Friday, March 12, 2021

Some Interesting Material on Translated Beings

 

Orson Pratt, July 19, 1874

 

We find recorded in the revelations of the Most High, called the Bible, as well as in the Book of Mormon and the various modern revelations which God has given, that man is destined to live forever. God having revealed this fact to ancients and to moderns, raised up witnesses to bear testimony to the children of men that they are immortal beings, and that this change which comes upon them, denominated death, is not an annihilation of their being or an end of their existence, but it is merely a casting off or laying aside of the mortal tabernacle; that man lives in the eternal world even after he appears to be dead, and that, if a righteous man, he has joy and happiness, but if a wicked man, he has the gnawing of conscience, and misery, and wretchedness; and that he expects, according to divine revelation, to receive again, in due time, the tabernacle that he has thrown off for a moment. It is sown in weakness, says the Apostle Paul, it is raised in power; it is laid down as a mortal body, it is raised up as an immortal body.

 

If we, by study or research, could discover some method or principle by which we could remain in this world and live in this tabernacle forever, we should be willing to do so with all the inconveniences of the present order of things, and still be joyful in our hearts. If any man could by research or learning discover some kind of a way, or means or medicine that would give immortality to the children of men, even in their present state, he would be considered one of the greatest men that ever lived, and the one who had bestowed the greatest blessing upon his fellow-creatures; he would be lauded to the very skies, and his name would be handed down among all people and nations as one of the greatest benefactors of mankind; so earnestly do we feel to cling to life and desire to live, that we would be very willing to put up with the inconveniences of the present state if we could only remain and the monster death have no power over us. But it is in the order of God that man should die. Man brought this upon himself by transgressing the laws of heaven. By putting forth his hand and partaking of that which God had forbidden, he brought, this great evil into the world. Death not only came upon our first parents, who committed the first great transgression, but the curse has been inherited by all their generations. None can escape the curse so far as the mortal body is concerned.

 

I think, perhaps, this broad assertion may be contradicted in the minds of some. They may tell us of Enoch, who was translated to heaven; they may speak of Elijah, who was caught up in a chariot of fire, and say, "Here, at least, are two exceptions to the general rule." But what do we know concerning translation? What has God revealed in all the revelations contained in the Old and New Testaments in relation to a translated being? Are we assured that such beings never will have to undergo a change equivalent to that of death?

 

Our new revelations that we have received inform us of a great many individuals that were translated before the flood. We read that a great and mighty Prophet of the Most High God was sent forth in the days of Adam, namely Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam, who lived contemporary with his ancestor Adam; that in his days a great number of people heard the plan of salvation preached to them by the power of the Holy Ghost that rested upon Enoch and those who were called with him; that they received this plan of salvation and gathered themselves out from among the various nations of the earth where they had obeyed the Gospel; that they were instructed, after they assembled in one, in righteousness, for three hundred and sixty-five years; that they learned the laws of the kingdom, and concerning God and every principle of righteousness that was necessary to enable them to enter into the fullness of the glory of heaven; they were instructed to build up a city, and it was called a city of holiness, for God came down and dwelt with that people; he was in their midst, they beheld his glory, they saw his face, and he condescended to dwell among them for many long years, during which time they were instructed and taught in all of his ways, and among other things they learned the great doctrine and principle of translation, for that is a doctrine the same as the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, which is among the first principles of the plan of salvation; and we may also say that the doctrine of translation, which is intimately connected with that of the resurrection, is also one of the first principles of the doctrine of Christ. They were instructed in relation to this government, the object of it, &c.

 

According to the light and knowledge which the Latter-day Saints have upon this subject, revealed in the revelations given through Joseph Smith, we find that those people, when they were fully prepared, having learned the doctrine of translation, were caught up into the heavens, the whole city, the people and their habitations. How much of the earth was taken up in connection with their habitations we are not informed. It, might have been a large region. You may ask—"Where was this city of Zion built in ancient days?" According to new revelation it was built upon this great western hemisphere. When I speak of this western hemisphere I speak of it as it now exists. In those days the land was united; the eastern and the western hemispheres were one; but they dwelt in that portion of our globe that is now called the western hemisphere, and they were taken up from this portion of the globe. No doubt all the region of country occupied by them was translated, or taken away from the earth.

