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DOCTRINAL COMMENTARY ON THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
By Hyrum L. Andrus
All rights reserved
Preface
For several years I have been teaching courses in the Pearl of Great Price at Brigham Young University. This volume is in many ways a product of these years of study and discussion. In presenting it to the public, I would like to express appreciation to those students who have challenged me in my thinking and contributed to my understanding of the Pearl of Great Price. Though the historical events associated with the Pearl of Great Price are of great importance, I have taken the view that the message of the book is of primary value. This volume therefore deals almost exclusively with the teachings of the Pearl of Great Price.
Special thanks should be given to Professor Roy W. Doxey, Acting Dean of the College of Religious Instruction, and to Dr. Chauncey C. Riddle, Chairman of Graduate Studies of Religion at Brigham Young University, for assistance rendered in preparing this material for publication; also, to Dean B. West Belnap and Dr. James R. Harris. Professor Ralph A. Britsch of the Department of English has given valuable help by reading the manuscript and checking its style and grammar. I would also like to thank two of our secretaries, Mary Tischner and Jeanne Merrell, for typing the manuscript. Finally, I express deep love and appreciation to my wife, Helen Mae, for her patience and for her assistance in writing this volume. Without her sustaining help this work would not have been possible.
Although others have read the manuscript and have offered helpful suggestions, I alone am responsible for the views expressed in this volume and for the conclusions that have been drawn from the sources quoted.
Hyrum L. Andrus
Table Of Contents
Preface. 1
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE. 9
Ancient Records To Come Forth In The Latter Days. 9
God’s Promise to Moses 9
Enoch’s Vision. 9
God’s Word to Come Forth from the Earth. 10
The Book Of Moses. 12
The Work of Revising Biblical Scriptures. 12
By-Products of the Prophet’s Work on the Bible. 13
The Book of Abraham.. 14
History of the Mummies and Scrolls 14
Clarifications of the Chandler Story. 18
Egyptian Excavations in the Early Nineteenth Century. 19
The Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar 21
Joseph Smith 1. 23
Joseph Smith 2. 23
The Articles Of Faith. 24
CHAPTER 2 THE NATURE OF GOD.. 28
Manifestations Of God To Prophets In The Pearl of Great Price. 28
The Revelations of God to Adam.. 28
The Revelations of God to Enoch. 28
The Revelations of God to Noah. 30
The Revelations of God to Abraham.. 30
The Revelations of God to Moses. 32
Other Manifestations of God’s Divine Nature to Moses and Israel 33
The Revelations of God to Joseph Smith. 37
Clarifications On The Doctrine Of Deity. 38
The Father and the Son Separate Corporeal Beings. 38
The Godhead. 38
The Divine Nature of God. 39
The Glory of God Is Intelligence. 41
The Glory of God Manifested as the Holy Spirit 42
Functions of God’s Divine Nature. 42
Importance of Understanding the Divine Nature of God. 46
Conclusion. 50
CHAPTER 3 JESUS CHRIST. 53
Christ’s Pre-earth Life As Revealed In The Pearl Of Great price. 53
Creative Functions of Christ 53
The Divine Status of Christ 53
Clarifications Concerning Christ As The Father And The Son. 55
The Relationship in Glory of the Father and the Son. 55
Christ as the Son of God. 56
Christ the God and Father of Man. 57
Expressions of the Fatherhood of Christ 59
Doctrine of the Father and the Son Explained by the First Presidency. 59
Christ and the Holy Ghost 65
Supporting Testimonies Of Christ As God And Father 65
