Is the COJCOLDS the Kingdom of God?

[investigator]

Is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the same as the Kingdom of God?

Joseph Smith said this...

the “literal kingdom of God [that is, the Council of Fifty], and the church of God are two distinct things” as “the laws of the kingdom are not designed to affect our salvation hereafter.” (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. xxiii.)

[Alaris]

So "No" then.

[inho]

[The church] continued to function as normal and continued to be responsible for ecclesiastical matters such as appointing officers, disciplining members, teaching doctrine, and performing ordinances. The Council of Fifty, in contrast, was a temporal or political body created to protect the Church and provide it space to flourish.

As Joseph Smith explained to the council in April 1844: “There is a distinction between the Church of God and kingdom of God [or Council of Fifty]. The laws of the kingdom are not designed to effect our salvation hereafter. It is an entire, distinct and separate government. The church is a spiritual matter and a spiritual kingdom; but the kingdom which Daniel saw was not a spiritual kingdom, but was designed to be got up for the safety and salvation of the saints by protecting them in their religious rights and worship.”

Council of Fifty in Nauvoo, Illinois (history.lds.org)

Based on this, no.
That said, the phrase Kingdom of God may be used to mean several different things. In spiritual sense, Church is the kingdom of God:

The kingdom of God on earth is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (D&C 65). The purpose of the Church is to prepare its members to live forever in the celestial kingdom or kingdom of heaven. However, the scriptures sometimes call the Church the kingdom of heaven, meaning that the Church is the kingdom of heaven on earth.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on the earth, but it is at present limited to an ecclesiastical kingdom. During the Millennium, the kingdom of God will be both political and ecclesiastical.

Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven (Guide to Scriptures)

[Robin Hood]

I think of the church as being a subsidiary of the Kingdom.

[Durzan]

I see it as the spiritual component of the Kingdom of God. Just as our spirit bodies were organized before our physical bodies... so too was the church organized before Zion, the physical Kingdom of God.

Note that just because the Church is the spiritual component doesn't mean it isn't perfect and in need of cleansing.

[AI2.0]

From revelation through Joseph Smith, Yes. The Church is the Kingdom of God on earth. It is an ecclesiastical kingdom, until the Lord returns to rule the world.

See D&C 65:2

"The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth."

And then verse 5:
"Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth."

6 "Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of Heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on Earth..."

[investigator]

From revelation through Joseph Smith, Yes. The Church is the Kingdom of God on earth. It is an ecclesiastical kingdom, until the Lord returns to rule the world.

See D&C 65:2

"The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth." The gospel will roll forth not the church. The gospel will roll forth as the stone. It is not the stone that will roll forth, that will be the Kingdom of God that will destroy the earthly Kingdoms. Do you really see the COJCOLDS destroying any earthly kingdoms?

And then verse 5:
"Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth." This is yet to happen.

6 "Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of Heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on Earth..."

There is a distinction between the Church of God and kingdom of God. The laws of the kingdom are not designed to affect our salvation hereafter. It is an entire, distinct and separate government. (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 128.)

[T]he kingdom which Daniel saw was not a spiritual kingdom, but was designed to be got up for the safety and salvation of the saints by protecting them in their religious rights and worship. ..The literal kingdom of God, and the church of God are two distinct things. (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 128.)

[T]here is not an original kingdom on earth that holds the rightful authority from the king of Kings and Lord of Lords, to govern his subjects: but that all the nations have obtained their power, rule and authority by usurpation, rebellion, bloodshed, tyranny and fraud; (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 111.)

We see from these quotes that Joseph Smith was beginning to bring forth "The Kingdom of God" in the council of fifty. His time was cut short and he was unable to lay out what it was to be. The Kingdom of God, which will be the New Jerusalem and Zion are yet future but will be established in this dispensation.

[Jonesy]

From revelation through Joseph Smith, Yes. The Church is the Kingdom of God on earth. It is an ecclesiastical kingdom, until the Lord returns to rule the world.

