The ordinances and covenants of the Aaronic Priesthood, or “lesser” priesthood, are a preparatory necessity leading to the “higher” ordinances and covenants of the Melchizedek Priesthood. “Preparatory,” as it relates to the “lesser” priesthood, means to make ready “the way” for Christ, as well as laying the groundwork for receiving “higher” priesthood rites. “Preparatory,” as it relates to the “higher” priesthood, means to prepare for Eternal Lives (aka God’s Life).
John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord in the Meridian of Time, through keys of the “lesser” or Aaronic Priesthood. “The keys of the Aaronic Priesthood were committed unto him (John the Baptist), and he was the voice of one crying in the wilderness saying: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord and make his paths straight.”” (JST, Luke 3:4; TPJS, p. 319)
Just as the Aaronic Priesthood is preparatory in nature and status to the Melchizedek Priesthood, the present Church is subordinate and preparatory in nature and status to God’s Everlasting Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is currently God’s Church on earth; however, apparently it is not God’s Everlasting Church. (Reason would confirm this statement, as other establishments of the Church of Jesus Christ have existed in every dispensation since the days of Adam and Eve.)
As a person receives “higher” ordinances available in the Holy Temple, that person may qualify for membership in the “higher” church—the Church of the Firstborn—God’s Everlasting Church. “Higher” ordinances of the Priesthood are provided in Holy Temples to secure the fullness of those blessings which have been prepared for the Church of the Firstborn, and come up and abide in the presence of (our Heavenly Father, El) in the eternal worlds. (D&C 93:22)
While administering the first higher ordinance rites of the Priesthood to leaders of the Church in Nauvoo, Illinois, the Prophet Joseph Smith recorded the following:
(See the “NOTES” section below for the Red Brick Store “preparatory” event on May 3rd prior to issuing the ordianances of the “higher” priesthood.)
Wednesday, 4.–I spent the day in the upper part of the store, that is in my private office * * * in council with General James Adams, of Springfield, Patriarch Hyrum Smith, Bishops Newel K. Whitney and George Miller, and President Brigham Young and Elders Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards, instructing them in the principles and order of the Priesthood, attending to washings, anointings, endowments and the communication of keys pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood, and so on to the highest order of the Melchizedek Priesthood, setting forth the order pertaining to the Ancient of Days, and all those plans and principles by which any one is enabled to secure the fullness of those blessing which have been prepared for the Church of the Firstborn, and come up and abide in the presence of the Eloheim in the eternal worlds. In this council was instituted the ancient order of things for the first time in these last days. And the communications I made to this council were of things spiritual, and to be received only by the spiritual minded: and there was nothing made known to these men but what will be made known to all the Saints of the last days, so soon as they are prepared to receive, and a proper place is prepared to communicate them, even to the weakest of the Saints; therefore let the Saints be diligent in building the Temple, and all houses which they have been, or shall hereafter be, commanded of God to build; and wait their time with patience in all meekness, faith, perseverance unto the end, knowing assuredly that all these things referred to in this council are always governed by the principle of revelation. (May 4, 1842.) DHC 5:1-2. (TPJS, Section Five, 1842-1843, p. 237, bolding added)
Firstborn. So, who or what is the “Firstborn?”
