Why do we have secrets as part of the covenant path? I read a post from a friend yesterday (thanks Sarah!) where she made a list of all the secrets in our LDS tradition. As I read through the list I realized how these added secrets are a major abandonment of the true doctrine of Salvation.
And here's a questions that begs to be asked - Aren't we warned about secret agreements in the Book of Mormon? We as Book of Mormon believers have even more reason to detect and refuse secret oaths and secret ceremonies, but we have found a way to religionize them nonetheless. Shouldn't we be discerning these secrets? For the sake of Honouring the Doctrine of Eternal Life, I'd like to address the impact of secrets on Eternal Life.
The Covenant Path adds to the Doctrine of Christ
It's the Covenant Path that is full of these secrets. The Covenant Path might claim to be the same Doctrine of Christ, with some inspired additions for a higher level of eternal glory, but I have argued in past essays that these changes, are against the true nature of Christ's doctrine.
Christ has declared that any changes to the Doctrine are against Him and so these added secrets of the covenant path must be judged righteously, with the spirit as our guide. So proceed with discernment, friends. Discern me too, I welcome the spirit to be the true teacher here.
Secrets are never only secrets
The moment there is a secret to keep, a system is created that divides and distinguishes people.
If you receive the secret, you have been chosen to keep the secret. A committee of gatekeepers has decided that you get to be a keeper of the secret too.
But also this secret must be kept, so you must make agreements to keep it, and be aware of the consequences of keeping it secret. And the secret must be worth the effort.
The more valuable the secret, the more carefully it's protected....
Here's my big concern - Division, Oaths, Penalties, Unfounded Trust, Hierarchies, and Gatekeepers are the sickly bedfellows of a big Secret.
One cannot hold a secret without also maintaining relationship with these bedfellows.
Sure, secrets may be necessary at times in life, but when it becomes a matter of Salvation, you have a major problem ESPECIALLY SINCE the true doctrine is so true, honest, free, available, shareable, reliable, confirmable, and alive with the presence of God. See the contrast? It's massive!
So, why would God employ secrets for Exaltation when there is none for Eternal Life?
The True Doctrine
Let's honour Christ's true doctrine. The doctrine of Christ is absolutely beautiful!
The doctrine of Christ is the obliterator of secrets and all their stinking bedfellows. Here's what this looks like:
Division that looks like Flattery, Pride or Demeaning another - Teachings related to Gifts of the Spirit teach that it is the same Spirit in us all. The Body of Christ passage states though we might be different, we are to be unified. Our promise is the same, our gifts are the same. We are all welcome to have boldness before Christ on Judgement Day. Christ judges who is part of His church.
Oaths - Oaths suggest you have some capability. Scripture says, Swear not at all, because you have no power ability to keep oaths. Instead, in the Doctrine of Christ we come to Him with surrender and a broken open heart, believing Christ is mighty to save. We express our willingness and desire to come unto Christ.
Penalties - NO PART of the doctrine of Christ is secret. Share it all. It's declared in scripture 300 times. People are even willing to testify of their witness of Christ, revelation, visions, redemption and receiving Eternal Life. There are no penalties to be had for telling all of the doctrine of Christ. In fact we're encouraged to yell it from the rooftops. The Born of God are now ambassadors for Christ! Share the good news for the rest of your life!
Unfounded Trust - Christ alone confirms every step of the way to Him. You don't need to rely on the affirmations of any individual or institution, recorded message or certificate. Christ is alive and present in His doctrine. You can know from Him where you stand.
Hierarchies of people keeping hierarchies of secrets, and Gatekeepers - Christ is the keeper of the gate and He employs no servant there. He is your guide. He is ever inviting. He is willing to live in you to walk you through this journey. He knows you. He knows your heart. No one can discern your heart like He can. The intent is that we all are unified to Christ and therefore to each other.
Guys, I'm so mad right now. How could we have added secrets to our precious doctrine?
Please take a look at these past articles.
On Exaltation
On the Covenant Path
On alterations to the pure Doctrine
These secrets used in the Covenant Path are gatekeeping Eternal Life doctrine, and also gatekeeping Exaltation - a highly questionable church teaching. Exaltation might get more air-time at church, but in scripture, Eternal Life is the only doctrine that exists.