See D&C 65:2

"The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth." The gospel will roll forth not the church. The gospel will roll forth as the stone. It is not the stone that will roll forth, that will be the Kingdom of God that will destroy the earthly Kingdoms. Do you really see the COJCOLDS destroying any earthly kingdoms?

And then verse 5:
"Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth." This is yet to happen.

6 "Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of Heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on Earth..."

There is a distinction between the Church of God and kingdom of God. The laws of the kingdom are not designed to affect our salvation hereafter. It is an entire, distinct and separate government. (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 128.)

[T]he kingdom which Daniel saw was not a spiritual kingdom, but was designed to be got up for the safety and salvation of the saints by protecting them in their religious rights and worship. ..The literal kingdom of God, and the church of God are two distinct things. (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 128.)

[T]here is not an original kingdom on earth that holds the rightful authority from the king of Kings and Lord of Lords, to govern his subjects: but that all the nations have obtained their power, rule and authority by usurpation, rebellion, bloodshed, tyranny and fraud; (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 111.)

We see from these quotes that Joseph Smith was beginning to bring forth "The Kingdom of God" in the council of fifty. His time was cut short and he was unable to lay out what it was to be. The Kingdom of God, which will be the New Jerusalem and Zion are yet future but will be established in this dispensation.

Still future, sure; church still has the keys, though. There’s not really any way out of that part.

[diligently seeking]

From revelation through Joseph Smith, Yes. The Church is the Kingdom of God on earth. It is an ecclesiastical kingdom, until the Lord returns to rule the world.

See D&C 65:2

"The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth." The gospel will roll forth not the church. The gospel will roll forth as the stone. It is not the stone that will roll forth, that will be the Kingdom of God that will destroy the earthly Kingdoms. Do you really see the COJCOLDS destroying any earthly kingdoms?

And then verse 5:
"Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth." This is yet to happen.

6 "Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of Heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on Earth..."

There is a distinction between the Church of God and kingdom of God. The laws of the kingdom are not designed to affect our salvation hereafter. It is an entire, distinct and separate government. (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 128.)

[T]he kingdom which Daniel saw was not a spiritual kingdom, but was designed to be got up for the safety and salvation of the saints by protecting them in their religious rights and worship. ..The literal kingdom of God, and the church of God are two distinct things. (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 128.)

[T]here is not an original kingdom on earth that holds the rightful authority from the king of Kings and Lord of Lords, to govern his subjects: but that all the nations have obtained their power, rule and authority by usurpation, rebellion, bloodshed, tyranny and fraud; (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 111.)

We see from these quotes that Joseph Smith was beginning to bring forth "The Kingdom of God" in the council of fifty. His time was cut short and he was unable to lay out what it was to be. The Kingdom of God, which will be the New Jerusalem and Zion are yet future but will be established in this dispensation.

Still future, sure; church still has the keys, though. There’s not really any way out of that part.

As mentioned in multiple places in scriptures prior to the Lord returing and being ABLE reign as king of kings and Lord of Lords where his kingdom has been established upon the earth--- We are told the times of the Gentile will come to an end. We are also told that the seed or remnant of Jacob will be the religious entity if you will that helps to usher in Christ's Millennial reign.

How does understanding the truth of these prophetic expressions help us to see and act properly on our shared religious circumstances around us?

[AI2.0]

From revelation through Joseph Smith, Yes. The Church is the Kingdom of God on earth. It is an ecclesiastical kingdom, until the Lord returns to rule the world.

See D&C 65:2

"The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth." The gospel will roll forth not the church. The gospel will roll forth as the stone. It is not the stone that will roll forth, that will be the Kingdom of God that will destroy the earthly Kingdoms. Do you really see the COJCOLDS destroying any earthly kingdoms?

And then verse 5:
"Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth." This is yet to happen.

6 "Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of Heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on Earth..."

There is a distinction between the Church of God and kingdom of God. The laws of the kingdom are not designed to affect our salvation hereafter. It is an entire, distinct and separate government. (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 128.)

