There are several individuals who were in the Bible who did not experience death, as are in the Book of Mormon. There was also a great city of people who were taken into heaven without dying, known as the City of Enoch - and there are certainly many more that we know not of.
Is it possible? The author lists so many verses from God's Word that tell us that the work of Jesus Christ was to bring to us eternal life. The most quoted scripture in the Bible verifies this. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
And so, a veil is to be lifted from our minds so that we begin to understand what being "born of the spirit" truly means at last.
If the preceding chapters have held for you new and amazing thoughts, I approach this dynamic chapter in deepest humility as I ask that you keep a prayer in your hearts as you read and study it. I stand in breathless awe before this work God has placed in my hands. And to God be the credit for the sublime, breath-taking wonder of these great and mighty truths this record contains. Much of it has been written in tears -- all of it in prayer. I lay no claim to this work. I only bow my head in deepest gratitude that such glorious knowledge could come forth in this day and age, and that my fingers have been privileged to touch so sacred a work, and my mind behold it.
In the Apocryphal New Testament, Nicodemus 18:12-13, is the account of the angel of death condemning Lucifer for crucifying the Son of God -- there are several chapters on Christ's death and entrance into hell to release the prisoners, but I shall quote only two verses, which are as follows: "O Satan, Prince of all evil, author of death, and source of all pride, thou shouldst first have inquired into the evil crimes of Jesus of Nazareth, and then thou wouldst have found that he was guilty of no fault worthy of death.
"Why didst thou venture, without either reason or justice, to crucify him, and hast brought down to our regions a person innocent and righteous, and thereby hast lost all the sinners, impious and unrighteous persons in the whole world?"
From this it is suggested that death has no claim on those who have not sinned. This thought is verified in the old Chaldaic writings of the Hebrews given before the Egyptian bondage, but never included in our scripture: "On those overcoming all weaknesses and abolishing all sin from their lives, death has no claim." (Rabbi Bendovan, a Levite record keeper).
This doctrine was verified in the City of Enoch. A great multitude, working together for perfection, living in love and unselfishness, and serving God with all their hearts, minds and souls were not subject to death. The whole city was taken into heaven. This great event was not contrary to laws, but in accordance with law. I might also add that they were living at a time when there was greater wickedness on the earth than at any other time in the history of the world except the present day.
Moses, according to Josephus, was taken into heaven without tasting death. So was Elijah. And John the Beloved is another on whom death has had no claim.
From the ancient records of America, from those who built a civilization of beauty and magnificence surpassing our own, is given even more individual cases to substantiate the fact that death is unnecessary if one overcomes all sin. Alma, the younger, was taken into heaven without tasting death.1 (Alma 45:18).
In 3 Nephi 1:3 also 2:9 there is a record of a man named Nephi who received the power to overcome death. "Behold, the power of God was with him, and they could not take him to cast him into prison, for he was taken by the Spirit and conveyed away out of the midst of them. And it came to pass that thus he did go forth in the Spirit, from multitude to multitude, declaring the word of God."2 (Heleman 10:16-17).
The prophet Ether's last words were a suggestion that he might be translated. Ether did not have the Bible record of Moses or Elijah because his people had come to the American continent at the time of the Tower of Babel, long before the time of either Moses or Elijah. Neither did he have the account of Alma and Nephi because he lived around four hundred and fifty years before either of them. Therefore if he understood this higher law, it must have been revealed by God to him to prepare him for this change.
There is also the account of the "Three Nephites: who were permitted to tarry on the earth without death having any claim on them. There are those of this generation who have been contacted by one or more of them, and these individuals can testify, along with the ancient records, of their actual existence.
This makes eight, nine if Ether is included, who being identified by name, were delivered from death by the righteousness of their lives. To these individuals must be added the whole city of Enoch, and the righteous who were taken up to that city from the time of its ascension until the floods descended. How many are included in this group we do not know. It does not matter. How many have since that time been given power over death has not been revealed. They could have been legion.
