Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
'Do all dogs really go to heaven? John the revelator sees beasts in heaven near the throne of God in Revelation 4:6-9. The prophet Joseph Smith asked the Lord about these beasts and the answer is in this week's study of Come, Follow Me (sections 77-80). In these sections, we will understand better the book of Revelation, along with the Lord's advice on how we and His church and plan for the future as well as take care of the poor and needy.
Dr. Hugh W. Nibley: “John Patrick Reid, my great grandfather, whom I remember very well, was the first Branch President in Belfast Ireland and also the leader of the Masonic Order there. I’ve often been told that his work on the Manti Temple specialized in the hardware for the doors, designing both the hinges and the knobs….
"A circle is surrounded by botanical motifs and is circled be small rings. One of these rings instead of a simple circle or ring is an Ankh, or Crux Anasta, the best known of all ancient symbols, as it stands for life. [In the usual salutary title placed after the names of initiates, Ankh, Djed, Seneb, the Ankh symbol represents an umbilical cord and the three words mean health to the navel and marrow to the bones and strength, often in the royal tombs the last of the three is the Was-symbol which means, according to Gardiner, “power in the Priesthood”]
"Of course Brother Reid, both as a top Mason and as a superstitious Irishman and as a designer of solemn and significant objects would call upon his knowledge to supply the mystic symbols. Whether he knew their significance or not, it just happens that he, on this little object, has depicted the three most important symbols in the Egyptian mysteries.
"The two bold geometrical designs are serious. The one is Pythagorean, going back to the Tetraktys, or the number from which all numbers are derived and which contains the plan of the creation. The other is obviously not mere ornament but has definite marked circles or globes above it represents the Egyptian ideogram Khw designating bargains or agreements among people. It is plain that it is not part of the general pattern and so it has a special significance.” (The Manti Temple Centennial Book 1988, p 33-36)
Joseph Smith: "The book of Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written." (Teachings p 288)
Joseph Smith: “While at dinner, I remarked to my family and friends present, that when the earth was sanctified and became like a sea of glass, it would be one great urim and thummim, and the Saints could look in it and see as they are seen.” (History of the Church, 5:279).
Brigham Young: “This Earth will become a celestial body—be like a sea of glass, or like a Urim and Thummim; and when you wish to know anything, you can look in this Earth and see all the eternities of God” (Journal of Discourses, 8:200; see also D&C 88:17–20, 25–26; 130:6–9).
Joseph Smith: “I suppose John saw beings there of a thousand forms, that had been saved from ten thousand times ten thousand earths like this,—strange beasts of which we have no conception: all might be seen in heaven. The grand secret was to show John what there was in heaven. John learned that God glorified Himself by saving all that His hands had made, whether beasts, fowls, fishes or men; and He will glorify Himself with them.
“Says one, “I cannot believe in the salvation of beasts.” Any man who would tell you that this could not be, would tell you that revelations are not true. John heard the words of the beasts giving glory to God, and understood them. God who made the beasts could understand every language spoken by them.
“The four beasts were four of the most noble animals that had filled the measure of their creation, and had been saved from other worlds, because they were perfect: they were like angels in their sphere. We are not told where they came from, and I do not know; but they were seen and heard by John praising and glorifying God.” (TPJS, p.291-292)
President Joseph Fielding Smith: “As to where the beasts, birds, and fish, and all other creatures will go after the resurrection we can only express an opinion. John saw many of them in heaven in the presence of God. It is very probable that they, like mankind, will be distributed in the various kingdoms, celestial, terrestrial, and telestial. We may well believe that in each of these kingdoms such creatures will be assigned.” (Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:51.)
Joseph Smith: "Four destroying angels holding power over the four quarters of the earth until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads, which signifies sealing the blessing upon their heads, meaning the everlasting covenant, thereby making their calling and election sure.
"When a seal is put upon the father and mother, it secures their posterity, so that they cannot be lost, but will be saved by virtue of the covenant of their father and mother." (TPJS, p. 321.)
Elder Parley P. Pratt: "John, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation, gives us many more particulars concerning this same event [the great war in Israel after the Jews are gathered there]. He informs us that after the city and temple are rebuilt by the Jews, the Gentiles will tread it under foot forty and two months, during which time there will be two prophets continually prophesying and working mighty miracles. And it seems that the Gentile army shall be hindered from utterly destroying and overthrowing the city, while these two prophets continue.