[T]he kingdom which Daniel saw was not a spiritual kingdom, but was designed to be got up for the safety and salvation of the saints by protecting them in their religious rights and worship. ..The literal kingdom of God, and the church of God are two distinct things. (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 128.)

[T]here is not an original kingdom on earth that holds the rightful authority from the king of Kings and Lord of Lords, to govern his subjects: but that all the nations have obtained their power, rule and authority by usurpation, rebellion, bloodshed, tyranny and fraud; (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 111.)

We see from these quotes that Joseph Smith was beginning to bring forth "The Kingdom of God" in the council of fifty. His time was cut short and he was unable to lay out what it was to be. The Kingdom of God, which will be the New Jerusalem and Zion are yet future but will be established in this dispensation.

Ah, I understand now. I thought you were sincere.
You already knew the church's answer (and what most LDS would say).

My answer came straight from Joseph Smith and is the official belief of the church, but obviously this was one of those questions designed to allow you to present your opinion.

I could give more examples of why I answered 'yes' to your question, but really, I'm not interested in these kind of games.

[Jonesy]

From revelation through Joseph Smith, Yes. The Church is the Kingdom of God on earth. It is an ecclesiastical kingdom, until the Lord returns to rule the world.

See D&C 65:2

"The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth." The gospel will roll forth not the church. The gospel will roll forth as the stone. It is not the stone that will roll forth, that will be the Kingdom of God that will destroy the earthly Kingdoms. Do you really see the COJCOLDS destroying any earthly kingdoms?

And then verse 5:
"Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth." This is yet to happen.

6 "Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of Heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on Earth..."

There is a distinction between the Church of God and kingdom of God. The laws of the kingdom are not designed to affect our salvation hereafter. It is an entire, distinct and separate government. (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 128.)

[T]he kingdom which Daniel saw was not a spiritual kingdom, but was designed to be got up for the safety and salvation of the saints by protecting them in their religious rights and worship. ..The literal kingdom of God, and the church of God are two distinct things. (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 128.)

[T]here is not an original kingdom on earth that holds the rightful authority from the king of Kings and Lord of Lords, to govern his subjects: but that all the nations have obtained their power, rule and authority by usurpation, rebellion, bloodshed, tyranny and fraud; (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 111.)

We see from these quotes that Joseph Smith was beginning to bring forth "The Kingdom of God" in the council of fifty. His time was cut short and he was unable to lay out what it was to be. The Kingdom of God, which will be the New Jerusalem and Zion are yet future but will be established in this dispensation.

Still future, sure; church still has the keys, though. There’s not really any way out of that part.

As mentioned in multiple places in scriptures prior to the Lord returing and being ABLE reign as king of kings and Lord of Lords where his kingdom has been established upon the earth--- We are told the times of the Gentile will come to an end. We are also told that the seed or remnant of Jacob will be the religious entity if you will that helps to usher in Christ's Millennial reign.

How does understanding the truth of these prophetic expressions help us to see and act properly on our shared religious circumstances around us?

It means that until that happens, stay in the church and don’t fight against it.

[inho]

This is one of those questions that has a clear answer only if we can assume that everybody uses the terms in a same way. I think we can all agree on what the church is. On the other hand, 'Kingdom of God' is a term I can see being used in many different ways.

The quote in the OP raises several interesting questions, though. What is the role of the church in prepairing the political kingdom of god? Is the work of Council of 50 continued today? How? etc.

[Col. Flagg]

The church is nothing more than a vehicle to help us get back to our Heavenly Father. In fact, the gospel of Jesus Christ and the 'church' are two entirely different things right now - they are not interchangeable.

[diligently seeking]

We see from these quotes that Joseph Smith was beginning to bring forth "The Kingdom of God" in the council of fifty. His time was cut short and he was unable to lay out what it was to be. The Kingdom of God, which will be the New Jerusalem and Zion are yet future but will be established in this dispensation.

