Thursday, May 15, 2008

Divine Investiture of Authority

Last night I was looking up scriptures for a Father's Day themed scripture study for the month of June. While reading scriptures about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as the Father of heaven and earth, I was reminded about the principle of divine investiture of authority. I need to teach this to my children because it really helps to understand the scriptures in a clearer light. So I thought I would share here first as a way to organize my thoughts.

Basically, divine investiture of authority is when Heavenly Father gives permission for one of His representatives to speak for him--even if they use first person pronouns as though they were in fact Him.

Neal A. Maxwell gave this definition of the concept:
"Divine investiture is defined as that condition in which --in all His dealings with the human family Jesus the Son has represented and yet represents Elohim His Father in power and authority. ... Thus. .. Jesus Christ spoke and ministered and through the Father's name; and so far as power, authority and Godship is concerned His words and acts were and are those of the Father."

The same principle works in regard to the Holy Ghost speaking and testifying of the Savior. A good example of this is in Moses 3:5:

"And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will."

Scripture of the Day: I-18, D&C 42:14

2 comments:

  1. Have I mentioned lately that your are amazing? Definitely you've got the gift of teaching :)

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  2. Thank goodness for this simple explanation, I am teaching about Heavenly Father in RS this sunday and was confused when the chp 5 title was "Heavenly Father weeps over His children" yet it gave as the example the Lord (Jehovah) speaking to Enoch about this sorrow over mans condition.

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