Sign 32 - 144,000 High Priests

Year - 1844

Scriptures

Revelation 7:4

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

We read in the book of Revelation about an hundred and forty and four thousand of the children of Israel who were sealed, having the Father’s name written in their foreheads. The prophet Joseph Smith explains what the mission of these people will be.

Doctrine and Covenants 77:11

11 Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand,out of all the tribes of Israel—twelve thousand out of every tribe?

A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn.

Sealed

Revelation 7:2

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea….

Doctrine and Covenants 77:9

9 Q. What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelation 7^th chapter and 2nd verse?

A. We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying: Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And, if you will receive it, this is Elias which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things.

“Four destroying angels holding power over the four quarters of the earth until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads, which signifies sealing the blessing upon their heads, meaning the everlasting covenant, thereby making their calling and election sure (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976] 321).”

The sealing of the 144,000 means that their calling and election has been made sure. For a discussion on how to “make your calling and election sure” see Bruce R. McConkie’s Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Volume 3, pages 323-355.

High Priests

“[T]he 144,000 high priests called in the last days to bring men and women into the Church of

the Firstborn is a symbolic reference: in that day of division, of unspeakable wickedness and

consummate righteousness, temples will dot the earth, be accessible to the Lord's covenant people

everywhere, and thus the fulness of those temple blessings will be sealed upon millions of the faithful

Saints worldwide by those holding those transcendent powers. (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976] 321).”

Administer The Everlasting Gospel

“The Prophet clearly indicates that the twelve thousand sealed from each of the twelve tribes is not just a symbolic representation of the forces of righteousness, as some scholars maintain. They are a great missionary force of the sixth seal. Joseph Smith shows us that they are ordained high priests chosen from among every nation to carry forth the gospel and bring as many as will come to the true Church.… In another revelation the Prophet indicated that these 144,000 would also stand on Mt. Zion with the Savior (see D&C 133:18 and compare with Rev. 14:1-5). “ (Gerald N. Lund, Selected Writings of Gerald N. Lund: Gospel Scholars Series [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1999] 91)

Ordained Out Of Every Nation

“The number of those sealed, states the Seer, is 144,000. The number need not be taken literally. The Doctrine and Covenants states ‘that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn’ (D&C 77:11). Note that this scripture does not specify a number. Instead it notes that the group is composed of high priests who have a special calling ‘to administer the everlasting gospel’ and ‘to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn.’

“Joseph Smith associated them with the temple (Smith, History, 6:365; Ehat, Words, 368). The symbolic meaning of the number supports this association. Twelve represents the priesthood. Biblical people squared a number to amplify its symbolic meaning. Thus, 144 suggests a fullness of priesthood authority. But John is not satisfied with that. He gives the image a superlative quality by multiplying 1,000, representing completeness. In this way he shows the strength and breadth of the priesthood in the latter days, in this dispensation that is, indeed, the dispensation of the fullness of times. During this period that complete priesthood authority will operate. It is little wonder that as the world spurns this authority, it will be condemned.

“The attachment to the temple fits perfectly since only there can one receive the fullness of the

priesthood (D&C 124:25-30). Elder McConkie states that the 144,000 are kings and priests ‘converted, baptized, endowed, married for eternity, and finally sealed up unto eternal life (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-1973] 3:491). Their mission is not merely to bring people into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It goes beyond that. Their special assignment centers in getting people sealed into the church of the Firstborn through the

administration of the fullness of the endowment….

“John indicates that the 144,000 will be those sealed from all the tribes of Israel. Curiously, he leaves out Dan, adds Levi, and has Joseph taking the place of Ephraim to get twelve tribes. The Seer gives no hint why he left out Dan. Some early Christians believed that John dropped the tribal name because of a tradition that the Antichrist would arise from there (Iren. Haer. 5.30.2. The argument is based on the interpretation of Genesis 49:17 and Jeremiah 8:16 and expressed in the Testament of Dan 6:1). The disfavor into which Dan fell goes all the way back to 1 Chronicles 7, which also omits Dan from the list of tribes (The Testament of Dan 5:6 states that the prince of the tribe of Dan is Satan. However, not too much should be made from this since omitting tribal names from various lists was not uncommon: for example, Simeon in Deuteronomy 33, Judah in Judges 5, and Gad and Asher in 1 Chronicles 27). It may be that Dan's association with idolatry marked the tribe for omission since Jeroboam set up his idols in that tribal territory. Since John was writing in part against the influences of idolatry invading the church, he may have omitted Dan as a warning. “(Richard D. Draper, Opening the Seven Seals: The Visions of John the Revelator [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1991] 83)

Appear on Mount Zion

“All of the references to Mount Zion which talk of the Second Coming and related latter-day events appear to have in mind the new Mount Zion in Jackson County, Missouri. Thus we read [in D&C 133:17-18]: ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight, for the hour of his coming is nigh—When the Lamb shall stand upon Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having his Father's name written on their foreheads.’

“Then comes this explanatory comment [in verse 20] which shows the Lord will appear many places at his coming: ‘For behold, he shall stand upon the mount of Olivet, and upon the mighty ocean, even the great deep, and upon the islands of the sea, and upon the land of Zion.’ And then, [in verses 21-22,] using some language borrowed from Rev[elation 14:2, the revelation continues: ‘And he shall utter his voice out of Zion, and he shall speak from Jerusalem, and his voice shall be heard among all people; And it shall be a voice as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder, which shall break down the mountains, and the valleys shall not be found (D&C 133:17-22).

“It seems clear that the Lord and his exalted associates shall stand in glory upon the American Mount Zion, although it may well be that in his numerous other appearances, including that on the Mount of Olivet, which is itself but a few stones' throw from old Mount Zion, he shall also be accompanied by the 144,000 high priests, ‘for they follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth (Revelation 14:4).“(Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City:Bookcraft, 1965-1973] 3:525-526)

Church of the Firstborn

“Members of the Church of the Firstborn are those saints who are heirs of exaltation in the celestial kingdom and who will be joint-heirs with Christ in receiving of the fulness of the Father. In this dispensation only worthy and righteous members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could become members of the Church of the Firstborn, a title reflecting the fact that Jesus Christ was and is the Firstborn Son of God in the spirit and is also the leader of those who receive of the fulness of the Father (Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the New Testament: The Four Gospels [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982] 41).

“Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who so devote themselves to righteousness that they receive the higher ordinances of exaltation become members of the Church of the Firstborn. Baptism is the gate to the Church itself, but celestial marriage is the gate to membership in the Church of the Firstborn, the inner circle of faithful saints who are heirs of exaltation and the fulness of the Father's kingdom (D&C 76:54, 67, 71, 94, 102; D&C 77:11; 78:21; 88:1-5; Heb. 12:23).

"The Church of the Firstborn is made up of the sons of God, those who have been adopted into the family of the Lord, those who are destined to be joint-heirs with Christ in receiving all that the Father hath." (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966] 139)

When Will The 144,000 Be Called

“On 4 February 1844, Joseph Smith commented regarding the 144,000: ‘I attended prayer meeting with the quorum in the assembly room, and made some remarks respecting the hundred and forty-four thousand mentioned by John the Revelator, showing that the selection of persons to form that number had already commenced (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 6 Vol. 6:196).' He explained: ‘There will be 144,000 saviors on Mount Zion, and with them an innumerable host that no man can number. Oh! I beseech you to go forward, go forward and make your calling and your election sure (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976] 366).' “ (Donald W. Parry and Jay A. Parry, Understanding the Book of Revelation [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998] 95 - 96)