The Body of Christ
Happy sigh, the beautiful message of the body of Christ!
This passage is a message to all who are born of God! This is the heart and mind and will of God about how those who are born of God should treat each other.
The body of Christ is the way of life for all who are born of God! It's the declaration of scripture that there really are no divisions! We are all the same to God, carrying the same spirit, and we all should be cherished by one another! We have an inclination to divide, but we need to extinguish anything that divides the children of God.
Below, you'll see my interpretation of the message, and I welcome you to share your own interpretation if you disagree. Discern what I'm sharing at all times, friends.
1 Corinthians 12
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (WE DON'T NEED TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME TO SEE VALUE IN EACH OTHER. DON'T DEEM YOURSELF LESS VALUABLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE ELEVATED OTHER MEMBERS.)16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (WE CAN BE AWARE OF OUR DIFFERENCES, BUT TRUST THE MASTER HAS RECEIVED US ALL. AVOID DISTINGUISHING ANYONE; WHETHER YOUR PURPOSE IS TO ELEVATE THEM OR YOURSELF.)
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? (WOULD WE EVEN BE ABLE TO BE A MASTERFUL DESIGN IF WE WERE ALL THE SAME? THE BODY NEEDS US ALL.)
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (TRUST THAT IF THEY ARE BORN OF GOD THAT THEY TRULY ARE RECEIVED OF HIM.)
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? (AGAIN, THE MASTER HAS A BRILLIANT PLAN IN GATHERING ALL THESE DIFFERENT MEMBERS INTO ONE BODY.)
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. (WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF ONE BODY.)
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. (HOW CAN ANY ONE MEMBER THINK THEY HAVE THE WISDOM TO JUDGE THE VALUE OF ANOTHER MEMBER? HOW CAN YOU QUESTION THE MASTER'S WORK?)
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: (IF A MEMBER APPEARS WEAKER THAN YOU, OR MAYBE LESS USEFUL THAN YOU, TRUST THAT CHRIST HAS RECEIVED THEM AS HE DID YOU, AND KNOW THEY'RE A GREATLY VALUABLE PART OF HIS BODY.)
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. (DON'T MAKE UNCLEAN WHAT GOD HAS MADE CLEAN. DON'T SHAME THOSE GOD HAS RECEIVED. TRUST GOD'S JUDGEMENT AND BRILLIANCE.)
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: (DON'T PRIDEFULLY DISTINGUISH YOURSELF ABOVE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BODY.)
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. (SEE THE VALUE IN OTHER MEMBERS, AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. TRUST THAT IF GOD HAS RECEIVED THEM, YOU SHOULD TOO.)
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. (MAYBE YOU'RE HURTING YOURSELF AND MORE MEMBERS THAN YOU REALIZE BY REJECTING THOSE GOD HAS RECEIVED.)
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. IN OTHER PASSAGES WE ARE TAUGHT THAT BEING BORN OF GOD MAKES US PART OF THIS BODY OF CHRIST.)
The Secrets of the Covenant Path
So let’s look at the secrets of a church that doesn’t love the beautiful doctrine of Christ, and cannot fully agree with the Body of Christ. Oh, maybe they think they do, but I'm not sure how you can love the true doctrine fully and agree to the perversions. Tell me if you think I'm wrong.
As you read this list of secrets, you'll also spy many of the stinking bedfellows.
Secret Wives, Secret Concubines, Lies to cover Secret Marriages, Secret Doctrine of Exaltation
LDS Church claims that even Joseph Smith’s marriages were often secret from Emma. (I believe Joseph and Emma when they said there were no other women in their marriage.)
Early church history confirms that this way to Exaltation was a secret doctrine held by only the most righteous in Nauvoo for a time.
Gatekeepers decided who learned this doctrine and entered it. This secrecy was used as flattery. "You've been chosen by the prophet and the Lord to learn new doctrine and enter special covenant."
For a long time, members lied for the Lord, keeping their plural marriages secret from the membership and society.
