Gravity, Science, and the Spirit World

Dear Readers,

To further my own personal education, in this case mostly informal, I have been watching several science videos on Youtube. Some of my favorites are by Brian Greene. I know he got some criticism on Big Bang Theory, but I am a firm believer in John Taylor's saying, "It is true intelligence for a man to take a subject that is mysterious and great in itself and to unfold and simplify it so that a child can understand it." By this definition of intelligence, I do believe that Greene is trying to be intelligent, and we can benefit from it. In return, I am trying to explain my ideas as "intelligently" as I can.

Anyway, this brings me possible ways to prove the scriptures and that spirits do exist. Now, I am going to try to explain it as best I can in roughly the same manner it was explained to me.

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First up is time. Now, we are all generally familiar with the concept of space, up-down (Y), left-right (X), forward-back (Z). However, most of us do not think about the fourth "dimension" or coordinate of time.

Sheldon Cooper in his spot Image Link

The application of this coordinate was quite exemplified by the character Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory. He determined that the first moment he sat down on his "spot" on the couch it became the 0 coordinate on his time spectrum. From then on, his life was separated in what I call, BS (before spot) and AS (after spot). I know my acronyms might seem funny, but we have something similar today with a meridian of time. BC vs AD. Now, I am familiar with the way most of us remember BC and AD, (Before Christ, and After Death), however AD actually stands for "anno domini" which is Latin that is generally translated as "in the year of our Lord". I think it is important to point out that 1 AD is from Christ's birth to His first year of age, or usually considered that year in which He was born. There is no "year 0". There would be a zero coordinate on a graph, but there is no Year 0. For example right now as I am writing this, it is August of 2016 AD. August, being the 8th month then becomes 8/12 or 2/3 in the year of our Lord 2016. It is a decision of an entire year number 2016. Like August itself, it begins August first and ends August thirty-first. Thus, going back to our meridian of time, seconds before Christ's birth was part of 1 BC and seconds after Christ's birth was part of 1 AD. What does this have to do with anything? It was just semantics I wanted to get off of my chest.

How do we measure time, it all depends on how precise we want to be. It could be a Planck time, which is the smallest unit of time we have because it is the time it takes light to travel a Planck length which is the smallest unit of length we have. It is interesting how time is always measured from one "book end" to another. The beginning when the stop watch was first clicked to when it was clicked again at the end. I believe this is an important key element in what time is to us. Time is simply the measurement between to events. Christ's birth and now has been 2015 2/3 years, give or take a few months or days and hours due to the adjustment with the beginning of a year moved to January 1st at 12 o'clock AM.

Shutterstock selfie Image Link

Thus, though a Planck time is the smallest measurement of time, time itself is made of instants. Easily understood as photographs. Each of these is an instant in time, though, ironically, a photo is countless Planck times after the instant occurred because of the distance the light traveled whether it is a couple feet for a selfie, or miles away for a panorama.

Time Line from Brian Greene on The B-Theory of Time

So, let us pretend that we could actually capture a photo for every single one of these instants, then we lay them all out in a line. Of course, these instants are separated into "folders" or units of time: seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years. Yet, ultimately, these are all made up of instants. These are set under very specific requirements.

Because science has proved that time is relative usually in correlation to the speed of light. It is interesting how the speed of light is a constant speed throughout all space. The closer one approaches the speed of light, the slower time is experience and is. The slower one moves relative to the speed of light is the faster time passes. This has been proven with satellites moving quicker or slower relative to earth's rotation.

We can also see that light is affected by gravity, especially with black holes drawing in all light creating an absence of light. I will leave this here for now to address a comment from Brian Greene in The B-Theory of Time.

He mentioned that Issac Newton came up with the universal time theory, in essence that there is one time, it is not relative, and it continues to flow unceasingly. Then he mentioned that Albert Einstein with his B-Theory of Time was the first one who had ideas of time being relative. This is not the case.

Though I honorably testify that Joseph Smith Jr. was a true prophet of God, let us pretend for a second that he was not. Under this assumption that Joseph Smith wrote the books of Abraham and Doctrine and Covenants himself, it is interesting how he talks about "...Kolob was after the manner of the Lord, according to its times and seasons in the revolutions thereof; that one revolution was a day unto the Lord, after his manner of reckoning, it being one thousand years according to the time appointed unto that whereon thou standest. This is the reckoning of the Lord's time, according to the reckoning of Kolob." (Abraham 3:4). "In answer to the question -- Is not the reckoning of God's time, angel's time, prophet's time, and man's time, according to the planet on which they reside? I answer, Yes. But there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it. The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth; But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord." (Doctrine and Covenants 130:4-7).

This is almost directly correlated with how we understand time today, and with this B-Theory. According to this theory, time is set. Because someone's now could be someone else's future, those events that take place in between have to be set in time. Thus, if all time is set, all time could be continually "before the Lord". This would also explain how God, knows the end from the beginning (Abraham 2:8). Also, that time is relative to every "planet" which correlates because every planet spins and travels through space as different speeds relative to the speed of light. Here on earth, we are all very close to the same time, though technically none of us are precisely experiencing the same time. We are close enough to interact. This is congruent with both the notion of time being relative to the speeds, mass, and whatever of different planets and this B-Theory.

My point is that Joseph Smith Jr. if he was a fraud, must have been as much of a genius as Albert Einstein to have written these same ideas. One could argue that Joseph Smith stole these ideas, if it were not for the fact that Joseph Smith Jr. was murdered in 1844 while Einstein was not born until 1879. Thus, literally, either one must accept that Joseph Smith was a genius of Einstein's level, or that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and he did receive this truth from the only Being who has all knowledge and that this truth is a constant which Einstein was also inspired with.

Alien's perspective relative to speed and direction. B-Theory Video Link

Now, another aspect of this video I care to comment on is that time is relative not only to speed but direction. Greene uses the idea of an alien, perfectly still in space on the other side of the universe and a human perfectly still in space. In an instant, they are along the same instant photograph. However, if the alien gets up and move away from the human, that alien's time instant changes to a slightly diagonal slice into the past. While if the alien moves towards the human, that instant changes to the future for that human. This seems crazy in theory, but how can we see that today?

Imagine that someone is in a room with you. Right now they are in your present instant and for the foreseeable future they will still be there with you. However, if they begin to leave, moving away, soon they will be in another room. They are no long with you, thus not in you present, and you only have memories of them, thus they only exist in your past. However, if they move towards you and re-enter the room, suddenly they are are going to join you in the future. Like a friend saying they are going to come over to your house, you know they are coming, so they exist in your future, but they are not currently in your present.

Thus, and this is why I like this concept, when two people move towards each other, they are in each other's future, until they meet in the middle. Then, at least for an instant, they share that same time. They are one in an instant frozen in time forever. Yes, this is the romantic in me...

