The summary below represents the compilation of research I did to define what is known about the 144,000 spoken of by John in the 7th chapter of the Book of Revelations. The questions I sought answers to were: Who are the 144,000 that John Speaks of in Revelations 7? When will they be chosen and what are they called to do?
Going into the study I believed the most likely answer to the questions were: They are 144,000 High Priests who will be organized under the priesthood administration of Christ himself and set apart to administer the gospel over the individual tribes of Israel in capacities necessary for the preparation of the second coming of Christ and his millennial reign. That the 144,000 High Priest would be called and ordained during the latter end of the final days before the coming of Christ in Glory, most likely during the great priesthood conference of Adam-ondi-Ahmen when the church would undergo a reorganization of priesthood keys that would be presided over by Jesus Christ himself. The following summary will reveal what is known and whether what has been said on the subjects lends any support to my thoughts as they are and have been for many years now.
The Doctrine:
The references of the 144,000 in the standard works defines the 144,000 as “high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel... 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) In Revelations these 144,000 are sealed up and called out of each of the twelve tribes of Israel 12,000 out of each tribe, they are ordained and commence their work before Christ breaks the seventh seal and sends forth the destroying angels upon the earth; therefore they are ordained sometime after the restoration begins and before Christ begins to unleash the final destruction that culminate in the coming of Christ in glory to all nations. This is all that is known from the standard works related to the 144,000.
“And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
“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,
“Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
“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.
Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
Revelation 7:1-8
**“The Second Coming of Christ: Questions and Answers,” in Sperry Symposium Classics: The Doctrine and Covenants, ed. Craig K. Manscill (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004), 202–220.
“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.” — D&C 133:17-18
“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.” — D&C 77:11
**In Doctrine and Covenants 77:11 the Lord explained to Joseph Smith that the number 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7:4–8 is the number of representatives out of the twelve tribes of Israel who will be ordained to assist others in their quest for exaltation (see the commentary for Revelation 14:1–5). It is not, as some people believe, the total number of people who will be exalted. Members of the Lord’s earthly Church--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--who live righteously and receive the ordinances of exaltation will become members of the Lord’s heavenly Church--the Church of the Firstborn (see D&C 93:20–22). — What Are These … in White Robes?” John saw that the multitude of exalted people clothed in white robes was too large to count and came from all nations of the earth. The image of robes washed and made “white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14) refers to our being purified through the Atonement of Jesus Christ (see Alma 5:21; 13:11–12; 3 Nephi 27:19).
Additional Insights: Gathering of the Tribes of Israel
Because we know that the 144,000 represent 12,000 ordained high priests out of each tribe of Israel we associate their ordinations with the gathering of the lost tribes of Israel. Our theology of how these “lost” tribes would be found and gathered has changed over the 189 years of our church’s history and there has been some controversy on this subject, however, how we see the gathering of Israel may inform our ideas about the time frame within the events of the last day that the 144,000 are called to perform their mission.
In April conference of 1916, Elder James E. Talmage talked about the gathering of the 10 tribes in this way: “Some people say that prediction is to be explained in this way: A gathering is in progress, and has been in progress from the early days of this Church; and thus the ‘Lost Tribes’ are now being gathered; but that we are not to look for the return of any body of people now unknown as to their whereabouts. True, the gathering is in progress, this is a gathering dispensation; but the prophecy stands that the tribes shall be brought forth from their hiding place … [and their] scriptures shall become one with the scriptures of the Jews, the holy Bible, and with the scriptures of the Nephites, the Book of Mormon, and with the scriptures of the Latter-day Saints as embodied in the volumes of modern revelation.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1916, p. 130.)
Elder James E. Talmage seems to be leery of those in the church in his day who saw this restoration of the 10 tribes as a process that began at the formation of the church and continued gradually to his coming. Elder Orson Pratt connected the prophecy of the restoration of the 10 lost tribes with events that would occur close too, but before, the final Coming of Christ, though he says they will live among Zion (under the administration of the American Zion) for sometime before they would received the lands of their inheritance in the ancient lands of Jerusalem at the final coming of Christ. During this time he believed the 144,000 would be called out of the tribes gathered. His thoughts seem to denote some level of gradual ordination rather than a singular event of organization.
Orson Pratt said: “How long will they who come from the north countries tarry in the heights of Zion? Sometime... They will dwell in Zion a good while, and during that time, there will be twelve thousand chosen out of each of these ten tribes, besides twelve thousand that will be chosen from Judah, Joseph, and the remaining tribes, one hundred and forty-four thousand in all [see Revelation 7:4–8; D&C 77:11]. Chosen for what? To be sealed in their foreheads. For what purpose? So that the power of death and pestilence and plague that will go forth in those days sweeping over the nations of the earth will have no power over them. These parties who are sealed in their foreheads will go forth among all people, nations and tongues, and gather up and hunt out the house of Israel, wherever they are scattered, and bring as many as they possibly can into the Church of the first-born, preparatory to the great day of the coming of the Lord. One hundred and forty-four thousand missionaries! Quite a host. All this has got to take place.” (In Journal of Discourses, 18:25.)