 

Does this prove that they were immortal beings from the time of their translation? No; it does not prove any such thing. How are we to know anything about it? We can not learn anything in relation to it, except by revelation. God has revealed to us that they are held in reserve, in some part or portion of space; their location is not revealed, but they are held in reserve to be revealed in the latter times, to return to their ancient mother earth; all the inhabitants that were then taken away are to return to the earth.

 

Some five thousand years have passed away since they were caught up to the heavens. What has boon their condition during that time? Have they been free from death? They have been held in reserve in answer to their prayers. What were their prayers? Enoch and his people prayed that a day of righteousness might be brought about during their day; they sought, for it with all their hearts; they looked abroad over the face of the earth and saw the corruptions that had been introduced by the various nations, the descendants of Adam, and their hearts melted within them, and they groaned before the Lord with pain and sorrow, because of the wickedness of the children of men, and they sought for a day of rest, they sought that righteousness might be revealed, that wickedness might be swept away and that the earth might rest for a season. God gave them visions, portrayed to them the future of the world, showed unto them that this earth must fulfill the measure of its creation; that generation after generation must be born and pass away, and that, after a certain period of time, the earth would rest from wickedness, that the wicked would be swept away, and the earth would be cleansed and sanctified and be prepared for a righteous people. "Until that day," saith the Lord, "you and your people shall rest, Zion shall be taken up into my own bosom." Ancient Zion should be held in reserve until the day of rest should come, "then," said the Lord to Enoch, "thou and all thy city shall descend upon the earth, and your prayers shall be answered."

 

They have been gone, as I have already stated, about five thousand years. What have they been doing? All that we know concerning this subject is what has been revealed through the great and mighty Prophet of the last days, Joseph Smith—that unlearned youth whom God raised up to bring forth the Book of Mormon and to establish this latter-day Church. He has told us that they have been ministering angels during all that time. To whom? To those of the terrestrial order, if you can understand that expression. God gave them the desires of their hearts, the same as he gave to the three Nephites, to whom he gave the privilege, according to their request, of remaining and bringing souls unto Christ while the world should stand. Even so, he granted to the people of Enoch their desire to become ministering spirits unto those of the terrestrial order until the earth should rest and they should again return to it.

 

Joseph inquired concerning their condition, whether they were subject to death during that period, and was informed, as you will find in the history of this Church, as printed in the Millennial Star and other publications thereof, that these personages have to pass through a change equivalent to that of death; notwithstanding their translation upon the earth, a certain change has to be wrought upon them that is equivalent, to death, and probably equivalent also to the resurrection of the dead. But before that change comes they minister in their office unto those of another order, that is the terrestrial order. Strangers will not understand perhaps what we mean by the terrestrial order. If they will take the opportunity of reading the doctrines of this Church, as laid down in the revelations given through Joseph Smith, they will learn what our views are in relation to this matter. God revealed by vision the different orders of being in the eternal worlds. One class, the highest of all, is called the celestial; another class, the next to the celestial in glory, power, might and dominion, is called the terrestrial; another class, still lower than the terrestrial in glory and exaltation, is called the telestial. This middle class, whose glory is typified by the glory of our moon in the firmament of the heavens as compared with the sun, are those who once dwelt on this or some other creation and, if they have had the Gospel laid before them they have not had a full opportunity of receiving it; or they have not heard it all, and have died without having the privilege. In the resurrection they come forth with terrestrial bodies. They must be administered to says the vision, and God has appointed agents or messengers to minister to these terrestrial beings, for their good, blessing, exaltation, glory and honor in the eternal worlds.

 

Enoch and his people understanding this principle sought that they, before receiving the fullness of their celestial glory, might be the instruments in the hands of God of doing much good among beings of the terrestrial order.

 

We read in the New Testament concerning certain angels that are in the eternal worlds, and the question is asked by the Apostle Paul—"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation?"—not for those who were already heirs of salvation, but for those who shall be—those who were to be redeemed, that were to be brought forth and exalted. Enoch and his people were appointed to this ministry, holding the Priesthood thereof, with poser and authority to administer in order that those beings may be exalted and brought up, and inherit all the glory that they are desirous to receive.