Anyway, mathematically we find that gravity not only effects space, but time as well. This is under a similar principle as that speed vs rotation. Though we do not know for absolute surety what causes gravity, there are the theories of gravitons which most scientist believe exist. These are particles that somehow affect space and time. I do not know if they exist or not, but it is an interesting concept. However, because of the correlation between speed and time, I am leaning toward the rotation and motion creating gravity, though I do not exclude graviton particles having some correlation to it.

Gravitational waves from planets around black hole. Gravity Waves Video Link

This was proven when scientists noticed two planets spinning around a black hole. The black holes' interaction causes gravitational waves.

Green explaining the earth's stretching in an over exaggerated visual. Gravity Waves Video Link

Now, in theory, when these gravity waves hit the earth, they would stretch and compress the earth.

laser experiment test. Gravity Waves Video Link

So, it came to how would we prove it? They set up lasers several miles apart. On this scale, minor shifts in distance change the light frequencies. Instead of matching up, they become inconsistent. This was proved to be the case, and we learned that gravitational waves do compress and expand space itself.

Space in cubes. Brian Greene Gravity Video Link

So, let us imagine the cubes of space. We have these four dimensions, XYZ with T for time just existing un-represented.

Fabric of space. Gravity Video Link

Now let us imagine this from a different perspective, from a two dimensional flat surface called the fabric of space.

Sun and Earth. Gravity Video Link

Around each planet or sphere in space, there is a welt or under cone. The earth spins around the sun's cone. This reflects the earth's actual orbit mathematically.

Earth and Moon. Gravity Video Link

Then the earth has its own cone or sag that the moon spins around.

Gravity effecting space. Gravity Video Link

This sag is actually bending those cube edges of space, compressing it around the earth. This space also transfers the waves of the gravity, again with the gravity experiment above.

Higgs Boson Discovered Video Link

Thus, I will now switch directions to the Higgs Boson. The Higgs Boson is a particle I will compare to a water droplet. It is a portion of the Higgs Field which was, for quite some time, theoretical. Higgs Field was theorized first mathematically by trying to figure out why particles have mass. The only way mass could be calculated would be if the particles are constantly passing through a substance. This substance would have to quite unique in that it does not cause any friction.

With this theory, came the problem of how to prove it. As another function of the Hadron Collider, they documented that, extremely rarely, when particles collided and their components were flung out that there was a particle that lasts barely any fraction of a second before completely disappearing. Though I may not agree that this is the best science going on here for there could be several other reasons or properties not taken into consideration, simply because we do not know to think of them, that could explain it, I do like the idea of this Higgs Field being all around us.

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So, to put this another way, pretend we are trying to figure out what water is, when we are all under water. Thus we take two thing, like a submarine and a torpedo. When the two hit, there is an explosion with the particles creating a gap around a portion of the Higgs Field making a Higgs Boson, or a drop of water.

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Another example is like dropping a rock into a pond. Yes, there is the wripple, but sometimes, the force causes a drop of water to rise up and become temporarily severed from the body of water only to then re-combine with the rest of the water.

This would explain why that particle disappeared because it re-constituted back into the Higgs Field.

So, if this Higgs Field exists, which as far as science has been able to determine it does, then this field spans all of space and is likely space itself, rippling and flowing. Yet, again with Joseph Smith: "Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space--" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:12). Though it is not visibly seen as light, it is a substance that fills the immensity of space.

With Einstein's theories, the math words with gravity effecting all three dimensions of space as well as time, but there is something that is not explained by using these known dimensions. That is electromagnetism. For the math to work with electromagnetism, there is required a fourth, or if time is counted, fifth dimension.

Obviously, we cannot see this dimension, but its existence is the only way we can make sense of this electromagnetism. Now, I would like to point out my theories in magnetism, with a positive and negative pull which I talked about in my Gender post. Yet, to sum up, it was my theory that positive and negative polarization is caused by feminine or masculine intelligences on the other side of the veil. This veil could be considered the difference between our 3rd dimension and the 4th dimension.

tiny dimensions. Hidden Dimensions Video Link

Now, Brian Greene and other Theoretical Physisists are looking for this fourth dimension as tiny dimensions curled up microscopically.

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This would be the equivalent of having an XY graph, only the lines themselves, not taking up any distance left or right, were actually straws, hollow on the inside. The dimensional difference would be so tiny that we could not see it.

Futurama Season 7 Episode 5 "2-D Blacktop" Clip Link

However, I disagree with this concept. As with the Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions idea from Edwin Abbott Abbot, a true 4th dimension would not fit this criteria. In a 2D (two dimensional) plane, a being would only see lines, maybe colored lines, but still lines. However, that same world seen from a 3D perspective, the 3D individual would be able to see inside of the 2D beings. Like seeing the inside of a circle, or seeing the unborn chick in this 2D egg from Futurama.

What I really enjoyed about this episode of Futurama was how they explained how a 2D organism would live. They could not have a digestive system like ours, because it would split them in half.

So they would have to eat like a microscopic organism  creating a membrane around the object, break it down, and then transplant the nutrients.

Now, say, if a sphere were to enter Flatland, the inhabitants would only be able to see a line that suddenly grows and then shrinks as the sphere passes through layer by layer until it is gone. To the inhabitants, it would be a very strange phenomenon that none of them could explain.

So, in comparison, what would be a 4th dimension to us? The fourth dimension would be able to see inside of our bodies. What we could see from its interaction would be limited and confusing, like something appearing and disappearing.

This reminds me so much of the spirit world. The spirit world is all around us (Gospel Principles Chapter 41). Spirit can exist within us, around us, pass through us. "...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7).

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Then we have ghosts, spirits appearing and disappearing and manifesting in any number of peculiar ways.

It seems to me that the spirit world meets quite well the criteria for a proper fourth dimension. If this is the case, then those positive and negative (masculine and feminine) charges would indeed be from intelligences from the spirit world.

human bio-electric field Image Link

This would explain why strong electromagnetic fields can cause sickness in some people, disrupting their connection with their own spirits. It would explain how and why our brains have their own bio-electrical field.

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This would explain why ghost are known for manifesting in strange electromagnetic fields, as expressed in Ghosthunters.

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This would explain why electronic devices are often correlated with other ghostly manifestations like EVP (electronic voice phenomenon).

Really, the spirit world being the 4th dimension would explain so much about science and in essence, prove scientifically that there is an afterlife. However, most scientists seem to be atheists and thus almost immediately dismiss ideas such as this. So, I am sharing with you my beliefs in the hope that you ponder these things out for yourselves. As always, I am happy to read any comments you might have.

Love,
Jacobugoth

Avatar 2: Avatar

Dear Readers,

Since I have posted about the general bending of the Avatar: The Last Airbender series, I have decided to also talk specifically about the Avatar. Hopefully, this will clarify and combine your knowledge that you may comprehend more fully the beauty of the series, as well as the beauty of this world.

