The Transfigured Doctrine of Christ – 2 Nephi 31-32 Mormon 8

[superdan]

Preface to this thread:
Stating facts or belief about history and scripture is not criticism of the church. My purpose is simply to repent and leave Babylon behind. “One of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to receive truth, let it come from where it may.” (Joseph Smith - 9 July 1843 (Sunday Morning), The Words of Joseph Smith)

There are several controversial topics relative to Mormon doctrine that seem to keep coming up on LDSFF. The discussion is ranging all over on the forum. I’ve started threads on some of these to centralize discussion if anyone desires to participate. Obviously my threads start with my bias which I believe to be true. I have no credentials other than that I am acutely aware of what we teach as a culture and I have been awakened by God to consider alternative perspective.

Here are the divisive topics if you feel inclined to comment on any of it. (I didn’t start all of these.)

The Transfigured Doctrine of Christ – 2 Nephi 31-32 (Mormon 8:33)
The Condemned Church D&C 84
The Polluted Holy Church Mormon Chapter 8
The Plainness of Isaiah

Priesthood Keys - Frederick
The Gentiles – ChicagoElder

Definitions from The Guide to the Scriptures:
Salvation: To be saved from both physical and spiritual death.
Exaltation: The highest state of happiness and glory in the celestial kingdom. i.e. Receiving the fullness of the Father.

The Transfigured Doctrine of Christ – 2 Nephi 31-32 (Mormon 8:33)

Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls?

This topic is perhaps the root of the division relative to all the other topics. The main question at hand is this. Is the central point of the doctrine of Christ the idea that we must seek personal audience with the Savior while in the flesh in order to be saved or is it not? The answer is yes, this is THE doctrine of Christ. To be saved from spiritual death one must re-enter Gods presence. All discussion on this topic necessarily revolves around the concept of rebirth. The symbolism of the ordinances is blatant. Whether that rebirth has actually occurred is a critical question. Heaven must approve. Unless a man is born again of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. (John 3) This requires becoming reborn a son of God. (i.e. overcoming spiritual death by being born anew a son of the Savior). The process is outlined in Moses 6:58-68. “… and thus all may become my sons.” Read it. The bar is much higher than we are teaching. The fruits of being born of the spirit are spectacular and record must be born in heaven of the rebirth. It is not automatic. It is tied directly to salvation.

Nephi defines the Doctrine of Christ in 2 Nephi 32:5-6: “… I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do. Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ …” Nephi clearly and unambiguously states that the doctrine of Christ is to get the Holy Ghost and do what the Holy Ghost tells you to do. (i.e. To be reborn of fire and the Spirit.) He follows that point with the reason for the requisite rebirth: “and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.” This is because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. You can’t get the fullness (i.e. regain the presence of The Father) except by and through Him. This is talking about personally knowing Jesus Christ. This is what Lectures on Faith is all about. The Holy Ghost leads to Jesus, and Jesus leads to the Father IN THIS LIFE. That is the fullness of the Gospel. (also D&C 93:1, D&C 88:63-68) Is it not interesting that the baptismal ordinance concludes with “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen”

Wrapping up 2 Nephi 32, Nephi laments that he has said it plainly so as to not be misunderstood but that people will still misunderstand because they harden their hearts to the truth. Let’s not make the mistake of personalizing chapter 31 and then saying 32 applies to the Nephites at the time of Christ’s death. Chapter 32 is a continuation of 31.

Is it necessary to teach this doctrine? Yes. Anything less leads to unbelief. God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34) His work and glory is to save us. (Moses 1:39) If we do not believe we can meet Jesus face to face in this life we do not understand what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ and to be saved. This is what it means. We are to seek to know this Jesus face to face. (Ether 12:39-41) Jesus taught His doctrine in 3 Nephi 11:33 He says: “And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Believing in Christ (OUR SAVIOR) includes a correct understanding of his nature and attributes as explained in Lectures on Faith; including that He is no respecter of persons. Belief in Christ is belief that He will redeem you from the fall by bringing you back into His presence as soon as you are willing; in the flesh. He will help you be reborn and inherit the kingdom. It is the same path the Brother of Jared walked. (Ether 3:12-13) “And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil.” (3 Nephi 11:40)

The fact that this doctrine is not plainly taught to everyone including small children is evidence that we have transfigured the holy word of God. (Mormon 8:33) We teach that we must follow the steps of baptism and confirmation at age 8, followed by priesthood for men, and temple ordinances and enduring to the end of our lives in order to be judged and finally ascend to the celestial kingdom AFTER WE DIE. This is similar to other traditional Christian denominations. We simply have a longer checklist and then either we get to the highest degree of the Celestial kingdom (heaven) or it will be essentially 2nd best (hell) for us.