"But, after a struggle of three years and a half, they will at length succeed in destroying these two prophets and then overrunning much of the city; they will send gifts to each other because of the death of the two prophets, and in the meantime will not allow their dead bodies to be put in graves, but suffer them to lie in the streets of Jerusalem three days and a half, during which time the armies of the Gentiles, consisting of many kindreds, tongues and nations, passing through the city, plundering the Jews, will see their dead bodies lying in the street.
"But after three days and a half, on a sudden, the spirit of life from God will enter them; they will arise and stand upon their feet, and great fear will fall upon them that see them. And then they shall hear a voice from heaven saying, 'Come up hither,' and they will ascend up to heaven in a cloud, with enemies beholding them." (Voice of Warning, p. 33.)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie identified the two prophets as: ”…followers of that humble man Joseph Smith, through whom the Lord of Heaven restored the fullness of his everlasting gospel in this final dispensation of grace. No doubt they will be members of the Council of the Twelve or of the First Presidency of the Church.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:509.)
Throughout His ministry, the Lord demonstrated his compassion for the poor. His guidance to us today through our prophet lets us know that we are to care for the poor as well.
Doctrine and Covenants 78 established important principles about caring for the poor that have always been part of the Church from 1832 through the present day.
Often, when the Lord gives us commands, He also tells us how we will be blessed if we are obedient. We can see this pattern in Doctrine and Covenants 78. The first part of the section, verses 1-13, contains some commands that were given to the Church.
In your personal study, look for the promises the Lord makes as you read Section 78 verses:
14, 15, 17, 18, 19 and 22.
Which promise(s) is most meaningful to you?
Promises:
Jared Carter:
Jared noted that April 25, 1832, marked "the commencement of a mission by Jared Carter, a servant of the Lord." He followed the revelation specifically, going from town to town in the power of his ordination, "which was to the high privilege of administering in the name of Jesus Christ." Jared went northeast along Lake Erie and continued on to Benson, Vermont, his birthplace, proclaiming the everlasting gospel in each location. He battled opposition and bouts of deep discouragement.
He kept careful track of his obedience to the revelation and the fulfillment of the promised blessings. His records testify that, as promised, the Lord sent him the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, to teach him the truth and where he should go. And because Jared was faithful to section 79, the Lord crowned him again with a bountiful harvest. Jared summarized his service after returning in October. "I have been gone six months and two days. The Lord has permitted me to administer the Gospel to 79 souls and many others by my instrumentality have been convinced of this most glorious work… God has blessed me according to the prophecy of Brother Joseph before I went from Ohio.” (Carter, Autobiography, 7)
Upon returning to Ohio he penned, "I met with some of my brethren and heard them read revelations which caused my heart to rejoice.… I have seen many marvelous manifestations of the power of God in more than eighty instances, by the instrumentality of myself and other elders in this Church of Christ." Unfortunately, not all of his missionary labors had proven fruitful. "It appears that the wide world is ignorant," wrote Jared, "unapprised of the great work the God of heaven has commenced." He recognized that "there are hundreds that are ready to declare in the name of the Lord that they know the Book of Mormon is of divine origin, and I, myself, am one of the hundreds.” (Carter, Autobiography, 7)
President J. Rueben Clark Jr.: “In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one takes the place to which one is duly called, which place one neither seeks nor declines.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1951, 154.)
President Thomas S. Monson: “No assignment is menial in the work of the Lord, for each has eternal consequences. President John Taylor warned us: ‘If you do not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty’ [in Journal of Discourses, 20:23]. . . . If great joy is the reward of saving one soul, then how terrible must be the remorse of those whose timid efforts have allowed a child of God to go unwarned or unaided so that he has to wait till a dependable servant of God comes along” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1992, 70; or Ensign, May 1992, 48 ).
Teaching Thoughts:
Dr. Hugh W. Nibley: “John Patrick Reid, my great grandfather, whom I remember very well, was the first Branch President in Belfast Ireland and also the leader of the Masonic Order there. I’ve often been told that his work on the Manti Temple specialized in the hardware for the doors, designing both the hinges and the knobs….