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Firstly, an Avatar is one who acts on behalf of someone else. Usually, this is corresponded with a computer or video game avatar, representing the gamer. It is after this manner that the James Cameron movie Avatar is named. Though Jake is human, he transfers his mind into a Na'vi avatar to represent himself and fit in. Though, in the past, an individual could be an avatar on behalf of a god, like Pharaoh was the avatar of Ra (the Egyptian sun god), or Ra incarnate. That is to say, Ra in the flesh. In a similar manner, the Avatar is to act like a Prophet, a spokes person on behalf of God, with the purpose of uniting the world, bringing peace to the land, and helping other return to God.

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Secondly, the Avatar is able to manipulate all of the elements. This would likely mean that they have the genes for all four bending proficiencies. However, because they are born, one in each country once per generation, it is more like they have the initial genetic trait, the one corresponding their their country, but are then given authority or "keys" over the others as well.

Because of this, I find that it is time to talk a little bit about how the priesthood works. Now, in the hierarchy of the Church, the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency hold all of the priesthood keys given to man on the Earth. Thought these are not literal, or physical keys, they are keys that open blessings and windows of heaven. However, only the Prophet, also called the President of the Church, has the authority or authorization to exercise all of the priesthood keys. The others hold the keys, but are not permitted to use them. By this manner, the priesthood keys are to remain upon the Earth, never to be taken away again.

Some of these keys include the authority to baptize, to bestow the Holy Ghost, to seal husband and wife, and parents to children for time and for all eternity, and to even endow blessings upon the children of God. However, there are keys that still have not been bestowed unto man. Two of these keys, that are known, are the key of resurrection and the key of creation (The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood by Elder Dallin H. Oaks). I do not wish to confuse resurrection with raising the dead, for the keys to raise the dead are indeed upon the earth. However, the keys to raise the dead to an immortal glorified state are not upon the earth (Our Great Potential by President Spencer W. Kimball).

By this manner, we could say that the Avatar holds the keys to bending all four elements. While others, due to their heritage and genetics, only hold the key of one of the elements. This is a clear reflection of how keys can be bestowed down the governing body of the Church. At the lowest, ward, levels, there are only three men who hold priesthood keys. The Bishop, the Teachers Quorum President, and the Deacons Quorum President.

Though there are only a few who hold priesthood keys, the priesthood itself is given to every worthy male in the church, at the age of 12 or above. Though the priesthood is divided into the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, also known as the lesser and the higher priesthoods, they both contain the authority of God. The lesser priesthood to administer in physical rights and rituals, like Aaron of old, and the higher priesthood to administer in more spiritual and eternal things.

Indeed, to this day, if a man were to prove that they are a firstborn direct descendant of Aaron, then by their genealogy and heritage they have the rite to the priesthood and the office of Bishop and its associated keys (Doctrine and Covenants 68:16-17). Thus, it is realistic that genes or heritage could be a marker for holding keys.

In addition to the priesthood and its keys, the priesthood authority can also be delegated down. This is how women in the church can act with the authority of God in their callings, whether in the Relief Society or in the Temple. By this manner, the authority of God can be used by every worth member of the Church, though they may work through the keys held by someone else.

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Thirdly, in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Aang is shown to have awakened what were called jugglers, but in contemporary knowledge are called chakras. Now, these chakras are not chakra from Naruto, though they do have some correlation with the chakra meridian system gates. I prefer to call these gates, or chakras, jugglers.

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The first juggler is Earth. It is located at the base of the spine, also called the root, and is associated with the desire to survive. This juggler is blocked by fear or grief. As in the movie After Earth, Will Smith's character Cypher Raige said, "Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity. Do not misunderstand me, danger is very real, but fear is a choice." Thus, fear can block us, paralyze us, and keep us from surviving from living.

The second juggler is Water. It is located in the sacrum, or tail bone, and is associated with pleasure. Because of this association, it is also correlated with sexuality. This juggler is blocked by guilt. Regret often times comes from actions not taken, or actions done for the wrong reason. Thus, being able to let go and forgive is the best way to unblock this juggler. However, grief is an important part. If you do not allow yourself some time to grief over the action, you will never learn from it, and you will never truly move past it.

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The third juggler is Fire. It is located at the solar plexus, or simply the stomach. This one is associated with power. Like Gibbs' gut feelings in NCIS, this is where power and insight can be felt. However, much like guilt vs pleasure, shame can block our power. In the movie The Edge, Anthony Hopkin's character mention that most people die in the wilderness because of shame. They blame themselves for something they didn't do, or a mistake they made. Shame differs from guilt in that it is an outward reaction. Guilt is how we feel about ourselves, while shame is what others think about us, or what we think other feel towards us. God said that Satan wanted His "honor, which is my power;" (Doctrine and Covenants 29:36). Honor, being loved, that is true power, and if we feel shame in place of love, how can we be honorable?

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The fourth juggler is Air. It is located in the heart and is associated with love. My blog post about the Heart sheds quite a bit of insight into this correlation. This juggler is blocked by the broken heart, soul wrenching feeling of grief. Grief is the sadness of loss, the unwillingness to let go. This is mostly profound when someone passes away, from this life to the next. Thus, the best way to get past grief is to realize that those we love are never really gone. We will see them again.

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The fifth juggler is Sound. This juggler is located in the throat, which makes sense because of the vocal cords. Also, this juggler is associated with truth and is appropriately blocked by lies. Though this can be taken in a literal sense, telling the truth will set you free while lies weave the web of chains that bind you down, there is also the internal aspect. We often tell ourselves lies, we are not beautiful, we are worthless, etc. The anime points out the greatest lie of all is the lie of separation. We are different from them, or I am different from them. Though individuality can be a serious strength, feeling outcast can be an even greater obstacle. We are all children of God, we are all part of His family and are descendants of Adam and Eve. We are all part of the same beautiful world.

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The sixth juggler is Light. This juggler is commonly called the third eye. It is associated with perception and insight. Illusions block our perception. Whether physical mirages, drug induced hallucinations, or the illusion of incorrect traditions or philosophy, these things and disorient us and lead us down the wrong path. Again, one of the greatest illusions is brought from the lies we tell ourselves about the world around us. In particular, the illusion of separation. Our bodies feel like ours, but they are of the earth. Our spirits, at least through mortality, are only borrowing that dust. We are not so different, not so separated.

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The seventh and last juggler is Thought. This juggler is associated with spiritual and cosmic energy and is located at the crown of the head. Like a nexus of energy, it is the reciprocal of the blessings of God to our minds and bodies. Our body heat flows from it. Our bio-electrical field emanates from it. Blessings are bestowed by the anointing of oil and the laying of hands upon it. Indeed, I have theorized that steeples on church buildings are conductors or amplifiers for its power.

Alas, this juggler is blocked by attachment. This is not the same as bonds of friendship. This attachment is towards worldly things. Having a love of money, or possessions. Sometimes, people can even bee this source of envy, greed and pride. It is these things that are to be cast aside. Matthew 19:29 "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." This scripture is not to say that we must forsake them, but if they become stumbling blocks, if they hold us back from God and from Christ, then we may need to rethink our priorities. Our loyalty, our love, should always be to God first. Then, to our spouse and families. As long as we keep that chain clear in our minds, God will be sure to bless us, and make any wrongs into rights.

