"The Unchangable Ordinances"
by Randolph E. Maudsley
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As Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ we have been asked many times concerning the curse set upon Cain and his posterity. We have many of the same old tired and worn out emotional arguments thrown at us often enough, of which we have no difficulty putting to rest as false doctrine. I recently received an argument for and on the behalf of, the children of Cain receiving the priesthood that I'd never heard before - and from an eighteen year old woman. Here is how I answered her questions -
Dear Sister,
You wrote -
"You have given me a lot to think about."
Well, I'm happy to know this. Thank you.
"I just do have one more thought right now. That is about the blacks. Do you believe in the articles of faith or is that just a LDS thing."
Yes. But, we believe the original "Articles of Faith" as they were penned from Joseph Smith Jun. himself; and they are as follows -
1.We believe in God the eternal Father, and his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgressions.
3. We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that these ordinances are: 1st, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2nd, Repentance; 3rd, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit; 5th, The Lord's Supper.
5. We believe that men must be called of God by inspiration, and by laying on of hands by those who are duly commissioned to preach the Gospel, and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, viz. apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.
7. We believe in the powers and gifts of the everlasting Gospel, viz., the gift of faith, discerning of spirits, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues, wisdom, charity, brotherly love, etc.
8.We believe in the Word of God recorded in the Bible; we also believe the Word of God recorded in the Book of Mormon, and in all other good books.
9. We believe all that God has revealed; all that he does now reveal; and we believe that he will yet reveal many more great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God and Messiah's second coming.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel, and in the restoration of the ten tribes; that Zion will be established upon the western continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth a thousand years; and that the earth will be renewed, and receive its paradisaical glory.
11. We believe in the literal resurrection of the body, and that the dead in Christ will rise first, and that the rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years are expired.
12. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our conscience unmolested, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how or where they may.
13. We believe in being subject to kings, queens, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
14. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, temperate, benevolent, virtuous, and upright, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul, we 'believe all things,' we 'hope all things,' 'we have endured very many things' and hope to be able to 'endure all things.' Everything virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy, and of good report, we seek after, looking forward to the 'recompense of reward.'
JOSEPH SMITH
Now you've asked -
"I am not sure but here is [a] thought anyway. You said that the children of Cain can not have the priesthood. Well you didn't say it, but you know what I mean. Why is the sin of Cain being visited on them today? In the articles of faith it says man is punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression. Well wouldn't that be a contradiction to it? It just doesn't seem fair or just to deny them the opportunity to progress to become gods like the rest of us because of one mans sins. Do you know what I mean?"
Yes, I know what you mean. In the Garden of Eden God said -
"And I, the Lord God, took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to dress it, and to keep it. And I, the Lord God, commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it;
Nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but remember that I forbid it; For in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (JST Genesis 2:18-22.)
God told Adam that if he eats of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil that he will surely die. So, when Adam and Eve ate of this forbidden fruit, God proclaimed -
"For, as I, the Lord God, liveth, even so my words cannot return void, for, as they go forth out of my mouth, they must be fulfilled. So I drove out the man, and I placed at the east of the garden of Eden, cherubim, and a flaming sword, which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (And these are the words which I spake unto my servant Moses. And they are true, even as I will. And I have spoken them unto you. See thou show them unto no man, until I command you, except they that believe.) Amen." (JST Genesis 3:30-33.)
While in the Garden, Adam and Eve were told by God, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat."; which would include the Tree of Life; of which they could freely eat and live forever. So, after God drove out the man Adam from the Garden of Eden and a Cherubim and a flaming sword were placed between Adam and Eve, and the Tree of Live; they could no longer eat the fruit of the Tree of Life and live forever. Thus being cast out from the presence of God and eternal life, Adam and Eve became subject to death - and all of Adam and Eve's telestial descendants are subject to death, even at this time! Or am I wrong?
The Apostle Paul wrote -
"For the wages of sin is death;" (Romans 6:23.)
And -
"That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" (Hebrews 2:14-15.)
