Comments on: The Meaning of the Church of the First-Born http://www.templestudy.com/2008/10/23/the-meaning-of-the-church-of-the-first-born/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-meaning-of-the-church-of-the-first-born Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:33:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tyler http://www.templestudy.com/2008/10/23/the-meaning-of-the-church-of-the-first-born/comment-page-1/#comment-4531 Tyler Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:56:00 +0000 http://www.templestudy.com/?p=1155#comment-4531 Dallin H. Oaks gave some great insight into "Taking upon us the name of Jesus Christ" in his May 1985 Conference talk by the same name, and which I think ties in perfectly with the Truman G. Madsen quote above. The whole talk is great, but I'll only quote part of it here: "Willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ can therefore be understood as willingness to take upon us the authority of Jesus Christ. According to this meaning, by partaking of the sacrament we witness our willingness to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple and to receive the highest blessings available through the name and by the authority of the Savior when he chooses to confer them upon us. Another future event we may anticipate when we witness our willingness to take that sacred name upon us concerns our relationship to our Savior and the incomprehensible blessings available to those who will be called by his name at the last day. King Benjamin told his people, “There shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.” (Mosiah 3:17; see also 2 Ne. 31:21.) Peter proclaimed “the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” to the leaders of the Jews, declaring that “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10, 12; see also D&C 18:21.) The scriptures proclaim that the Savior’s atoning sacrifice was for those who “believe on his name.” Alma taught that Jesus Christ, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, would come “to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name.” (Alma 5:48; Alma 9:27; Alma 11:40; Hel. 14:2.) In the words of King Benjamin, “Whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ.” (Mosiah 5:9.) Thus, those who exercise faith in the sacred name of Jesus Christ and repent of their sins and enter into his covenant and keep his commandments (see Mosiah 5:8) can lay claim on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Those who do so will be called by his name at the last day. When the Savior taught the Nephites following his resurrection, he referred to the scriptural statement that “ye must take upon you the name of Christ.” He explained, “For by this name shall ye be called at the last day; And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.” (3 Ne. 27:5–6.) That same teaching is repeated in a modern revelation, which adds the caution that “if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father.” (D&C 18:25; see also Alma 5:38.)" Dallin H. Oaks gave some great insight into “Taking upon us the name of Jesus Christ” in his May 1985 Conference talk by the same name, and which I think ties in perfectly with the Truman G. Madsen quote above. The whole talk is great, but I’ll only quote part of it here:

“Willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ can therefore be understood as willingness to take upon us the authority of Jesus Christ. According to this meaning, by partaking of the sacrament we witness our willingness to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple and to receive the highest blessings available through the name and by the authority of the Savior when he chooses to confer them upon us.

Another future event we may anticipate when we witness our willingness to take that sacred name upon us concerns our relationship to our Savior and the incomprehensible blessings available to those who will be called by his name at the last day.

King Benjamin told his people, "There shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent." (Mosiah 3:17; see also 2 Ne. 31:21.) Peter proclaimed "the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" to the leaders of the Jews, declaring that "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:10, 12; see also D&C 18:21.)

The scriptures proclaim that the Savior's atoning sacrifice was for those who "believe on his name." Alma taught that Jesus Christ, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, would come "to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name." (Alma 5:48; Alma 9:27; Alma 11:40; Hel. 14:2.) In the words of King Benjamin, "Whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ." (Mosiah 5:9.)

Thus, those who exercise faith in the sacred name of Jesus Christ and repent of their sins and enter into his covenant and keep his commandments (see Mosiah 5:8) can lay claim on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Those who do so will be called by his name at the last day.

When the Savior taught the Nephites following his resurrection, he referred to the scriptural statement that "ye must take upon you the name of Christ." He explained, "For by this name shall ye be called at the last day; And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day." (3 Ne. 27:5-6.) That same teaching is repeated in a modern revelation, which adds the caution that "if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father." (D&C 18:25; see also Alma 5:38.)”

]]> By: Frostie http://www.templestudy.com/2008/10/23/the-meaning-of-the-church-of-the-first-born/comment-page-1/#comment-4281 Frostie Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:20:53 +0000 http://www.templestudy.com/?p=1155#comment-4281 I was trying to explain to some individuals today that the Church of Jesus Christ (of Latter day Saints) is NOT the Church of the Firstborn. There are differences. While the Church of Jesus Christ here on the earth is the Kingdom, it is still a preparatory gospel, to bring souls TO Christ. As noted by several of you above, The Church of the Firstborn denotes those who HAVE gone to Christ -- and finished their journey, so to speak. If we truly believe in the Articles of Faith, then in the 9th it states, "he will yet reveal many great and important things...." Key word: yet. So -- any thoughts would be appreciated. Thx. I was trying to explain to some individuals today that the Church of Jesus Christ (of Latter day Saints) is NOT the Church of the Firstborn. There are differences. While the Church of Jesus Christ here on the earth is the Kingdom, it is still a preparatory gospel, to bring souls TO Christ. As noted by several of you above, The Church of the Firstborn denotes those who HAVE gone to Christ — and finished their journey, so to speak.

If we truly believe in the Articles of Faith, then in the 9th it states, “he will yet reveal many great and important things….” Key word: yet. So — any thoughts would be appreciated. Thx.

]]> By: Greg http://www.templestudy.com/2008/10/23/the-meaning-of-the-church-of-the-first-born/comment-page-1/#comment-4222 Greg Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:30:54 +0000 http://www.templestudy.com/?p=1155#comment-4222 Here are two other references that may be of interest: Robert Millet's comments in <a href="http://www.believeallthings.com/3474/holy-order-book-mormon" rel="nofollow">Holy Order in the Book of Mormon</a> and Heber C. Kimball's statement in <a href="http://www.believeallthings.com/1161/church-of-the-first-born" rel="nofollow">Church of the First Born</a>. Here are two other references that may be of interest: Robert Millet’s comments in Holy Order in the Book of Mormon and Heber C. Kimball’s statement in Church of the First Born.

