Sunday, October 14, 2012

My New Book on Amazon.com

Here is a preview of my book that I just published on Amazon.com. If you want to read the entire book, you can get it at: http://www.amazon.com/Resurrection-Afterlife-Mormon-Writings-ebook/dp/B009PURFG8/.


Death, Resurrection and the Afterlife as Found in the Book of Mormon and Other Writings of Joseph Smith, Jr.


 

By

Michael Robert Serovey, MA, MISM

Elder in the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter Days Saints

 

Copyright Information Page


 

Copyright © 2012 by Michael Robert Serovey. All rights reserved worldwide.

No part of this publication may be replicated, redistributed, or given away in any form without the prior written consent of the author/publisher or the terms relayed to you herein.

 

Michael Robert Serovey, Mike Serovey Enterprises

12708 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. #111, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

www.MikeSeroveyEnterprises.com

 

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.










Introduction


 

In this paper I will attempt to explain, briefly, the teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr. concerning death, resurrection, and the afterlife. In order to stay within the intende4 length of the paper, I will deal primarily with the Book of Mormon (B of M). Where the B of M does not clearly cover a subject, I will refer to the other works generally attributed to Joseph Smith, Jr. or reputable commentaries thereon.

Before I begin explaining the doctrines, I will briefly describe each of the works generally attributed to Joseph Smith Jr. and there reported respective origins. First is the Book of Mormon (B of M). The title page, which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated from the plates themselves, best describes what it is.

The Book of Mormon

An Account Written by

The Hand of Mormon

Upon Plates

Taken from the Plates of Nephi

Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites--Written to the Lamanites, who area remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile——Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation--Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—-To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof——Sealed by the hand of Moroni and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile——The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.

An Abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven——Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever——And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations——And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment—seat of Christ.

TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH SMITH, JUN.’ 1

Next is the Doctrine and Covenants of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (D & C). The D&C contain revelations and official proclamations received by or put out by the presidents of the church. Most of these are by or through Joseph Smith, Jr. This book was first published under the title The Book of Commandments. The title was later changed by Joseph Smith Jr.

After Joseph Smith was martyred the church collected several of his writings and published them under the title The Pearl of Great Price (P of GP). The P of GP contains: The Book of Moses, which is Joseph Smith’s retranslation of the first six chapters of Genesis; The Book of Abraham, a translation of a papyrus scroll found with an Egyptian mummy; Joseph Smith- Matthew; Joseph Smith’s translation of Matthew— 23; and Joseph Smith—History an extract from History of the Church Volume I.

In addition, several of the sermons of Joseph Smith, Jr. were recorded by John A. Widstoe. These records were compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith and published under the title, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Of those listed above, four are canonized scripture and are called the Four Standard Works. They are: 1) the KJV Bible; 2) Book of Mormon; 3) D&C and; 4) Pearl of Great Price. The official doctrines of the Church are found in these works and any other proclamations of the First Presidency of the Church.


Plan of Salvation - The Seven Ages of Mankind


 

Bruce R. McConkie in his book The Millennial Messiah points out that we cannot correctly understand the teachings concerning death, resurrection and the afterlife unless we understand the entire plan of salvation. We cannot understand the entire plan of salvation unless we gain an eternal perspective on things. McConkie outlines the seven ages of man as follows: First is “Creation and Life as Spirits”. This is also called the premortal existence. This is when the great Elohim created the spirits of all who ever had, do now, and ever will dwell on this earth. This creation included the angels who were cast into outer darkness and the spirit “Son who is the Firstborn,” YHWH. 2

The Book of Abraham, Chapter 3, tells us of this ante mortal state, before the world was created. In it we find that God revealed to Abraham the eternal nature of spirits, pre—earth life, foreordination, the creation, the choosing of a Redeemer, and the second estate of man.

“NOW the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said:

These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me:

Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born. And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.

And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me, And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. And the second was angry, and ke not his first estate and, at that day, many followed after him.” 3

Second is the “Temporal Creation and Our Life as Mortals” This is when the physical earth is organized. This is when Michael the Archangel becomes Adam the premortal man. His wife Eve is created and placed in the garden with him to be a helper. They fall and become mortal beings, subject to both spiritual and physical death. 4

In the B of M, 2 Nephi 2:15-25, Nephi tells his sons the story of the creation, how Adam fell, why the fall was necessary, and what would have happened if the fall had not occurred.

 “And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the Garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever and had no end. And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”5

Third is “Redemption and the Age of the Atoning One. This is the meridian of time. This is when Jesus the Christ is born. We were present when the earth was created, Adam fell, the flood of Noah, and again we are present to witness the miraculous birth of our redeemer. We see how he grows up, begins his ministry, is baptized by John in the Jordon River, teaches and works miracles, agonizes in the Garden of Gethsemane, & bleeds and dies for us on the cross. 6

The B of M tells us that Jesus the Christ was known to the Nephite prophets by that name before he was born, that this Jesus Christ is the same one who created the earth, and that he would save us from our sins. In Mosiah 3:8 we read, “And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.”

Again in Mosiah we read:

“And because he said unto them that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning; or in other words, he said that man was created after the image of God, and that God should come down among the children of men, and take upon Him flesh and blood, and go forth upon the face of the earth.” 7

If you want to read the entire book, you can get it at: http://www.amazon.com/Resurrection-Afterlife-Mormon-Writings-ebook/dp/B009PURFG8/.

Mike Serovey, MA, MISM

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