Elder Orson Pratt stated further: “By and by, when all things are prepared--when the Jews have received their scourging, and Jesus has descended upon the Mount of Olives, the ten tribes will leave Zion, and will go to Palestine, to inherit the land that was given to their ancient fathers, and it will be divided amongst the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. They will go there to dwell in peace in their own land from that time, until the earth shall pass away. But Zion, after their departure, will still remain upon the western hemisphere, and she will be crowned with glory as well as old Jerusalem, and, as the Psalmist David says, she will become the joy of the whole earth. ‘Beautiful for situation is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.’” (In Journal of Discourses, 18:68.)
More recent writings on this concept of the gathering of the 10 tribes have leaned toward the idea that the gathering commenced at the beginning of the restoration and hastens nearer to the coming of Christ the last time. Robert L. Millet of the BYU Religion Department wrote in his summary of last day prophesy this explanation of the development of LDS thought on the gathering of the 10 tribes.
“As we all know, there have been numerous legends, traditions, vague reminiscences, and a myriad of folktales that deal with the location and eventual return of the ten lost tribes, those from the northern part of Israel who were taken captive by the Assyrians in 721 BC. During my youth in the Church, I was brought up to believe a whole host of things: that the lost tribes were in the center of the earth, on a knob attached to the earth, on another planet, and so forth. Each of these traditions had its own source of authority. Since that time, and particularly since I discovered the Book of Mormon, I have concluded simply that the ten tribes are scattered among the nations, lost as much to their identity as to their whereabouts (see 1 Nephi 22:3–4). Thus it seems to me that the restoration, or gathering, of the ten tribes consists in scattered Israel—descendants of Jacob from such tribes as Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Zebulun, and, of course, Joseph—coming to the knowledge of the restored gospel, accepting Christ’s gospel (see 1 Nephi 15:14), coming into the true church and fold of God (see 2 Nephi 9:2), congregating with the faithful, and receiving the ordinances of the house of the Lord. [15] That is to say, the ten tribes will be gathered as all others are gathered—through conversion... The risen Lord explained to the Nephites that after His Second Coming, once He has begun to dwell on earth with His faithful, “then shall the work of the Father”—the work of the gathering of Israel—”commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem” (3 Nephi 21:25–26). It will commence in the sense that its magnitude will be of such a nature as to cause earlier efforts at gathering to pale into insignificance.” — Robert L. Millet (“The Second Coming of Christ: Questions and Answers,” in Sperry Symposium Classics: The Doctrine and Covenants, ed. Craig K. Manscill (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004), 202–220.)
Taken together, the scriptures and quotes from church leaders, don’t give enough definitive clarification to make any doctrinal statements as to when the 144,000 will be organized or the specific administrative role they play in the latter-day work. All that can be defined as doctrinal is that there will be 144,000, 12,000 from each tribe, that will be ordained to administer the gospel during the last days.
My Thoughts:
Though it is true that what is known about the 144,000 from scripture is limited, and therefore much of what has been written on the subject may not be “doctrine,” it is also true that what is known from scripture lends support to my thoughts that the 144,000 are likely to be ordained during the latter end of the final days before the coming of Christ in Glory. The most substantial piece of teaching that supports that idea has not only scriptural basis but it is oft repeated within the curricula of the church; that is the fact that the 144,000 is comprised of 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes, and as of yet the church leadership — on this side of the veil — is still predominately from the tribe of Ephraim.
I have long thought that the calling/ordination of these 144,000 would mark a monumental moment of priesthood organization, or reorganization, within the church to prepare for the second coming. My reason for thinking this relates to the fact that our current church organization — on this side of the veil — does not contain quorums presiding over specified tribes as it seems the 144,000 will be called to do. Assuming I am correct and the 144,000 do not refer to those currently ordained as leaders in the church – at least those on this side of the veil – then it is reasonable to assume that the priesthood administration of the 144,000 is yet to be realized.
The other direction that D&C 133 has taken my thoughts relates to the question of when this unique priesthood stewardship will be organized. I have already said that I believe that this will happen as a result of one of the preparatory visitations of Christ to his church in the last days. There are two visits from Christ spoken of in revelations of the restoration (not counting the First Vision and the Kirtland vision) in which Christ comes to his prophet and people in private visitations. From what I have read, both visits occur in the days when Zion is gathered to the New Jerusalem. There is some discrepancy in the order of these two visits, but the “Doctrines of the Gospel” Institute Course Manuel names two appearances to the saints at the New Jerusalem. One, when Christ comes to a larger congregation of the church at Adam-ondi-Ahman and one when Christ comes to the prophet and twelve in the temple at Independence Missouri.