 

Much might be said concerning these different orders of glory, but we feel to pass on, and we will speak a few words now concerning the resurrection from the dead of those who have fully prepared themselves for the highest glory, the glory of the celestial kingdom, the highest of all, the holiest of all, the kingdom where God the Father sits enthroned in glory and in power, ruling and governing all things. There is a certain law, which God ordained before the foundation of the world, an irrevocable decree that those who would obey that law should have this great and most glorious of all the resurrections, be raised to celestial power, thrones and exaltations, where they could dwell in the presence of their Father and their God, throughout all the future ages of eternity. (JOD 17:146-49)

 

Orson Pratt, February 7, 1875

 

There is one thing which I am now about to read which has not yet been fulfilled, and which we must fulfill before Zion is redeemed. I will read it—"Behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my Gospel from among them, and then I will remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my Gospel unto them." Now then, we are here in this land, the house of Israel are scattered all around us, some in the great basin, some in Arizona, some in Idaho, some in Colorado, some in Montana, some in one place, some in another; I refer to the American Indians, all remnants of Joseph and belonging to the house of Israel. They have become very degraded in consequence of the apostasy and wickedness of their ancient fathers. This people—the Latter-day Saints, before they can ever return to build up the waste places of Zion and receive their inheritances in Jackson County, Missouri, have got to exert themselves to bring the remnants of Joseph to a knowledge of the truth. We have not made any very great exertions in this direction unto the present time. The Lord has given us time since he brought the fulness of the Gospel from among the Gentiles to lay a foundation so that we could commence this missionary work in behalf of and among the remnants of Joseph. We have got the foundation laid, we have succeeded in building many cities, towns, villages, &c., for some four hundred miles north and south; we have got our farms fenced and our water ditches dug, and we have begun to prosper in the land, so that now, I think, is the time for us to wake up our minds in relation to the scattered remnants of the house of Israel." "Behold, then I will remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my Gospel unto them."

 

It seems that the Lord is working among that people, and that he is determined this prophecy shall be fulfilled whether we take it in hand or not. What do my ears hear? What do we all hear? Messengers are visiting these wild tribes in the basin, and in the regions round about hundreds of miles apart. These messengers come to them, and they speak in their own language in great plainness, and tell them what to do; they tell them to repent of their sins and to be baptized for the remission thereof; tell them also to cease roaming over the country and to cultivate the land; tell them to go to the Elders of this Church and receive the ordinances under their hands.

 

Who are these messengers? Read the Book of Mormon and you will find what God promised to do for the remnants of Joseph fourteen hundred tears ago, about the time that most of them were becoming wicked and corrupt. The Lord said when their record should come forth in the latter days that he would send his messengers to them, and among these messenger's he mentioned three persons who lived some eighteen hundred years ago, three of the Twelve who were chosen on this land. The Lord made a promise to these three that they should administer, as holy messengers in the latter days, for and in behalf of the remnants of the house of Israel, which should fall into a low and degraded condition in consequence of the great wickedness and apostasy of their ancient fathers; that they should be instruments in his hands in bringing these remnants to the knowledge of the truth. We hear that these messengers have come, not in one instance alone, but in many instances. Already we have heard of some fourteen hundred Indians, and I do not know but more, who have been baptized. Ask them why they have come so many hundred miles to find Elders of the Church and they will reply—"Such a person came to us, he spoke in our language, instructed us and told us what to do, and we have come in order to comply with his requirements." (JOD 17:299-300)

 

A TRANSLATED BEING PRESCRIBES

 