Secret Temple Ceremonies, Secret Scripts (and Secret reasons why these scripts have changed), Secret Oaths/Commitments with consequences, Secret Signs, Secret Names
Suddenly, Eternal Life isn't available to all. Now, you get greater blessings, and a favoured place in heaven because of some secret commitments made in an exclusive building. But only if you work your way past four gatekeepers: Age, Membership, worthiness, temple recommend. (and a fifth if you were black.)
When going in to our endowment most of us didn't know the covenants we were to make until that moment. There is plenty of pressure to covenant or leave. We make secret oaths with the threat that we will be in Satan's power if we back out of these oaths.
We know the new names of others in scripture, but why cant we know names in the temple? Because women, your place in heaven is gatekept by your husband. He is the one who must bring you in. What a slap in the face to the Doctrine of Christ.
Secret Witnesses, Secret Revelation, Secret Appointing to Positions
In Ephesians 1-4 we learn that God has given us witnesses of the Doctrine to witness of the truthfulness of the doctrine. Having prophets and apostles and such are given to us for the purpose of testifying us of the way to Eternal Life. I've shared often how our leaders don't really understand the doctrine of Christ.
Instead, we have witnesses of Christ that do not witness and do not tell us the account of their witness.
We have changing doctrines, teachings and procedures with no released revelation.
We're now only called to sustain leaders that are already appointed to their position.
Secret Anointings, Secret Washings, Secret Rooms, Secret Powers
The second anointing is the most evil bypass for the true doctrine. It's a mockery of the Calling and Election. It’s kept secret from membership, perhaps because the inequality would be so evident. Isn't our progress toward Christ to be decided by ourselves and Christ? People who know the right people get the second anointing.
Man decides who walks into Exaltation.
Man tell you that you are guaranteed exaltation with your spouse. What an empty experience to qualify for Exaltation, but not yet qualify for Christ, Himself to tell you this.
Secret Tithing Use, Secret Properties, Secret Shell Companies, Secret Negotiations, Secret Alliances
We all pay our tithing with a hope of where it’s going, but do you know it’s also going into high end real estate, stocks in weapons manufacturers, and a 2 billion dollar refit of the Salt Lake temple, while the poor could use a lift? The call of discipleship is to care for the poor, widowed and fatherless. The cause of Zion is to elevate the poor, and lower the rich until all are equal. Many who follow the doctrine of Christ are now joyfully paying their alms for the poor by the guidance of the spirit.
Secret Records, Secret Documents, Secret Vaults
Vaults are holding onto some items that are really important to the story of Exaltation. There is weakness in the provenance of section 132, and the church knows this, which is why they have been gatekeeping the William Clayton diaries for a very long time (promising it would be coming soon since 2017-ish). A simple look at these items would tell us if this was a true diary, or a recopied doctored diary, but we're not free to discern this for ourselves. We have to trust the secret keepers are telling us the truth.
The Worstest Secret of the Covenant Path
All secrets listed so far have been added pollutions to the true doctrine of Christ.
Yet, I believe this Secret has been most catastrophic.
This one diminished true doctrine by shaming Christ's witnesses into secrecy.
Sacred Secrets
Our false idea that spiritual experiences must be kept sacred and therefore secret is the most suffocating of all these oppressions.
The spiritual loss is astronomical!
In the Gifts of the Spirit teachings, we learn an important relationship between witness and hearer.
Hearing the spiritual experience of others inspires and encourages the hearer until they too are a witness.
D&C 46
11 For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.
12 To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.
13 To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.
1 witness becomes 2, becomes 4, 8, 16, hundreds, thousands and millions.
Our false tradition meant that I was silenced into secrecy when I became a witness of Christ at 17. For 23 years my experience was hardly shared with anyone;... it was most certainly sacred, so I'd gathered that it must be kept secret.
I wonder how many verse 14 friends I could have encouraged? Even my parents and brothers didn't know. Maybe it could have blessed so many.
The Doctrine of Christ is anti-secret
There are no secrets to be kept in living the doctrine of Christ, and therefore no bedfellows either! We are free!
Our water baptism is a declaration before our congregation that we have forsaken the natural man, and wish to be made alive in Christ! (see Romans 6)
Our baptism of the Holy Ghost makes us a witness of Christ, and look at the stories in scripture! Witnesses of Christ actually do witness of Christ and their redemption!