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I think that it is interesting how it is by learning how to bend and use spirit energy that Aang learns how to removing an individual's bending ability, almost as thought it is the prophet's duty to remove and rebuke unlawful use of priesthood keys.

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I find it interesting how these jugglers or chakras are like the steps of the gospel. First we learn to have faith and trust in Christ, which dispels fear. Then we begin repentance by learning for forgive ourselves and allowing others to forgive us. If we truly repent, we begin to feel love and become more honest with those around us. With that freedom we begin to gain knowledge and intelligence, our thoughts are turned toward the things of God and our burdens are made light.

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Lastly, the 4th aspect of the Avatar is the reincarnations. I addressed this already in my post about Reincarnation. However, to sum up quickly, reincarnation does not exist. Though they are spirits of individuals they are all linked by the mantle of the priesthood they held, as prophets today are. Even Brigham Young, after the Prophet Joseph Smith passed away, spoke in a General Conference meeting with a countenance that made him appear as though he was the former prophet. Though a prophet dies, they still labor diligently for the good of the Kingdom of God.

I leave you with my testimony that there is a Prophet on the Earth today. That mantle of authority and the priesthood keys associated with it have been passed down from one prophet to the next since it was restored back to the Earth through Joseph Smith.

If you have any questions or comments about what I have written, I welcome and would love to read them. I hope that you have enjoyed this post.

Love,
Jacobugoth

Previous Post: Avatar: The Last Airbender

Translation

Dear Readers,

I was in the shower, and began thinking about various questions and teaching moments I had on my mission. One in particular is both simple and complicated to answer

The gentleman had studied quite a bit about the Mormon religion, and one of his problems with Joseph Smith being a real Prophet was his work with translation, particularly the Abrahamic papers, as I call them. We know them now as the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price. Some of the papers are contained in various museums, and the "translators" of those papers say that they are nothing at all close to what Joseph Smith "translated" them as.

There are several different ways of explaining this away. Firstly, the amount of papers that Joseph Smith described was quite large, thus the papers the surfaced might have been some that he did not translate.

Next, and more importantly to truly understand, is the very nature of true "translation". We, as mortal humans, tend to view "translation" from the example of translating one language into another. Though this is arguably, as I will show here, more of transcription. You are transcribing the same exact message or words, just into a language that other people can understand.

True "translation", or at least in the religious sense, the same sense in which the scriptures mean it, as well as Joseph Smith when he translated the Abrahamic papers as well as the Holy Bible, is much more profound, because God is involved. Literally, God is the interpreter, not man and their knowledge, of what is written down. He, in His magnificence, always leaves whatever He touches better than when He started. Indeed, He adds revelation into the mix.

So, with the Abrahamic papers, we, of a surety have the facsimiles, which are Egyptian hieroglyphics seemingly referencing to, or portraying part of the message translated. In the above case, when Terrah, Abraham's father, tried to have an Egyptian priest sacrifice Abraham to the Egyptian gods.

Though, what I would like to point out, is that even if the Book of Abraham does not read word for word what this facsimile says, does not mean that it was not translated correctly.

When Joseph Smith translated the Holy Bible, usually there was only a word change or mean here or there, sometimes a story was a little miss aligned, like with the two accounts in the book of Acts describing Christ's visitation to Saul on the road to Damascus. The first account says that the others with him heard the voice, but saw no one, and the second account says that the others saw a bright light, but heard no voice. Both accounts were written by the same person, in the same book, and thus it took divine inspiration to know which one is correct.

In the LDS scripture quads which contain the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, there is a section in the back called Joseph Smith Translation, in which quite a bit of different chapters changed. Though this is not the most drastic of the changes. In the Book of Moses found in the Pearl of Great Price, which was Joseph Smith's translation of Genesis, we find an entire, lengthy, account of the people of Enoch which God saw fit to reveal. In this account, it clearly shows how an entire city, the city of Enoch, became so righteous that the entire city was translated and taken up into heaven.

Not only does this show what Joseph Smith meant when he said that he translated a passage of scripture or papyri, but also gives a new use of the word translate. In the church, we talk about translated beings... or at least some of us do. They are people, like Moses, Elijah, John the Beloved, or the 3 Nephites who never tasted of death. They were either taken up into heaven, or were changed from mortality to immortality and continue to walk among us.

Of the 3 Nephites, Mormon, the man who abridged the Book of Mormon, comments: "But behold, since I wrote, I have inquired of the Lord, and he hath made it manifest unto me that there must needs be a change wrought upon their bodies, or else it needs be that they must taste of death; Therefore, that they might not taste of death there was a change wrought upon their bodies, that they might not suffer pain nor sorrow save it were for the sins of the world." (3 Nephi 28:37-38).

When contemplating this, I thought back to DNA. DNA is like a blue print of our bodies, how to make us, almost written down. So, if God translated them, maybe He read through their DNA and did exactly what He did when Joseph Smith translated. He removed those things that are incorrect, making it right again, as well as added things to make it more perfect.

Like divine translation of the bible makes the body of scripture more correct, more perfect, more Godly, divine translation of a human genome makes that individuals body more correct, more perfect, and more Godly.

Understanding this divine, wonderful, amazing doctrine helps us understand why Joseph Smith phrased the Articles of Faith the way he did. Article of Faith 8: "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God."

Once, as a mistake, I was asked by an investigator on my mission, whether or not the church's stance was still the Bible is the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. I told him that the church's stance did not change, but that I believed that even if it is translated correctly, humans can still misinterpret it.

Now I know, and do still regret replying in that way, that true divine translation makes it more perfect, and that a perfect passage of scripture cannot me misinterpreted.

I leave you with this knowledge and enlightenment in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Love,
Jacobugoth

Facebook Request 4: My Testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Dear Readers,

This is the last of my Facebook requests that I have so far received. I had originally asked for requests in the hopes that I could find more narrow subjects to bear my testimony on... instead, a lovely girl by the name of Shy asked me to just bear my testimony. So this post is dedicated to her.

I was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Being thus raised, I was surrounded by the Mormon influence, but what I found, especially around the age of 17, is that all I had gained was a testimony that God is my Father, and that Jesus Christ is His son and my Savior. I mostly chalk this up to the gift of the Spirit, (Moroni 10:11) "and to another, exceedingly great faith...". Though, it is also from having so many of my prayers answered. Indeed, I have such great faith that my prayers can be answered, and that Jesus Christ and God the Father are real, that I would refer to it more as knowledge than faith.

Growing up, I have always been a very strange, weird child. Generally a freak. So, at the age of 17, I decided to pray one night, with all of my heart, as the most desperate desire of my soul, to know why I am the way that I am. I was answered through my dream. It contained two parts, though I will only mention the relevant meaning of the second part, because I hold both very dear and close to my heart. My answer was: there are people in this world, that only I can help, because I am the way that I am.