By not teaching this doctrine we have excluded the possibility of and need for ministering angels, visions, personal manifestations, the voice of God, calling and election being made sure etc. from our minds for the most part. It would be nice to experience some of that but it is not necessary if one has been “sealed in the temple” we think. Hence we dwindle in unbelief. It is a most subtle deception to teach the steps of the path from the standpoint that we will finally meet God if we are faithful after we die. This runs counter to what Joseph Smith taught that in order to be saved one must have “an actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing, is according to his will.” (Lectures on Faith 3) In order to have such knowledge one must receive the Testimony of Jesus which would complete the rebirth process. (This is when Jesus testifies to heaven that you are His child and makes your election and rebirth sure. In other words this is the Holy Spirit of Promise. Paraphrasing Joseph Smith - 21 May 1843 (Sunday Morning). Temple Stand. The Words of Joseph Smith)

Alma 34:34 indicates that what you are now (your spirit) is what you are in the hereafter. If you’re not seeking to know Him face to face now you won’t after you die. (In contrast for you men, if you seek porn now, you will seek it after you die.) D&C 76:114-118 indicates that if you don’t experience "the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh," (see hear and know) you may not be able to abide celestial glory in the world to come. The church is under condemnation as of 1832 for not doing these things. We have in the past paid them lip service but have not done what was required of us. (D&C 84:57) These are God’s words, not mine. Moses plainly taught this doctrine as did Joseph. (D&C 84:23) D&C 84 is addressed in a different post. No one likes to get chastised, but remember the Lord chastens those He loves. (Revelations 3:19, Ether 2:14)

The doctrine of Christ is exciting. It means the stuff that we all want to believe about receiving angels and meeting God is real. What LDS kid hasn’t wanted to be like Joseph Smith? The fact that this doctrine is not plainly taught explains why there is so little “spiritual” activity among us. We prefer unbelief. We prefer darkness over light (This is the condemnation. John 3:19) We fear someone might get deceived. Those with authentic spiritual gifts tend to remain underground. The reason there is division among us on this forum is due to our secular humanist backgrounds where we have to rationalize everything and reconcile it to our preconceived notions that we learned in the great and spacious building (the world). We are spiritual beings and are meant to connect to heaven in meaningful and mind expanding ways just like Joseph Smith and the prophets have and just like the followers of the way have always done. There will always be resistance to this idea. In our case we transfigured it and attempt as a whole to deflect interest in it because few there be that embrace it.

Matt 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

[Lizzy60]

Thank you for this beautiful explanation of the Doctrine of Christ.
I listened very carefully to all of Conference, and I did not hear anything close to this. There was a warning that if we miss a Sacrament Meeting we are in danger of falling completely away from the Church. There was a very sad example given of a poorly-prepared home teacher who happened to call on three Apostles having dinner with their wives. I'm sure glad he was put in his place and was given as a bad example to all you home teachers out there. :ymsigh: The feminists were put in their place, as were any of us who have ever harbored a doubt. The entire conference was tinged with secular humanism. Heaven forbid anyone should prophecy, or revelate, or speak in tongues, or instruct us on how to receive ministering angels.
I don't believe that we are under condemnation because we don't READ the Book of Mormon, but rather we are under condemnation because we don't believe that the Nephi, Alma, Amulek, Helaman, Moroni, etc, etc, experiences are also available to each and every one of us AND WE SHOULD BE SEEKING THEM!!!! Instead we are taught that these are exceptions and not the rule, and we are not to engage in day-long prayers, or look for miracles or angels. No wonder it's so easy to nap during our general conferences. :-\

[soldierboy]

I need a little help!

What is the exact 1830 meaning of the term "transfigure/transfiguration" as used in 2Nephi?
I looked in the 1828 dictionary, and it wasn't very helpful (at least on first reading).

This is what it said:
TRANSFIGURA'TION, n. 1. A change of form; particularly, the supernatural change in the personal appearance of our Savior on the mount. See Matt. 17. 2.

Is it a synonym of "transform" with a negative connotation as used in scripture? Or more likely "twisted into unrecognizable shape"?

[superdan]

transfigure TRANSFIG'URE, v.t. [L. trans and figura.] To transform; to change the outward form or appearance.
--And was transfigured before them. Matt. 17.

transfigure: transform into something more beautiful or elevated.

However Moroni's quote is:

Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls?

So I think the generally accepted meaning was "to change something in form or appearance" not necessarily in a good or bad way. Moroni put the negative spin on it.

Your question was about the meaning of "transfigure" in 2 Nephi, but I don't think the word appears in 2 Nephi. Here's the search from scriptures.lds.org. http://www.lds.org/scriptures/search?la ... re&x=0&y=0 (But I've found in a rare case that their search didn't always bring up all the results on a given word oddly.) According to the search the word transfigure appears only once in the Book of Mormon.

To use a pop culture analogy ... the Transformers[TM] are robots in disguise... ;-) They transfigure themselves all the time.

[soldierboy]

Ok, thanks, I get it now. Should have done that search myself before I asked!

In the OP you are saying that the true doctrine of Christ is expressed in 2 Ne 31-32, and in Mormon 8 it is shown to be negatively transformed.

Interesting side-note on that --
in the BYU Compendium of GC Talks (http://corpus.byu.edu/gc/x.asp?w=1024&h=600" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), it is pointed out that GC use of such terms as [apostate], gentile, heathen, gods, tobacco, calling and election, gather*, Zion, have decreased over time.

