A Future Sacrament Meeting
Reflections on Doctrine and Covenants 27
Today I read the beginning of D&C 27 differently than I did yesterday. One of the key words, in my opinion, is the “wherefore” in verse 3. The 1828 Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “wherefore” as follows:
WHEREFORE, adverb [where and for.]
1. For which reason.
WHEREFORE by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:20.
2. Why; for what reason.
WHEREFORE didst thou doubt? Matthew 14:31.
Thus, the two verses that precede verse 3 are the reason, the “wherefore,” for the Lord’s commandment in verses 3 and 4. Why did the Lord command Joseph Smith and the early Saints not to purchase wine or strong drink from their enemies? The answer is in the preceding two verses, as well as in the verses following the commandment given in verses 3 and 4. In the preceding two verses the Lord teaches the purpose of the ordinance of the sacrament and the manner in which the Saints must partake of the sacrament.
My interpretation of these preceding two verses is that the purpose of the sacrament and the Saints’ attitude while partaking of the sacrament matters much more than the physical emblems of the sacrament. The Lord looks upon the heart. ❤️ He instituted the sacrament to help us to turn our hearts to Him, and to always remember Him. Whatever we eat and drink when we partake of the sacrament matters less than why and how we partake of the sacrament.
Why do we partake of the sacrament, and what is the correct disposition of the soul while partaking of the sacrament? We partake to remember unto the Father Christ’s body which was laid down for us, and to remember His blood which was shed for the remission of our sins, and we do so with an eye single to the glory of God.
Thus, it was not only to avoid poisoning or other problems that the Lord commanded the early Saints not to purchase wine or strong drink of their enemies, but it was also a practical commandment to help the early Saints (and us) to focus on what matters most about the sacrament. As we learn in the following verses, the institution of the sacrament among the early Saints was not only to point them (and us) backward in time toward the Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but also forward in time toward the Second Coming of Jesus Christ:
Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not, for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim;
And also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days;
And also John the son of Zacharias, which Zacharias he (Elias) visited and gave promise that he should have a son, and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the spirit of Elias;
Which John I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto the first priesthood which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron;
And also Elijah, unto whom I have committed the keys of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with a curse;
And also with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, your fathers, by whom the promises remain;
And also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days;
And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them;
Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;
And also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world. (D&C 27:5-14)
Therefore, each time we partake of the sacrament in remembrance of our Lord, we can look forward to this great future sacrament meeting with Jesus, Moroni, Elias, John the Baptist, Elijah, Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Michael (Adam), Peter, James, and John, and all those whom the Father has given to Jesus Christ out of the world. Our sacrament meetings each week point toward and anticipate this great event, another part of the great Atonement of Jesus Christ.
We now live in the fulness of times, the time in which the Lord is gathering together in one all things, in heaven and on earth. As I mentioned in a previous post, the Prophet Joseph Smith was given the spirit and power of all the prophets. He was given the spirit and power of Moroni and the Book of Mormon and the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim. He was given the spirit and power of Elias and the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things. He was given the spirit and power of John the Baptist and the priesthood of Aaron and the keys thereof. He was given the spirit and power of Elijah and the keys of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers. He was given the spirit and power of Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham, our fathers, by whom the promises remain. He was given the spirit and power of Michael or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days. He was given the spirit and power of Peter, James, and John, and the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood and the keys of God’s Kingdom. Essentially, the Lord began to restore and to gather together in one all things through His servant the Prophet Joseph Smith.
This is amazing!
This is what all the prophets and Saints have always longed for and dreamed of, or as the Prophet Joseph Smith put it:
The building up of Zion is a cause that has interested the people of God in every age; it is a theme upon which prophets, priests and kings have dwelt with peculiar delight; they have looked forward with joyful anticipation to the day in which we live; and fired with heavenly and joyful anticipations they have sung and written and prophesied of this our day; but they died without the sight; we are the favored people that God has made choice of to bring about the Latter-day glory; it is left for us to see, participate in and help to roll forward the Latter-day glory...6
We are the favored people! We have the privilege to see, participate in, and help to roll forward the Latter-day glory! The Prophet continued:
… the dispensation of the fulness of times, when God will gather together all things that are in heaven, and all things that are upon the earth, even in one, when the Saints of God will be gathered in one from every nation, and kindred, and people, and tongue, when the Jews will be gathered together into one, the wicked will also be gathered together to be destroyed, as spoken of by the Prophets; the Spirit of God will also dwell with his people, and be withdrawn from the rest of the nations, and all things whether in heaven or on earth will be in one, even in Christ. The heavenly priesthood will unite with the earthly, to bring about those great purposes; and whilst we are thus united in the one common cause to roll forth the kingdom of God, the Heavenly Priesthood are not idle spectators; the Spirit of God will be showered down from above, it will dwell in our midst. The blessings of the Most High will rest upon our tabernacles, and our name will be handed down to future ages; our children will rise up and call us blessed; and generations yet unborn will dwell with peculiar delight upon the scenes that we have passed through, the privations that we have endured; the untiring zeal that we have manifested; the insurmountable difficulties that we have overcome in laying the foundation of a work that brought about the glory and blessings which they will realize; a work that God and Angels have contemplated with delight, for generations past; that fired the souls of the ancient Patriarchs and Prophets— a work that is destined to bring about the destruction of the powers of darkness, the renovation of the earth the glory of God, and the salvation of the human family.”