I had not considered even serving a mission. My family was very understanding about it. They would like me to serve a mission, but they did not expect or require it of me. I am very thankful to them for that, because I know that the pressures in the church can send young men onto a course, that may be a righteous course, but trodden begrudgingly, and is soon departed from.

So, with the age to serve a mission being 19, and I was close to being 18, I actually considered going, probably for the first time in my life. I just figured, that if there are people out there that only I can help, then serving a mission would be a good way to try and find them. But, I wanted to make sure that what I would be called to preach on my mission was true.

I knew that there is a God in Heaven, that Jesus Christ was His Son, and I knew that they answered prayers. This got me on the path of studying out my beliefs. I rationally figured that serving a mission would be a good way of find those I am meant to help, but, since I did not know if the doctrine was true, I was completely willing to leave the church and find God's true church, wherever that may be. I believe I was 18 by this point, and again, knowing how understanding my parents are, knew that they would not look down on me should I walk a different path.

Without the distractions of peer pressure or doubt, I planned ahead. I had found, at a nearby park, a location that I felt really close to. Like my own little wooded area. My own sacred grove. I chose a Monday morning to walk out to this location, and kneel down to ask my Father in Heaven if the Book of Mormon was true and if Joseph Smith was indeed His Prophet, a true Prophet. Part of why I felt so inclined to choose a location, in nature, and to pray there, is because in my studying of the church, I found that I related to Joseph Smith.

I too felt that the powers of darkness had combined against me, almost in my infancy. My mother had a stroke when she was pregnant with me. I grew up a freak, feeling like I had no friends, like I was alone. For years, tried to keep my suffering in silence as I battled depression. I felt like God must have an amazing plan for me, and important plan. Indeed, part of me, expected to receive an undeniable witness of God's will, possibly through the visitation of a heavenly messenger.

Note: this is not the place, but same park

When I reached my destination, I took off my glasses, and kneeling down, my face in my hands, bent low, I prayed to my Father in Heaven. I told Him the desires of my heart, that I know He is real, I know Jesus Christ is real, I know I am willing to follow Him, I desire to know which church is true, if the Book of Mormon is true, if Joseph Smith was a true Prophet. I poured out this desire, like the tears from my face. Then, after closing in Christ's name, I waited. I waited some more. When my tears finally dried, I straitened my back and looked up at the sun, shinning through the trees. I felt no different. No burning in my bosom, as the scriptures say. I did not feel more loved, I did not feel like I received an answer at all.

Replacing my glasses, I stood up and just began to walk, wandering around the park. I don't think that I saw anyone else there. I walked, and walked, for several hours, just looking at the beauty around me, and trying to figure out why my prayer was not answered.

Finally it dawned on me... almost like a voice in my head that was not quite mine. From that very morning I felt peaceful. Even on my walk to my own personal sacred grove, did I not hear the birds chirping so wonderfully. Were not all of my senses heightened, and just filled with peace. Indeed, this entire morning, wandering out here, has this feeling departed from me? No. I know that God answers prayers, and if there was ever a point in my life for Him to lead me onto the right path, this would be it. So, maybe this peace is the answer to my prayer, an answer that He chose to give before I even asked the question.

This is when I learned, for myself, a true, deeper meaning of faith. If God wanted me on another path, He could have told me, so this must be the right path, at least for now. So yes, this could be considered convincing myself, but I "CHOSE" to accept the peace as my answer. I learned that faith is not something you acquire, nor is it something that is given to your, or that you spontaneously have. Faith is a choice. A choice to do good, to follow God. Faith is choosing the better part. That day, I chose.

With this testimony, I went forth and served a mission for the LDS church, preaching Mormonism, or more properly called, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On that two year journey, I learned so much. I learned that, because God could do such a better job than snot nosed twenty-year-olds, that the mission is less for actual missionary work, and is more for the missionary. I learned more about myself than all the years before hand. I learned more about my body, and it's limitations and strengths. I learned more about the doctrine, feeding and building upon my testimony.

I also had the opportunity to learn more about other religions, and I found out that this is the most true church on the earth, indeed, if ANY other church currently upon the earth was true, my very soul would not be satisfied. I like how the mother of my favorite mission companion put it... though I don't remember her exact words. She roughly said, that the majority of religions, especially all of the variations of Christianity, teach the same thing. Do unto others and you want them to do to you. Be nice, serve God. Love one another. So if so much is the same, then it is the differences that should matter. Indeed, all of that love and doing good is what happens in this life. It is what happened before this life, and what happens after this life, that makes the most difference.

I learned from a Jehovah's Witness that they believe that all our "spirits" are actually just part of God's Spirit, thus it is a portion of His spirit that enters us for the breath of life. For me, this does destroy some sense of individuality... "'I' think, therefore 'I' am". So that does not sit right with me. Then, they believe in an afterlife quite Biblically based. That when Christ comes again, He will govern this world, and that those who followed Him and His example, will be resurrected and live in paradise. The 144,000 chosen are to be resurrected, like Christ, as "spiritual" beings, or "celestial" beings, while the rest of the multitude of Christ's followers will be physical or of a "terrestrial" nature. For the rest of eternity, they will live in this paradise, with Christ as the King, and the 144,000 as other leaders, all under Jehovah. This kind of heaven sounds nice, I mean it is paradise, but it does not satisfy my soul. I know that eventually, science will all be mastered, and then life will just continue. No progress, no growth. Stagnant, for all eternity.

The same problem comes with other religions, either you are reincarnated over and over again, reach nirvana meaning nothingness or being part of everything, or you wind up in a heaven, where you are at peace, and restful, but without any progression. This could never satisfy my soul. I know what it is like to be blissful, but without some purpose, some cause, some growth, there is no satisfaction.

If you are reading this and you are not a Mormon, I hope that you understand that I mean no offence, especially if I did not represent or understand your religion very well. I ask for you to please comment your beliefs and maybe your testimony of why you believe your faith. I am merely trying to state my understanding of why the LDS church is the only religion that is true upon the earth. Indeed, this is the only religion that has answered every question I have had.

For, not only do we believe in a pre-existence as individuals with God, as His spirit children, we believe that after this life we can progress and become just like Him. For, what is the point of children, if they do not grow up and become like their parents.

I leave these things with you, that I know for myself that God lives, that Jesus is His Son and that He is the Christ, the same that lived a perfect life, suffered for us in the Garden of Gethsemane and gave His life on the cross all for our sake. I know that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God, that God bestowed upon him power and authority to translate the Book of Mormon which is a record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the American Continent, for God loves His children everywhere, and to restore the fullness of Christ's Gospel back to the earth. I know that the priesthood, or the authority to act in God's name is upon the earth, and that the mantle of Prophet-hood, as I call it, has been passed down to our current Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. I know that God loves His children today, as in days past, and that He does speak to us today. He is not dead nor doth He sleep. I know that because of Christ, all will be resurrected from the dead, and then judged according to their works and desires of their hearts. I know that this mortal shell shall be outgrown and receive immortality, and I often pray for that day to come speedily. I leave these things with you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Holy Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Rock of Heaven, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, Amen.