According to the New Testament Apocrypha, there is one Teckla, a convert of Paul's who was translated because of the righteousness and devotion of her life -- and from that early record it is apparent that the saints of the early days of the Christian Church were quite familiar with this power which was called, "translation."
From the New Testament records, John the Beloved was not the only follower of Christ who was given this power. Note the following from the original Greek record: "And he (Christ) said to them, Indeed I say to you, that there are SOME of those standing here, who will not taste of death till THEY see God's Royal Majesty having come with power." (Mark 9:1; Matt. 16:28 and Luke 9:27). And since Christ has not yet come in His power these individuals have escaped the power of death.
How many have been given this great privilege does not concern us. The thing that does concern us is: Does the law apply to us? "The last enemy to be overcome is death." Then surely if we can overcome all weaknesses, discords, confusions, fears, hates and darkness it would be possible to overcome death. And in overcoming death one can either be caught up into heaven, or be permitted to remain on this earth according to the will of the Lord, or the desire of the individual.
"We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at the point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with him."3 (Joseph Smith).
We will now have to turn again to the teachings of Jesus Christ who, of course, is always the infallible authority for any doctrine.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my sayings, he shall never see death." (John 8:51). Or according to the perfect Greek translation: "Indeed, indeed, I say to you, if anyone the word of mine shall keep death he shall not see until the end of the age (or world)." Christ was instantly challenged on this doctrine by the multitude in these words: "Now we know that thou sayest, if any man keep my sayings, he shall never taste death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead?" To such a rebellious group Christ did not attempt to explain this sacred, higher law. He only justified his words by saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am." Even this truth caused them to pick up stones and attempt to stone him to death.
"And whosoever LIVETH AND BELIEVETH IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. Believest thou this?" (John 11:25). Christ was not speaking of life beyond the grave. He was not talking of the resurrection. He was talking to Martha concerning Lazarus, who was already buried, but one on whom death seemed to have no claim. Lazarus' going to the other side had been permitted undoubtedly as a sign and a testimony to the people. And you may be assured that Lazarus never again tasted of death.
The sixth chapter of John contains more on this subject than any other chapter of scripture: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath life age-lasting." This again is the translation from the original Greek, and also means to the end of the age or world.
"I am the bread of life.
"Your fathers did eat bread in the wilderness and are dead."
This speech was brought forth because the multitude had boasted that their ancestors had been fed manna by God, and Christ carefully pointed out that though they had been fed manna by God, yet they had all died. Those old Hebrew Fathers under Moses had not all died a spiritual death -- so in speaking of this age-lasting life that he promised, he was definitely not speaking of just the life beyond the grave, or a life after death, for their fathers did possess a life beyond, for according to the record of Peter, even those who had been disobedient in the days of Noah, had that, for Christ went to preach to them during the three days and nights his body lay in the tomb. This record is verified in Nicodemus 18.
"This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die (as had their ancestors who had lived on the coveted manna).
"I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, He shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I give for the life of the world." (John 6:47-51). I would recommend the prayerful study of the whole chapter, for here Christ promised that those who partook of the sacrament would have this great gift if they would truly believe in him. Then he said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63). In other words, He is saying that the ordinance of the sacrament is merely symbolical of the deeper meaning He is trying to teach -- that it is not the sacrament that will profit anyone, but the Spirit of Christ that is to be desired and received, that one might truly be quickened into Life. John definitely comprehended his words and their meanings. And according to the records there must have been others.