"A circle is surrounded by botanical motifs and is circled be small rings. One of these rings instead of a simple circle or ring is an Ankh, or Crux Anasta, the best known of all ancient symbols, as it stands for life. [In the usual salutary title placed after the names of initiates, Ankh, Djed, Seneb, the Ankh symbol represents an umbilical cord and the three words mean health to the navel and marrow to the bones and strength, often in the royal tombs the last of the three is the Was-symbol which means, according to Gardiner, “power in the Priesthood”]
"Of course Brother Reid, both as a top Mason and as a superstitious Irishman and as a designer of solemn and significant objects would call upon his knowledge to supply the mystic symbols. Whether he knew their significance or not, it just happens that he, on this little object, has depicted the three most important symbols in the Egyptian mysteries.
"The two bold geometrical designs are serious. The one is Pythagorean, going back to the Tetraktys, or the number from which all numbers are derived and which contains the plan of the creation. The other is obviously not mere ornament but has definite marked circles or globes above it represents the Egyptian ideogram Khw designating bargains or agreements among people. It is plain that it is not part of the general pattern and so it has a special significance.” (The Manti Temple Centennial Book 1988, p 33-36)
Joseph Smith: "The book of Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written." (Teachings p 288)
Joseph Smith: “While at dinner, I remarked to my family and friends present, that when the earth was sanctified and became like a sea of glass, it would be one great urim and thummim, and the Saints could look in it and see as they are seen.” (History of the Church, 5:279).
Brigham Young: “This Earth will become a celestial body—be like a sea of glass, or like a Urim and Thummim; and when you wish to know anything, you can look in this Earth and see all the eternities of God” (Journal of Discourses, 8:200; see also D&C 88:17–20, 25–26; 130:6–9).
Joseph Smith: “I suppose John saw beings there of a thousand forms, that had been saved from ten thousand times ten thousand earths like this,—strange beasts of which we have no conception: all might be seen in heaven. The grand secret was to show John what there was in heaven. John learned that God glorified Himself by saving all that His hands had made, whether beasts, fowls, fishes or men; and He will glorify Himself with them.
“Says one, “I cannot believe in the salvation of beasts.” Any man who would tell you that this could not be, would tell you that revelations are not true. John heard the words of the beasts giving glory to God, and understood them. God who made the beasts could understand every language spoken by them.
“The four beasts were four of the most noble animals that had filled the measure of their creation, and had been saved from other worlds, because they were perfect: they were like angels in their sphere. We are not told where they came from, and I do not know; but they were seen and heard by John praising and glorifying God.” (TPJS, p.291-292)
President Joseph Fielding Smith: “As to where the beasts, birds, and fish, and all other creatures will go after the resurrection we can only express an opinion. John saw many of them in heaven in the presence of God. It is very probable that they, like mankind, will be distributed in the various kingdoms, celestial, terrestrial, and telestial. We may well believe that in each of these kingdoms such creatures will be assigned.” (Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:51.)
Joseph Smith: "Four destroying angels holding power over the four quarters of the earth until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads, which signifies sealing the blessing upon their heads, meaning the everlasting covenant, thereby making their calling and election sure.
"When a seal is put upon the father and mother, it secures their posterity, so that they cannot be lost, but will be saved by virtue of the covenant of their father and mother." (TPJS, p. 321.)
Elder Parley P. Pratt: "John, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation, gives us many more particulars concerning this same event [the great war in Israel after the Jews are gathered there]. He informs us that after the city and temple are rebuilt by the Jews, the Gentiles will tread it under foot forty and two months, during which time there will be two prophets continually prophesying and working mighty miracles. And it seems that the Gentile army shall be hindered from utterly destroying and overthrowing the city, while these two prophets continue.
"But, after a struggle of three years and a half, they will at length succeed in destroying these two prophets and then overrunning much of the city; they will send gifts to each other because of the death of the two prophets, and in the meantime will not allow their dead bodies to be put in graves, but suffer them to lie in the streets of Jerusalem three days and a half, during which time the armies of the Gentiles, consisting of many kindreds, tongues and nations, passing through the city, plundering the Jews, will see their dead bodies lying in the street.