My father’s name was William Cooke Prows and my mother’s name was Louisa M.R. James. I was born in Kanosh, Millard County, Utah, on the 17th of June, 1877. I was the 5th child of a family of eight of my father’s second wife. In the spring of 1893, my father, with my mother and children and one of the first wife’s grandchildren, were going from Mesa, Arizona, to Juarez, Mexico, for the purpose of establishing a home. We had lived in Mesa with a few months prior to this. In the company where J. Orson Barney (who later became my husband), Isaac Miller, Mrs. Osborne Colley and family, and the members of the family as before mentioned. We had passed through El Paso, Texas, and had traveled several days out into the desert. There were three wagons and one buggy in this caravan. The trip from Mesa to Mexico took about a month. After several days journey from Tuscon, my mother became very sick which continued to increase in intensity as time went on. She had hemorrage after hemorrage. Her hands had been cold and blue for two days. It was then my father desired to get out of the sand belt into a country where gravel could be located, for the purpose, as he later stated, to find a suitable place to bury mother, as he feared that she would pass on any minute, and as he went about that morning tears were seen in his eyes, but he never revealed why he felt sorrowful. On this certain day, he started very early in the morning in order to make as much distance as possible, but, after travelling a few hours, my mother stated that she could not stand the jarring any longer, in her weakened and desperately sick condition. So camp was made and preparations were started for making breakfast. While thus preparing things for breakfast, a man suddenly appeared in camp not more than ten or twenty feet away and upon coming up he stated: “Good morning.” To which my father answered: “Good morning.” The stranger enquired: “Where is she.” Father said: “She is over here in the wagon,” at the same time both of them started toward the wagon, which upon reaching, father raised the wagon cover and both looked in, father introducing the stranger with: “Eliza, here is a man who has come to see you.” The stranger extended his hand and placed it on her forehead and gently rubbed her head, saying: “How are you feeling, sister?” To which my mother replied: “I sure don’t feel very good.” While at the wagon, they all three had a short conversation. I was standing on the wagon wheel all this time, paying careful attention to all that was said and done. After talking but a few minutes, he said: “Come out here and I will show you something to give your wife and she will be all right and you can be on your way within an hour.” A short scrubby tree with some green berries on it was near, which the stranger called “Juniper Berries.” After taking a few of these he went a short distance and told father to gather the leaves from a small shrub growing in the desert at this particular place but which was not noticed at other places along the road. He told my father to, “take some of the Juniper berries and the leaves from the bush,” he showed him, “and mix them together, steep them and give them to your wife and you can be on your way within an hour.” After making his this statement the stranger said: “I must be going.”

 

My father replied: “Man, you must stay and have breakfast with us. There will be many miles before you can get a drink of water or a bite to eat. I have been over this road many times and know it.” Father insisted that he stay and have breakfast but he raised his cap and said: “I must be on my way. Your wife will be all right,” and at saying this he smiled and said “Good-day.” At the time he placed his hand upon my mother’s forehead she felt like a new person, the touch of his hand was soothing and healing. One of the children at the breakfast fire did something which drew our attention to them and upon looking up, the stranger had suddenly vanished and father said: “Where did he go?” They all walked out to see if he could be seen but no trace of him was visible. My father exclaimed: “Gracious! Golly! where could that man have gone?” Nothing but the desert road was before them and small scrubby desert growth extended all around as far as the eye could see. The tea was made and given to my mother who seen revived. She ate breakfast and helped to prepare supper that evening for the group, assisted by me.

 

The stranger was of medium size, dressed in a grayish blue suit, and wore a grayish beard, some three or four inches long. He looked very intelligent and clean cut. His voice was soft and mild and his eyes penetrating but beautiful to behold. There was something about his personality that caused us to look at him with intent and earnestness.

 

Upon arriving in Mexico, we rented a lot with a small house on it from a Brother Thompson whose wife and two sons had been killed by the Indians but a short time before. My father put in a garden but died within two months after arriving, but before passing he said to my mother one day: “Eliza, I want you to go back to Utah and see that my father is sealed to my mother and their children sealed to their parents,” or they had all been sealed to President Brigham Young.

 

This sealing was attended to by President Lorenzo Snow. By signing out names to this narrative, we attest to its absolute truthfulness:

 

Elizabeth J. Barney

J. Orson Barney

Witnessed by
William N. Stevens (N.B. Lundwall, comp., Assorted Gems of Priceless Value [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1944], 28-31)

 

THE SINGING OF A TRANSLATED BEING

 

(Note:--While visiting in Portland, Oregen, during the month of September, 1938, President Wm. R. Sloan related the following to the Compiler of this book. The story was told by President Sloan and enlarged upon by Elder Melvin J. Hoggan, who lives at 142 East 21st South Street, Sale Lake City, and is herewith reproduced in the language of the latter.)