Can you see that the consequences of sinning is death and all those who die are simply collecting their wages for their labors in the Devil's employ? You see, everyone who labors to build up Babylon or for the things of the world, are simply working for the rewards of this world; where everything rusts, corrodes, breaks, falls apart and dies! Lucifer, or the Devil, makes certain statements in the Endowment Ceremony -
"With gold and silver I will by up armies and navies, false priests (popes) who oppress, tyrants who destroy, and reign with blood and horror on this earth."
And -
"You can buy anything in this world for money."
The Apostle Peter counsels concerning laboring for the Devil -
"If I were you, I would get out of his (the Devil's) employ."
Remember Nephi's warning -
"But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish." (2 Nephi 26:31.)
In other words, those who labor for money (gold & silver/the world/ Babylon), when they should be laboring to establish a Zion on this earth, will perish or die! Rachael, this is why the LDS people have not established a Zion on this earth as they have covenanted in their endowment to do; for they labor to build up the world and Babylon - they work for Satan! They do not trust in God's ability to protect or provide for them, but horde and invest their monies for carnal security - they labor for Satan's world and economy -
"And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well-and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell." (2 Nephi 28:21.)
"Hell" or the grave, the pit, death, the power of the Devil. Satan promises all those who receive an endowment that -
"If they do not walk up to every covenant they make at these altars in this temple this day, they will be in my power!"
In other words, they will die!
God has commanded us to come out of Babylon or the world. If we do not keep this
commandment, then we have sinned and we will collect the wages of that sin, even death!
Unless we repent and return into the presence of our Father and God, in this probation or
life time, where we can eat once again of the Tree of Life, and live forever. This is the
way and the life.
Thus, Adam's transgression allowed us all to become subject to both death and life, we
must choose. Yet, we are not punished for Adam's personal sins. Adam's transgression
brought about his fall and this earth fell with him. When we are born into this, a
telestial kingdom, then we did so either by condescending to do it or we merited it, and
not a terrestrial kingdom or the Garden of Eden. Now, keep these thoughts in mind as I now
address Cain and his transgression -
"And he (God) gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God; and should offer the firstlings of their flocks for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord. And after many days, an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying, Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord. And Adam said unto him, I know not, save the Lord commanded me. And then the angel spake, saying, This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth; Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest, in the name of the Son. And thou shalt repent, and call upon God, in the name of the Son for evermore." (JST Genesis 4:5-8.)
God commanded or "ordained" Adam to perform this sacrifice or "ordain"- ance of the Gospel and priesthood, as "a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father" on a regular basis and Adam was obedient to God; and so was his son Able -
"And Abel hearkened unto the voice of the Lord." (JST Genesis 5:5.)
But, Cain did not -
"Cain hearkened not," (JST Genesis 5:4.)
"And Cain loved Satan more than God. And Satan commanded him, saying, Make an offering unto the Lord. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought, of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof; and the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering, but unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect." (JST Genesis 5:6-7.)
Why didn't God respect Cain's offering, sacrifice or ordinance? Because Cain offered up "the fruit of the ground"(the world/Babylon - the Devil?) instead of "the firstlings of their flocks"(One of the House of Israel or of God's family). Did God command Cain to offer up "the fruit of the ground"? No, God didn't command or ordain "the fruit of the ground" to be offered up in this ordinance of sacrifice. But, God did command or ordain them to sacrifice "the firstlings of their flocks"! Cain changed an ordinance of the priesthood! Yes, Cain performed the ordinance of sacrifice as he was commanded, but he changed that which is ordained to be sacrificed!
Knowing that God is an unchangeable God and that He is the same yesterday, today and forever - God does not change! God knows the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. When God ordains an ordinance be performed, He would know if He were going to change it or withdraw it on down the line - as He knows the future; He'd say so - as with the punitive laws of Moses! As with the law of sacrifice - the "sacrifice by the shedding of blood" portion of this law and ordinance was fulfilled with the atonement of Jesus Christ. Yet, we still covenant to "sacrifice" in the Endowment Ceremony, to this very day. Remember, that the ordinance of sacrifice by blood "is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father.", and that in telling Adam this, God foretold of the fulfillment of this portion of this ordinance of the priesthood.