1st Visit of Christ to Zion: “This grand council of Priesthood… is to be an official council called to attend to the most momentous matters concerning the destiny of this earth”
“The Lord will make an appearance at Adam-ondi-Ahman, “the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit” (D&C 116). This grand council will be a large sacrament meeting, a time when the Son of Man will partake of the fruit of the vine once more with His earthly friends. And who will be in attendance? The revelations specify Moroni, Elias, John the Baptist, Elijah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Adam, Peter, James, John, “and also,” the Savior clarifies, “all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world” (D&C 27:5–14), multitudes of faithful Saints from the beginning of time to the end. This will be a private appearance in that it will be unknown to the world. It will be a leadership meeting, a time of accounting, an accounting for priesthood stewardships.” – Robert L. Millet of the BYU Religion Department (https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/sperry-symposium-classics-doctrine-and-covenants/16-second-coming-christ-questions-and#_edn8)
The Prophet Joseph Smith explained that Adam, the Ancient of Days, “will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. He (Adam) is the father of the human family, and presides over the spirits of all men, and all that have had the keys must stand before him in this grand council. . . . The Son of Man stands before him, and there is given him [Christ] glory and dominion. Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was delivered to him as holding the keys of the universe, but retains his standing as head of the human family.” (Joseph Smith, Teachings, 157)
President Joseph Fielding Smith observed: “This gathering of the children of Adam, where the thousands, and the tens of thousands are assembled in the judgment, will be one of the greatest events this troubled earth has ever seen. At this conference, or council, all who have held keys of dispensations will render a report of their stewardship. . . . We do not know how long a time this gathering will be in session, or how many sessions will be held at this grand council. It is sufficient to know that it is a gathering of the Priesthood of God from the beginning of this earth down to the present, in which reports will be made and all who have been given dispensations (talents) will declare their keys and ministry and make report of their stewardship according to the parable [the parable of the talents; Matthew 25]. Judgment will be rendered unto them for this is a gathering of the righteous. . . . It is not to be the judgment of the wicked. . . . This will precede the great day of destruction of the wicked and will be the preparation for the Millennial Reign.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Progress of Man (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1964), 481–82; see also Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1970), 288–91.)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie has likewise written: “Every prophet, apostle, president, bishop, elder, or church officer of whatever degree—all who have held keys shall stand before him who holds all of the keys. They will then be called upon to give an account of their stewardships and to report how and in what manner they have used their priesthood and their keys for the salvation of men within the sphere of their appointments. . . . There will be a great hierarchy of judges in that great day, of whom Adam, under Christ, will be the chief of all. Those judges will judge the righteous ones under their jurisdiction, but Christ himself, he alone, will judge the wicked.” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1982), 582, 584)
And Bruce R. McConkie said: “Before the Lord Jesus descends openly and publicly in the clouds of glory, attended by all the hosts of heaven; before the great and dreadful day of the Lord sends terror and destruction from one end of the earth to the other; before he stands on Mount Zion, or sets his feet on Olivet, or utters his voice from an American Zion or a Jewish Jerusalem; before all flesh shall see him together; before any of his appearances, which taken together comprise the second coming of the Son of God—before all these, there is to be a secret appearance to selected members of his Church. He will come in private to his prophet and to the apostles then living. Those who have held keys and powers and authorities in all ages from Adam to the present will also be present” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, 578–79).
President Joseph Fielding Smith said that the council with the Ancient of Days (Adam) at Adam-ondi-Ahman (see D&C 27; 116), as prophesied in Daniel 7:9–14, will “be of the greatest importance to this world. … Judgment will be set and all who have held keys will make their reports and deliver their stewardships, as they shall be required. Adam will direct this judgment, and then he will make his report, as the one holding the keys for this earth, to his Superior Officer, Jesus Christ. Our Lord will then assume the reins of government; directions will be given to the Priesthood; and He, whose right it is to rule, will be installed officially by the voice of the Priesthood there assembled. This grand council of Priesthood will be composed, not only of those who are faithful who now dwell on this earth, but also of the prophets and apostles of old, who have had directing authority. Others may also be there [see D&C 27:5,14], but if so they will be there by appointment, for this is to be an official council called to attend to the most momentous matters concerning the destiny of this earth” (The Way to Perfection [1970], 290–91; see also Old Testament Student Manual: 1Kings–Malachi, 3rd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2003],305).
