D&c 84:4&5

[inquiringmind]

I've been thinking of D&C 84:2-4

 

Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the last days for the ^arestoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his ^bprophets, and for the ^cgathering of his ^dsaints to stand upon ^eMount Zion, which shall be the city of ^fNew Jerusalem.

 

Which city shall be ^abuilt, beginning at the ^btemple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and ^cdedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and others with whom the Lord was well pleased.

 

Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city ^aNew Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which ^btemple shall be ^creared in this ^dgeneration.

 

in the context of verse 5

 

 

For verily this generation shall not all ^apass away

 

And the following question came to mind.

 

If John the revelator, and the three Nephites are still alive, how do we know that all of those who were alive in 1832 have passed away?

 

Is it possible that one or more of the pioneer saints were translated (and if they were, would we still be living in their generation?)

Edited January 11, 2014 by inquiringmind

[mfbukowski]

1- We don't know

2- Yes.

This is of course highly speculative.

[mfbukowski]

Duplicate

Edited January 11, 2014 by mfbukowski

[janderich]

The better portion of D&C 84 is an explanation of what verse five means, "For verily this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be build to the Lord". In short, generation can mean a group of individuals belonging to a specific category at the same time. For example the generation of silent film stars. 

 

We belong to a certain group or generation. We as a whole are largely part of those who come not unto the Lord because they are under the bondage of sin. This will continue until we make an acceptable offering in the house of the Lord, obtain for ourselves the promises of the Lord. It will end when  " all shall know me [the Lord], who remain, even from the least unto the greatest, and shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and shall see eye to eye, ..." (D&C 84: 98). 

[Sevenbak]

I think this phraseology can be confusing.  It's probably why the early Christians thought for sure the second coming was just around the corner.

 

Jesus used the phrase as well in Mark 13:

 

 

 26 And then shall they see the ^aSon of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

 28 Now learn a parable of the ^afig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

 30 Verily I say unto you, that this ^ageneration shall not pass, till all these things be done.

[JAHS]

"and for the ^cgathering of his ^dsaints to stand upon ^eMount Zion, which shall be the city of ^fNew Jerusalem."

 

Perhaps the "generation" he is speaking of are those future saints who begin to gather at the new Jerusalem, which hasn't really happened yet. 

[JLHPROF]

I've been thinking of D&C 84:2-4

 

 

in the context of verse 5

 

 

And the following question came to mind.

 

If John the revelator, and the three Nephites are still alive, how do we know that all of those who were alive in 1832 have passed away?

 

Is it possible that one or more of the pioneer saints were translated (and if they were, would we still be living in their generation?)

 

It's possible there is an early saint who was translated that we don't know about.

But I think the most probable explanation is that our definition of "generation" is different from the one used here.

A generation can be genealogical, dispensational, cultural, and many other kinds of generations.  It doesn't have to mean a group of people or approx 30 years.

[Michael Sanders]

A more likely scenario is that the specific commandment for that "generation" was revoked.  At least according the LDS 124:49-55:

 

"49 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to any of the sons of men to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all their might and with all they have to perform that work, and cease not their ^adiligence, and their enemies come upon them and ^bhinder them from performing that work, behold, it behooveth me to ^crequire that work no more at the hands of those sons of men, but to accept of their offerings.  50 And the iniquity and transgression of my holy laws and commandments I will ^avisit upon the heads of those who hindered my work, unto the third and fourth ^bgeneration, so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord God.  51 Therefore, for this cause have I accepted the offerings of those whom I commanded to build up a city and a ^ahouse unto my name, in Jackson county, Missouri, and were hindered by their enemies, saith the Lord your God.  52 And I will answer ^ajudgment, wrath, and indignation, wailing, and anguish, and gnashing of teeth upon their heads, unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord your God.  53 And this I make an ^aexample unto you, for your consolation concerning all those who have been commanded to do a work and have been hindered by the hands of their enemies, and by ^boppression, saith the Lord your God.  54 For I am the Lord your God, and will save all those of your brethren who have been ^apure in heart, and have been ^bslain in the land of Missouri, saith the Lord.  55 And again, verily I say unto you, I command you again to build a ^ahouse to my name, even in this place, that you may ^bprove yourselves unto me that ye are ^cfaithful in all things whatsoever I command you, that I may bless you, and crown you with honor, immortality, and eternal life."

 

Hopefully that command will be reinstituted and completed by another generation of faithful saints.

 

Mike