PASSING BY THE ANGELS

By Cordell Vail

Started 31 Aug 1998

The most often quoted statement to define what it means to receive your "ENDOWMENT" is this one:

Discourses of Brigham Young, p.416

Let me give you a definition in brief. Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.

Apostates have written several books about the LDS temple ceremony. In them you can find every single word that is spoken in the temple. More than that you can find every version of the ceremony clear back to the pre David O. McKay changes. There are no secrets in the temple that they do not know. NOT ONE! If they know how the ceremony used to be, every way it has been changed, and how it is now, why will they (or any one reading the books) not be able to use those keys given there, as President Brigham Young said and pass by the angels too?

It would appear that there is something hidden here. Not in the temple ceremony, but in President Young's statement. Is his statement a parable its self? Consider this scripture:

Matthew 25:1
1. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2. And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish.
3. They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9. But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

President Kimball said
Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, p.255 The foolish asked the others to share their oil, but spiritual preparedness cannot be shared in an instant. The wise had to go, else the bridegroom would have gone unwelcomed. They needed all their oil for themselves; they could not save the foolish. The responsibility was each for himself. (see also Teaching of Spencer W. Kimball page 182 and Miracle of Forgivness page 366-367) this is not a parable about NONMEMBERS. This is a parable about members of the church and what they know and how well they do what they know. He said the oil in the lamp represents our "EXPERIENCES". All the virgins had a lamp. They all knew the same things. They all ten knew to be there at the door. The foolish five even had some oil in their lamps when they arrived, but while they slept and waited the oil ran out. And then when the Savior came, they were found wanting because of what?

It would appear they did not have enough of the right kinds of experiences in their life before they came to wait at the door. They knew to come. They knew to bring a lamp. They knew to put SOME oil in the lamp, if we could call that a symbol... or token .... they had that or knew all those things. THE RIGHT THINGS. But the things REPRESENTED BY HAVING ENOUGH OIL IN THE LAMP... that they could not show. They did not have it and it was too late to get it. Again, they were there, they had the lamp, but just knowing about it was not enough. The life they had lived before they came there did not put sufficient oil in their lamps to allow them to pass by. They could not fool the sentinel that stood to guard the door.

It is keeping the covenant in your daily life not the knowledge of it or any representation of it that opens the door to the bride groom and lets you pass by the angels of heaven.

I think I called that "YOU CAN'T FOOL THE CHICKENS" in one of my other papers.

There are several other scriptures that carry the same message. President John Taylor said that this scriputre is also about members of the church (Journal of Discourses, Vol.25, p.305 - p.306 - p.307, John Taylor, October 6 and 7, 1884):

Matthew 7:21-23 21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. And there are many others:

Matthew 5:20 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 7:24-27 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 18:3 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:23 23 ¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:24 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 3 Nephi 12:19 19 And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled. 3 Nephi 12:20 20 Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. No corupt tree can bring forth good fruit by their fruits ye shall know them John says: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." President Marion G. Romney
Conference Talk
October 1949 page 43

We assume that because we are members of the church, we shall receive as a matter of course all the blessings of the gospel. I have heard people contend that they have a claim upon them because they have been through the temple, even though they are not careful to keep the covenants they there made. I do not think this will be the case (see D&C 132:26-27). We might take a lesson from an account given by the Prophet [Joseph Smith] of a vision of the resurrection, in which he records that one of the saddest things he had ever witnessed was the sorrow of the members of the church who came forth to a resurrection below that which they had taken for granted they would receive...

Think about that for a change of pace......

I bet as I start to look I will find many other parables and scriptures that will point to that very same "SYMBOLISM".....

Comments, suggestions, additional information would be appreciated. Send to ==>cordellv@hotmail.com<==

(MORE TO COME….. CHECK BACK LATER… BUT HERE ARE SOME OTHER REFERENCE TO READ WHILE YOU WAIT)…….

Angels set as Sentinels

(D&C 132:19-20. Italics added.)

If a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood … it … shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things … which glory shall be a fullness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.

Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.

Discourses of Brigham Young, p.130

When we talk of the celestial law which is revealed from heaven, that is, the Priesthood, we are talking about the principle of salvation, a perfect system of government, of laws and ordinances, by which we can be prepared to pass from one gate to another, and from one sentinel to another, until we go into the presence of our Father and God. This law has not always been upon the earth; and in its absence, other laws have been given to the children of men for their improvement, for their education, for their government, and to prove what they would do when left to control themselves; and what we now call tradition has grown out of these circumstances. 2:139.

D&C 132:19

19 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them--Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths--then shall it be written in the Lamb's Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.

John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p.18-19

LAW AND JUSTICE.—We enter into obligations here as young men or young women, or as old men or old women, as the case may be, no matter what or how we enter into covenants before God, holy angels, and witnesses, and pledge ourselves in the most solemn manner to be true to these covenants. If we violate these covenants, and trample under foot the ordinances of God, we ought to be dealt with by the church and either repent of our sins or be cut off from the church, so that by purging the church from iniquity, we may be acceptable before God; for the Gods spoken of are not going to associate with every scalawag in existence; scalawags are not going where they are; and if men do not live according to the laws of a celestial kingdom, they are not going into a celestial glory; they cannot pass by the angels and the Gods, who are set to guard the way of life. Straight is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it.

John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p.291

However, there is something far more difficult than that yet to come. That is only a starting point in these matters. The things that are ahead are a great deal more difficult to accomplish. What are they? The time will come when we shall not only have to pass by those officers whom I have referred to say, to have the sanction and approval of our bishop, of the president of the stake, and of the president of the church but we are told in this book (The Doctrine and Covenants) that we shall have to pass by the angels and the Gods. We may have squeezed through the other; we may have got along tolerably well, and been passed and acted upon, and sometimes a "tight squeeze" at that. But how will it be when we get on the other side, and we have the angels and the Gods to pass by before we can enter into our exaltation? If we cannot pass, what then? Well, we cannot, that is all. And if we cannot, shall we be able to enter into our exaltation? I think not. What do you think about it?—JD, 25:161-162, June 15, 1884.

