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Monday, March 02, 2009

Earth will be rolled back into the presence of God

According to a 1997 Ensign article, Brigham Young taught that "when the earth was framed and brought into existence and man was placed upon it, it was near the throne of our Father in heaven....  But when man fell, the earth fell into space, and took up its abode in this planetary system....  This is the glory the earth came from, and when it is glorified it will return again unto the presence of the Father, and it will dwell there, and these intelligent beings that I am looking at, if they live worthy of it, will dwell upon this earth."  (As quoted by Andrew Skinner, Ensign, March 1997, 22.)

Confirmed in current manual

The Prophet Joseph Smith, according to the current Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society manual, confirms that earth was not always in its present solar orbit and will return to its previous location before being celestialized. Said the Prophet: "This earth will be rolled back into the presence of God and crowned with Celestial Glory." (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, p.258.)

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Sunday, March 01, 2009

Kolob is the star nearest the throne of God

Kolob appears 14 times in LDS scripture (eight here, six here) and has its own article in the Church's official Guide to the Scriptures.  There are six Topical Guide entries that reference Kolob: (1) Astronomy, (2) Govern, (3) Manner, (4) Nigh, (5) Reckon/Reckoning, and (6) Throne.

Kolob is found in nine triple combination index entries: (1) Astronomy, (2) Govern, Government, (3) Kolob, (4) Nigh, (5) Planet, (6) Reckon, Reckoning, (7) Revolutions, (8) Throne, and (9) Time.

The song "If You Could Hie to Kolob" has been in the LDS hymnbook since at least the 1891 edition, where it was no. 231.  In the current Hymns (1985) it is no. 284.  It is performed regularly in general conference (see, for example, April 2003 and April 2008).  President Boyd K. Packer quoted from it in his 2007 PBS Documentary Interview, saying it is "very profound."

Kolob is a place.  It is real.  It exists both in LDS doctrine and in actual fact.

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