Still future, sure; church still has the keys, though. There’s not really any way out of that part.

As mentioned in multiple places in scriptures prior to the Lord returing and being ABLE reign as king of kings and Lord of Lords where his kingdom has been established upon the earth--- We are told the times of the Gentile will come to an end. We are also told that the seed or remnant of Jacob will be the religious entity if you will that helps to usher in Christ's Millennial reign.

How does understanding the truth of these prophetic expressions help us to see and act properly on our shared religious circumstances around us?

It means that until that happens, stay in the church and don’t fight against it.

What occurs that allows a gentile you and me to transition from this standing to becoming apart of those who will be with Christ in Zion? Christ spoke to you and me and all members of the gentile latter day church giving the answer. As we allow the Holy Spirit to interpret the clear message of the scriptures and not the arm of the flesh--- we see increased clarity on what the Lord's talking about throughout holy writ. will we have eyes that see ears that hear a mind that is open to the unfolding of mystries of heaven and a heart that understands?

3nephi 16
10 And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.
11 And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them.
12 And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fulness of my gospel.
13 But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel.
14 And I will not suffer my people, who are of the house of Israel, to go through among them, and tread them down, saith the Father.
15 But if they will not turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, I will suffer them, yea, I will suffer my people, O house of Israel, that they shall go through among them, and shall tread them down, and they shall be as salt that hath lost its savor, which is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of my people, O house of Israel.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, thus hath the Father commanded me—that I should give unto this people this land for their inheritance.
17 And then the words of the prophet Isaiah shall be fulfilled, which say:
18 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing, for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion.
19 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
20 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God.

[Thinker]

The church is nothing more than a vehicle to help us get back to our Heavenly Father. In fact, the gospel of Jesus Christ and the 'church' are two entirely different things right now - they are not interchangeable.

Well put - both points. I like how you symbolically compared the church to a vehicle - the church is not the designation itself, but rather help in getting where we ultimately want to go.

The simplest scripture has made the most profound change in how I’ve come to see things. First off consider the word, “kingdom” as in “realm” and think of it as with most scriptures - spiritually. When asked when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither shall they say, lo here, or lo there. Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Think about it. Can you experience God anywhere except within you?

[investigator]

AI2, You don’t think anyone is sincere unless they agree with you. These quotes are from Joseph. You can chose to dismiss them at your pleasure.

From revelation through Joseph Smith, Yes. The Church is the Kingdom of God on earth. It is an ecclesiastical kingdom, until the Lord returns to rule the world.

See D&C 65:2

"The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth." The gospel will roll forth not the church. The gospel will roll forth as the stone. It is not the stone that will roll forth, that will be the Kingdom of God that will destroy the earthly Kingdoms. Do you really see the COJCOLDS destroying any earthly kingdoms?

And then verse 5:
"Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth." This is yet to happen.

6 "Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of Heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on Earth..."

There is a distinction between the Church of God and kingdom of God. The laws of the kingdom are not designed to affect our salvation hereafter. It is an entire, distinct and separate government. (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 128.)

[T]he kingdom which Daniel saw was not a spiritual kingdom, but was designed to be got up for the safety and salvation of the saints by protecting them in their religious rights and worship. ..The literal kingdom of God, and the church of God are two distinct things. (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 128.)

[T]here is not an original kingdom on earth that holds the rightful authority from the king of Kings and Lord of Lords, to govern his subjects: but that all the nations have obtained their power, rule and authority by usurpation, rebellion, bloodshed, tyranny and fraud; (JS Papers Administrative Records, p. 111.)

We see from these quotes that Joseph Smith was beginning to bring forth "The Kingdom of God" in the council of fifty. His time was cut short and he was unable to lay out what it was to be. The Kingdom of God, which will be the New Jerusalem and Zion are yet future but will be established in this dispensation.

Ah, I understand now. I thought you were sincere.
You already knew the church's answer (and what most LDS would say).