“His first appearance will be to the righteous Saints who have gathered to the New Jerusalem. In this place of refuge they will be safe from the wrath of the Lord, which will be poured out without measure on all nations. …” “Yes, come He will!” (Ezra Taft Benson, “Five Marks of the Divinity of Jesus Christ,” New Era, Dec. 1980, 49–50).
Organizing and Ordaining of the 144,000 High Priests at Adam-ondi-Ahman?
It is generally accepted that the meeting at Adam-ondi-Ahman will be the first of Christ’s visits to his church and that the purpose of the meeting will be the reorganization of the priesthood. It is clearly a significant event in which the organization of a new priesthood stewardship in the administration of the church by tribes could very well be instituted. For this reason the conference at Adam-ondi-Ahman has always seemed to me the best fit for placement of the time in which it is most likely that the 144,00 will be organized and at least a glimpse into the role they might play in the final days before Christ shows himself to Jerusalem and the world.
If the organizing of the 144,000 does take place at the “grand council of Priesthood” spoken of by Joseph Fielding Smith, known to us as Adam-ondi-Ahman. And if Adam-ondi-Ahman is the private meeting Elder McConkie describes in which Christ will show himself to “his prophet and to the apostles then living. Those who have held keys and powers and authorities in all ages from Adam to the present will also be present.” Then the 144,000 could “be composed, not only of those who are faithful who now dwell on this earth, but also of the prophets and apostles of old, who have had directing authority.” Therefore, the possibilities of “who” the high priest are is surely not limited to members of the church on our side of the veil.
2nd Visit of Christ to Zion: “They will behold his face in the midst of the Temple.”
“The Lord will make a preliminary appearance to His temple in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. This seems to be a private appearance to those holding the keys of power in the earthly kingdom. Elder Orson Pratt, in speaking of this appearance, said: “All of them who are pure in heart will behold the face of the Lord and that too before he comes in his glory in the clouds of heaven, for he will suddenly come to his Temple, and he will purify the sons of Moses and of Aaron, until they shall be prepared to offer in that Temple an offering that shall be acceptable in the sight of the Lord. In doing this, he will purify not only the minds of the Priesthood in that Temple, but he will purify their bodies until they shall be quickened, renewed and strengthened, and they will be partially changed, not to immortality, but changed in part that they can be filled with the power of God, and they can stand in the presence of Jesus, and behold his face in the midst of that Temple.” (Doctrines of the Gospel, Student Manual, Lesson 36)
Charles W. Penrose observed that the Saints “will come to the Temple prepared for him, and his faithful people will behold his face, hear his voice, and gaze upon his glory. From his own lips they will receive further instructions for the development and beautifying of Zion and for the extension and sure stability of his Kingdom.” (Millennial Star, September 10, 1859, 582–83)
The 144,000 High Priest Come With Christ to the Temple?
I have several times added the caveat – on this side of the veil – throughout my thoughts regarding the timing and purpose for the calling of the 144,000 high priests. Let me explain my reason for doing this. In addition to my reasons for presuming that we have yet to see the organization of the 144,000 high priests, I believe there is some aspects of the prophecies of the 144,000 that indicate that those high priests called to this special stewardship may not be limited to those currently embodied saints.
These words 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.” – Have often caused me to ponder the nature of those who will be “with him” when he comes to “stand upon Mount Zion.” From this passage my thoughts have led me to ponder whether these 144,000 appear with Christ when he comes to Zion, and/or, her temple in one of his preparatory visits to the church before he shows himself to the Jews and the world. I have left room in my ponderings for the idea that these high priests may be called out of those who live in the spirit world but have their calling and election made sure and are sealed up by Christ and to come with him to organize the church in a final preparation before his second coming. Regarding whether these 144,000 will be organized on our side of the veil or the other, there is no way to know and so my pontification on this account will end here.
In Conclusion:
The identity and purpose of the 144,000 High Priest spoken of by John in the Book of Revelations is of little matter compared to the weightier matters of our preparation for the coming of Christ at this time. If there is a reason this matter is taken into discussion in the scriptures of the restoration I think it is to be sure that we don’t misunderstand that this group of high priests are not the totality of those who will be exalted by Christ at his coming as has sometimes been interpreted by bible scholars. We have been blessed with clarifications from the prophets of the restoration that help us to read Revelations Chapter 7 and understand that the 144,000 is a reference to priesthood power that will be organized so that “a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” will be prepared to stand before the “throne of the Lamb, clothed in white robes…” having “come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes… white in the blood of the Lamb.” This beautiful chapter in Revelations and the references to it in other books is a great testimony of the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter-Days for the purpose of preparing a people to meet Christ, a people who “serve… in his temple” day and night, who have been led to the “fountains of waters” in the Church of his Saints.