The Prophet Joseph Smith Jun. taught plainly to the saints -
"Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed. All must be saved on the same principles." ('Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith', pg 308.)
"Therefore He set the ordinances to be the same forever and ever , and set Adam to watch over them, to reveal them from heaven to man, or to send angles to reveal them." ('Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith', pg 168.)
"If there is no change of ordinances, there is no change of Priesthood. Wherever the ordinances of the Gospel are administered, there is the Priesthood." ('Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith', pg 158.)
Thus, God had no respect for Cain's offering! God did not recognize Cain's sacrifice as the ordinance He'd ordained! Cain had changed an ordinance just as the Catholic's changed the ordinance of baptism! Yes, the Catholics baptize people to this day, but they sprinkle them instead of immersing them under the water. Did God ordain men and women to be sprinkled or immersed? Immersed, of course! Does the Catholic Church baptize? Yes! Are their baptisms recognized by God? No, they are not! Did Cain sacrifice? Yes, he did! Was Cain's sacrifice the same as the one ordained by God? No, it was not! Why wasn't it? Because God ordained the use of the firstlings of the flocks, not the first fruits of the ground or field. Cain changed this ordinance and sinned against God and His priesthood, for "If there is no change of ordinances, there is no change of priesthood." In other words, when Cain changed an ordinance of the priesthood, the changed ordinance he performed changed Cain's priesthood from God's priesthood to that of the Devil's! So, Cain lost the priesthood of God when he changed an ordinance of God's priesthood. Rachael, did you follow me through all of this? I certainly hope so.
Now, let me continue. Cain was the firstborn of Adam and had the birthright -
"And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord; wherefore he may not reject his words. But, behold, also Cain hearkened not, saying, Who is the Lord, that I should know him? And she again conceived, and bare his brother Abel. And Abel hearkened unto the voice of the Lord. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground." (JST Genesis 5:4-5.)
When Cain realized he'd lost his priesthood (through changing an ordinance of the priesthood and not just any ordinance, but an ordinance representing or "a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father."; thus denying the Christ, who would be one of the fold of God and not of the world.) he realized that he'd lost his birthright as well -
"And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell." (JST Genesis 5:8.)
Thus, Cain fell!
God's priesthood is a Royal Priesthood and the holders of God's priesthood have a right to govern both politicly and ecclesiastically. While, those who do not have the Royal Priesthood of God, have no right to rule or govern. So, Cain entered into a covenant with Lucifer -
"And Satan said unto Cain, Swear unto me by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt die; and swear thy brethren by their heads, and by the living God, that they tell it not; for if they tell it they shall surely die; and this that thy father may not know it; and this day I will deliver thy brother Abel into thine hands. And Satan swear unto Cain, that he would do according to his commands. And all these things were done in secret. And Cain said, Truly I am Mahan, the master of this great secret, that I may murder and get gain. Wherefore Cain was called Master Mahan; and he gloried in his wickedness." (JST Genesis 5:14-16.)
So, Cain went into the field and murdered his brother Able that he might gain Able's birthright and heirship to the kingdom of God. Because Cain made covenant with Satan in secret (a secret combination) to murder to gain his brother Able's inheritance and birthright (which Cain could no longer hold due to his loss of priesthood), God cursed Cain and all his posterity -
"And now, thou (Cain) shalt be cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth." (JST Genesis 5:21-22.)
"Cursed from the earth", means that neither Cain nor his children shall have an inheritance in the earth with Jesus Christ; a fugitive from justice and without the law - for without the law, men cannot benefit from the law, neither are they accountable to the law that they are without; a vagabond without a home or direction of purpose. God's curse upon Cain prevents him and his children from ever becoming kings and a priests in the kingdom of God - for only a king and a priest can possess lands and posterity, and claim the right to rule and reign; therefore without the blessings of the priesthood all together - meaning Cain and his children cannot hold or possess the holy priesthood of God, so long as the curse be upon them. So, when Cain heard this terrible curse placed upon him by God, he cried out -
"My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the Lord (God's presence and God's kingdom), and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that he that findeth me shall slay me, because of mine iniquities, for these things are not hid from the Lord." (JST Genesis 5:24.)