Love,
Jacobugoth

Polygamy

Dear Readers,

I felt like doing a post about something that several people find troubling about the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am writing this post to express my beliefs and knowledge on the subject of Polygamy for the purpose of helping those who may view this subject as a stumbling block, as well as to inform those who may just want to learn more about God's reasons for plural marriage.

I should WARN those who read this, that I will be going into some depth on this subject. If you feel that you might be shacky in your testimony of Joseph Smith Jr as a Prophet, or any of the succeeding Presidents of the church as Prophets, Seers, and Revelators, then I advise that you skip this blog post, at least until your faith and testimony becomes stronger and firmer.

That all being said, let us start with the first well known polygamist in the scriptures, namely Abraham. First record we have of Abraham (Abram) being married is in Genesis 11:29 "And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai;..." Now this marriage lasted for many years and through much hardship, including Sarah (Sarai) being barren, having to pass through Egypt and having Pharaoh desire Sarah as a wife, having countless promises from the Lord that Abraham would be the "father of many nations", and even the ordeal of having Abraham's nephew Lot being held as a military prisoner. So it is clear and evident that Abraham truly and completely loved Sarah, his wife, and that she loved him. Else why would they stay together for so long.

Now in Genesis 16 comes the Jerry Springer part of this union. Abraham and Sarah have both gotten old in years, and because Sarah has not yet born any children, she gives Hagar, her Egyptian handmaid to Abraham to be a second wife. I have heard it argued that Hagar was only a "concubine" which is kind of a bondwoman who is kept for the use of procreation. This is not the case, for in verse 3 the word "wife" is used. Now, because the culture of the time did indeed include the common practice of concubines, Sarah giving Hagar to Abraham was acceptable. So Hagar conceived and had a son, because of this, Hagar became jealous and, I guess you could say, wanted Abraham to love her alone. Sarah saw this hatred or "despise" in her eyes, and talked to Abraham about the growing contention. Abraham, being the wise man that he was, said roughly, I am not getting in the middle of this, you two figure it out yourselves.

Then Sarah "dealt hardly" with Hagar, so Hagar fled into the wilderness. There, by a fountain, an angel of the Lord appeared unto Hagar and told her to return to her family, and even made prophecies about her seed. Eventually she returned and bore Ishmael. Then, when Abraham was around 100 years old, he was told that Sarah shall conceive and bear a child, while she was around 90 years old, and really past menopause. This, chapter 17 of Genesis, is when the covenant promise is given to Isaac, Sarah's son, instead of Ishmael, who in truth, because of tradition, should have been the rightful heir. Yet God has a way of calling the underdogs, as with Jacob vs Esau which I will cover quite soon. Anyway, continuing with Abraham, after Isaac was born, Ishmael was "mocking" Isaac, and Sarah did not like this. I would like to point out here, that with the law of Moses, though it was not yet instituted, children who mocked or dishonored their parents or siblings were put to death. So, Abraham, likely having similar rules in his culture, took what I feel is compassion, and rose up early, prepared bread and a bottle of water and gave it to Hagar and sent her and Ishmael away into the wilderness. Thus proving that he loved Hagar and Ishmael and wanted to spare their lives. Now part of why Abraham did this is because he knew God's promises both towards Isaac being the covenant people, as well as the seed of Ishmael being a great nation in their own right.

So was the end of that marriage, which, in all likely hood, would have lasted as long as they had lived, at least. If it were not for this dispute/transgression. Now, I learned something new when I began researching, that Abraham took another wife named Keturah after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as well as Abraham's attempt to sacrifice Isaac. She, Keturah, bore Abraham many sons. Again Keturah was a "wife" while later in Genesis 25:6 it says that Abraham sent all of the sons of his "concubines" (plural) away. Now, at this time, Abraham had Sarah and Keturah as wives, and how many concubines, we know not.

Now Isaac was raised up, and took Rebekah to wife. Then Rebekah bore Jacob and Esau. Though Esau came out first and was hairy and red already, followed by Jacob who was hanging onto his heal. When they two grew up, Esau, being very hungry, sells his birthright to Jacob for some soup. Now this was done without witnesses, and Isaac favored Esau, so when the time came for the blessings of their inheritance, Jacob, with Rebekah's help, posed as Esau and received the blessing, which Esau had sold. Therefore Esau had no right to it. Now what does this have to do with plural marriage... nothing, I just like the story of Jacob and Esau.

Anyway, Jacob travels and meets Rachel at a well. He then talks to her father Laban and they make a deal, that Jacob will work for Laban for 7 years. This is where I would like to emphasize that there were no rights of women in these days. There are many who oppose marriage, especially the ceremony, because it represents them being sold as property. It is a sad truth, that women were indeed considered property, but it is also true that they were "sold" for two reasons. First, because the man wanted to marry that woman, but also, because of the father's love, he wanted to make sure that his daughter went to someone who could afford to take care of her. For this cause did Jacob prove his love for Rachel by working for Laban those first 7 years. Now, when it came time for Rachel and Jacob to be united, Laban had Jacob marry his older daughter Leah instead. Jacob was very upset about this, because, with the veil concealment of the wedding ceremony, he did not discern this deception until the morning afterwords. But Jacob loved Rachel so much, that he agreed to work for Laban 7 more years to get Rachel as a wife.

So, after 14 years Jacob was completely lawfully married to both Rachel and Leah. So they go off and once again find that the wife that Jacob loves, Rachel, is having difficulty having children. So Leah bore the first of Jacob's children. Because Jacob is a wealthy man, through the efforts of Abraham and Isaac, not to mention those 14 years he worked for Laban, his wives had maids or handmaidens. Now these also he married and had children with, they are Bilhah and Zilpah. They were indeed wives, because their children received an inheritance as tribes of Israel.

So, we have these two stories about Old Testament polygamy, and what are some common denominators? First, there was one wife that they truly loved. Second they had a means whereby to proved for them, Third, they had enough love to care for other wives as well as the first. Fourth because women were considered property, they needed to be cared for, not legally allowed to do so on their own. And lastly, polygamy was legally allowed in their culture.

Lets see if the accounts of David and Solomon follow this 5 step acceptance of polygamy. The first wife David married was Michal, the daughter of King Saul, and he bought her with 200 foreskins cut off of the Philistines. Now, as Saul's anger and hatred toward David grew, David had to flee and ended up living with the prophets for a time. Mean while, Saul ends up giving Michal to Phalti as a wife. David keeps running, and Saul keeps killing people trying to get David, Then David meets Abigail, and ends up marrying her. Wars break loose and Saul, with most of his household is slain. David gets Michal back from Phalti, but because he likes to dance and have fun in the streets, Michal no longer loves him, so David locks her away. To save you some long winded history, David marries more wives, all of whom he loved and cared for, but then he lusted after Bathsheba. So much so, that he committed adultery with her, and then had her husband, Uriah, slain in battle, so that he could marry her as a widow. Now, marrying someone you have sex with outside of the bounds of marriage is a good step towards the repentance process, but committing effectual murder to do so is not the best way to do that.