If this is understood it is of little consequence how the timeline of these events will come about, where or when the 144,000 will be ordained, what exactly they will do for the gathering of Israel, and whether or not they are mortals or immortals. This is simply a question that is not of great importance to our preparation and therefore has been little mentioned by the prophets and apostles of this last dispensation. When the time is right and it is needful we can be sure that more will be revealed. Until then, I look forward to the days spoken of by John and pray that I will be prepared spiritually to be able to participate in these heavenly events.
The Doctrine:
The references of the 144,000 in the standard works defines the 144,000 as “high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel... 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) In Revelations these 144,000 are sealed up and called out of each of the twelve tribes of Israel 12,000 out of each tribe, they are ordained and commence their work before Christ breaks the seventh seal and sends forth the destroying angels upon the earth; therefore they are ordained sometime after the restoration begins and before Christ begins to unleash the final destruction that culminate in the coming of Christ in glory to all nations. This is all that is known from the standard works related to the 144,000.
“And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
“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,
“Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
“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.
Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
Revelation 7:1-8
**“The Second Coming of Christ: Questions and Answers,” in Sperry Symposium Classics: The Doctrine and Covenants, ed. Craig K. Manscill (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004), 202–220.
“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.” — D&C 133:17-18
“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.” — D&C 77:11
**In Doctrine and Covenants 77:11 the Lord explained to Joseph Smith that the number 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7:4–8 is the number of representatives out of the twelve tribes of Israel who will be ordained to assist others in their quest for exaltation (see the commentary for Revelation 14:1–5). It is not, as some people believe, the total number of people who will be exalted. Members of the Lord’s earthly Church--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--who live righteously and receive the ordinances of exaltation will become members of the Lord’s heavenly Church--the Church of the Firstborn (see D&C 93:20–22). — What Are These … in White Robes?” John saw that the multitude of exalted people clothed in white robes was too large to count and came from all nations of the earth. The image of robes washed and made “white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14) refers to our being purified through the Atonement of Jesus Christ (see Alma 5:21; 13:11–12; 3 Nephi 27:19).
Additional Insights: Gathering of the Tribes of Israel
Because we know that the 144,000 represent 12,000 ordained high priests out of each tribe of Israel we associate their ordinations with the gathering of the lost tribes of Israel. Our theology of how these “lost” tribes would be found and gathered has changed over the 189 years of our church’s history and there has been some controversy on this subject, however, how we see the gathering of Israel may inform our ideas about the time frame within the events of the last day that the 144,000 are called to perform their mission.
In April conference of 1916, Elder James E. Talmage talked about the gathering of the 10 tribes in this way: “Some people say that prediction is to be explained in this way: A gathering is in progress, and has been in progress from the early days of this Church; and thus the ‘Lost Tribes’ are now being gathered; but that we are not to look for the return of any body of people now unknown as to their whereabouts. True, the gathering is in progress, this is a gathering dispensation; but the prophecy stands that the tribes shall be brought forth from their hiding place … [and their] scriptures shall become one with the scriptures of the Jews, the holy Bible, and with the scriptures of the Nephites, the Book of Mormon, and with the scriptures of the Latter-day Saints as embodied in the volumes of modern revelation.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1916, p. 130.)
Elder James E. Talmage seems to be leery of those in the church in his day who saw this restoration of the 10 tribes as a process that began at the formation of the church and continued gradually to his coming. Elder Orson Pratt connected the prophecy of the restoration of the 10 lost tribes with events that would occur close too, but before, the final Coming of Christ, though he says they will live among Zion (under the administration of the American Zion) for sometime before they would received the lands of their inheritance in the ancient lands of Jerusalem at the final coming of Christ. During this time he believed the 144,000 would be called out of the tribes gathered. His thoughts seem to denote some level of gradual ordination rather than a singular event of organization.
Orson Pratt said: “How long will they who come from the north countries tarry in the heights of Zion? Sometime... They will dwell in Zion a good while, and during that time, there will be twelve thousand chosen out of each of these ten tribes, besides twelve thousand that will be chosen from Judah, Joseph, and the remaining tribes, one hundred and forty-four thousand in all [see Revelation 7:4–8; D&C 77:11]. Chosen for what? To be sealed in their foreheads. For what purpose? So that the power of death and pestilence and plague that will go forth in those days sweeping over the nations of the earth will have no power over them. These parties who are sealed in their foreheads will go forth among all people, nations and tongues, and gather up and hunt out the house of Israel, wherever they are scattered, and bring as many as they possibly can into the Church of the first-born, preparatory to the great day of the coming of the Lord. One hundred and forty-four thousand missionaries! Quite a host. All this has got to take place.” (In Journal of Discourses, 18:25.)
