Opinion: Covenant symbols for covenant living - Finding the covenants in scripture

The 2nd (Hedlock’s wood) Facsimile of Abraham’s Hycephalus.

By Chadwick LaVerl Hyde

The most crucial aspect of our fundamental LDS religion is the temple covenants we make. As fundamentalist latter-day saints our beliefs reside with our families, our lives and our time. We know that the covenants of Abraham are our most important doctrines, yea our most important religion!    

They are the practice and the promise of eternal increase — the exaltation of celestial glory. These covenants were given to Abraham by our heavenly father as a blessing for keeping his commandment to “be ye therefore perfect as I the Lord am perfect.”

My hope here is to solidify faith, and not create contention. This article is not divulging anything. The temple covenant that those among us have made is “not to divulge the token, with its accompanying name and sign.” This is not done in this article. This article hopes to show us that we, LDS fundamentalists, are Abraham’s seed and Abraham’s hope of celestial increase. That is its purpose.

Our covenants are the way to perfection. They are the life of perfection because they require a high degree of perfection for their continued practice. Humility and repentance are required, to be sure, for mistakes and foibles. But perfection is the goal and the covenants are the methodology.

In this article I’d like to provide a few unique insights that Abraham provides for us in this regard. Several years ago a translation to the 2nd facsimile (or the Hedlock wood facsimile of the Hycephalus) of Abraham was given, and I’d like to use that translation to explain important facets of the Abrahamic covenant. While the Hedlock’s wood facsimile was originally incomplete for its time, a rework of the facsimile art was done when the original Hycephalus was rediscovered, thus rendering the symbols more complete and symmetrical. We have a clearer understanding.

First there are four basic principles and ordinances of the gospel. These are clearly listed on the Abrahamic 2nd facsimile at line 9, as follows:

The symbols, from the translation, suggest they are to be read from right to left sequentially on this line. The first symbol denotes “faith” (all these symbols denote the same meaning throughout the entire facsimile).  The second is “repent and turn away” or “repentance”, the third is a universal sign of water denoting “baptism”, and the fourth denotes “the holy spirit” meaning “the gift of the holy ghost.”  These symbols representing the basic principles and ordinances are the preparation for the next line below this which are the temple covenants as we shall see denoted by the tokens of their meanings.

These symbols are to be read from left to right, as the line above them finishes directly above the symbol on the left, as the translation suggests. The first symbol can be seen as knuckles on a hand.  This represents the first token of the Aaronic priesthood. The second symbol shows an identifying mark over the first two knuckles and represents the second token of the Aaronic priesthood. The third symbol represents a straight hand, another hand with an index finger and a thumb close together and pointed upward and a sign of a wound or mark for a hand, this is the first token of the Melchizedek Priesthood.  

Finally, the last symbol denotes a contorted hand with a curved index finger, two straight open middle and wedding fingers and a pinky finger slightly curved. This denotes the Second token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or the Patriarchal Grip. The last two symbols denote the symbol of a body (denoting the washings and anointings of the body) and a foot (denoting the second anointing or washing of the feet).   

Again, all these come from the translation that is being used.

Overall, this shows that Abraham knew of the need of the basic principles of the gospel leading to the more committed aspects of the Abrahamic covenant, and he shared them in this writing long, long ago.  The translation that was given explains this seamlessly and even shows that message it contains therein is the only way to attain to the right hand of God. Perhaps if there is enough interest, the full translation of the 2nd Facsimile could be included in an edition of “The Fundamentalist” as the writings appear to preach exclusively in favor of fundamentalist Mormon theology. Once you read it and have the symbols explained it becomes very difficult to not see and understand them again. They are that simple.

Why do I share this, and what is the significance of this? The most crucial takeaway here is that Abraham was given a series of covenants after accepting certain basic principles and ordinances — just like we did.  Our religion is identical to his and these writings show that Joseph Smith Jr and the other restoration prophets knew this perfectly. The tokens are clearly identified representing the necessary covenants. The discussed translation sheds further light on the importance of certain fundamentalist LDS doctrines being accepted and lived prior to the Lord’s second coming as well. In fact, the 2nd facsimile shows us in its symbols that those who break the law of consecration will ultimately be found on the left hand of God. I share this to help us understand that our religion is progressive one. Meaning that it seeks eternal progression, as each covenant leads to the next until exaltation or perfection is attained (worlds without end). All this was taught to us by Abraham! This is why this 2nd facsimile is so very crucial to our understanding of the covenants.

There are at least three of the four priesthood signs in the facsimile as well:

This is the first sign of the Aaronic Priesthood.

This is the second sign of the Aaronic Priesthood or first sign of the
Melchizedek Priesthood (depending upon which way the hands are held).

This is the second sign of the Melchizedek 
Priesthood (the hands raised and lowered).