My answer came straight from Joseph Smith and is the official belief of the church, but obviously this was one of those questions designed to allow you to present your opinion.

I could give more examples of why I answered 'yes' to your question, but really, I'm not interested in these kind of games.

[diligently seeking]

The church is nothing more than a vehicle to help us get back to our Heavenly Father. In fact, the gospel of Jesus Christ and the 'church' are two entirely different things right now - they are not interchangeable.

Well put - both points. I like how you symbolically compared the church to a vehicle - the church is not the designation itself, but rather help in getting where we ultimately want to go.

The simplest scripture has made the most profound change in how I’ve come to see things. First off consider the word, “kingdom” as in “realm” and think of it as with most scriptures - spiritually. When asked when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither shall they say, lo here, or lo there. Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Think about it. Can you experience God anywhere except within you?

What is this change that occurs within us which is vital to being worthy to be where he will reign in the very near distant future:

President David O. McKay tells of a singular event that happened to him. After falling asleep, he said he “beheld in vision something infinitely sublime.” He saw a beautiful city, a great concourse of people dressed in white, and the Savior.

“The city, I understood, was his. It was the City Eternal; and the people following him were to abide there in peace and eternal happiness.

“But who were they?

“As if the Savior read my thoughts, he answered by pointing to a semicircle that then appeared above them, and on which were written in gold the words:

“These Are They Who Have Overcome the World—Who Have Truly Been Born Again!

[Finrock]

As great as the Church is, the Kingdom of God it is not. No unclean thing can dwell in the Kingdom of God. Church is composed of the wheat and the tares right now. The Kingdom of God is just the wheat. Or, put another way, all those who have the Holy Ghost and are living by the Holy Ghost are the Kingdom of God. All those who do not have the Holy Ghost and are not living by the Holy Ghost are not the Kingdom of God. Or, put another way, the Church as an institution can't be the Kingdom of God until all unrighteousness is purged from it as if by fire and we are left with just the sheep. Those who are pure in heart, meek, humble, kind, good, generous, and full of charity. Zion is the Kingdom of God and the Church is not Zion. Heaven help us if Zion is the current Church!

-Finrock

[Thinker]

Well put - both points. I like how you symbolically compared the church to a vehicle - the church is not the designation itself, but rather help in getting where we ultimately want to go.

The simplest scripture has made the most profound change in how I’ve come to see things. First off consider the word, “kingdom” as in “realm” and think of it as with most scriptures - spiritually. When asked when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither shall they say, lo here, or lo there. Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Think about it. Can you experience God anywhere except within you?

What is this change that occurs within us which is vital to being worthy to be where he will reign in the very near distant future:

President David O. McKay tells of a singular event that happened to him. After falling asleep, he said he “beheld in vision something infinitely sublime.” He saw a beautiful city, a great concourse of people dressed in white, and the Savior.

“The city, I understood, was his. It was the City Eternal; and the people following him were to abide there in peace and eternal happiness.

“But who were they?

“As if the Savior read my thoughts, he answered by pointing to a semicircle that then appeared above them, and on which were written in gold the words:

“These Are They Who Have Overcome the World—Who Have Truly Been Born Again!

That last part - is extremely profound!

Jordan Peterson was discussing an insightful interpretation of “the meek shall inherit the earth.” He suggested “meek” meant humble in the sense of having overcome their inner world - knowing they have both good and evil potential but consciously choosing the good. I believe that being born again involves a psychological (study of the soul) & spiritual “positive disintegration” which is confronting shadow (subconscious good & evil) aspects of ourselves so they can be purified. Some have referred to this as “dark night of the soul” which reminds me of Jesus’s experiences in Garden of Gathsemene, but I see it as something not usually done all at once in one night - but at different times throughout life.

