How does the Church define ‘the first resurrection’?
Chances are, most Mormons wouldn’t know what their church teaches about this, and their prophet Joseph Smith didn’t make things easy for anyone.
Let’s take a look at what ol’ Joe had to say about the first resurrection, and then compare his words with what he wrote in the Book of Mormon –
According to this prophecy from February 16, 1832 Smith said the “first resurrection” is only for the righteous.
D&C 76:52, 64; “That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; 64 These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection.”
Six months beforehand, on August 30, 1831, Smith prophesied that liars and pretty much all bad people will be going to hell, and have no part in the first resurrection.
You’ll notice the ‘prophecy’ he delivered is incredibly similar to what we read in Revelation 21:8;
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Other than adding his own version of what he thought God’s word should say, it’s the same thing God had already said. What are the odds?
D&C 63:17-18; “Wherefore, I, the Lord, have said that the fearful, and the unbelieving, and all liars, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie, and the whoremonger, and the sorcerer, shall have their part in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. 18 Verily I say, that they shall not have part in the first resurrection.”
As a comparison, let’s take a gander at what he wrote in the Book of Mormon.
The “first resurrection” is for everyone (both good and bad) who died before Christ’s resurrection.
Mosiah 15:24; “And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord.”
Alma 40:16-17; “And behold, again it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection, a resurrection of all those who have been, or who are, or who shall be, down to the resurrection of Christ from the dead. 17 Now, we do not suppose that this first resurrection, which is spoken of in this manner, can be the resurrection of the souls and their consignation to happiness or misery. Ye cannot suppose that this is what it meaneth.”
Question:
Why did Joseph Smith give a prophecy that contradicts what he ‘translated’ two years beforehand?
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