Elder Orson Pratt stated further: “By and by, when all things are prepared--when the Jews have received their scourging, and Jesus has descended upon the Mount of Olives, the ten tribes will leave Zion, and will go to Palestine, to inherit the land that was given to their ancient fathers, and it will be divided amongst the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. They will go there to dwell in peace in their own land from that time, until the earth shall pass away. But Zion, after their departure, will still remain upon the western hemisphere, and she will be crowned with glory as well as old Jerusalem, and, as the Psalmist David says, she will become the joy of the whole earth. ‘Beautiful for situation is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.’” (In Journal of Discourses, 18:68.)
More recent writings on this concept of the gathering of the 10 tribes have leaned toward the idea that the gathering commenced at the beginning of the restoration and hastens nearer to the coming of Christ the last time. Robert L. Millet of the BYU Religion Department wrote in his summary of last day prophesy this explanation of the development of LDS thought on the gathering of the 10 tribes.
“As we all know, there have been numerous legends, traditions, vague reminiscences, and a myriad of folktales that deal with the location and eventual return of the ten lost tribes, those from the northern part of Israel who were taken captive by the Assyrians in 721 BC. During my youth in the Church, I was brought up to believe a whole host of things: that the lost tribes were in the center of the earth, on a knob attached to the earth, on another planet, and so forth. Each of these traditions had its own source of authority. Since that time, and particularly since I discovered the Book of Mormon, I have concluded simply that the ten tribes are scattered among the nations, lost as much to their identity as to their whereabouts (see 1 Nephi 22:3–4). Thus it seems to me that the restoration, or gathering, of the ten tribes consists in scattered Israel—descendants of Jacob from such tribes as Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Zebulun, and, of course, Joseph—coming to the knowledge of the restored gospel, accepting Christ’s gospel (see 1 Nephi 15:14), coming into the true church and fold of God (see 2 Nephi 9:2), congregating with the faithful, and receiving the ordinances of the house of the Lord. [15] That is to say, the ten tribes will be gathered as all others are gathered—through conversion... The risen Lord explained to the Nephites that after His Second Coming, once He has begun to dwell on earth with His faithful, “then shall the work of the Father”—the work of the gathering of Israel—”commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem” (3 Nephi 21:25–26). It will commence in the sense that its magnitude will be of such a nature as to cause earlier efforts at gathering to pale into insignificance.” — Robert L. Millet (“The Second Coming of Christ: Questions and Answers,” in Sperry Symposium Classics: The Doctrine and Covenants, ed. Craig K. Manscill (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004), 202–220.)
Taken together, the scriptures and quotes from church leaders, don’t give enough definitive clarification to make any doctrinal statements as to when the 144,000 will be organized or the specific administrative role they play in the latter-day work. All that can be defined as doctrinal is that there will be 144,000, 12,000 from each tribe, that will be ordained to administer the gospel during the last days.
My Thoughts:
Though it is true that what is known about the 144,000 from scripture is limited, and therefore much of what has been written on the subject may not be “doctrine,” it is also true that what is known from scripture lends support to my thoughts that the 144,000 are likely to be ordained during the latter end of the final days before the coming of Christ in Glory. The most substantial piece of teaching that supports that idea has not only scriptural basis but it is oft repeated within the curricula of the church; that is the fact that the 144,000 is comprised of 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes, and as of yet the church leadership — on this side of the veil — is still predominately from the tribe of Ephraim.
I have long thought that the calling/ordination of these 144,000 would mark a monumental moment of priesthood organization, or reorganization, within the church to prepare for the second coming. My reason for thinking this relates to the fact that our current church organization — on this side of the veil — does not contain quorums presiding over specified tribes as it seems the 144,000 will be called to do. Assuming I am correct and the 144,000 do not refer to those currently ordained as leaders in the church – at least those on this side of the veil – then it is reasonable to assume that the priesthood administration of the 144,000 is yet to be realized.
The other direction that D&C 133 has taken my thoughts relates to the question of when this unique priesthood stewardship will be organized. I have already said that I believe that this will happen as a result of one of the preparatory visitations of Christ to his church in the last days. There are two visits from Christ spoken of in revelations of the restoration (not counting the First Vision and the Kirtland vision) in which Christ comes to his prophet and people in private visitations. From what I have read, both visits occur in the days when Zion is gathered to the New Jerusalem. There is some discrepancy in the order of these two visits, but the “Doctrines of the Gospel” Institute Course Manuel names two appearances to the saints at the New Jerusalem. One, when Christ comes to a larger congregation of the church at Adam-ondi-Ahman and one when Christ comes to the prophet and twelve in the temple at Independence Missouri.