Brothers and sisters, this information only serves to reinforce that we fundamentalist latter-day saints have the same principles, ordinances and covenants as those given to Abraham (our mutual father in the faith).  

In the Abrahamic covenants our celestial hopes are truly represented in these signs and tokens of our faith. If we have them, let us keep them and never abandon them. If we do not yet have them, let us seek them and claim them forever.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You can reach us at fundamentalistmag@gmail.com.

Opinion: Full Gospel Doctrines for Fulness of Faith

The Garden of Eden

By Chadwick LaVerl Hyde

There are those in the LDS faith that believe their heavenly father, their god and the only god with which they have to do is Michael-Adam—first man!  

They believe that he lived over 900 years on the earth during the earth’s terrestrial state as it sunk into its telestial state.  He lived celestial law, and was surrounded by a terrestrial presence and never, ever sunk into the telestial order.  Not ever!  

He created the earth with the godhead of his previous life; both Elohim (a title for his father in heaven or his first man, Adam) and Jehovah (a title for his Messiah).  But what is rarely discussed and of the most important consequence is how Adam, and quite possibly his son Seth, his wives and others of his children resurrected without the grace of his “only begotten” son—our Savior, Jesus Christ.  This is the crux of exaltation.  To die and resurrect without someone to atone for you.  This is the celestial kingdom and knowing or understanding this is crucial to later practicing it.  I want to discuss this.

There are those that would say that what I am about to discuss cannot comport with the “you can go down one kingdom but cannot ever go up a kingdom” doctrine so clearly preached by Joseph Smith Jr.  However, it not only agrees with it, but it explains its importance.  If Michael was a celestial (and he was) and he went down into a terrestrial world (and he did) then he would have to maintain a terrestrial area around him where no telestial influence could reside (and he did).  Everywhere he existed was a terrestrial area that allowed visitation from the celestial order.  The telestial order that came about was either ostracized (as in the case of the telestial murderer, Cain), or they departed away from it (as the City of Enoch did).  The celestial kingdom cannot, does not and will not reside with the telestial.  It will instruct terrestrials to minister to that kingdom (as discussed in the Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants), but these two kingdoms cannot co-exist in the same place together.

The huge and looming question for those new or tender to the fulness of the gospel is how Jesus Christ was sired by Michael-Adam.  To understand this one must understand four very important facts.  First, the primordial generation of Adam were gods.  Brigham explained them in this fashion, and they came to this earth to organize it, to seed it with humanity and to reside for a time in its paradisiacal glory.  Second, Adam, Seth and others resurrected by the “Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood” which is the magnifying of priesthood unto “the renewing of the flesh”.  This was done without the atonement of Jesus Christ, but through the administration of Jehovah at a higher law and higher understanding.  

The scriptures state that there are “just men made holy in the Lord” and that they will “endure the buffetings of Satan” for a time and then will return to the presence of the Lord “after they have paid the uttermost farthing” for their own sins.  These are celestials and they have existed on the earth—as the earth was created by them.  Third, Michael-Adam did not sin, but rather he transgressed celestial law to go down into a terrestrial order for a time.  This means he partook of terrestrial fruit or foodstuff and became captive for a time to a terrestrial order.  He went down a kingdom and was allowed (through the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood) to go back up.  Fourth and finally, the term “only begotten son” means the only son born on this earth with Adam’s self-resurrected body.  Jesus Christ is the literal flesh son of Michael-Adam who resurrected by the Oath and Covenant of the priesthood and returned to sire him with the virgin maiden Miriam.

The natural conclusions from understanding this is that earth now, or the telestial fallen operate under a system of repentance and forgiveness in Jesus Christ that allows us to raise up unto the primordial system of the “oath and covenant of the priesthood”.  Our telestial sins must be atoned for by Jesus Christ.  They must be removed and abated.  We must be redeemed unto a system or law of celestial order in which we seek self-resurrection under the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood.  It must happen during this life!  And Jesus Christ is available to fallen beings like us to raise us to a terrestrial order to participate in the covenants that lead to the glories of celestial exaltation being ministered by celestials themselves.

When the temple say “we now follow Adam into the telestial world” it was not telestial where Adam immediate resided and abode.  It was at worst the terrestrial kingdom and at best the celestial kingdom.  Remember that Jehovah (Adam’s redeemer from a prior world) had a covering placed upon him so that while Jehovah was removed from sight, Adam could see his powerful light and hear his voice.  That is the celestial kingdom ministering to the terrestrial.  Cherubim and a flaming sword did guard and occlude the tree of life—meaning his trusted redeemer Jehovah.  Through the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood his body was once again restored in the presence of the celestials through magnification of his priesthood.  Remember Adam stayed on earth to obey the express command of his heavenly father Elohim to remain with Eve and have seed.  This was the mission and he obeyed.  

