Multiple Probations Notes

Scriptural Support

Council of Nicea

Multiple Estate doctrine was removed by Catholic translators and transcriptionists during the Constantine overhaul and recapitulation of our Catholic bible as we know it. Some authors and scholars refer to modern Christianity as "Pauline Christianity", suggesting the differences in original Christianity that were introduced by Paul for essentially political purposes (See The Lost Gospel). Anyway, precious gems of the doctrine remain in the canon and passed through Constantine alterations undetected. I offer the following scriptures as evidence:

1. John 9:2 "And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" How is a man able to sin before he is born?
2. Matthew 16:14-15 "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets". Why did the people even consider that a living person could be someone who had already died?
3. John 1:19-25 "And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?" Pause right there. Why are they asking the already famous John the Baptist who he is? What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? The JST version says that John denied them NOT when they asked if he was Elias. 
4. Doctrine and Covenants 27:7 "...and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the spirit of Elias” Of course this could be a metaphor that John would have a similar spirit or mission to that of Elias, but the direct language could also be an unmistakable pronunciation that John and Elias are the same person. 
5. There are two references to Christ's "condescensions" in the Book of Mormon, emphasizing the plural sense of the word, indicating that the spirit of the Savior lived among men in the flesh more than once (2 Nephi 9:53; Jacob 4:7)
6. Joseph Smith Matthew Look at the pronouns that were used about the apostles. Christ speaks to his apostles in the first half of the chapter in third person (they, them, etc). The second half he switches to first person (you), as if to suggest, those present would each be on the earth in new mortal identities during those turbulent times in the Latter-days. This also indicates premortal covenants to be alive at certain turbulent times, which indicates Elohim's trust in these individuals.
7. Why was Jesus unrecognized as a resurrected being by those who loved and knew him best? (see Luke 24:16; John 21:7; John 20:15 as examples). I have always supposed that Jesus concealed his identity from his disciples, in something like a spiritual cloak or veil, which could be true. But why would he do that? It is easier for me to believe they didn't recognize him, because he was a resurrected being with likely similar but different enough physical features, which were perhaps from a his premortal appearance or a combination of his mortal probations. I do not feel the Savior was resurrected in the body of his estate as Jesus Christ, which was only one of many of the bodies he inhabited (the word body is referred to as a 'robe' in various scriptures, denoting the fact that bodies can be worn like a change of apparel. See Ascension of Isaiah. This is supported by temple language when specific individuals are told which identity [body/robe] to go down in).
8. Doctrine and Covenants 132:22-25 "For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.
   
   23 But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that where I am ye shall be also.
   
   24 This is eternal lives—to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law.
   
   25 Broad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the deaths; and many there are that go in thereat, because they receive me not, neither do they abide in my law."
9. Psalm 71:20 - "Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth"

Additionally, while technically not scripture, there are apocryphal records that are also supportive of the doctrine of multiple probations. The Ascension of Isaiah is a volume of scripture that should have been included in our bible and was deliberately chosen by Constantine or those at his appointed council of Nicea to be excluded. It powerfully teaches the doctrine of condescension which is closely tied to multiple probations. Isaiah's vision of heaven was so much before its time that King Manasseh had Isaiah sawn in half, or as put in the Doctrine and Covenants, "sawn asunder". The Mentinah Archives is another valuable Book of Mormon apocryphal record.


NOTES PART II 

Eternal Round - For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round. (Doctrine and Covenants 3:2)
Creations - And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever; And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep? Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren. And he heard a loud voice; and the heavens were veiled; and all the creations of God mourned; and the earth groaned; and the rocks were rent; and the saints arose, and were crowned at the right hand of the Son of Man, with crowns of glory; And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest (Moses 7:30-31, 36, 56, 64).
Estates - And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.
And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. And the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that day, many followed after him (Abraham 3:26, 28)
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day (Jude 1:6 )
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits (Romans 12:16)
Probations Already familiar with this doctrine
And they said unto me: Doth this thing mean the torment of the body in the days of probation, or doth it mean the final state of the soul after the death of the temporal body, or doth it speak of the things which are temporal? (1 Nephi 15:31-32)
2 Nephi 2:21, 30
And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents.
Mormon 9:28
Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.
Doctrine and Covenants 29:43
And thus did I, the Lord God, appoint unto man the days of his probation—that by his natural death he might be raised in immortality unto eternal life, even as many as would believe;


NOTES PART III - Coming Soon