Tuesday, December 20, 2016

What's in the Doctrine and Covenants? I Will Drink of the Vine With You: A Meeting at Adam-ondi-Ahman

By way of latter-day revelation, the Lord has told us He will "drink of the vine" - partake of the sacrament -  with all His holy prophets since Adam and with a gathering of the righteous at a meeting at Adam-ondi-Ahman:


"...marvel not, for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim; And also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days;  And also John the son of Zacharias, which Zacharias he (Elias) visited and gave promise that he should have a son, and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the spirit of Elias;  Which John I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto the first priesthood which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron; And also Elijah, unto whom I have committed the keys of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with a curse;  And also with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, your fathers, by whom the promises remain;  And also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days; And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them;  Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;  And also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world.  Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand." (Doctrine & Covenants 27:5-15)

What powerful encouragement! The Lord Himself has promised to come and partake of the sacrament with us again, at a very special occasion - a gathering of ancient and modern prophets and disciples - that, by all evidences seems to be drawing very near! 

Students of the Bible will remember that this is in fulfillment of something the Savior said at His Last Supper:

"And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." (Luke 22:14-20)

In Daniel 7 we read: "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fireA fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." (Daniel 7:9-10)


Latter-day revelation identifies the Ancient of Days as Adam, and the place of gathering as Adam-ondi-Aman:


"Spring Hill is named by the Lord Adam-ondi-Ahman, because, said he, it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet." (Doctrine & Covenants 116:1)

LDS Church Website: Photo/Brief Biblical History of The Valley of Adam-ondi-ahman
 


Meetings at Adam-ondi-Ahman: Past and Future
 
As other prophets have done, Daniel seems to be making a statement that both recounts history and predicts the future. Latter-day revelation tells us that the Son of Man appeared to Adam, the Ancient of Days, and to high priests and to his righteous posterity in the valley of Adam-ondi-ahman during the time of Adam:

"Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel. And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever. And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation." (Doctrine & Covenants 107:53-56)

Daniel tells us this will happen again in the latter days:

"The Ancient of Days did sit... thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; judgement was set and the books were opened... I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him... (Daniel 7:9-10, 13)

I believe the time is soon to come when we will see Adam stand before us once again and "predict whatsoever should befall [us] down to the latest generation". I believe this will be a time for unfolding God's purposes for His millenial reign. I believe the Lord will "open the books", or, in other words, review the history of the last dispensation up to that point, along with the world's reaction to it. I believe He will ask for an accounting of the records we have kept of the salvation of our dead. (Doctrine & Covenants 138:47-48, 128:24) This special meeting at Adam-ondi-Ahman will be a gathering of priesthood leaders and righteous people who have been "sealed in their foreheads" - note that Daniel's description of the people at this meeting bears a strong resemblance to the Lord's description of the 144,000 described by John the Revelator. (see Doctinre & Covenants 77:11) I believe the phrase "the judgment was set" refers to the pouring out of judgement upon all nations. This is the pivotal moment when the Lord will "bind up the testimony" and open the seventh seal. (see D&C 109:38, 133:71-72, 88:84-85) I believe it will be very shortly after this event the Lord will visit the Mount of Olives as prophesied by Zechariah to save the Jews and to stop the war against Israel as well as the persecution of the righteous. (see Zechariah 14:2-4)




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