Prophets, Melchizedek Priesthood, and God

It has been a while since I have posted on here. More or less it is because the subject which I wish to approach today is one that I have very limited knowledge on and so have had to research and discuss with others to further my understanding. (Thanks Sister Dowden)

To begin with I would like to quote from the Joseph Smith manual we're studying from in Priesthood and Relief Society.

"I saw Adam in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman. He called together his children and blessed them with a patriarchal blessing. The Lord appeared in their midst, and he (Adam) blessed them all, and foretold what should befall them to the last generation.

This is why Adam blessed his posterity, he wanted to bring them into the presence of God. They looked for a city, etc., ('whose builder and maker is God' - Heb. 11:10). Moses sought to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God, through the power of the Priesthood, but he could not. In the first ages of the world they tried to establish the same thing; and there were Eliases raised up who tried to restore these very glories, but did not obtain them; but prophesied of a day when this glory would be revealed. Paul spoke of the dispensation of the fullness of times, when God would gather together all things in one, etc.; and those men to whom these keys have been given, will have to be there; and they without us cannot be made perfect."

The subject in these verses I want to focus on is in the power of the Priesthood given to the Prophets to raise the children of God into his presence. We see here that Jospeph Smith saw that Adam sought to bring this privilage to his posterity. In Hebrews 11:8-10 we see that Abraham sought for this blessing as he sojourned in the land of promise. Perhaps however the best story in which to glean the most information on this subject is the story of Moses and the children of Israel.

Moses as the leader and Prophet of the children of Israel was given the responsibilty of rehabilitating the children of Israel spiritually. This is where I will turn the story over to the record in Deuteronomy chapters four and five as well as D & C 84.

D&C 84:19-23, "And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father and live. Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;"

Moses sought to sanctify his people to prepare them for what happens next in Deut. 4:10

"Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach thier children."

The children of Israel did gather and stood at the foot of the mountain and the Lord spoke to them and gave them the ten commandments and made a covenant with them. However, this was their chance to be taken up into the presence of the Lord. Here's what happened in Deut. 5:23-30.

"And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; And ye said, Behold the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire:we have seen this day that god doth talk with man, and he liveth. Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? Go thou near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it. And the Lord heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the Lord said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of the people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! Go say unto them, Get you into your tents again."

So when the Children of Israel were brought to the foot of the mountain and heard the voice of the Lord they had a choice. They knew that they had a choice, if they went up into the mountain unto the Lord they would be consumed by the fire and die. Death however is not in the sense of the grave but being translated and taken from the earth. If you notice they knew that when people are in the presence of God as they were they usually aren't around for much longer (see vs. 24-26). They choose to stay however, much to the Lords lament as we see in vs. 29-30 when the Lord sends them back to their tents. Although if we return back to D&C 84 24-26 we see that their decision made the Lord angry.

"But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fullness of his glory. Therefore he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also; And the lesser priesthood continued."

So from all of this we see that Prophets have had an interest in bringing the children of God into his presence through the Priesthood. However, the only account we have of a whole group sucsessfully recieving this blessing is the City of Enoch. Otherwise we only see individuals such as Moses and Alma taken up by themselves. Even Joseph Smith sought to sanctify the saints to prepare them to live the law of Consecration which is preperatory to entering the presence of God.

Today we have temples that show us the path back into the presence of God. All the commandments and covenants needed to attain this glory are given there. The choice is ours to learn them and live them until we become perfect in them. I know that we have the tools here on earth to prepare ourselves for the kingdom of God, that our Prophet holds all the keys of the Priesthood here on earth and that with those keys come great miracles as they are used in righteousness and service.