Eve desired knowledge from Lucifer and fell.  Adam stayed and partook of terrestrial food and became terrestrial for a time.  Through Adam, Eve was saved back up unto Jehovah and Elohim (thus the Law of the Lord and the Law of Elohim are fully explained as it relates to husbands and wives—as well as the doctrines preached by Joseph Smith Jr that women are saved in righteous child birthing and their righteous husbands resurrect them).

There is no truth more precious than this to the fulness of the gospel—because it explains what Jesus Christ is trying to do for us.  It tells us what he has in store for us.  It is the exaltation in the presence of “the father” that he wants for us.  He wants us to be like Adam in worlds to come.  “This is life eternal”, the scriptures state, “to know thee the only wise and living god and Jesus Christ whom thou (Michel-Adam) hath sent.”

To some fundamentalists, this may be shocking in its brazenness.  Like tearing open the curtains to the windows of the most intimate rooms of the house for the public to see.  But I say without this understanding there is not the faith sufficient to exalt.  The salvation of Christ is neutered, and people sink into philosophical trash heaps of ministerial condescension and the gentilism that ensues.  Such is the consequence of those that throw away celestial law for the praise of men, statehood, bureaucracy or social expedience (as the mainstream LDS appear to do).  I do not want to embarrass or place undue scrutiny upon the pious fundamentalist LDS.  To those that believe, hope and practice what they preach I want to galvanize the doctrine into a creed of faith that leads them to worlds without end.  Because that is what Joseph, Brigham and other restoration prophets did.  

We cannot exalt without plural marriage, the Council of 50 or Kingdom of God, and the United Order (or Cities of Zion as I call them).  Without these things the gospel of Jesus Christ is incomplete.  It renders it vain and futile.  Or less, not full.

Again, I state unequivocally that earth’s first generation had men that resurrected themselves and their wives and children.  Also, I state that “translation” of men is a segue to this through the atonement of Jesus Christ and a precursor for those that fell into the sins that warranted Jesus Christ to pull them out of telestial languishing.  The gospel is that Jesus Christ came to “save us”.  The fulness of the gospel is that Jesus Christ intends as Paul states, to make us “joint heirs unto the father…” who was Adam.  The facts listed above will reinforce the faith needed to accomplish this.  Remember we are to love Michael-Adam with all our hearts, might, minds and strengths.  Jesus Christ is the tool to accomplish this.  The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood is our goal, and the blessings are to devolve upon our plural families.

I testify of these things to you, my fellow believers in the fulness of the gospel, in his holy name, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

You can reach Chad at fundamnentalistmag@gmail.com.

Excerpt - Truth Magazine: 'KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE'

By Joseph Musser

This is an excerpt from the first two pages of the first edition of Truth Magazine, published in 1935.

ANNOUNCEMENT

 

WITH this issue TRUTH begins its life journey.  There is need

for the message its columns will bear.  The world is sick.  It

gropes in darkness.  Complete dissolution threatens the

established governments.  The situation can be saved only by

quick and heroic action.  God is the great Physician.  Man must

turn unto him.  It will be our aim to help blaze the way leading

through the maze of perplexity, prejudice, hatred and ignorance,

up toward the "great white throne".  We approach this delicate

but all important task with a deep sense of dependence on the

Lord.  We shall work hard to discharge our duty.

 

        As we view it, the fundamentals governing man's existence

on earth and his efforts to achieve salvation in the life to

come, may be grouped under four general headings:  POLITICAL,

SOCIAL, ECONOMIC and SPIRITUAL.  These four must be fully

coordinated in the lives and actions of man kind before a

complete success is possible.  To the extent that this

co-ordination is perfect, just to that extent may man hope to

achieve.  Growing out of these four governing principles are, of

course, countless shoots and branches, all designed to

strengthen and beautify the parent tree.  But it is to the four

principles mentioned that special attention is now directed.

 

        The POLITICAL part of the world mechanism is sadly out of

order.  All governments are feverishly restless, continuously

engaged in talking peace while pre paring for war, and the whole

earth is in commotion, and men's hearts are failing them.  This

situation can be corrected only when Jesus Christ shall set up

his reign under the form of government known as the Kingdom of

God, which is destined to subvert all other kingdoms and

governments and sweep them from the earth.

 

        TRUTH will endeavor to teach "this gospel of the Kingdom"

as Christ has outlined it, to the end that mankind may receive

full protection in civil and religious rights, finally arriving

at a state of righteousness and universal peace.

 

        The SOCIAL structure of modern Christendom is toppling to

ruin.  A complete breakdown threatens.  The monogamic order of

marriage, the boast of modern civilization, has failed.  Gnawing

at its very vitals, to which the glorious principle of marriage

is slowly but surely succumbing, are the death dealing agencies

of infidelity, birth control and divorce.  The remedy is

comprehended in God's order of marriage known today as Celestial

or Patriarchal marriage.  It was revealed to Abraham by the

Lord, and in the present dispensation was restored through the

"Mormon" Prophet, Joseph Smith.