The Biblical Concept of One God. 65
Book of Mormon Testimony of Christ as God and Father 66
Latter-day Testimony of Christ as God and Father 68
Conclusion. 69
CHAPTER 4 THE PRE-EARTH STATE OF MAN.. 73
Man’s Pre-earth Life As Revealed In The Pearl Of Great Price. 73
The Vision of Abraham.. 73
The Explanation of God to Moses. 76
The Vision of Enoch. 78
Clarifications On The Pre-earth State Of Man. 78
The Issue of Proper Terms. 78
The Two Stages of Man’s Pre-earth Existence. 79
Scriptural Evidence of Man’s Primal Intelligence. 79
Clarifications by Prominent Brethren. 80
The Nature of Primal Intelligence and Its Organization as a Spirit 80
Gradation in the Primal Intelligence of Men. 81
The Nature of Spirits. 82
Preparations for Mortality. 82
The Doctrine of Election and Foreordination. 84
Supporting Testimonies Of The Pre-Earth State Of Man. 85
Biblical Evidence of Man’s Pre-earth State. 85
Book of Mormon Evidence of Man’s Pre-earth State. 88
Doctrine and Covenants Evidence of Man’s Pre-earth State. 89
Conclusion. 90
CHAPTER 5 THE CREATION AND PLACEMENT OF LIFE ON EARTH.. 94
The Accounts Of Abraham And Moses 94
Conflicting opinions on the story of the creation. 94
Abraham’s Blueprint and Account of the Creation. 94
Moses’ Clarification of the Spirit Creation of Life. 95
Personalities in the Creation. 96
The Earth Framed Near the Throne of God. 96
The Earth Made a Physical-Spiritual Sphere in the Creation. 97
The Time Schedule in the Creation. 99
Major Outlines of the Creation. 100
The Story Of The Creation. 100
The First Day of Creation. 100
The Second Day of Creation. 102
The Third Day of Creation. 103
The Fourth Day of Creation. 105
The Fifth Day of Creation. 106
The Sixth Day of Creation. 107
The Seventh Day of Creation. 110
Clarifications On The Creation. 117
The Earth Established in a Paradisiacal State of Glory. 117
Further Knowledge Promised Concerning the Creation. 118
The Origin of Life on Earth. 119
Conclusion. 121
CHAPTER 6 THE FALL. 124
The Doctrine Of The Fall Revealed In The Pearl Of Great Price. 125
The Transgression of Adam and Eve. 125
General Results of Transgression. 126
Adam and Eve Given the Power of Procreation. 128
Life on Earth Suffered a Spiritual Death. 128
Physical Death Introduced Into the World. 129
The Nature of Life Changed by the Fall 129
Man is Conceived in Sin. 130
Clarifications On The Doctrine Of The Fall 131
The Nature of Man’s Agency in the Garden. 131
God’s Foreknowledge Expressed in the Fall 132
The Earth’s Reckoning of Time Changed at the Fall 132
The Earth Placed Under a Temporal Law in the Fall 133
Spiritual Death Prerequisite to Temporal Death. 133
Changes Incurred by the Fall 134
The Nature of Man in Mortality. 135
Conclusion. 137
CHAPTER 7 THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST.. 141
The Doctrine Of The Atonement Expressed In The Pearl Of Great Price. 141
Adam and Eve Given a Knowledge of the Atonement 141
Enoch’s Knowledge of the Atonement 142
Noah Understood the Atonement 143
Abraham Knew of the Atonement 143
Clarification On The Doctrine Of The Atonement 144
The Need for an Infinite Atonement 144
The Divine and Infinite Nature of the Lamb of God. 146
The Relationship of the Divine and the Mortal Within Christ 148
Christ’s Preparation to Make an Infinite Atonement 148
Christ’s Infinite Sacrifice. 149
Certain Benefits of the Atonement Applied Before Christ Died. 151
Some General Benefits of Christ’s Atonement 151
Conditional Benefits of Christ’s Atonement 153
Conclusion. 155
CHAPTER 8 THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.. 158
Doctrines Of The Gospel Expressed In The Pearl Of Great Price. 158
The Introduction of the Gospel Into the World. 158
