Doctrine and Covenants 129

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

“From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children. …

“Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn” (“The Ministry of Angels,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 29).

Doctrine and Covenants 129:8–9

“Satan attempts to deceive by counterfeiting the light that accompanies the spirit of a just man made perfect. A just man made perfect who comes as a messenger will appear in his glory, ‘for that is the only way he can appear’ (D&C 129:6). The Prophet Joseph Smith once said, ‘Wicked spirits have their bounds, limits, and laws by which they are governed … and, it is very evident that they possess a power that none but those who have the priesthood can control’ (in History of the Church, 4:576).

“The Prophet taught that when the devil is offered a hand to shake, ‘he will offer you his hand’ (D&C 129:8). The mortal will feel nothing, because the devil is an unembodied spirit. He can therefore be distinguished in this manner from a righteous spirit or angel sent from God. The just man will not attempt to deceive (see D&C 129:7); an angel of Satan will not refrain from trying to deceive” (Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, 2nd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2001], 321).

Doctrine and Covenants 130

President Brigham Young:

“The excellency of the glory of the character of Brother Joseph Smith was that he could reduce heavenly things to the understanding of the finite. When he preached to the people—revealed the things of God, the will of God, the plan of salvation, the purposes of Jehovah, the relation in which we stand to him and all the heavenly beings, he reduced his teachings to the capacity of every man, woman, and child, making them as plain as a well-defined pathway. This should have convinced every person that ever heard him of his divine authority and power, for no other man was able to teach as he could, and no person can reveal the things of God, but by the revelations of Jesus Christ” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young[1997], 347).

Doctrine and Covenants 130:2

President Henry B. Eyring:

“Because of the restoration of the knowledge of eternal families, we are more hopeful and more kindly in all our family relations. The greatest joys in this life center in families, as they will in the worlds to come. I am so grateful for the assurance I have that if we are faithful, the same sociality which we enjoy here in this life will be forever with us in the world to come, in eternal glory” [see D&C 130:2] (“The True and Living Church,”Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 22).

Doctrine and Covenants 130:9

President Brigham Young:

“When it [the earth] becomes celestialized, it will be like the sun, and be prepared for the habitation of the Saints and be brought back into the presence of the Father and the Son. It will not then be an opake body as it now is, but it will be like the stars of the firmament, full of light and glory; it will be a body of light.—John compared it, in its celestialized state, to a sea of glass” (“Sermon,” Deseret News, Jun. 15, 1859, 114).

“This earth, when it becomes purified and sanctified, or celestialized, will become like a sea of glass, and a person by looking into it can know things past, present, and to come; though none but celestialized beings can enjoy this privilege; they will look into the earth, and the things they desire to know will be exhibited to them, the same as the face is seen by looking into a mirror” (“Remarks,” Deseret News, Jul. 3, 1861, 137).

Doctrine and Covenants 130:15

President M. Russell Ballard:

“I am called as one of the Apostles to be a special witness of Christ, … and I do not know when He is going to come again. As far as I know, none of my brethren in the Quorum of the Twelve or even in the First Presidency knows. And I would humbly suggest that if we do not know, then nobody knows. … The Savior said that ‘of that day, and hour, no one knoweth; no, not the angels of God in heaven, but my Father only’ [Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:40].

“I believe that when the Lord says ‘no one’ knows, He really means that no one knows” (“When Shall These Things Be?” Ensign, Dec. 1996, 56).

Doctrine and Covenants 130:18–19

Elder Neal A. Maxwell:

“If we ponder just what it is that will rise with us in the resurrection, it seems clear that our intelligence will rise with us, meaning not simply our IQ, but also our capacity to receive and apply truth. Our talents, attributes, and skills will rise with us; certainly also our capacity to learn, our degree of self-discipline, and our capacity to work” (We Will Prove Them Herewith [1982], 12).

President Boyd K. Packer:

“You … should not complain about schooling. Do not immerse yourself so much in the technical that you fail to learn things that are practical. Everything you can learn that is practical—in the house, in the kitchen cooking, in the yard—will be of benefit to you. Never complain about schooling. Study well, and attend always. …

“You can learn about fixing things and painting things and even sewing things and whatever else is practical. That is worth doing. If it is not of particular benefit to you, it will help you when you are serving other people” (“Counsel to Young Men,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 51).

For the Strength of Youth:

“Education is an investment that brings great rewards and will open the doors of opportunity that may otherwise be closed to you. Plan now to obtain an education. Be willing to work diligently and make sacrifices if necessary. Share your educational goals with your family, friends, and leaders so they can support and encourage you” (For the Strength of Youth[booklet, 2011], 9).

Doctrine and Covenants 130:22–23

“God the Father: It is generally the Father, or Elohim, who is referred to by the title God. He is called the Father because He is the father of our spirits. … God the Father is the supreme ruler of the universe. He is all powerful … , all knowing … , and everywhere present through his Spirit. … Mankind has a special relationship to God that sets man apart from all other created things: men and women are God’s spirit children. …

“God the Son: The God known as Jehovah is the Son, Jesus Christ. … Jesus works under the direction of the Father and is in complete harmony with him. All mankind are His brothers and sisters, for He is the eldest of the spirit children of Elohim. [He is the Redeemerwho suffered the sins and pains of all mankind and overcame physical death for all.] …

“God the Holy Ghost: The Holy Ghost is also a God and is called the Holy Spirit, the Spirit, and the Spirit of God, among other similar names and titles [such as the Comforter]. With the aid of the Holy Ghost, man can know the will of God the Father and know that Jesus is the Christ” (Guide to the Scriptures, “God, Godhead,” scriptures.lds.org). The primary role of the Holy Ghost is to bear witness of God the Father and Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost teaches and confirms truth.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

“Our first and foremost article of faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is ‘We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost’ [Articles of Faith 1:1]. We believe these three divine persons constituting a single Godhead are united in purpose, in manner, in testimony, in mission. We believe Them to be filled with the same godly sense of mercy and love, justice and grace, patience, forgiveness, and redemption. I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable exceptbelieving Them to be three persons combined in one substance, a Trinitarian notion never set forth in the scriptures because it is not true.

“Indeed no less a source than the stalwart Harper’s Bible Dictionary records that ‘the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the [New Testament]’ [Paul F. Achtemeier, ed. (1985), 1099; emphasis added].

“So any criticism that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not hold the contemporary Christian view of God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost is not a comment about our commitment to Christ but rather a recognition (accurate, I might add) that our view of the Godhead breaks with post–New Testament Christian history and returns to the doctrine taught by Jesus Himself. …

“We declare it is self-evident from the scriptures that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings” (“The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent,”Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 40, 41).