A firstborn (also known as an eldest child or sometimes firstling) is the first child born to in the birth order of a couple through childbirth. Historically, the role of the firstborn child has been socially significant, particularly for a firstborn son in patriarchal societies. In law, many systems have incorporated the concept of primogeniture, wherein the firstborn child inherits their parent’s property. The firstborn in Judaism, the bechor, is also accorded a special position. (source: Wikipedia, D&C 93:21)
Jesus Christ (YHWH, Jehovah) is the Firstborn spirit child of our Heavenly Parents (Abraham 3:27; D&C 93:21; Col 1:13-15; Heb 1:5-6), and the Only Begotten of the Father, on this earth, as well as throughout all of God’s creation(s). Jesus was Mary’s firstborn son on the earth. (Luke 2:7)
The Church of the Firstborn of Latter-day Saints—God’s Everlasting Church. Does it currently exist in this telestial world? Yes, of course it does. But, not in a telestial, carnal state as we would normally think. Its membership is comprised of those who have taken upon themselves the Higher ordinances of the Holy Priesthood administered in the Holy Temple, and who honor and keep sacred covenants, and have washed themselves in the blood of the Lamb of God.***Many of the ordinances associated with membership in the Church of the Firstborn are administered in the Temple. (Terrestrial Order and Celestial Order—not terrestrial, see TPJS p. 12) Additional ordinances, not yet available to men in the “flesh,” will finalize the blessings, promises, and affiliation of those who receive Eternal Lives, receiving perpetual membership in the Church of the Firstborn. Qualifying individuals become “joint-heirs with Christ,” receiving “all that (the Lord’s) Father hath.” (Romans 8:14-18; D&C 84:37-38)
The entry “way” to membership in the Church of the Firstborn is revealed in this instruction from the Prophet Joseph Smith:
“Every man lives for himself. Adam was made to open the way of the world, and for dressing the garden. Noah was born to save seed of everything, when the earth was washed of its wickedness by the flood; and the Son of God came into the world to redeem it from the fall. But except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. This eternal truth settles the question of all men’s religion. A man may be saved, after the judgment, in the terrestrial kingdom, or in the telestial kingdom, but he can never see the celestial kingdom of God, without being born of water and the Spirit. He may receive a glory like unto the moon, [i.e., of which the light of the moon is typical], or a star, [i.e., of which the light of the stars is typical], but he can never come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels; to the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, unless he becomes as a little child, and is taught by the Spirit of God. Wherefore, we again say, search the revelations of God; study the prophecies, and rejoice that God grants unto the world Seers and Prophets. They are they who saw the mysteries of godliness; they saw the flood before it came; they saw angels ascending and descending upon a ladder that reached from earth to heaven; they saw the stone cut out of the mountain, which filled the whole earth; they saw the Son of God come from the regions of bliss and dwell with men on earth; they saw the deliverer come out of Zion, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob; they saw the glory of the Lord when he showed the transfiguration of the earth on the mount; they saw every mountain laid low and every valley exalted when the Lord was taking vengeance upon the wicked; they saw truth spring out of the earth, and righteousness look down from heaven in the last days, before the Lord came the second time to gather his elect; they saw the end of wickedness on earth, and the Sabbath of creation crowned with peace; they saw the end of the glorious thousand years, when Satan was loosed for a little season; they saw the day of judgment when all men received according to their works, and they saw the heaven and the earth flee away to make room for the city of God, when the righteous receive an inheritance in eternity. And, fellow sojourners upon earth, it is your privilege to purify yourselves and come up to the same glory, and see for yourselves, and know for yourselves. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. -Evening & Morning Star, August, 1832. DHC 1:282-284. (TPJS, Section One 1830-34, p.12, bold added)
On conditions of agency, a person must be born again—baptized by water and by the Spirit. That person must humble his/herself as a little child (Mosiah 3:19), being taught by the Holy Ghost, study the scriptures and sanctify themselves through the words of the living prophets, and the Atoning blood of the Savior. They must receive the “higher” ordinances of the Priesthood, by making and keeping sacred covenants. They must know for themselves God’s Plan of Happiness and Salvation. They must seek and find, knock and ask, in order to enter into God’s Everlasting Church—into His Presence.
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NOTES
Lucius N. Scovil records on the 4th of May 1842 that Shadrach Roundy and others were instructed by the Prophet Joseph Smith, on the procedure for preparing the second floor room of the Red Brick Store for the presentation of the first endowment in this dispensation. Brother Scovil writes:
“For those who doubt that the full endowment antedates the building of modern temples erected for that purpose, the following bit of evidence may tend to dissipate their doubts and confirm the faith of the believers in this historical reality: ‘I can testify that on the third day of May, 1842, Joseph Smith, the Prophet, called upon five of us, Shadrach Roundy, Noah Rogers, Dimick B. Huntington, Daniel Cairns, and myself to meet with him (the Prophet) in his business office, the upper part of his red brick store. He told us that the object he had was for us to go to work and fix up that room preparatory to giving endowments to a few elders that he might give unto them the keys of power pertaining to the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods.
“We therefore went to work making the necessary preparations, and everything was arranged representing the interior of a temple as much as the circumstances would permit, he being with us dictating everything…I know of a surety that room was fitted up by his order which we finished in the forenoon of the said 4th of May 1842.” s/Lucius N. Scovil