Eckhart Tolle wrote about the Dark Night: "...a collapse of a perceived meaning in life... depression... Really what has collapsed then is the whole conceptual framework for your life, the meaning that your mind had given it. So that results in a dark place... and then there is the possibility that you emerge out of that into a transformed state of consciousness... awaken into something deeper, which is no longer based on concepts in your mind. A deeper sense of purpose or connectedness with a greater life... kind of rebirth. THe dark night of the soul is a kind of death that you die... Of course, death is painful, but nothing really has actually died there - only an illusory identity."

The meekness is needed when we want to cling to “old wine bottles” - old ways of thinking that we’ve outgrown spiritually. But when we are meek, we can be born again - and receive more.

[justkeepswimming]

I think of it as the corporate extension of heaven. However, many corporations take on a life of their own and I think we have allowed that with our church. We have fooled ourselves into thinking it's necessary and we can't exist w/o it. I think God is just biding his time till we figure this our on our own.

[simpleton]

No No No... The COJCOLDS from its first day of organization up to this day is not this Kingdom foresaw by Daniel as it is this Kingdom that literally eventually protects the LDS in their rights to worship God and live God's laws unmolested. Remember " The horn made war with the saints and prevailed". To this day the church is under the laws of the Federal Government ( Which government gives it it's tax exempt corporate status) which IMO is that " horn" the made war with the saints and prevailed... This Kingdom that will eventually be set up will defy all other kingdoms and nations. Or rather have the power to defy other Kingdoms/ Nations that desire to overcome the Kingdom of God when it is set up.... It will protect not just the saints but other religions also according to Joseph. When the initial Council of Fifty of the Kingdom of God was set in Nauvoo, there were 3 members that were not members of the LDS church that were members of that council of fifty.
Personally I believe until this Davidical Servant/ King comes that this Kingdom will not be set up. As think about it, it is a literally Kingdom, It will be set up here in America, and it will eventually subdue all nations, so, what nation or rather will the United States government accept the formation of a kingdom or government within its borders? Absolutely not, hence until someone comes with literal power from on high it will not happen. It is interesting but the Federal Government continued to make war and obnoxious laws against the COJC until they broke us as a united people...

Over one hundred years ago, in September 1891, there occurred in Huntsville, Utah, a strange incident. In this American town on a bright late summer morning with young cottonwoods and Lombardy poplars turning bright yellow along the streets and pockets of gold aspen and deep-red maples visible on the surrounding hills, Mormon church leaders went from door to door, assigning one family to be Democrats, the next to be Republicans. Thus were Mormons attempting to accommodate gentile political ways as a prerequisite for Utah statehood. David O. McKay, one of the most openly Republican of church presidents, confirmed this story of how his hometown of Huntsville had once divided by alternate houses, while Joseph Nelson, head of the Saltair Corporation, reported that in his Salt Lake City ward his bishop stood and declared all the Saints on one side of the aisle Democrats and all those on the other Republicans.1 In Rockville, in southern Utah, leaders divided the community down Main Street.2 Whatever the mechanism, in the early 1890s Mormon leaders, from the First Presidency through stake presidents down to bishops and other local leaders, were energetically engaged in a remarkably paradoxical enterprise. They went about proving that the rank-and-file was independent of political influence from the church hierarchy by directing Mormons, against their inclinations, to join the Republican party.

As everyone in Utah knew, a wholesale onslaught on Mormon beliefs had been led by the national Republican Party. Its initial platform [p.86]had promised in the 1850s to eradicate what it termed the “twin relics of barbarism”—slavery and polygamy. In response, Mormons formed the anti-Republican People’s Party, and applications for statehood were denied as increasingly punitive measures were passed against Mormons by the Republican-controlled national government. But by 1891 church leaders had become convinced it must disband the Mormon party to avoid “carpetbaggers,” Republican appointees from Washington, as they did in the devastated South, exercised insensitive, tyrannous control that essentially disenfranchised the local people. Church leaders knew that if things were left to chance, most Mormons would become Democrats and in reaction gentiles would become Republicans, perpetuating the bitter political/religious division that had plagued Utah territory since the formation of the anti-Mormon Liberal party in 1870....

