Mortal and Immortal Elements of the Human Body

MULTIPLE INCARNATIONS: RECURRING
VOICES FROM AGES PAST [1] - [2]
by Kim M. Clark

"IT IS THE INVOCATION OF A CURSE, TO GIVE CAESAR
THE NAME OF A GOD BEFORE HIS APOTHEOSIS"
-Tertullian, APOLOGY-

I begin this essay by stating the obvious: Anyone who believes their
command of the English language, or whose perceived mastery of literary skills
and device may compete with the grandeur and disarming eloquence of the
scriptures is ambitious if not a fool. For the writer to attempt taking you
beyond what God intones would be an unprofitable venture. The scriptures are
eminently qualified to speak with fluent persuasion on this most interesting
and compelling subject: Man's eternal potential. To facilitate continuity some
commentary will unavoidably be required, but extraordinary effort has been
made to preserve textual integrity. Also included in this essay are teachings
from ancient Egypt and the early Christian church, intended to offer the
reader an historical perspective.

MELCHIZEDEK, KING OF HEAVEN

We are told on no less than three separate occasions that Abram paid
tithes to Melchizedek.[3] The writer has often wondered of what possible
relevance is such a disclosure. That a tithe would be required of him, and
that such resources are used to ameliorate the suffering of the impecunious is
not a subject bereft of scriptural support. But is it important for the reader
to know specifically to whom these tithes were paid? Is it a subject of such
consequence that the author of Genesis tells us TWICE in the same chapter that
it was to Melchizedek that these offerings were given?[4] Such intrigue
invites closer examination.

Melchizedek brought to Abram "bread and wine; and (broke) and blest it
... (for he was a) priest of the most high God."[5] Who is this Melchizedek,
of whom it is said "there were many before him, and also there were many
afterwards, but none were greater"?[6] Rather high praise when you consider
the caliber of Adam, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Job, and others men, whom the
scriptures aver as perfect.[7] And let us not forget Jesus Christ, whose
greatness and glory requires no introduction. For even He, we are told, was
"made an high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."[8] But before we
adjudge such rhetoric hyperbole, we should carefully review what is written
about the man. From Genesis we glean the following:

Melchizedek was a man of faith and honor who evidenced power over the
elements and life-forms. He was ordained an high priest after the order of the
covenant God made with Enoch. Inducted into this holy order, he was allowed to
dwell in God's presence, for such worthy were "translated and taken up into
heaven." Having become a priest of this order more specifically a Prince of
Peace, a King of Heaven, and a King of Peace he returned to establish peace
in Salem among a righteous people. As the incarnation of Heaven's Prince, it
was TO him that Abram paid his tithes, and FROM him that he was blessed.[9]

Melchizedek was no ordinary man. Having proven unmitigated allegiance, he
was ordained an High Priest "after the order of the Son of God."

Found within the recondite musings of Alma, we learn that "the Lord God
ordained priests, AFTER HIS HOLY ORDER, which was AFTER THE ORDER OF HIS
SON."[10] To Joseph Smith, the Lord God said that, "(this) priesthood which is
AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK, (was) AFTER THE ORDER OF MINE ONLY BEGOTTEN
SON."[11] By rhetorical analysis, if we are to understand that "his Son" and
"mine Only Begotten Son," identify the same individual, then who is
Melchizedek, if not the Lord God? The reader cannot be faulted for challenging
what some may categorize as outrageous, if not blasphemous claims. Yet
consider the following: Joseph Smith taught that "Christ is the Great High
Priest; Adam next."[12] Yet we are also told that Melchizedek was a "great
high priest,"[13] and that Shem, the son of Noah, too, was "the great high
priest."[14] As this writer will attempt to show, the Lord's course is an
"eternal round"; and with each round comes a requisite reincarnation.

Those ordained to this order were granted noble distinction in measure
for "their exceeding faith and good works";[15] for as the Genesis account
detailed, Melchizedek was a man of great faith. Divine coronation comes as the
initiate evidences compliance with the terms governing celestial advancement.

All ordained to the "order of the Son of God" are given power over the
elements and, among other privileges, may stand in God's presence. The
Doctrine and Covenants reminds us just how supreme and omnipotent is this
Melchizedek or Higher Priesthood; for with it one may have the privilege of
receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened
unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn
[see also JST Gen. 9:23], and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the
Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.[16]

Those inducted into this grand order are "translated and taken up into
heaven."[17] Professor emeritus Hugh Nibley has frequently noted "the hero
dies but he does not die."[18] Baruch, too, was reassured that "(he would)
surely depart from this world, nevertheless not to death but to be kept unto
(the end) of times."[19] As the Hindu wisdom literature parrots,the "Ancient
One is unborn, imperishable, eternal: though the body be destroyed, he is not
killed."[20] Or as David Silverman asserts, Osiris [21] could be slain but not
killed.[22] Acclaimed Egyptologist Erik Hornung makes a similar observation:

Like men, the gods die, but they are not dead. Their existence and all
existence is not an unchanging endlessness, but rather constant renewal. ...
TO BE DEAD IS NOT THE SAME AS NOT TO EXIST.[23]

But how is such possible? To die without dying? Is not such reasoning an
appalling absurdity? Not at all; for as the desert plains of Egypt echo, with
every death comes a rebirth with every sunset comes a glorious sunrise. The
hero (in this case Melchizedek) takes leave of his celestial home to come and
dwell among HIS people as their King of Heaven, their King of Peace, their
Prince of Peace. In truth, they revere him as their god.[24]

Lest the reader look askance at such confidence, we recall Christ's
dealings with the people of this hemisphere. Addressing the subject of prayer,
his instructions were very clear:

Ye must always pray unto the FATHER in my name;

And whatsoever ye shall ask the FATHER in my name, which is right,
believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

Pray in your families unto the FATHER, always in my name, that your wives
and your children may be blessed.[25]

And how did they respond to his directive?

And behold, they began to pray; and they did pray unto JESUS, calling HIM
THEIR LORD AND THEIR GOD.[26]

Wilful disobedience? Hardly. They knew then what many resist
acknowledging now: The Son of God IS the very "Eternal Father of heaven and of
earth" (Alma 11:39).[27] [28]