So that is a bit of evidence that the true doctrine of Christ is definitely taking a back seat at the GC podium -- so sad!

[Ides3Life]

Thank you for the original posts and all of the scripture references that went along with it. I am surprised to find that I have never understood the doctrine of Christ in this way before and yet it is there, in the scriptures, in plainness.

[TZONE]

Thank you for this beautiful explanation of the Doctrine of Christ.
I listened very carefully to all of Conference, and I did not hear anything close to this. There was a warning that if we miss a Sacrament Meeting we are in danger of falling completely away from the Church. There was a very sad example given of a poorly-prepared home teacher who happened to call on three Apostles having dinner with their wives. I'm sure glad he was put in his place and was given as a bad example to all you home teachers out there. :ymsigh: The feminists were put in their place, as were any of us who have ever harbored a doubt. The entire conference was tinged with secular humanism. Heaven forbid anyone should prophecy, or revelate, or speak in tongues, or instruct us on how to receive ministering angels.
I don't believe that we are under condemnation because we don't READ the Book of Mormon, but rather we are under condemnation because we don't believe that the Nephi, Alma, Amulek, Helaman, Moroni, etc, etc, experiences are also available to each and every one of us AND WE SHOULD BE SEEKING THEM!!!! Instead we are taught that these are exceptions and not the rule, and we are not to engage in day-long prayers, or look for miracles or angels. No wonder it's so easy to nap during our general conferences. :-\

Seriously how often do they talk about receiving the gifts othe spirit? How about the gift of prophesying, seership, and all other gifts and should seek after them. About receiving true messengers (oh they are the only ones so they don't need to). Angels, God, conversing with the Lord through the veil. How many teach that baptism is the gate, which is not? Many. I hear have heard it twice in two weeks at church also in a row. The blind lead the blind in the wards I go to.

I read this, this morning. If we understand something or lack knowledge in something which causes us not to teach it. We in return pervert the right way of the Lord.

Mosaiah 12:25 And now Abinadi said unto them: Are you priests, and pretend to teach this people, and to understand the spirit of prophesying, and yet desire to know of me what these things mean?

26 I say unto you, wo be unto you for perverting the ways of the Lord! For if ye understand these things ye have not taught them; therefore, ye have perverted the ways of the Lord.

27 Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?

28 And they said: We teach the law of Moses.

29 And again he said unto them: If ye teach the law of Moses why do ye not keep it? Why do ye set your hearts upon riches? Why do ye commit whoredoms and spend your strength with harlots, yea, and cause this people to commit sin, that the Lord has cause to send me to prophesy against this people, yea, even a great evil against this people?

I will be shocked to hear a message about our need to enter into the rest of God, receiving his presence, C&E, second comforter, or any related doctrine such as taught in the lectures on faith.

[superdan]

The Savior has the words of Eternal life--nothing else can profit us--there is no salvation in believing an evil report against our neighbor--I advise all to go on to perfection and search deeper and deeper into the mysteries of Godliness.

Oh! I beseech you to forward, go forward and make your calling and your election sure--and if any man preach any other gospel with that which I have preached, he shall be cursed.

Words of Joseph Smith 12 May 1844 (Sunday Morning) Temple Stand

[Gideon]

The term "the doctrine of Christ" shows up in 2 Nephi 31, 32, Jacob 7, and 3 Nephi 2.

Jacob and 3 Nephi refer to the general idea that there is a Christ. You have already quoted 2 Nephi 32.

The biggest discussion is in 2 Nephi 31. Nephi begins the discussion by saying:
Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me, save it be a few words which I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ; wherefore, I shall speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying.
(2 Nephi 31:2)

Then he teaches concerning faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, including: baptism of fire and speaking with the tongue of angels, and enduring to the end.

He ends with:

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.
(2 Nephi 31:21)

The doctrine of Christ gives us some high level principles and ordinances that we can study in-depth. For example, as we study the gift of the Holy Ghost we run into these verses, which take us well beyond the concept of "laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost":

47 And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.
48 And the Father teacheth him ...
(Doctrine and Covenants 84:47–48)

Studying, understanding, and living by the doctrine of Christ, will eventually lead us into His presence. As I thought about that this morning, the thought occurred to me that seeing the Father is nothing compared to being the Father. And it is the fullness of the Father that is our ultimate objective.

[jftl165]

For those that are critical of the General Authorities and what they teach (or don’t teach)…What if Nephi is also saying this is a personal journey that involves a lot of prayer and seeking individually so that we are tutored according to our own unique understanding, line upon line. What if the gift of the Holy Ghost, a member of the Godhead!, is for a real purpose other than giving us good feelings in Church meetings? What if these things are to be sought and not taught? Clearly, Nephi wasn’t allowed to say too much, either. On much smaller issues, I have experienced things that the Spirit has restrained me from sharing - as if they are not appropriate to be shared.

I love this scripture describing Abraham's quest:

2 And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.

Is not further light and knowledge a personal quest involving personal discipline and essentially individually sought/earned?