Now let us examine the covenants of the sacrament and the promises given that make it so extremely important. Each time one is privileged to partake of it, he covenants that he will ALWAYS remember the Son of God, even Jesus Christ. ALWAYS to remember Him would demand that one's thoughts would have to be in control, that one's mind would have to be almost a constant prayer. He would have to live every law given by the Master, and the Sermon on the Mount would become as much a part of his life as eating and breathing. If we partake of the sacrament without keeping this covenant, or even attempting to, we are liars before God. Many are ill and many have died because they have failed to try and understand this covenant and to live by it. When we take upon us the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ, keeping our part of the covenant, we are partaking of the spiritual emblems of eternal life -- even as Christ had life in Himself, so will He give to us the power to have life in ourselves. Thus we will have His power to be upon us, and His Spirit to be with us always, insomuch that our lives can become a living glory, directed in righteousness, truth, peace and progress. We will know what to say and when to say it. We will be able to perform the works that He performed, "even greater works." This is the promise. If we understand the great privilege that is ours and live by the covenants we make, then we will not only have His Spirit to attend us always, but we need never die. This is the positive promise given in the sixth chapter of John, unless of course, we are called to lay down our lives to seal our testimony and thus further glorify Him.
We also covenant in the sacramental prayer that we are willing to take upon us the Name of Jesus Christ. This will be explained later. But unless we begin to comprehend the great truths behind the symbols we will continue to live in our human niches of distress, and eventually perish from the earth.
"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, LET US GO ON UNTO PERFECTION: not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptism, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."4 (Heb. 6:1). In other words, the first principles of the Gospel, as Christ taught it, are the milk. Faith, repentance and baptism, and the laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost are as much a part of His teachings as love, and forgiveness and perfection -- in fact, they are the stepping stones to the others. But after they have been fulfilled no individual has the right to sit in security, thinking he has done all. From there he must go on towards perfection, fulfilling the higher laws. The very Gift of the Holy Ghost is to lead one into all truth -- even as the Melchizedek Priesthood is to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and reveal the face of God. Therefore unless one goes on to perfection through the great gifts of the Gospel "all is vain."
In Nephi's farewell speech to his people, and to all men, he gave the admonition to repent and be baptized, that the promised blessings might be received. He mourns because of ignorance, unbelief and wickedness of the people -- and ends by saying, "And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into the straight and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay: for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore ye must press forward with the steadfastness in Christ -- FEASTING UPON THE WORD OF CHRIST." (Feasting means to partake of, and digest, or in this case, study. The only way his teachings can be digested is by making them a part of one's being even as food becomes a part of one's body). He goes on to say that if men have obeyed the first words of Christ, they should be able to speak with the tongue of angels, because angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost. He further says: "IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, IT IS BECAUSE YE DO NOT ASK OR KNOCK -- For IF YE WOULD HARKEN UNTO THE SPIRIT WHICH TEACHETH A MAN TO PRAY, YE WOULD KNOW THAT YE MUST PRAY: for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray."5 (2 Nephi chapters 31 and 32).
When one can make every breath a prayer of praise and glory and rejoicing, he will find he truly abides in Christ -- then it will be that "he shall have whatsoever he saith."
Every attribute that God the Father possess is also possessed in an embryo state by every child of earth. Every son and daughter of God when told of the gifts that should follow those who truly believe, are commanded to desire to prophesy. Paul said that he would to God that all men could prophesy. And the promise is given that the Spirit of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, and our sons and our daughters shall prophesy. No one having the power of God upon him will be silent, or inactive -- the very power demands activity that will continually glorify Him -- that His name might be made known and magnified upon the earth.
It is impossible to reach too high, unless one is reaching to take hold of the power of God that he might bask in his own glory, and surpass his fellow men. Such an individual in reaching for light and power will not be prepared to take hold of it and it will consume him. Only deep humility, perfect love and a burning desire to glorify God can fulfill the highest vision.
When Ammon, the son of king Mosiah, had completed his mission to the Lamanites, who had been converted by the thousands to a belief in God, through Ammon and his brothers' preaching, he said: "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith and bringeth forth good works, and PRAYETH CONTINUALLY WITHOUT CEASING unto such is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance."6
Paul admonished the saints of his time to lay hold of every good gift. To lay hold of a gift one must understand it, must desire it -- and must not only reach for it, but hold his mind upon it until it is fulfilled unto him, or until his faith has become sufficiently strong to receive it.
