Keys of the Kingdom

2000-2-20 10:28:00

Chris T. writes: "A friend said he had read here that Joseph Smith (the Mormon prophet) was a reincarnation of the apostle Peter and also of Merlin. Is this true? If so, how does this square with Joseph's well-known views on reincarnation? And how did the resurrected apostle Peter lay his hands on Joseph's head in 1829?"

Welcome to the Keys Chris.

Craig gave some great references to this subject for you. He has independently found many of those references I have used in my writings. I have written one Readers Digest version on this subject, and then another entire book that I will post when I get it edited.

The shorter version is at: http://www.freeread.com/RM.htm

But you ask a good question here that I do not believe has ever been addressed.

You ask how a resurrected Peter laid his hands on Joseph's head if Joseph was once Peter? The truth is that Joseph never claimed a literal laying on of hands from Peter, James and John; furthermore, no date of this event was ever recorded. This is probably one of the scriptures that concern you:

D&C 27:12 And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them;

This writing was claimed to be given in a revelation dated August 1830, but when this writing was first published in The Book of Commandments in 1833 this verse was not in there. It was not added until the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Now Oliver Cowdery was with Joseph when they were visited by John the Baptist and testified to that event with boldness, but here is all he had to say about the restoration of the Higher Priesthood:

"I was present with Joseph when an holy angel from God came down from heaven and conferred on us, or restored, the lesser or Aaronic Priesthood, and said to us, at the same time, that it should remain upon the earth while the earth stands. I was also present with Joseph when the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood was conferred by the holy angel from on high. This Priesthood, we then conferred on each other by the will and commandment of God." (DHC Vol. 1 pg 40)

Notice Oliver's words about this being who confirmed the higher priesthood. He calls this person "the holy angel", not Peter James and John. Notice the word angel is singular. I believe this being who confirmed the higher Priesthood was the same as gave them the lower. Reread the above statement and you'll see that it appears he is talking about the same angel. We are given no written record of the manner of this visitation.

What created the confusion is that the angel told them that he was acting under the same authority as was held by Peter, James and John from ancient times.

Joseph intuited a confirmation of this Priesthood by sensing the presence of the Apostle Peter, but even he was unaware at the time that he was communing with a memory and thoughtform of his past where Jesus told him in a past life the following:

"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt 16:19)

Joseph was given the same promise as was Peter because he was Peter. Here are two references.

D&C 64:5 And the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom shall not be taken from my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., through the means I have appointed, while he liveth, inasmuch as he obeyeth mine ordinances.

D&C 81:2 Unto whom (speaking to Joseph) I have given the keys of the kingdom, which belong always unto the Presidency of the High Priesthood:

Hope this helps.