1st Visit of Christ to Zion: “This grand council of Priesthood… is to be an official council called to attend to the most momentous matters concerning the destiny of this earth”
“The Lord will make an appearance at Adam-ondi-Ahman, “the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit” (D&C 116). This grand council will be a large sacrament meeting, a time when the Son of Man will partake of the fruit of the vine once more with His earthly friends. And who will be in attendance? The revelations specify Moroni, Elias, John the Baptist, Elijah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Adam, Peter, James, John, “and also,” the Savior clarifies, “all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world” (D&C 27:5–14), multitudes of faithful Saints from the beginning of time to the end. This will be a private appearance in that it will be unknown to the world. It will be a leadership meeting, a time of accounting, an accounting for priesthood stewardships.” – Robert L. Millet of the BYU Religion Department (https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/sperry-symposium-classics-doctrine-and-covenants/16-second-coming-christ-questions-and#_edn8)
The Prophet Joseph Smith explained that Adam, the Ancient of Days, “will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. He (Adam) is the father of the human family, and presides over the spirits of all men, and all that have had the keys must stand before him in this grand council. . . . The Son of Man stands before him, and there is given him [Christ] glory and dominion. Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was delivered to him as holding the keys of the universe, but retains his standing as head of the human family.” (Joseph Smith, Teachings, 157)
President Joseph Fielding Smith observed: “This gathering of the children of Adam, where the thousands, and the tens of thousands are assembled in the judgment, will be one of the greatest events this troubled earth has ever seen. At this conference, or council, all who have held keys of dispensations will render a report of their stewardship. . . . We do not know how long a time this gathering will be in session, or how many sessions will be held at this grand council. It is sufficient to know that it is a gathering of the Priesthood of God from the beginning of this earth down to the present, in which reports will be made and all who have been given dispensations (talents) will declare their keys and ministry and make report of their stewardship according to the parable [the parable of the talents; Matthew 25]. Judgment will be rendered unto them for this is a gathering of the righteous. . . . It is not to be the judgment of the wicked. . . . This will precede the great day of destruction of the wicked and will be the preparation for the Millennial Reign.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Progress of Man (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1964), 481–82; see also Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1970), 288–91.)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie has likewise written: “Every prophet, apostle, president, bishop, elder, or church officer of whatever degree—all who have held keys shall stand before him who holds all of the keys. They will then be called upon to give an account of their stewardships and to report how and in what manner they have used their priesthood and their keys for the salvation of men within the sphere of their appointments. . . . There will be a great hierarchy of judges in that great day, of whom Adam, under Christ, will be the chief of all. Those judges will judge the righteous ones under their jurisdiction, but Christ himself, he alone, will judge the wicked.” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1982), 582, 584)
And Bruce R. McConkie said: “Before the Lord Jesus descends openly and publicly in the clouds of glory, attended by all the hosts of heaven; before the great and dreadful day of the Lord sends terror and destruction from one end of the earth to the other; before he stands on Mount Zion, or sets his feet on Olivet, or utters his voice from an American Zion or a Jewish Jerusalem; before all flesh shall see him together; before any of his appearances, which taken together comprise the second coming of the Son of God—before all these, there is to be a secret appearance to selected members of his Church. He will come in private to his prophet and to the apostles then living. Those who have held keys and powers and authorities in all ages from Adam to the present will also be present” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, 578–79).
President Joseph Fielding Smith said that the council with the Ancient of Days (Adam) at Adam-ondi-Ahman (see D&C 27; 116), as prophesied in Daniel 7:9–14, will “be of the greatest importance to this world. … Judgment will be set and all who have held keys will make their reports and deliver their stewardships, as they shall be required. Adam will direct this judgment, and then he will make his report, as the one holding the keys for this earth, to his Superior Officer, Jesus Christ. Our Lord will then assume the reins of government; directions will be given to the Priesthood; and He, whose right it is to rule, will be installed officially by the voice of the Priesthood there assembled. This grand council of Priesthood will be composed, not only of those who are faithful who now dwell on this earth, but also of the prophets and apostles of old, who have had directing authority. Others may also be there [see D&C 27:5,14], but if so they will be there by appointment, for this is to be an official council called to attend to the most momentous matters concerning the destiny of this earth” (The Way to Perfection [1970], 290–91; see also Old Testament Student Manual: 1Kings–Malachi, 3rd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2003],305).
“His first appearance will be to the righteous Saints who have gathered to the New Jerusalem. In this place of refuge they will be safe from the wrath of the Lord, which will be poured out without measure on all nations. …” “Yes, come He will!” (Ezra Taft Benson, “Five Marks of the Divinity of Jesus Christ,” New Era, Dec. 1980, 49–50).
Organizing and Ordaining of the 144,000 High Priests at Adam-ondi-Ahman?
