Esau was born first and therefore merited the Birthright. However, seeing little to no value in the Birthright, the scriptures tell us that Esau despised the Birthright and traded it for a pottage of lentils, but it might better be understood that he despised it in that he treated it lightly (see Genesis 25: 34.)
Thereafter, Jacob received not only the Birthright, but also the Blessing of the Firstborn (see Genesis 27:45-46). This not only came to him by ordinance from his father however, but also by covenant from God (see Genesis 27:26-30; and also Genesis 28:10-15.)
In the commission that the Lord gave unto Joseph Smith, the covenant blessings reserved for the children of Abraham were once again offered to mankind by covenant from God (see D&C 124:58.) However, the Lord warned those who would become the seed of Abraham through the Prophet Joseph, that they should not treat lightly (or in other words despise) the covenant He had given (see D&C 84:54-58.)
The idea then needs to be expounded: how are we the seed of Joseph Smith the Prophet or even the seed of Abraham? (see D&C 124:58) You can argue that by process of multiplying out generations, essentially everyone on the face of the earth is more likely than not, somehow descended from Abraham at this point. However, you can not make that same assertion about Joseph Smith.
Joseph Smith taught about this concept when he said, "Acceptance of the gospel brings into an individual’s life the Holy Ghost: and “as the Holy Ghost falls upon one of the literal seeds of Abraham, it is calm and serene; and his whole soul and body are only exercised by the pure spirit of intelligence; while the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually the seed of Abraham.”
The idea then is that by accepting the teachings of Christ (The Gospel) which come from one of the messengers that Christ personally selects, makes you of the seed of that person. The messenger -who proclaims to teach in the name of Christ- that you select to believe, (providing that he has actually been commissioned by Jesus, to do so) affords you the opportunity to come into the family of Abraham, and thereby the Family of God (see Romans 10:13-17).
However, invariably it is the case that when God has chosen to send a messenger in His name, the adversary to us all works in corrupting the message of that messenger by influencing both those who oppose and those who believe the teachings that come through that chosen servant of the Lord. This is what is called 'apostasy.'
Thereby it becomes necessary as truth is lost with each new case of apostasy, a new messenger is sent to clarify and teach again the system of repentance which must be enacted by that generation, in order to come into the family of God.
That does not mean that God will always send a chosen messenger whenever one is not present, but rather that when apostasy has occurred and even one has presented himself to repent the Lord will work through him to try once again to reestablish the necessary truths that will be the foundational principles of the family of God.
The opposite is true. If anyone, even -as in the case of Esau- one who is the firstborn, of the chosen, ordained and anointed family of God, treats lightly the truths that they receive: they apostatize from the truth, they rebel against God and His family and will not receive the blessings that could/should/would have been theirs had they proven faithful to the truth that the Lord had declared.
To us in the latter days, the Lord has not only pointed out the importance of the Book of Mormon as 'The Covenant' but that all of the teachings spoken by Joseph Smith, as he received them from the Lord, should be received as if from the Lord's own mouth, and that only by doing so, the gates of hell would not prevail against us (see D&C 21: 4-6.)
The Lord originally informed us of our condemnation that came by way of treating lightly the Book of Mormon. (see again D&C 84:54-58)
Ask yourself, how do I treat the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith? Do I treat them as a treasure that will defend me from the gates of hell? Do I treat them lightly? Do I trust someone else to search through the REALLY important parts and filter them to me? Remember it is not so much that it was Joseph Smith who gave them, but rather the voice that gave them to Joseph. It was Jesus Christ who spoke them to Joseph, so that when you receive them as a treasure, He then will also be speaking to you. If or possibly when, we receive them as a light thing, to be borne as a burden, or despise them because they refuse to allow us to be accepted/popular in the eyes of the world; then we, like Esau, despise our birthright.
Both Jacob and Esau received a blessing by the power of the priesthood, through an ordinance. However, it was only Jacob that received a confirmation of the Birthright Blessing by the will of Heaven. Therefore it stands to reason that anyone can be the seed of Esau; but who then will be the seed of Israel but those who not only receive the blessing by ordinance but also by Heaven.
We, like the Jews in the days of Christ, can proclaim the blessings passed down to us in ordinances performed by the power of a key-holder but proclaiming such does not make it so (see Luke 3:7-9.)
Like Abraham, mathematically speaking pretty much anyone can prove to be of the seed of Esau at this point. However, in order to be the seed of Israel (through whom the family of God will come) it takes more than genealogy or proclamations of men; but rather, like Israel, it will take the pronouncement of Heaven. And that will come when we finally remove our condemnation.
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| A book by one who has been authorized by God to once again teach in the name of Jesus Christ. Matthew 7:20 You can begin reading the contents of this book for free at: http://denversnuffer.com/2010/06/cite-your-minds-forward/ |
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