🔥 🔥 🔥 AWESOME!!! 🔥 🔥 🔥
The destruction of the powers of darkness! The renovation of the earth! The glory of God! The salvation of the human family!
When I read this joyful news, the following verses that we studied earlier in the Doctrine and Covenants come to mind:
Behold, canst thou read this without rejoicing and lifting up thy heart for gladness? (D&C 19:39)
No wonder the Lord concludes this revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith and the early Saints (and us) with another “wherefore,” followed by His counsel for our preparation for these marvelous events:
Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.
Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you;
Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen. (D&C 27:15-18) ❤️
Let’s see what Smith and Sjodahl’s commentary adds to our rejoicing:
5-14. To most Christians, the statement that our Lord, in His glorified state, can partake of earthly food, is incomprehensible. Hence the admonition, “Marvel not!” though He speaks about eating on Earth with His people. After His resurrection He at with His disciples. The Tree of Life will bear fruit on the glorified earth. Do not marvel at these things; rather believe. What a glorious company! Moroni will be there; and Elias; and John the Baptist; and Elijah; and Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham; and also Adam, who is Michael, the Ancient of Days; and Peter, James, and John, and finally, “all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world.” (See Sec. 27)
Michael (v. 11) means, “Who is as God?” a name properly given to Adam, who was created in the image of God. In Daniel (10:13-21; 12:1) we learn that Michael is “one of the chief princes,” and that he has special charge of Israel. Jude refers to his controversy with Satan regarding the body of Moses, and in Rev. 12:7-9 he and his angels are represented as warring with Satan and his angels.
Dispensation *** for the last times.] Paul writing to the Ephesian Saints declared “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he (Christ) might gather in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.” (Eph. 1:10) According to Peter the Father spoke by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began, of the day when there should come the restitution of all things since the world began. (Acts 3:21) This restoration was to be in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times.
“By a dispensation, in connection with the wor of God, we mean ‘the opening of the heavens to men, the bestowing of the hoy Priesthood with all its powers upon them, and the organization and building up of the Church of Christ upon the earth, for the salvation of all who will obey the gospel.’ (Jacques Catechism p. 77.) By the dispensation of the Fulness of Times we mean the last dispensation, the one in which all things, in Christ, whether in heaven or in earth, shall be gathered together in one; a dispensation which will include all other dispensations - one which will encompass all truth. As the rivers of the earth all eventually find their way to the ocean and empty into it, so all former dispensations will run into, and become part of, the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, in which the work of God, in respect to the salvation of man and the redemption of the earth, will be consummated.” (B.H. Roberts, Outlines of Ecclesiastical History, P. 303.)
Whom my Father hath given me] Christ has redeemed His flock with the ransom paid by Himself, and yet He regards it as a gift of the Father. John 6:37 is a parallel passage, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me.”
-18. Those who have come to Christ are His in a special sense, and yet, unless they overcome all evil influences and gain the victory in life’s struggle, they will not come where He is. In order to gain the victory, we must take up the “whole armor of God.” Compare Ephesians 6:13-18.
15. Rejoice] The servants of God are full of joy, though they are arming themselves for a struggle against powers, principalities, “rulers of the darkness of this world,” and “spiritual wickedness in high places.” They go to the front voluntarily, rejoicing, and not as unwilling conscripts.
Gird up your loins] The girdle kept together the soldier’s uniform and lent firmness to his manly frame. Be firm!
Ye may be able to stand] The meaning is, having girded up your loins and taken upon you my whole armor, you may be able to hold the ground on the day of battle and be ready to meet the next assault. The followers of Christ must hold the positions in which he has placed them.