God’s Explanation of the Doctrine of the Gospel 159
Becoming Sons and Daughters of God—of Jesus Christ 166
Clarifications Of The Doctrine Of The Gospel Of Christ 169
Basic Propositions of the Gospel Plan. 169
The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven. 170
Final Objectives of the Gospel 175
Conclusion. 178
CHAPTER 9 THE GOSPEL THROUGH THE AGES. 182
The Gospel In Antediluvian Times. 182
Introduction of the Gospel into the World. 182
Adam’s Place in the Gospel Plan. 184
Early Efforts to Apply The Gospel 185
Noah and the Gospel 187
Gospel Dispensations From Noah To Jesus. 189
Melchizedek and the Gospel 189
Abraham and the Gospel 191
Moses and the Gospel 192
The Gospel in New Testament Times. 195
Biblical Evidence Of The Gospel Before Christ 196
The Basic Issue of the Everlasting Gospel 196
Joseph Smith Gives Evidence of the Everlasting Gospel 196
Conclusion. 198
CHAPTER 10 ZION AND THE LAST DAYS. 202
The Zion Of Enoch. 202
The Building of Enoch’s Zion. 202
Zion Founded and Built Upon the Gospel 204
Zion’s Law of Consecration. 205
The Zion Of Enoch And The Zion Of The Last Days. 210
Enoch’s Vision of Zion in the Last Days 210
The Sign of the Son of Man. 215
The End of the World. 217
Conclusion. 219
CHAPTER 11 THE DIVINE PATRIARCHAL ORDER.. 243
The Concept Of The Divine Patriarchal Order 243
The Family of Jesus Christ 243
The Place of Adam in the Divine Patriarchal Order 243
The Place of a Righteous Man in the Divine Patriarchal Order 245
Priesthood Orders and Promises 245
The History Of The Divine Patriarchal Order 247
The Antediluvian Period. 247
The Place of Noah. 251
The Place of Abraham.. 253
The Divine Patriarchal Order to be Restored. 257
Conclusion. 259
CHAPTER 12 APOSTASY AND JUDGMENT. 243
Apostasy Before The Flood. 243
Early Departure From the Truth. 243
The Sinfulness of Cain. 243
The Judgment of God Upon Cain. 246
Cain, the Father of Subversive Activities 247
God’s Judgment Expressed In The Flood. 249
Reasons for the Flood. 249
Destiny of Those Who Perished in the Flood. 250
Cain And The Negro People. 252
Negroes are Descendants of Cain. 252
Negroes Denied the Right to Bear the Priesthood. 252
Modern Statements on the Status of the Negro. 253
Apostasy Since The Time Of The Flood. 256
Evil Practices of Cain Perpetuated Among the Jaredites. 256
Apostasy in the Days of Abraham.. 258
Secret Combinations Among the Nephites. 260
The Jews Reject Christ 261
Subversive Organizations in the Last Days 264
Conclusion. 265
CHAPTER 13 THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS. 270
The Commencement Of The Restoration Of All Things. 270
The First Vision. 270
The Visitations of the Angel Moroni 273
The Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood. 277
Restoration of the Keys, Powers, and Promises of the Divine Patriarchal Order 280
Moroni Explains The Restoration Of All Things. 283
Moroni Quotes the Apostle Peter 283
Moroni Foretells the Restoration of Israel 284
Moroni Cites Malachi 3:1-5. 287
Moroni Quotes Isaiah 11. 288
Moroni’s Version of Malachi 4:5-6. 292
Moroni’s Contribution to Malachi 4:1-3. 294
Moroni Quotes Joel 2:28-32. 294
Conclusion. 295
CHAPTER 14 THE WORK AND GLORY OF GOD.. 300
God’s Creations Revealed To Ancient Prophets. 300
The Vision of Enoch. 300
The Knowledge of the Universe in Antediluvian Times 301
The Vision of Abraham.. 301
Clarifications On The Nature Of The Universe. 306
The Living Universe. 306
The Unity Within The Universe. 307
God’s Purposes in Organizing Life. 308
The Scope of Christ’s Redemption. 309
The Eternal Progression Of God. 310
Christ Knows All Things. 310
The Divine Patriarchal Order of Eternity. 312
The Ways and Means of Eternal Progression. 314
God is Progressing in Truth. 316
Conclusion. 318