D&C 133:54-74

133:54-74 - We now come to the concept of the resurrection. The Lord names several of the ancient prophets and comments “who were with Christ is his resurrection.” The IM asks, “Who was resurrected at the time the Savior was?” And answers, “Not only did Christ rise from the dead at that time, but others were seen who had risen from their graces- righteous men and women who died before Christ, and who had the privilege of rising with him. I do not believe that the resurrection then was a general one; I believe it extended to those only who, while upon earth, had proved themselves willing to do all for the kingdom of God, and to whom neither property, honor, nor life itself had been too dear to keep them from carrying out the purposes of God.” There’s an interesting phrase in verse 64 where the Lord describes his dealings with the wicked that he “shall leave them neither root nor branch.” The IM says, “This expression simply means that wicked and indifferent persons who reject the gospel of Jesus Christ will have no family inheritance or patriarchal lineage- neither root (ancestors or progenitors) not branch (children or posterity). Such persons cannot be received into the celestial kingdom of glory of resurrected beings, but must be content with a lesser blessing.” The Lord promises that even though he “called again there was none of you to answer; yet my arm was not shortened at all that I could not redeem, neither my power to deliver.” He is most merciful with us. The section ends with the Lord warning us not to reject his servants the prophets. The IM asks “Why are the prophets rejected?” The IM answers by quoting President Spencer W. Kimball as commenting, “Various excuses have been used over the centuries to dismiss these divine messengers. There has been denial because the prophet came from an obscure place. ‘Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?’ Jesus was also met with the question, ‘Is not this the carpenter’s son?’ By one means or another, the swiftest method to rejection of the holy prophets has been to find a pretext, however false or absurd, to dismiss the man so that his message could also be dismissed. Prophets who were not glib, but slow of speech, were esteemed as naught… The holy prophets have not only refused to follow erroneous human trends, but have pointed out these errors. No wonder the response to the prophets has not always been one of indifference. So often the prophets have been rejected because they first rejected the wrong ways of their own society.”