So what about David's son, Solomon? Solomon married many women of all ages, being king he could easily provide for them. He did love and care for his wives, even after his extremities stopped working. Indeed, that was when he married the youngest of his wives. But where he went wrong was allowing the women that he married from other cultures to persuade him to turn the people towards idol worship. This polluted both him, and his people.

Let us compare David and Solomon to the 5 steps of polygamy acceptance.
1. Loved 1 wife above others
       David loved Michal, and then Abigail.
       Solomon (1 Kings 11:1) "king Solomon loved many strange women".
2: Means to provide
       King David
       King Solomon
3: They had enough love for others
       King David truly loved
       King Solomon... See 1 Kings 11:1
4: women were considered property.... yes
5: was polygamy legal... yes... they were the kings and made the laws.

So, King David met all of the requirements, except for when he broke his covenants with Bathsheba.
King Solomon met most of the requirements, but did not seem to truly love and care for one woman. Which seems strange with the concept of polygamy, but I believe it was Jean Paul F. Richter who said "Love one human being purely and warmly, and you will love all." You have to know one pure wonderful love, to know how to truly love others. Thus Solomon's love was possibly polluted from the very beginning. 

This brings us to the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith, fell in love and married Emma Hale. Then, during the process of translating the Holy Bible, Joseph Smith asked God about plural marriage. He was trying to understand why God would permit such a thing, when Joseph knew how much such a thing would hurt Emma. God warned him that if he pushed the matter, Joseph would have to live by the laws and principles he would be taught. Joseph, did continue to inquire, and was told what purpose polygamy was instituted and permitted, nay, ordained of God. Because God loves his daughters so much, he wants them to be taken care of. He wants them to be protected and loved. Then, with this knowledge, God commanded Joseph to begin practicing plural marriage. It is true, that at first he hid this from Emma, probably because he knew how much it would hurt her, and how distressing it may appear without the knowledge and insight God had given him. 

So Joseph Smith began marrying many women, but he lived in a time in which the 5 rules applied.
1: Joseph Smith truly and irrevocably loved Emma Hale above all others, even himself.
2: Though the colonies were generally impoverished, Joseph Smith did have enough to provide.
3: He was the Prophet of the church, he not only had enough love for those wives that he married, but for all of the members of the church.
4: Whether we care to remember or not, women's rights is still a fairly new concept, and in the 1800's they were still considered property, meaning they could not own land, or anything for themselves. Giving credence to the prophecy given by Isaiah concerning the latter-days, "And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach." (Isaiah 4:1) Many of the women Joseph married were widows, because of the slaughter by the hands mobs against the early saints. So they were married and called in the Smith name that they may keep their property, and have someone to love and care for them.

I do not wish to sugar coat the truth, there were some of Joseph's wives that were young, as far as I know 16 was the youngest, but that does not mean that Joseph married them for any reason other than to love and care for them. I do not believe that he married any women because of the lusts of his own heart. Some people may argue, "Well, if providing for these women was the reason he marries them, then why did Joseph Smith have children with wives other than Emma?" Simply put, if you love someone in a marriage capacity long enough, and strong enough, physical love and emotions can arise, to which God has spoken in Doctrine and Covenants 132. "60. Let no one, therefore, set on my servant Joseph; for I will justify him; for he shall do the sacrifice which I require at his hands for his transgression, saith the Lord your God. 61. And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood -- if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else. 62. And if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore is he justified."

Quickly, I feel that I should touch on another controversial method in which Joseph Smith obtained wives. Both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were well known for their testing the saints, especially those around them. So, along this line, Joseph Smith did try the faith of some of the brethren by asking for their wives in marriage. Many said no, and left the church, and their wives, behind. Thus Joseph married those women. But there are also accounts of brethren who said "yes" and Joseph told them that it would not be necessary, that they could keep their wives, and that they had proven their faith.

Lastly 5: Polygamy was not against the law in those days. It may not have been practiced, but there were no laws prohibiting it either.

So, Joseph Smith's call to plural marriage matched the outline set by Abraham and Jacob. After this manner he taught the brethren in the church. Indeed some, usually apostles or 70s, were called to practice polygamy. Now, as this doctrine spread there were groups who branched off of the church, or just families that corrupted this sacred institution, and the purpose for which it was commanded, in order satisfy their own lusts and desires. I will strongly declare, however, that plural marriage was instituted of God, and as with all commandments from the beginning of this world, it was corrupted by the father of lies, into the hiss and byword that it is considered today.

Before I continue, I wish to express my hope and desire that you have come to understand the rational or physical reasons for polygamy, including the obvious use of procreation, but now I will focus less on the temporal purposes, and more upon the spiritual.

Firstly, it is an easy assumption that throughout time, there have been more righteous women than men. Women have an inherit ability to hold on to faith, on to God, better and easier than men do. Thus, from the eternal, temple marriage sealing view, these righteous women have to be cared for in the life after death. Doctrine and Covenants 131:1-4 "1. In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; 2. And in order to obtain the highest, a man [or woman] must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; 3; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. 4. he may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase."

God has provided a plan for all of us to obtain pure and lasting happiness, if we so desire. Thus He will not permit others to take such opportunities away from us because of their disobedience. Wherefore plural marriage, is ordained of God even after this life.

Next, Joseph Smith was called as a Prophet to restore Christ's Gospel. He performed this function to the best of his ability. The law of consecration, which did away with the concepts of property and focused more upon stewardship,  was something that Christ and His Apostles practiced. There was not one of them that withheld of their substance to the needy, for God provided for them, from day to day.

This may be hard for some of you to hear, to understand, or to accept, but it was the same with plural marriage. I testify to you, that Christ and the Apostles lived by these same laws. Jesus followed every commandment given to Him from His Father. How could He be perfect without doing so? God commanded Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth. (Genesis 1:28) The Father has not revoked that commandment.

I enjoy quotes from the Journal of Discourses, but I will admit that I am wary of them because they are not openly accepted by the Church, just like the Apocrypha. So, generally, I try to remain with the discourses which were taken of Brigham Young's talks. I do not think that God would permit His Prophet to lead us astray. That being said, here is an amazing, quote from Orson Hyde who was President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. "I discover that some of the Eastern papers represent me as a great blasphemer, because I said, in my lecture on Marriage, at our last Conference, that Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives, and that he begat children.
All that I have to say in reply to that charge is this—they worship a Savior that is too pure and holy to fulfil the commands of his Father. I worship one that is just pure and holy enough "to fulfil all righteousness;" not only the righteous law of baptism, but the still more righteous and important law "to multiply and replenish the earth." Startle not at this!" (Journal of Discourses v2 pg 210)

Then Brigham Young said in Journal of Discourses v13 pg 309 "The Scripture says that He, the Lord, came walking in the Temple, with His train; I do not know who they were, unless His wives and children; but at any rate they filled the Temple, and how many there were who could not get into the Temple I cannot say. This is the account given by Isaiah, whether he told the truth or not I leave everybody to judge for himself."