"Let the same mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God."7
Along with this great power of God that comes through fulfilling the laws and perfecting love -- is the power to abide in Christ, to become one with Him, even as He and the Father are one -- to be instructed and directed by Him and that all achievements will be done in and through Him, and nothing in our lives can then fail. This great power also carries with it power over death, except for those who are called to give willingly their lives as martyrs for the glory of the Father and His Son.
"He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." (I John 3:14).
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life." (Rom. 6:23) -- (James 1:13).
"We believe that men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transgressions." If this be true, and I know that it is, men do not die because of Adam's transgressions which brought death to him. They die because of their own sins. Adam brought sin into the world, and by sin came death -- the sin that every individual commits because we partake of sin. But the sins for which we are punished and die are our own sins and not Adam's.
When we overcome sin we can overcome death, the last enemy.
"To him that overcometh I will cause to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." (Rev. 2:7).
"To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8:6).
"Behold, I shew you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed . . . " (I Cor. 15:51).
"But everyone shall die for his own iniquities." (Jer. 31:30).
"The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (I Cor. 15:26 and Rev. 2).
"Wherefore they have foresworn themselves, and by their oaths, brought upon themselves death, and hell."8 (Moses 6:29).
"Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and power of sin is the law." (I Cor. 16:55).
"Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and was not found because God translated him, for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Heb. 11:5-6).
Death is definitely to be banished during the Millennium, for every promise of that day that is just before us, is that there shall be no more death -- that those who are mortal will be changed in "the twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality" when they have reached the age of a tree. Trees vary in age from a few years to centuries, so will the change taking place in mortals vary in time, for it will be when each individual has thoroughly prepared himself for it and not before. That preparation can begin at any time when the individual gets the understanding of the law, or catches the vision of it.
We, too, have the right to lay hold upon these greater blessings. God is no respecter of persons. It is not robbery to seek to share in such a glorious privilege and calling. It is not an over-estimated assumption. It is not a wicked desire. It is an everlasting invitation to those who will abide the higher laws.
"But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, everything which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God." (Moroni 7:13).
"And as sure as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: "Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be done unto you." (Ibid., verse 26). There is no need to ask for the things that already exist, but there is a need to ask for the gifts that we have not yet received.
When one's mind lays hold upon the idea of being able to serve the Lord with all one's time, talents, strength, energy, mind, and body and soul, the spirit of the Lord will testify, or bear witness to that individual that if he continues he shall have the privilege of serving to that extent under the direction and inspiration of God. After the Spirit of God bears witness to one's soul of this great promise, it becomes very real and very dear to his heart, and is not nearly as strange as the thought of death itself. Even the doctrine of the resurrection is a more difficult one to understand, though so perfect and beautiful in its power, mercy and comprehension. Lucifer is the author of death and if we can completely throw off his powers of sin and darkness death cannot possibly have any claim on us, and thus our last enemy "death" can be overcome.
"Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief. Behold, when ye shall rend the veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you--" be made known. (Ether 4:13-15). In other words, when we have overcome the wickedness of our lives, the hardness of our hearts, and the blindness of our minds and thrown out all sin, great and unspeakable blessings, such as the world has never known shall be ours -- blessings that have been hidden "from the foundation of the world."
Perhaps I can explain it a little more thoroughly this way: after one has learned to make his mind a constant prayer of love and devotion; when his heart has become a continual melody of praise and glory and his mind is at last permitted to reach through into the great storehouse of Eternal Truth, or the fourth dimension, then it is only logical that after abiding in that condition for awhile his body gradually being filled with light should be able to follow into it also.
"In that day two shall be grinding in a field, and one will be taken and the other left." "Two shall be sleeping in a bed, one shall be taken and the other left." From this we know that it will be necessary to live higher laws of obedience or glory in order to be taken up that one might escape the great and final judgments of the consummation of earthquakes, bombings and destruction of nations.