John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p.291-292

UNNATURAL INFAMIES.—No woman murderer, no man murderer can have a place among the Latter-day Saints, and I speak of it that the presidents of stakes and the bishops may be apprised of these things. And some of these people would try to pass by the bishops, and then by the presidents of stakes, and then by the president of the church, and crawl with all their slime and damnable hypocrisy into the temples of the living God. They may pass by these, but they will have to pass by the angels and the Gods, before they get through, and they will never inherit the kingdom of God. Hear it, you sisters! Hear it, you brethren! Hear it, you bishops, and you presidents of stakes! Watch, well and know well what you are doing, when you sign recommends for doubtful characters to go into these holy places. We do not want them there. It is not their place, and you will have to account for your acts if you permit these things knowingly, It is necessary that you should be particular about these matters, for you will have to answer for your doings as I have for mine. We cannot, because of relationship, because somebody is a cousin, or an uncle, or an aunt, or a brother, or a sister, or a son or a daughter, or a father or a mother—we cannot admit and will not admit them to any of these holy places unless they are worthy. I call upon you if you know of adulterers or adulteresses, or people that practice these unnatural infamies, to sever them from the church; they shall not have a place in the church and kingdom of God.—JD, 25:316-317, October 6 and 7, 1884.

Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p.99

Bishops and stake presidents are sentinels to guard the temples. The bishops and presidents of stakes should stand as sentinels, and they should not allow any to pass by them into the temple that are unworthy. It is something like what we learn in the temple about a time that is coming when persons who go into the celestial kingdom will have to pass by the angels and the gods. (3 April 1897, DW, 54:482.)

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.2, p.36-37

The Father has promised through the Son that all that he has shall be given to those who are obedient to his commandments. They shall increase in knowledge, wisdom, and power, going from grace to grace, until the fulness of the perfect day shall burst upon them. They shall, through the glory and blessing of the Almighty, become creators. All power, and dominion, and might shall be given to them, and they shall be the only ones upon whom this great blessing shall be bestowed.

All others, no matter how much learning, wisdom, and power, they may obtain, shall nevertheless be restricted in their several spheres, for they cannot attain to the fulness which is held in reserve for those who are permitted to pass by the angels and the gods who are set to guard the way to this great exaltation.

GAINING A FULNESS OF LIGHT AND TRUTH. "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." These are the words of our Master, and it is obedience to him and his word that unlocks the glories and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. They cannot be unlocked in any other way.

All light, all truth come from God. That which is not from him does not edify but brings darkness. If we will continue in God; that is, keep his commandments, worship him and love his truth; then the time will come when we shall be bathed in the fulness of truth, which shall grow brighter and brighter until the perfect day. Here then, we find power wisdom, advancement, the knowledge which is perfect and which can only be obtained through continuing in God by obedience unto him."

FULL OBEDIENCE LEADS TO JOINT-HEIRSHIP. Now if we want to become heirs, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, possessing the blessings of the kingdom, there is only one thing required of you and of me, and that is that we keep the whole law, not a part of it only. Do you think it would be fair, just, proper, for the Lord to say to us: "I will give unto you commandments; you may keep them if you will; you may be indifferent about the matter if you will; keep some, reject others; or, partially keep some; and I will punish you, but then I will make it up to you, and all will be well."

When a man marries a wife by his word and they are sealed by his authority, "they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things," "as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fullness and of continuation of the seeds forever and ever."

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., The Way to Perfection, p.246

Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.—D.C. 132:20.

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., The Way to Perfection, p.246-247

In order to obtain these blessings, obedience must be given to the marriage covenant ordained by the Lord. "For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world, neither do ye know me. But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that where I am, ye shall be also."—D.C. 132: 22-23.

Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye In Holy Places, p.52

In other words, baptism is only efficacious, and the initiary ordinance is applicable, when it is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. We have that same phrase repeated in section 132, verse 19, for the Lord is speaking now of celestial marriage.

". . . if a man marry a wife by my word and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of Promise, they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things….

The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.51

Those without eternal marriage may be angels. Now, the angels will be the people who did not go to the temple, who did not have their work done in the temple. And if there are some of us who make no effort to cement these ties, we may be angels for the rest of eternity. But if we do all in our power and seal our wives or husbands to us ... then we may become gods and pass by the angels in heaven. (75-39)

SIGNS AND TOKENS

Discourses of Brigham Young, p.416

Let me give you a definition in brief. Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.

Burton, ed., We Believe, Temples

Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the holy Priesthood, and gain eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell. (Oration delivered on laying the South-East Cornerstone of the Salt Lake Temple, April 1853, JD2:31) DBY:416; MPSG1988:157

Franklin D. Richards and James A. Little, A Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel, p.148

Passages are numerous in the inspired writings in which it says '"The Lord hath spoken;" "The Lord spake;" "Thus saith the Lord;" etc. He has often revealed his will through the ministrations of angels, by visions and dreams, by signs and tokens; but the more general way has been through the agency of his Spirit, or the Holy Ghost.

Signs and Tokens

Franklin D. Richards and James A. Little, A Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel, p.229

Signs may or may not be miraculous manifestations. They may indicate something that has taken place, and also be a token of a continuance of some certain blessing. For instance, the Lord covenanted with Noah, and with every living creature, that he would not again destroy all flesh from the earth with a flood.