revealed . . . . The ancient order of the endowment restored.” |
“He tried to impress upon the saints the great responsibility which was upon them in having a house of the Lord where these sacred ordinances which had been revealed to him could be given to the Saints” | “He tried to impress upon the saints the great responsibility which was upon them in having a house of the Lord where these sacred ordinances which had been revealed to him could be given to the Saints” | ||
:Joseph Fielding Smith, ''Church History and Modern Revelation'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1949), 4: lesson 133/34 and 138/39; Melchizedek Priesthood quorum manual; copyrighted by Church President George Albert Smith. | :Joseph Fielding Smith, ''Church History and Modern Revelation'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1949), 4: lesson 133/34 and 138/39; Melchizedek Priesthood quorum manual; copyrighted by Church President George Albert Smith. | ||
Line 91: | Line 92: | ||
:John A. Widtsoe, ''Joseph Smith – Seeker After Truth'' (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1951), | :John A. Widtsoe, ''Joseph Smith – Seeker After Truth'' (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1951), | ||
− | “temple ordinances for the living and the dead were revealed to the Prophet Joseph | + | “temple ordinances for the living and the dead were revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith.” |
:Presiding Bishop Joseph L. Wirthlin, ''Conference Report'', October 1956 | :Presiding Bishop Joseph L. Wirthlin, ''Conference Report'', October 1956 | ||
− | “In 1836 Elijah came and restored the sealing power, the power to bind on earth and have it sealed eternally in the heavens | + | “In 1836 Elijah came and restored the sealing power, the power to bind on earth and have it sealed eternally in the heavens (D&C 110:13-16; 132:45-47). At a still later date, temple endowments and other ordinances were revealed -- all of which are a necessary prelude to the performance of an eternal marriage.” |
:Bruce R. McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'', 2d ed. 1966 | :Bruce R. McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'', 2d ed. 1966 | ||
“The temple ceremony was given by a wise Heavenly Father . . . . The endowment was revealed by revelation” | “The temple ceremony was given by a wise Heavenly Father . . . . The endowment was revealed by revelation” | ||
− | :''Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson'' (Temples and Temple Work | + | :''Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson'' (chapter on Temples and Temple Work) |
− | “the Prophet Joseph Smith . . . the endowment ceremony was given to | + | “the Prophet Joseph Smith . . . the endowment ceremony was given to him.” |
− | “It is the Lord's house. He directs the conditions under which it may be used. He has revealed the ordinances that should be performed | + | “It is the Lord's house. He directs the conditions under which it may be used. He has revealed the ordinances that should be performed therein.” |
:Boyd K. Packer, ''The Holy Temple'' | :Boyd K. Packer, ''The Holy Temple'' | ||
== Critics claim that the LDS temple ordinances were either made up by Joseph Smith or borrowed, by him, from an earthly source.
==
This collection of quotes has been divided into two sections. The first section consists of statements from the LDS Church's official website indicating that the temple ordinances were 'revealed' by the Lord and 'restored' from antiquity. The second section consists of statements from scripture and the General Authorities of the LDS Church.
SECTION ONE:
SECTION TWO:
“I commanded Moses that he should build a tabernacle, that they should bear it with them in the wilderness, and to build a house in the land of promise, that those ordinances might be revealed which had been hid . . . . let [the Nauvoo Temple] be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people.”
“God sitting upon his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand Key-words of the Priesthood.” “the grand Key-words of the Holy Priesthood, as revealed to Adam in the Garden of Eden, as also to Seth, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, and all to whom the Priesthood was revealed.”
“These [temple] ordinances have been revealed to us; we understand them, and unless we attend to them we shall fall under condemnation.”
“the Prophet Joseph . . . communicated that the Lord had revealed to him the keys of the endowment.”
“I think that portion of this revelation which I have read, will give you a general idea of the sacredness of the house of the Lord, which is to be built in the latter times, a place wherein the angels may come and visit, as they did in the ancient Temple; a place wherein you can receive all those ordinances which the Lord has revealed, and which He will, hereafter reveal, from time to time.”
“When the [Kirtland] Temple was built, the Lord did not see proper to reveal all the ordinances of the Endowments, such as we now understand. He revealed little by little”
“We build temples. What for? To administer the ordinances of God. What ordinances? Those that God has revealed, and those that the world know nothing about.”
“Today we enjoy the great happiness of having . . . these sacred structures completed, dedicated to and accepted of the Lord, wherein the Saints can enter and attend to those ordinances which He, in His infinite goodness and kindness, has revealed.”
“In Kirtland, the brethren were not endowed with the same ordinances that are now bestowed upon the people, because they had not yet been revealed. It was in the days of Nauvoo that these blessings and ordinances of endowment were made known to the Prophet Joseph.”
“the pattern of endowment garments was revealed from heaven.”
“The endowment and the temple work as revealed by the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith.”
“The Ancient Order of the Endowment Revealed . . . . The ancient order of the endowment restored.” “He tried to impress upon the saints the great responsibility which was upon them in having a house of the Lord where these sacred ordinances which had been revealed to him could be given to the Saints”
“The temple ritual as revealed to Joseph Smith and communicated by him to his brethren is essentially symbolic. Its ordinances are not only ancient but also represent profound truths.”
“temple ordinances for the living and the dead were revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith.”
“In 1836 Elijah came and restored the sealing power, the power to bind on earth and have it sealed eternally in the heavens (D&C 110:13-16; 132:45-47). At a still later date, temple endowments and other ordinances were revealed -- all of which are a necessary prelude to the performance of an eternal marriage.”
“The temple ceremony was given by a wise Heavenly Father . . . . The endowment was revealed by revelation”
“the Prophet Joseph Smith . . . the endowment ceremony was given to him.” “It is the Lord's house. He directs the conditions under which it may be used. He has revealed the ordinances that should be performed therein.”
==
Notes
==
None
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We are a volunteer organization. We invite you to give back.
Donate Now