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The Bible gives indication that Moses was caught up in the Shekinah of God in verses such as Exodus 24:15-18. While in the presence of God (in Heaven?) Moses was shown heavenly items to which he was to use as the pattern for their earthly counterparts:

 

Exodus 25:8-9 - "And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. According to the pattern of the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it."

 

The book of Hebrews attests to the same thing:

 

Hebrews 8:5 "... who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the Tabernacle. For He said 'See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain'."

 

The Prophet encouraged the Saints to learn of these things for themselves, beseeching them to go forward and “search deeper and deeper into the mysteries of Godliness.” J. Smith, Jr., Words, 12 May 1844, p. 366; J. Smith, Jr., Documentary History, 12 May 1844, 6:363. These are the Prophet’s words in context (J. Smith, Jr., Teachings, 2 May 1844, p. 364):

 

The Savior has the words of eternal life. Nothing else can profit us… I advise all to go on to perfection, and search deeper and deeper into the mysteries of Godliness.

 

As their reward, the faithful are promised: “And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old.” (D&C 76:7).

 

So, what of the kingdoms of glory according to the temple pattern?

 

The Celestial Kingdom

 

D&C 131:1-4 reads as follows:

 

In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.

 

As above, so below, and in Exodus 25:18-22 we read:

 

18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.

 

19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.

 

20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.

 

21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.

 

22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony…

 

Within the Holy of Holies (the Celestial Kingdom) are three beings: God is “above [higher]” and “between [in the midst of]” the two cherubims.

 

Tissot_The_Ark_of_the_Covenant.jpg

 

Lowest degree or cherubim with Endowment only: Men and women who attain the first ritual degree of the celestial kingdom, inheriting the blessings of the “sons of Moses,” are privileged to come to the veil of the temple to “behold the face of God” and enter into celestial glory. This temple blessing anticipates the day when the faithful will enter into God’s presence in actuality. However, attaining this degree in the ordinances is not sufficient to qualify one for the full blessings of exaltation. Those who come only thus far and subsequently refuse the patriarchal order of marriage are described in revelation as “ministering servants” who “remain separately and singly, without exaltation… to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.”

 

Middle degree or cherubim with the patriarchal order of marriage: Those who have previously qualified to enter within the veil become “the seed of Abraham“ when they attain the second celestial degree, the patriarchal order of marriage, with its promise of eternal family relationships and a “continuation of the seed.” However, while the middle degree would have had marriage in the temple they would have still have come up short of the highest degree of glory, therefore they (or the unworthy spouse) would remain as angels having no increase. 

 

 

Highest degree askings and priests [or “queens and priestesses”] of the Most High God”: Finally, according to the Prophet Joseph Smith, those who attain the third celestial degree, “keeping all the commandments and obeying all the ordinances of the house of the Lord,” obtain the “fulness of the priesthood” through their becoming “kings and priests [or “queens and priestesses” of the Most High God,” with responsibility for “the church and kingdom” according to the “power of Melchizedek.” Thus, in the words of William Clayton, they are (ritually) “prepared for the enjoyment of a fulness of the third heavens,” in other words, the enjoyment of the highest of the three degrees within the celestial kingdom. (source

Edited by Average Joe
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This is pretty interesting. Just to clarify, you are saying if you attain the middle degree of the Celestial kingdom, you still have posterity after this life?? I think that was only in the highest degree of the C K

 

The answer would be no posterity except for the highest degree. The lowest degree would not have been married in temple, just endowed. The middle would have had marriage in the temple but still have come up short of the highest degree of glory, therefore they would remain as angels having no increase. Sorry my post wasn't clearer (too busy watching my two fingers typing I guess) I have edited the post to clarify. Thanks for pointing out the error of my ways.  :)

Edited by Average Joe
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Greetings Average Joe,

 

According to your source the second degree of the Celestial Kingdom does have a continuation of the seed.

 

"Those who have previously qualified to enter within the veil become “the seed of Abraham“[41] when they attain the second celestial degree, the patriarchal order of marriage, with its promise of eternal family relationships and a “continuation of the seed.”[42] Reflecting the order in which these priesthood blessings must be received, the two sealing rooms in the Salt Lake Temple were laid out as annexes to the celestial room, reflecting the idea that they could be accessed only by those who had previously come through the veil. The sealing room on the east was originally reserved “for the living”[43] while the west sealing room was reserved “for the dead.”[44]

 

http://ldsmag.com/article-1-11255/

 

-Finrock

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Greetings Average Joe,

 

According to your source the second degree of the Celestial Kingdom does have a continuation of the seed.

 

 

 

 

http://ldsmag.com/article-1-11255/

 

-Finrock

 

Yes the source does but I think that was poorly worded (if not outright error I overlooked) I'll stand by the edit I made to this post today. Thanks for pointing that out about the source. :)

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DnC 131:


 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;


 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];


 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.


 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.


 


ya I think you have to be in the HIGHEST to have eternal increase. That's just my understanding from this passage.


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DnC 131:

 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;

 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];

 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.

 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.

 

ya I think you have to be in the HIGHEST to have eternal increase. That's just my understanding from this passage.

 

 

gotta agree with you on that :)

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