]]> By: Lee http://www.templestudy.com/2008/10/23/the-meaning-of-the-church-of-the-first-born/comment-page-1/#comment-3823 Lee Tue, 26 May 2009 22:02:19 +0000 http://www.templestudy.com/?p=1155#comment-3823 On the subject of Christ being the literal Firstborn, I was at a lecture that Nibley gave in the Tanner Building many years ago in which he discussed the tradition of Adam's first wife being Lilith. Something he said about Lucifer made me go up and ask him specifically about Christ being the literal Firstborn. His response was roughly, "The scriptural examples testify otherwise." On the subject of Christ being the literal Firstborn, I was at a lecture that Nibley gave in the Tanner Building many years ago in which he discussed the tradition of Adam’s first wife being Lilith. Something he said about Lucifer made me go up and ask him specifically about Christ being the literal Firstborn. His response was roughly, “The scriptural examples testify otherwise.”

]]> By: Greg http://www.templestudy.com/2008/10/23/the-meaning-of-the-church-of-the-first-born/comment-page-1/#comment-3271 Greg Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:05:26 +0000 http://www.templestudy.com/?p=1155#comment-3271 Thank you again for an insightful post Bryce. I thought you might like to read <a href="http://www.believeallthings.com/2700/endowment" rel="nofollow">What is an Endowment?</a>. Thank you again for an insightful post Bryce. I thought you might like to read What is an Endowment?.

]]> By: ChrisS http://www.templestudy.com/2008/10/23/the-meaning-of-the-church-of-the-first-born/comment-page-1/#comment-3251 ChrisS Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:57:24 +0000 http://www.templestudy.com/?p=1155#comment-3251 Very thought provoking post and great food for thought indeed. This is a topic I've strived to study and learn more about because it seems it will play a very important role in our lives as we make our way across the veil one day (as in all the scriptures that have been referenced). My only thought would be as I read through is that (my humble opinion) everything Christ does points us to the Father, his whole mission was to bring us back to the Father - here I am, do as I do so you can see the Father and you can one day be like Him (a King and a Priest, basically a God, having received exhaltation and all the Father hath). So as Christ points us, or leads us, to the Father, the LDS church (Christ's church) prepares us, or leads us to the Church of the Firstborn (or the Father's Church - as was pointed out - a Church of God's, Kings and Priests). We learn of Christ and how to follow him in the church...we learn of the Father and how to follow him in the temple. One builds on the other. Pretty amazing the covenants we've made and the blessings we have upon us to one day fulfill! Very thought provoking post and great food for thought indeed. This is a topic I’ve strived to study and learn more about because it seems it will play a very important role in our lives as we make our way across the veil one day (as in all the scriptures that have been referenced).

My only thought would be as I read through is that (my humble opinion) everything Christ does points us to the Father, his whole mission was to bring us back to the Father – here I am, do as I do so you can see the Father and you can one day be like Him (a King and a Priest, basically a God, having received exhaltation and all the Father hath).

So as Christ points us, or leads us, to the Father, the LDS church (Christ’s church) prepares us, or leads us to the Church of the Firstborn (or the Father’s Church – as was pointed out – a Church of God’s, Kings and Priests). We learn of Christ and how to follow him in the church…we learn of the Father and how to follow him in the temple. One builds on the other.

Pretty amazing the covenants we’ve made and the blessings we have upon us to one day fulfill!

]]> By: Bryce Haymond http://www.templestudy.com/2008/10/23/the-meaning-of-the-church-of-the-first-born/comment-page-1/#comment-2905 Bryce Haymond Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:00:09 +0000 http://www.templestudy.com/?p=1155#comment-2905 You're welcome Geoff. Thanks for stopping by. You’re welcome Geoff. Thanks for stopping by.

]]> By: Geoff B http://www.templestudy.com/2008/10/23/the-meaning-of-the-church-of-the-first-born/comment-page-1/#comment-2903 Geoff B Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:10:12 +0000 http://www.templestudy.com/?p=1155#comment-2903 Bryce, this is a very interesting post. Thanks for this. Bryce, this is a very interesting post. Thanks for this.

]]> By: Andrew Miller http://www.templestudy.com/2008/10/23/the-meaning-of-the-church-of-the-first-born/comment-page-1/#comment-2813 Andrew Miller Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:08:21 +0000 http://www.templestudy.com/?p=1155#comment-2813 Did you know the word "firstborn" is actually plural in Hebrews? Check it out. It means "The Church of the firstborn [ones]." Those who are begotten through Jesus become the "firstborn" just as Jesus is. Did you know the word “firstborn” is actually plural in Hebrews? Check it out. It means “The Church of the firstborn [ones].” Those who are begotten through Jesus become the “firstborn” just as Jesus is.

]]> By: Bryce Haymond http://www.templestudy.com/2008/10/23/the-meaning-of-the-church-of-the-first-born/comment-page-1/#comment-2803 Bryce Haymond Fri, 24 Oct 2008 22:05:43 +0000 http://www.templestudy.com/?p=1155#comment-2803 Awesome thoughts David! Thank you very much for all your added perspective! Indeed, becoming the "<i>firstborn</i>" was an integral part of the ancient Israelite king initiation. Awesome thoughts David! Thank you very much for all your added perspective! Indeed, becoming the “firstborn” was an integral part of the ancient Israelite king initiation.

]]>