It is generally accepted that the meeting at Adam-ondi-Ahman will be the first of Christ’s visits to his church and that the purpose of the meeting will be the reorganization of the priesthood. It is clearly a significant event in which the organization of a new priesthood stewardship in the administration of the church by tribes could very well be instituted. For this reason the conference at Adam-ondi-Ahman has always seemed to me the best fit for placement of the time in which it is most likely that the 144,00 will be organized and at least a glimpse into the role they might play in the final days before Christ shows himself to Jerusalem and the world.
If the organizing of the 144,000 does take place at the “grand council of Priesthood” spoken of by Joseph Fielding Smith, known to us as Adam-ondi-Ahman. And if Adam-ondi-Ahman is the private meeting Elder McConkie describes in which Christ will show himself to “his prophet and to the apostles then living. Those who have held keys and powers and authorities in all ages from Adam to the present will also be present.” Then the 144,000 could “be composed, not only of those who are faithful who now dwell on this earth, but also of the prophets and apostles of old, who have had directing authority.” Therefore, the possibilities of “who” the high priest are is surely not limited to members of the church on our side of the veil.
2nd Visit of Christ to Zion: “They will behold his face in the midst of the Temple.”
“The Lord will make a preliminary appearance to His temple in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. This seems to be a private appearance to those holding the keys of power in the earthly kingdom. Elder Orson Pratt, in speaking of this appearance, said: “All of them who are pure in heart will behold the face of the Lord and that too before he comes in his glory in the clouds of heaven, for he will suddenly come to his Temple, and he will purify the sons of Moses and of Aaron, until they shall be prepared to offer in that Temple an offering that shall be acceptable in the sight of the Lord. In doing this, he will purify not only the minds of the Priesthood in that Temple, but he will purify their bodies until they shall be quickened, renewed and strengthened, and they will be partially changed, not to immortality, but changed in part that they can be filled with the power of God, and they can stand in the presence of Jesus, and behold his face in the midst of that Temple.” (Doctrines of the Gospel, Student Manual, Lesson 36)
Charles W. Penrose observed that the Saints “will come to the Temple prepared for him, and his faithful people will behold his face, hear his voice, and gaze upon his glory. From his own lips they will receive further instructions for the development and beautifying of Zion and for the extension and sure stability of his Kingdom.” (Millennial Star, September 10, 1859, 582–83)
The 144,000 High Priest Come With Christ to the Temple?
I have several times added the caveat – on this side of the veil – throughout my thoughts regarding the timing and purpose for the calling of the 144,000 high priests. Let me explain my reason for doing this. In addition to my reasons for presuming that we have yet to see the organization of the 144,000 high priests, I believe there is some aspects of the prophecies of the 144,000 that indicate that those high priests called to this special stewardship may not be limited to those currently embodied saints.
These words 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.” – Have often caused me to ponder the nature of those who will be “with him” when he comes to “stand upon Mount Zion.” From this passage my thoughts have led me to ponder whether these 144,000 appear with Christ when he comes to Zion, and/or, her temple in one of his preparatory visits to the church before he shows himself to the Jews and the world. I have left room in my ponderings for the idea that these high priests may be called out of those who live in the spirit world but have their calling and election made sure and are sealed up by Christ and to come with him to organize the church in a final preparation before his second coming. Regarding whether these 144,000 will be organized on our side of the veil or the other, there is no way to know and so my pontification on this account will end here.
In Conclusion:
The identity and purpose of the 144,000 High Priest spoken of by John in the Book of Revelations is of little matter compared to the weightier matters of our preparation for the coming of Christ at this time. If there is a reason this matter is taken into discussion in the scriptures of the restoration I think it is to be sure that we don’t misunderstand that this group of high priests are not the totality of those who will be exalted by Christ at his coming as has sometimes been interpreted by bible scholars. We have been blessed with clarifications from the prophets of the restoration that help us to read Revelations Chapter 7 and understand that the 144,000 is a reference to priesthood power that will be organized so that “a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” will be prepared to stand before the “throne of the Lamb, clothed in white robes…” having “come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes… white in the blood of the Lamb.” This beautiful chapter in Revelations and the references to it in other books is a great testimony of the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter-Days for the purpose of preparing a people to meet Christ, a people who “serve… in his temple” day and night, who have been led to the “fountains of waters” in the Church of his Saints.
If this is understood it is of little consequence how the timeline of these events will come about, where or when the 144,000 will be ordained, what exactly they will do for the gathering of Israel, and whether or not they are mortals or immortals. This is simply a question that is not of great importance to our preparation and therefore has been little mentioned by the prophets and apostles of this last dispensation. When the time is right and it is needful we can be sure that more will be revealed. Until then, I look forward to the days spoken of by John and pray that I will be prepared spiritually to be able to participate in these heavenly events.