Within the soul of man is the atomic energy and power to lay hold upon all the great gifts and blessings of God. This power can only be used through great humility, dynamic desire and great love, and when the mind has been brought to obey and becomes a continual prayer of tender devotion of light and glory. "Without vision the people perish." They have died down the centuries because they did not have this vision.
The demand made on our pioneer forefathers was a challenge in their physical and moral fortitude -- ours is a demand upon our mental and spiritual strength. Mentally we have to awaken -- to think -- to feel -- to vision -- to desire -- and finally to KNOW. And only he can know who has paid the price of knowing. That price is paid by living the laws of righteousness, by opening wide the mind and soul to feel -- by humble, earnest prayer, to seek -- and by increasing righteousness. "If you will live the laws you will know if they be of God, or whether I speak of myself." That is just as true now as it was when Christ gave it.
You ask me how I dare to write such unorthodox things, and how I know them? I know them to be true because God showed them to me before I came to earth. I was taught by Him -- and death was explained to me -- and the laws by which it could be overcome. And again in life was it verified unto me -- and the promise was given that I was to have the gift and power of the "Three Nephites", that I would be able to go forth, under the Spirit and power of the Almighty, to serve mankind and help bring a world to light. And that same promise is yours if you will only lay hold of it -- if you will only believe, if you will only ask and seek and desire.
"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.
"Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.
"THE WIND BLOWETH WHERE IT LISTETH, AND THOU HEAREST THE SOUND THEREOF, BUT CANST NOT TELL WHENCE IT COMETH, AND WHITHER IT GOETH: SO IS EVERY ONE THAT IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT." (John 3:1-8).
Those are not my words, those are the words of Jesus Christ, and they are not mistranslated. They mean exactly what they say. They mean that anyone who has been born of the Spirit will be able to come and go without anyone being able to tell where he came from, or where he goes. And Christ Himself proved the words many times in His own life.
"And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place." (John 5:13).
"If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
"But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him.
"Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
"And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode." (John 10:37-40).
"While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus and departed and did hide himself from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him." (John 12:36-37).
"And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
"But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
"But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow" (and a Gentile).
"And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the Prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian, (also a Gentile).
"And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath.
"And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
"But he passing through the midst of them went his way." (Luke 4:24-30).
"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am.
"Then took they up stones to cast at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." (John 8:58-59).
After feeding the five thousand -- "Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
"Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, this is of a truth the prophet that should come into the world.
"When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone." (John 6:13-15).
Later, that night, he joined His apostles, walking on the sea of Galilee.
The "iron rod" which we are admonished to hold to is the "word of God" and it will lead us to partake of the love of God, or the fruit of the tree of life, "Which is shed forth in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore it is the most desirable above all things, and the most joyous to the soul." (I. Nephi 11:22-23).
"And it came to pass that I beheld that the iron rod, which my father had seen was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God: and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God." (Ibid., verse 25).
The foregoing information is most clear and beautiful. It so plainly tells that if we desire to partake of the fruit of the tree of life, which is the pure love of God, we must hold fast to the "iron rod" which is the word of God.
The word of God, as it has come down to us from the prophets is a continuous record of promises. This is especially true of the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Four Gospels are so filled with dynamic promises that we have completely failed to comprehend them -- yet if we hold to them, believe in them, seek to fulfill them, they will lead us to the perfect love and we shall be permitted to partake of the fruit of the tree of life located in the midst of the paradise of God, and we need not die.
This is verified in Rev. 2:7 -- ". . . To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."
Thus as we seek diligently for the kingdom of God and its righteousness, believing in the promises, we shall at last receive all things, or have all things added unto us. We are told that the kingdom of heaven is within us. Now we are informed that the fruit of the tree of life, which represents the love of God, is His love that is shed forth in our hearts. If that is so then the power to attain unto this gift of eternal life has to be right within us.