Before this time most lds voted as a voting block for either party that they figured would treat them the best, so through the years they managed to upset both parties...

[simpleton]

read this....

https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/136/1/

[Thinker]

“These Are They Who Have Overcome the World—Who Have Truly Been Born Again!

That last part - is extremely profound!

Jordan Peterson was discussing an insightful interpretation of “the meek shall inherit the earth.” He suggested “meek” meant humble in the sense of having overcome their inner world - knowing they have both good and evil potential but consciously choosing the good. I believe that being born again involves a psychological (study of the soul) & spiritual “positive disintegration” which is confronting shadow (subconscious good & evil) aspects of ourselves so they can be purified. Some have referred to this as “dark night of the soul” which reminds me of Jesus’s experiences in Garden of Gathsemene, but I see it as something not usually done all at once in one night - but at different times throughout life.

Eckhart Tolle wrote about the Dark Night: "...a collapse of a perceived meaning in life... depression... Really what has collapsed then is the whole conceptual framework for your life, the meaning that your mind had given it. So that results in a dark place... and then there is the possibility that you emerge out of that into a transformed state of consciousness... awaken into something deeper, which is no longer based on concepts in your mind. A deeper sense of purpose or connectedness with a greater life... kind of rebirth. THe dark night of the soul is a kind of death that you die... Of course, death is painful, but nothing really has actually died there - only an illusory identity."

The meekness is needed when we want to cling to “old wine bottles” - old ways of thinking that we’ve outgrown spiritually. But when we are meek, we can be born again - and receive more.

More thoughts along that line...

The dark nights are also represented in the Adam & Eve parable - when they suddenly had a light bulb moment to realize how they saw things before wasn’t accurate- and there was a period of kind of being thrown out of the (illusion of the) garden to face the stark reality of weeds and wilderness. Ideally - we have many light-bulb moments - that may feel painful but only because it’s asking us to give up the old for something better - the gospel/good “new”s. Ideally - we are spiritually born again & again...

In several theories of spiritual developmental stages, the terms may vary, but essentially- after each resurrection of the dark night(s) - only then does one come closer to “putting on the mind of Christ.”

The difference may not be obvious - but is “subtle.” It’s the difference between outwardly not hitting or committing adultery... & not even thinking anything like it. This is the higher law Jesus (& probably Moses’s 1st set of commandments) suggested.

Applying this idea to not just sins but to the intent behind why I do “good” - I’ve realized that often I bent over backwards serving & subjugating myself not because it was an outpouring of love - but rather to please others. Not to please a higher GOoD- but to please people - to appear good and righteous. Since this realization (& especially my own struggle with self-sacrificing co-dependency), I’ve backed off a bit. I still serve - but more so when asked or when I feel the need to. I’m processing some “shadow” aspects - trying to heal - - striving to make weak things strong, hoping & believing it is helping me get closer to loving more purely & more often & clearly sensing the kingdom of God within me.

[diligently seeking]

I like the expression of transcending ones church membership and actually becoming a Saint / born of God through the atonement of Christ. This transition is shown quite well in mosiah 2-5.

[Rand]

If you will allow a statement by a current Apostle as authoritative : "The final reason I will mention for the Lord to have established His Church is the most unique—the Church is, after all, the kingdom of God on the earth.

As The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was being established in the 1830s, the Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith, “Lift up your hearts and rejoice, for unto you the kingdom, or in other words, the keys of the church have been given.”28 In the authority of these keys, the Church’s priesthood officers preserve the purity of the Savior’s doctrine and the integrity of His saving ordinances.29 They help prepare those who wish to receive them, judge the qualification and worthiness of those who apply, and then perform them." DTC Oct 2015

I think the Kingdom of God is a little more complex than we will have an easy time understanding. The LDS Church is not the Church of the Firstborn, but you can't get to the Church of the Firstborn unless you go through the LDS Church. Is HIs Kingdom limited to the Church of the Firstborn? Probably not, but then again...