Indeed, upon praying and pondering upon this subject during Easter time, I felt the Holy Spirit of God manifest so strongly to my heart and soul, that, at the time Christ was resurrected, Mary Magdalene was so pained, so distraught, not just because her teacher, or her friend had been crucified and His body "taken", but because it was her very husband, her help-meet, her eternal companion who was the one taken from her, causing her to know not where His body was laid. That is why Christ, with all of His compassion and love appeared unto her first. He saw His beloved wife in the most sorrow and misery that she could be in, besides witnessing His death upon the cross. This moved Him to manifest Himself to her, in the physical resurrected state, to comfort her, but He could not let her touch Him. Not because He was still a spirit, for His body was taken from the tomb, but because throughout the eons of eternities that Jehovah, the Firstborn of the Father had been in the Father's presence in the spirit, Jesus could not truly touch, could not fully embrace His Father, not as a man embraceth his friend. So the undeniable right, because of His love for His Son and for compensation for having to leave Christ completely alone on the cross (Matthew 27:46) to go through all of that pain and suffering alone before death, has to be for the Father, who has a body as "tangible as man's" (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22) to be the first one to hug and embrace His resurrected Son.

Despite this right, Christ saw fit to appear to Mary Magdalene. Everyone else, Apostles and disciples alike, had to wait until Jesus had returned physically to the Father, but she, Mary, in Christ's eyes, could not wait, His love for her was too great. Indeed she was that one that He was able to love "purely and warmly" so that he could love all.

Now that I have sealed the doctrine of Jesus Christ of Nazareth being married with my own testimony, I shall also bear witness that Christ is resurrected and exalted even to the thrown of God. Which means that in conjuncture with Doctrine and Covenants 131:1-4, already mentioned, as well as with Journal of Discourses v11 pg269 in which the Prophet Brigham Young said, "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may even be permitted to come into the presence of the Father and the Son; but they cannot reign as kings in glory, because they had blessings offered unto them, and they refused to accept them....I heard the revelation on polygamy, and I believed it with all my heart, and I know it is from God—I know that he revealed it from heaven; I know that it is true, and understand the bearings of it and why it is."

Indeed, whether in the mortal flesh or in the immortal state, Christ had to fulfill this law. I personally believe that He fulfilled this law while in the flesh, how else could He have been sufficiently perfect to perform the atonement. It was also possible in those days for Christ and His Apostles to fulfill the 5 requirements. Christ truly loved one woman, His family had the means to provide because of the gold, frankincense, and mirth given to Him by the Wise Men, as well as from all of the years of carpentry, to sustain themselves and possibly others during Christ's 3 year ministry. Christ absolutely had enough love for other wives. During this time women were still considered property and needed to be cared for, thus His pleading with John to take care of His mother Mary. (John 19:26-27) And lastly, like with Joseph Smith's time, polygamy may not have been commonly practiced, but there were no laws against it. 

So, if these laws, these commandments are still in force today, why does the church no longer perform plural marriages? The strait answer is that because of the persecution upon the church, caused by ignorance of the reason behind this practice, it became expedient for the fullness of this commandment to be taken from the earth. God's work is never frustrated, but the work of man is. God has the eternal perspective, and knows that we can be married after this life, and during the Millennium. For it is not the dead that are given in marriage, but the living, and as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are living, so can we be also. (Matthew 22:32)

I do not feel that I have adequately expressed this reasoning in a clear manner, so I hope that this power point presentation will help. 
https://www.slideshare.net/secret/Ludcz0BGucwO5i

The Church has an official standing on this subject which can be found in the Official Declaration 1 at the end of the Doctrine and Covenants. Here is some quotes from that passage. "...Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding plural marriages, which laws have been pronounced constitutional by the court of last resort, I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws, and to use my influence with the members of the Church over which I preside to have them do likewise... Wilford Woodruff" (4th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

He is also known for this quote, "The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the program. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempt to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty." Which can be found after that Official Declaration 1.

So, because man has created laws in this day and age prohibiting plural marriage, we can not live this law openly as in days past, it does not mean that God's work has been frustrated. It only means that we are living up to our Articles of Faith. 12 "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."

As an example of how the work of the Lord has not been frustrated:
Several sealings(marriage or bonds that last for time and for all eternity) took place vicariously soon after Joseph Smith's death, sealing living women to the diseased Prophet. Even so today, in the temple, sealings on behalf of the dead are performed. It is these sealings, and the opportunity  to receive endowed blessings from the Lord, that gave the early saints the strength to continue on. As pointed out in the presentation, that was the trade off for plural marriage. For, should the persecution had continued, the United States would have, and in some cases did, send troops over to the west and remove the property and holdings of the Church and church members. As I said, the work of God could not be frustrated, and it was not, for it is in the temple that we have the chance to still receive these blessings. As for the temporal reasons, specifically, the widow's need to be taken care of, laws began to emerge allowing women to hold property, especially in settling the prairies, as well as the institution of Home and Visiting teachers in the church. This allowed for those widows as well as other members of the church, to be visited and feel loved, wanted, and have their needs taken care of. 

So does this mean that if the laws should change and allow polygamy again, would we be able to practice it? I cannot say, but the knowledge that I have is based upon what Gordon B. Hinckley said in the October 1998 General Conference, "If any of our members are found to be practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, the most serious penalty the Church can impose. Not only are those so involved in direct violation of the civil law, they are in violation of the law of this Church."

In essence, there are the laws of God, and the laws of the church. As in Moses' day when Moses, as Prophet, allowed the Israelites to divorce their wives, which clearly was condemned by Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:3-9). That was a law of the Church, which can be below the laws of God because we are all weak, learning, and are tempted. But God will not suffer us to sin against a greater light if we are not prepared for it. (Doctrine and Covenants 82:3) Thus even if plural marriage is again legalized, it remains against the laws of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until the Lord feels that it is time that it should be restored. 

I am closing this post with some scriptural references to get you thinking and wondering if what I have said is true. 

Job 1:2-3 "2. and there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 3. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east."

Job 42:10 "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before."

Job 42:12-13 "12. So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 13.he had also seven sons and three daughters." 

Job began with seven sons and three daughters, and God's promise was for him to have "twice as much", thus Job must still have his children after this life. 

Journal of Discourses v1 pg50 "When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken"

So if Eve was "one of his wives" that means that Adam was meant to marry others either later in his life, or after death

I sincerely pray that no one's faith has been shaken by this post, and that you will come to understand this doctrine as I have. May your testimony and faith continue to improve, strengthen and grow, and I welcome a healthy, civilized debate, if any who read this feel such is necessary. Also, If I was unclear on any principles about which I have spoken, I would love the opportunity to clarify it for you.

Love,
Jacobugoth