Now, going back to Genesis, to study carefully the record of Adam and Eve being driven from the garden: "And now, lest Adam put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever in his sins . . . he placed at the east of the garden of Eden, Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way to guard the way of the tree of life." (Gen. 3:22 and 24).
The gate to the garden was sealed and man went forth to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow in a lone and dreary world, shut out from the presence of God. Cherubim drew a veil over his consciousness and the flaming sword which turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life is the flaming burden and anguish of our physical, mortal conceptions and traits. These very weaknesses of the flesh guard the way to the tree of life more surely than could legions of angels.
Thus by his changed, mortal concept of thought Adam was not permitted to partake of the fruit of the tree of life lest he live forever in his sins. Neither are we permitted to partake of it lest we live forever in our sins. But when we have overcome our sins the fruit of the tree of life, which is the great and perfect love of God bestowed upon us in all its fullness and power, we may partake of the fruit of the tree of life and death will no longer have any claim on us.
And sin, according to the scriptures, is the cause of death. Sin is every thought, feeling or vibration that is out of harmony with man's true pattern of life, or out of harmony with the divine melody of the perfect love and peace of the universe.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24). These higher laws and powers are the gifts of Christ. They are the gifts He was trying to prepare the people of his day to receive -- and the same blessings stand waiting for us today. They belong to you if you can only believe -- if you can hold to the "iron rod", the word of His promises. Not only remember always, but know that to him that believes nothing is impossible. And know also that for him who reaches and asks, there is no rebuke. To the "Three Nephites" his answer was: "More blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the powers of heaven." Here He plainly told them that they were more blessed because they had desired so great a thing of Him. The greater one's vision, the greater will be his desires.
The greatest work of Christ was breaking the bands of death. That can also become our greatest work, for if we believe in His words we are to do the works that He did. He is not to do them for us. He only showed the way. They are for us to accomplish.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me the works that I do shall he do also, and greater things than these shall he do because I go unto my Father." (John 14:12).
And so I leave this chapter with you, asking only that you continue to pray as you study and ponder it in your heart, for only as the Spirit of God unfolds it unto you can you know of its great truth and receive of its blessings.
1. Alma 21:20-22 RLDS 1908 Book of Mormon: And when Alma had done this, he departed out of the land of Zarahemla, as if to go into the land of Melek. And it came to pass that he was never heard of more; as to his death or burial, we know not of. Behold, this we know, that he was a righteous man; and the saying went abroad in the church, that he was taken up by the Spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses. But behold, the scriptures saith the Lord took Moses unto himself; and we suppose that he has also received Alma in the spirit, unto himself; therefore, for this cause we know nothing concerning his death and burial. return to paragraph →
2. Helaman 3:129-130 RLDS 1908 Book of Mormon: But behold, the power of God was with him, and they could not take him to cast him into prison, for he was taken by the Spirit, and conveyed away out of the midst of them. And it came to pass that thus he did go forth in the Spirit, from multitude to multitude, declaring the word of God, even until he had declared it unto them all, or sent it forth among all the people. return to paragraph →
3. The Evening and the Morning Star Vols I & II p. 135, Price Publishing Company: "We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection the more conspicuous are his views, & the greater his enjoyments, until he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire of sin; and like the ancients, arrives to that point of faith that he is wrapped in the glory and power of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with him." return to paragraph →
4. Hebrews 6:1 IVB: Therefore not leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. (Annalee quotes from the King James Version. The word "not" is added to the Inspired Version of the Bible in this verse) return to paragraph →
5. 2nd Nephi 13 & 14 Book of Mormon, Restored Covenant Edition return to paragraph →
6. Alma 14:103-104 RLDS 1908 Book of Mormon: Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing: unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; 104 Yea, and it shall be given unto such, to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance. return to paragraph →
7. Philippians 2:5-6 IVB: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; return to paragraph →
8. Genesis 6:29-30 IVB: Wherefore, they have forsworn themselves, and by their oaths they have brought upon themselves death. And an hell I have prepared for them, if they repent not; return to paragraph →