So, God in his mercy decreed -
"Whosoever slayeth thee, vengeance shall be taken on him seven-fold; and I, the Lord, set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him." (JST Genesis 5:25.)
What was this mark set upon Cain by the God of Heaven?
"And Enoch also beheld the residue of the people which were the sons of Adam; and they were a mixture of all the seed of Adam save it was the seed of Cain, for the seed of Cain were black, and had not place among them." (JST Genesis 7:29; Moses 7:22.)
So, Cain and his children are cursed as to the priesthood and marked with a black skin. Thus the "Mark of Cain" in a black skin (including a wide flat nose and thick lips) and the curse of Cain is NO PRIESTHOOD!
Adam transgressed and brought death into the world; of which we (Adam's descendants or children) are all subject to, until such time as we repent and are delivered or translated! Cain transgressed and he, and all his descendants or children, are cursed as to the priesthood and most wear the "mark" of the black skin to this day; they too must suffer the inheritance of their father Cain, as well as death. When Cain and his children are forgiven and the curse removed, there will no longer be black people! If God has forgiven Cain and his children, and is now allowing them to hold the priesthood of God, then why do the children of Cain still bear the "mark(s)"? Remember, Rachael, the "mark" was to protect them. If they are no more cursed, then they'd no longer need the protection of the "mark" set upon them.
The Prophet Brigham Young taught -
"You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind. The first man that committed the odious crime of killing one of his brethren will be cursed the longest of any one of the children of Adam. Cain slew his brother. Cain might have been killed, and that would have put a termination to that line of human beings. This was not to be, and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin. Trace mankind down to after the flood, and then another curse is pronounced upon the same race-that they should be the "servant of servants;" and they will be, until that curse is removed; and the Abolitionists cannot help it, nor in the least alter that decree. How long is that race to endure the dreadful curse that is upon them? That curse will remain upon them, and they never can hold the Priesthood or share in it until all the other descendants of Adam have received the promises and enjoyed the blessings of the Priesthood and the keys thereof. Until the last ones of the residue of Adam's children are brought up to that favourable position, the children of Cain cannot receive the first ordinances of the Priesthood. They were the first that were cursed, and they will be the last from whom the curse will be removed. When the residue of the family of Adam come up and receive their blessings, then the curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will receive blessings in like proportion." (Brigham Young, General Conference, Oct. 9, 1859; Journal of Discourses 7:290-291.)
What are the first ordinances of the priesthood? Joseph Smith taught what these first ordinances are, in his original Articles of Faith -
3. We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that these ordinances are: 1st, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2nd, Repentance; 3rd, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit; 5th, The Lord's Supper.
We are not punished for Adam's transgressions, as coming into this world to know the good and evil, that we might choose the good and eternal life - is a blessing! Not a punishment! The curse of Cain, brought on by Cain's transgression, is not a punishment upon the heads of Cain and his posterity, but a blessing! If the children of Cain have not the priesthood of God; they have not the law; and therefore they are not judged by a law they cannot or did not receive; for when much is given, much is required.
How does this work? If the children of Cain do well in this probation, they might return into another probation without the curse or the mark, to try it again - this is justice and mercy upon their heads. I will explain to you the doctrine of "Multiple Mortal Probations" (what the world calls reincarnation) another time - if you are interested.
I hope I have answered your question plainly and clearly? This is not an easy subject to approach with most members of the LDS Church, because as a general rule, they don't read enough or know the doctrines and principles of the fullness of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith Jun., nor do they generally accept it when they hear it. But, this is how it was taught by Joseph Smith, then and how it is now, and always will be. No matter what the brethren in Salt Lake might try to tell you - they don't know the doctrine! I really appreciate your asking these questions of me, for it demonstrates you have read a lot. Please write me again and please feel free to ask more questions.
Sincerely,
R. E. Maudsley
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