Truth] That is the girdle; truth in the abstract, sincerity, integrity, the very opposite of hypocrisy. He who embraces the gospel is strong only when he is sincere.
Breastplate] This is for the protection of the heart. In this connection “heart” means the source of human understanding, courage, grief, affection, etc. This must be well protected against evil influences.
Righteousness] This is the breastplate. Righteousness means such conduct as will stand the scrutiny of a just and competent judge; and also the legal status of one who has been acquitted of an accusation. One who has receive such approval of God is righteous, and that righteousness is his breastplate. God must be the judge; not man. He is “the Lord our Righteousness.” It is His judgment that must be opposed to the attacks of the accuser. It is the armor of God we must rely on, not one of our own make.
Preparation of the gospel of peace] “Preparation” is the word used in Eph. 6:15, where it means “equipment.” He who desires victory in this conflict, must have the entire equipment of the gospel. This includes the holy Priesthood, the ordinances of the Church, continuous revelation, and all other divinely-appointed means of salvation.
The gospel is the “gospel of peace.” “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publishes peace” (Isa. 52:7). where the gospel principles prevail, there can be no war, except for self-defence, and in the Book of Mormon we read of a people that, under the influence of the Spirit of God, refused to take up arms even in self-defense (Alma 24:17-24). The gospel enjoins upon the Church to “lift up an ensign of peace *** to all people” (Doc. and Cov. 105:38), and to make a proclamation for peace “unto the ends of the earth.” The Prophet Joseph was a true messenger of peace. His sentiments on bloodshed may be gathered from the following incident. When Zion’s Camp was traveling from Kirtland, the brethren one day came to a thick wood of recent growth. The Prophet felt very much depressed. He said that a great deal of blood had been shed in that place, and added these memorable words: “Whenever a man of God is in a place where many have been killed, he will feel lonesome and unpleasant, and his spirits will sink” (History of the Church, Vol II., p. 66).
Shield of faith] Faith in God is a protecting shield, for the same reason that a child’s implicit trust in its parents is to it a safegaurd, when manifested in obedience (Psalm 25:15; Moroni 10:23).
Quench all the fiery darts] Burning arrows were used in warfare anciently. It was necessary to extinguish these “fiery darts,” and the shield was useful for this purpose.
Helmet of salvation] Salvation is deliverance from sin and guilt and all other enemies, through the gospel.
The sword of my spirit] This is the word of God (Heb. 4:12; Doc. and Cov. 6:2). In this conflict the defenders must e well versed in the Scriptures, and be in touch with the Spirit of Revelation, in order to expound the truth.
Finally, they must pray, and be faithful “until I come.”
General Notes
There have been serious controversies concerning the emblems of the Sacrament. Unleavened bread was used by our Lord, and the Latin church maintains that no other kind should be permitted, while the Greek church condemns the use of unleavened bread as a remnant of Judaism. The Lutherans have adopted the Latin view, while the Reformed church regards the quality of the bread as unimportant. The Reformed views agree with this Revelation.
There has also been contention concerning the contents of the Cup. In the early churches the wine was mixed with water, as was the custom of the Jews, for their wine, as an ancient writer, quoted by Lightfoot, says, “was very strong, and not fit to drinking, unless water was mixed with it.” In most churches the wine used for the Sacrament is diluted with water, and at one time clergymen were instructed to mix the wine with “a little pure and clean water.” In the early centuries of our era some converts demanded that water be used instead of wine. From one of their leaders, Tatian, they are called Tatiani. They are also known as Hydroparastatae, or Aquarii. They were centuries ahead of their time and therefore condemned as heretics.
Michael is Adam. This we know from revelation. Very few names of angels are on record. Among the later Jews, according to Edersheim, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael were the names known. In the Apocryphal book of Tobit (12:15) and also in Rev. 8:2, seven angels are referred to, but no names are given. In the so-called Book of Enoch (8:1-17, translation by John Baty) seven names occur, Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sarakiel, Gabriel, and Phanuel. How the names not found in the Scriptures were obtained is not known. The Prophet Joseph tells us that Gabriel is Noah, and that “he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood” (B.H. Roberts, Doctrine of Deity, p. 244). In the Doctrine and Covenants, Raphael is mentioned, but without further identification. From modern Revelation we know that Moroni, John the Baptist, James, Peter, and John are angels, and that “there are no angels who minister to this Earth but those who belong, or have belonged, to it” (Doc. and Cov. 130:5). (pp. 136-39)