Being born of God comes with the call to be a disciple, and a light; to be someone who is producing good fruit. We are witnesses, teachers, and manifesters of the will of God! Our work is to expand the kingdom, witness by witness!
And also, God isn’t keeping us secret at all, he encourages us that His mighty works can happen through us.
An added thought from Sarah:
The Lord defines "secrets" as works of darkness.
"There is nothing which is secret save it shall be revealed; there is no work of darkness save it shall be made manifest in the light; and there is nothing which is sealed upon the earth save it shall be loosed."
These bedfellows are a type of captivity. Bondage. I'm so thankful the promise is that it will be loosed!
Are secrets ever allowed?
Of course, but this is what they look like in the doctrine of Christ, and I'm sure you'll see the difference:
Do your alms in secret. Let the poor be lifted without anyone seeing it, so that all the glory goes to God.
Pray in secret. Let even your seeking God be done in private, and so then if anyone sees God's favour upon you it will be from a place where the spirit is stirring them. It's about glory to God.
Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Serve in a way that brings glory to God, and don't even let YOU exalt YOURSELF for serving.
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Mysteries are also kept from being shared. I believe there is brilliance in that. When we are living the doctrine of Christ, we are coming to know the mind, will nature and voice of God. This puts us in a healthy mindset to receive and discern mysteries.
But let's make something clear.
We're told to build upon the rock, and promised we will never fall when we are built upon Christ. I can't imagine there will be any mystery that will mock and undo the foundation that is promised to be Eternal.
Exaltation examined
(As I've said before, there's much of Exaltation that could be true, my only issues are that there is not scriptural foundation for it and the most that we have written about it is from a greatly problematic document.)
If Exaltation exists, any requirements and promised blessings must be above and beyond Eternal Life, would you agree?
Exaltation cannot claim turf that belongs to Eternal Life. Would you agree?
Eternal Life is way too well established and protected to be open to changes.
If Exaltation exists, Exaltation would need Eternal Life as a prerequisite, so that the full accomplishment of Eternal Life would prepare the individual for Exaltation.
Eternal Life is entirely free! We are free to share the full gospel. Believers and mockers alike are welcome to know the full doctrine and are free to come to Him.
The only keeper is Christ, and He employs no servant as a keeper. He is the perfect judge. He looks on the heart and He comes to Redeem us through His great wisdom.
From the beginning to the end, there is no necessity for secrets nor those awful bedfellows.
But Exaltation "doctrine" was secret for about 20 years. From the early 1830's when they claim Joseph took his first wife to the revelation's public reading in 1852, this entire doctrine was secret. Bedfellows everywhere, guarding the secret, which became more and more and more secrets to keep. (And who were these insiders that knew the secrets? and what was it that made others the outsiders?)
And another complication of making secrets part of your doctrine: It's hard to believe truth when you've been poisoned by a secret. Joseph, Emma and Hyrum emphatically claimed the truth, that polygamy was an abomination,... or were these just "carefully worded denials"?
The temple endowment, which seemed to be at first much like a king Benjamin sermon, with the purpose of bringing the saints to their baptism of the Holy Ghost experience, somehow became a ceremony by personal invitation, including secret oaths, penalties for sharing the contents of the script, even consenting to your own death.
To shine light on the contrast to Eternal Life, please take a moment and ponder on the list of scriptures that come to mind that encourage you to entirely invest yourself into proclaiming the Doctrine of Christ.
Eternal Life is shared everywhere and anywhere! It's proclaimed 300 times throughout scripture!
Salvation has no secrets. It's freely taught to all. Salvation is publicly available to all, but Exaltation is kept from the world, and in a way that doesn't feel like a natural next step in progression toward Christ.
Why would teaching of Exaltation be so different? and even opposite, backwards and wild-west in its distribution to the world?
If God is freely showing the way to Eternal Life, perfection, being a joint heir in His kingdom, having boldness before God on judgement day, receiving Celestial glory as it says here,...
D&C 88
3 Wherefore, I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John.
4 This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom;
... then what exactly is it about the LDS temple endowment that must be kept secret from the world? And why would it need to be kept secret in the way it is being kept?