 

        TRUTH will champion the cause of this great social law and

will endeavor to lead men to a clearer light.

 

        The world has fallen into an ECONOMIC maelstrom, which

threatens commercial destruction.  It struggles seemingly to no

purpose, each effort taking it deeper into the quagmire of

failure.  God, through his Prophet, has said:  "The wisdom of

their wise men shall perish and the understanding of their

prudent men shall he hid."  This prophetic edict is fulfilled in

the present [2] state of world economic bankruptcy.  God alone

can correct the evil.  His cure involves acceptance of what is

known as the "Order of Enoch" or the "United Order", as

instituted during the Apostolic age:

 

     And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart

     and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the

     things which he possessed was his own; but they had all

     shines common.  (Acts 4:32)

 

        TRUTH adopts this plan as God's method of bringing men to a

common level, and will advocate its practical adoption in

accordance with latter-day revelation on the subject.

 

        SPIRITUAL life is palsied.  The death rattle in the throat

is heard.  "Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, He is there", is being

thundered from the house tops by those who have no rational

conception of either Christ or his mission.  The modern pharisee

has outdone his ancient brother in hypocrisy and ignorance. 

God's remedy for this bedlam of conflicting creeds and

philosophies is that men shall accept the principle of present

and continuous revelation.  A constant communion between heaven

and earth is the cure.  Without this communion man cannot

succeed; for "Where there is no vision, the people perish."

 

        TRUTH accepts this hypothesis as a self evident fact.  Its

columns will seek to clarify those of God's revelations which

are meant for the guidance of his children in this day, whether

these revelations come through the ancient Jewish scriptures or

through modern sources; whether they are voiced by the mouth of

a Moses, a Confucius, a Swedenborg, a Luther, an Ingersol, or

through our modern Prophets, of which Joseph Smith was the

leader.

 

        The four great pillars of light and progress classified as

POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, and SPIRITUAL, with all their

devious branches and ramifications will be elucidated on and

championed by TRUTH in accordance with the wisdom and

understanding of its contributors.  We know the task to be a

difficult one.  We approach it in meekness.  In the defense of

truth or in battling error, we will neither court fear nor

favor.  In the words of the late Theodore Roosevelt, "Our spear

knows no brother."  Our guide shall be light and truth.  We

shall always welcome constructive criticism and wholesome

comments.  The columns of TRUTH will teem with the best thoughts

of the great minds of the past as well as those of the present,

upon the subjects treated.

 

        It will be noted that TRUTH begins its career on a very

important date--June 1st--the one hundred and thirty fourth

anniversary of the Birth of Brigham Young.  It is fitting that

this enterprise should be thus launched.  Brigham Young, though

a greatly abused character, and much misunderstood, yet is known

the world over as one of America's greatest colonizers.  He was

clean, wise and courageous a true Christian.  Perhaps no other

man in this dispensation contributed more towards establishing

the truth as revealed through the "Mormon" Prophet, Joseph

Smith, than this great leader.

 

        TRUTH will endeavor to maintain the high standard of faith

and essential works reflected by the life of this great leader,

whose birth is celebrated by our first issue.

 

A STATESMAN'S FAITH

 

        The religious views of statesmen are seldom known, except

to their intimates, until after their biographies are written,

and therefore a letter written by Lord Grey to Mrs. Asquith on

the approaching death of one of her friends is "remarkable

enough" for the London TIMES to quote at length.  Lord Grey was

British Foreign Secretary at the outbreak of the World war.  He

writes:

 

     There is a suffering which purifies, raises and strengthens

     and in which one can see the Crown as well as the Cross,

     but where there is no Crown visible it is terrible even to

     see suffering and must be intolerable to undergo it.  My

     own belief is that if we could know all we should

     understand everything, but there is much in the world that

     cannot be explained without knowing what came before life

     and what is to come after it, and of that we know nothing,

     for faith is not knowledge.  All that we can do is to take

     refuge in reverence and submission.  "God is in Heaven and

     thou upon earth, therefore let thy words be few" is one way

     of expressing the reverence, and:  "I was dumb and opened

     not my mouth for it was Thy doing" is an expression of

     submission.  They are hard things to say, but I don't know

     what else is to be said, and it is better to say them than

     to rail against what we cannot understand, or to attempt to

     belittle it, and put a gloss upon it.  * * *  The abyss is

     unfathomable to those who stand upon the brink, and I fear

     each of us who has to descend into it must find for himself

     or herself on what ledges a foot can be placed, and the

     path by which one can find his way is not always that which

     is practicable for another.  I have been through that which

     would make it very easy for me to die, but that path is no

     use for anyone who has to die and wants live.

We can be reached at fundamentalistmag@gmail.com.