 

During the month of November, 1927, four missionaries (Roy D. Olpin. R.B. Muer, Asahel A. Parry, and Melvin J. Hoggan) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were laboring in Medford, Oregon. Elder Parry and I, together with the other two Elders, held street meetings every Saturday evening. On the evening in which this incident happened, Elders Olpin and Muer were absent, having left during the forenoon for Klamath Falls, Oregon, for the purpose of reorganizing the Sunday school at that place. Elder Muer was the senior Elder of the group. Elder Parry had been in the mission field about three months and Elder Hoggan but a month. Both Elders were very inexperienced.

 

Elder Parry and I were very undecided whether to hold a street meeting, as we two had never held one before together and only twice with all four Elders present. We had knelt down and had prayed before we left our room which was our usual practice. We walked to the corner of the street in front of one of the banks where we usually held our street meetings. It was rainy and cold. I was not very enthusiastic about holding a meeting, being new in the work. But few persons were on the streets within a radius of many blocks in every direction. I felt that it was perfectly useless to hold a meeting on the street under those conditions. Neither one of us could carry a tune, but we stepped out on the corner and proceeded to sing the song: “Oh My Father.” We were just about through the last verse when I noticed a gentleman to the right of me about ten feet away, at the side of an automobile. He was taking off his cap and gloves. He was of a very small build, about five feet eight inches tall, light complexioned, slightly bald, about fifty years of age, and dressed very neatly but not elaborately. He came over to us and asked: “Do you boys mind if I help you sing?” From that time on he took complete charge of the meeting and assumed the responsibility. Elder Parry asked him: “Are you a member of the Church?”. The stranger replied by saying: “I am acquainted with this work.” He then suggested that we sing: “Love at Home,” which was recorded in the small booklet that contained the popular Latter-day Saint songs. One of these small booklets was given to him. We all started to sing this song, but soon Elder Parry and I stopped singing and listened to the beautifully clear tenor voice which rang out for blocks in the sweet harmonious strains. At the time we first started to sing, there were only two or three people listening by the side of the bank building, on the side walks. When he had finished singing this song, a fair sized crowd has assembled, of some twenty persons, which was the largest that had ever gathered in that town before. He stepped to the curb and gave five minute talk to the people assembled on the theme: “Love at Home.” The crowd gave rapt attention while he was speaking, but was less attentive while we spoke to them. After making the very effective remarks, he stated to the crowd: “Now one of the brethren will speak to you,” at the same time turning to Elder Parry. Elder Parry then stepped forward and spoke. While Elder Parry was speaking, the stranger stepped up to me and said; “We will sing this song, then you can speak,” pointing to the song numbered 199 in the little booklet, entitled: Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken.”) I looked at the name of the song and said: “I don’t know that song.” He replied: “You should, they play it while they pass the sacrament.” He then hummed the tune to me, which I afterwards learned was the same tune that was used originally in singing this song, and not the modern tune sometimes used at the present time. While Elder Parry was speaking, several in the crowd were talking which seemed to disturb him. The stranger walked over to them and said something which I did not hear but they were very attentive after he had spoken to them.

 

After humming the tune of this song to me he turned his face towards the west as though he were looking at some one and said: “Hello,” at the same time walking not more than fifteen feet in that direction, the crowd being several feet to the north, and all of a sudden he completely vanished from sigh. I was watching him closely all the tome, observing his actions and taking note of what he said. Elder Parry all this time was talking to the people, and after he had closed his remarks I spoke for a few minutes.

 

We afterwards walked around the town to see if any individual could be found who coincided with the appearance of this stranger, but no one knew of him before or since. Medford is a town similar to Murray, Utah, with about the same population. When President Sloan visited us in Medford, this incident was related to him and he unhesitatingly stated that it was one of the three Nephites. We were thrilled and amazed at this wonderful experience and will remember it as long as we live. During the visit of this stranger, the feeling experienced was as if a messenger of God was there sent to assist us with this meeting. A very peaceful and uplifting feeling was experienced and enjoyed.

 

Signed: Melvin John Hoggan

(N.B. Lundwall, comp., Assorted Gems of Priceless Value [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1944], 31-33)