"But after three days and a half, on a sudden, the spirit of life from God will enter them; they will arise and stand upon their feet, and great fear will fall upon them that see them. And then they shall hear a voice from heaven saying, 'Come up hither,' and they will ascend up to heaven in a cloud, with enemies beholding them." (Voice of Warning, p. 33.)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie identified the two prophets as: ”…followers of that humble man Joseph Smith, through whom the Lord of Heaven restored the fullness of his everlasting gospel in this final dispensation of grace. No doubt they will be members of the Council of the Twelve or of the First Presidency of the Church.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:509.)
Throughout His ministry, the Lord demonstrated his compassion for the poor. His guidance to us today through our prophet lets us know that we are to care for the poor as well.
Doctrine and Covenants 78 established important principles about caring for the poor that have always been part of the Church from 1832 through the present day.
Often, when the Lord gives us commands, He also tells us how we will be blessed if we are obedient. We can see this pattern in Doctrine and Covenants 78. The first part of the section, verses 1-13, contains some commands that were given to the Church.
In your personal study, look for the promises the Lord makes as you read Section 78 verses:
14, 15, 17, 18, 19 and 22.
Which promise(s) is most meaningful to you?
Promises:
- Verse 14 states that "the church may stand independent above all other creatures" by obeying the Lord's commands.
- Verse 15 states that "you may come up unto the crown prepared for you, and be made rulers over many kingdoms."
- Verse 17 lets us know that we have not yet understood "how great blessings the Father hath in his hands and prepared for [us]."
- Verse 18 states that we can be of good cheer, because the Lord will lead us along. He says, "The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours."
- Verse 19 affirms, "And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."
- Verse 22 states that those who are faithful and wise will inherit all things.
Jared Carter:
Jared noted that April 25, 1832, marked "the commencement of a mission by Jared Carter, a servant of the Lord." He followed the revelation specifically, going from town to town in the power of his ordination, "which was to the high privilege of administering in the name of Jesus Christ." Jared went northeast along Lake Erie and continued on to Benson, Vermont, his birthplace, proclaiming the everlasting gospel in each location. He battled opposition and bouts of deep discouragement.
He kept careful track of his obedience to the revelation and the fulfillment of the promised blessings. His records testify that, as promised, the Lord sent him the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, to teach him the truth and where he should go. And because Jared was faithful to section 79, the Lord crowned him again with a bountiful harvest. Jared summarized his service after returning in October. "I have been gone six months and two days. The Lord has permitted me to administer the Gospel to 79 souls and many others by my instrumentality have been convinced of this most glorious work… God has blessed me according to the prophecy of Brother Joseph before I went from Ohio.” (Carter, Autobiography, 7)
Upon returning to Ohio he penned, "I met with some of my brethren and heard them read revelations which caused my heart to rejoice.… I have seen many marvelous manifestations of the power of God in more than eighty instances, by the instrumentality of myself and other elders in this Church of Christ." Unfortunately, not all of his missionary labors had proven fruitful. "It appears that the wide world is ignorant," wrote Jared, "unapprised of the great work the God of heaven has commenced." He recognized that "there are hundreds that are ready to declare in the name of the Lord that they know the Book of Mormon is of divine origin, and I, myself, am one of the hundreds.” (Carter, Autobiography, 7)
President J. Rueben Clark Jr.: “In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one takes the place to which one is duly called, which place one neither seeks nor declines.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1951, 154.)
President Thomas S. Monson: “No assignment is menial in the work of the Lord, for each has eternal consequences. President John Taylor warned us: ‘If you do not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty’ [in Journal of Discourses, 20:23]. . . . If great joy is the reward of saving one soul, then how terrible must be the remorse of those whose timid efforts have allowed a child of God to go unwarned or unaided so that he has to wait till a dependable servant of God comes along” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1992, 70; or Ensign, May 1992, 48 ).
Teaching Thoughts:
- Scripture unlocks scripture.
- Teach why and how God uses Symbols to teach us. Symbols do not teach doctrine, but help us understand the doctrine.
- Identify examples of how the Church is providing for the poor in your neighborhood. In addition to tithes and offerings, how will the Lord inspire you to serve as His disciple today?
- What have you learned from your study this year that can help you serve faithfully in the Church?