Sixteen (1821)In this dialogue, Joseph presented the fact that all vocalized prayers are answered
by Lucifer,^18 who has been the “enemy of God since the fall of Adam”;—“Lucifer” is the
natural man (adults). Joseph was symbolically presenting a real truth that, had he made
it known in his day, would have caused his followers to rise up and kill him.^19 Because
of human nature, vocalized prayers (or any kind of prayer for that matter) are answered
by the “collection of prejudices” acquired naturally through the development of the
human brain.^20 In other words, all prayers are answered by the very brain (“I hear you.
What is it you want?”) that offers them up in the first place. It is through a creative mind
and the prejudice of the individual offering the prayer that the only “God” within
earshot—the individual him- or herself (i.e., “Lucifer,” the “natural man,” the “God of
this world”)—“hears” their prayer. Throughout the presentation of the endowment, no
other “unseen God” is playing any role in hearing or answering a prayer; nor is one even
eavesdropping in any way on the prayers of mortals.
The Adam character then says, “I am looking for messengers.”
To which Lucifer responds, “Oh, you want someone to preach to you. You want
religion, do you?”
The Kingdom of God is Within
Religion is the product of one individual seeking for understanding and someone
else—an equally ignorant mortal—giving the seeker what is sought. Hidden in the
presentation of the Temple Endowment, Joseph portrayed Adam as one who was looking
for “messengers” to teach him (as religions do), not realizing that he had the power of all
understanding inside of himself already. The symbolism of truth was set forth: Adam (all of
us) didn’t need anyone to teach him; and no one else knew more than he already knew deep
inside of his own true “self.” This is implied and reiterated to Adam later in the endowment
when true messengers are sent to him, NOT TO TEACH HIM, BUT GIVE HIM THE SIGN
AND TOKEN HE HAD ALREADY RECEIVED. In other words, Peter (the character
representing the true messenger) showed Adam that he didn’t need religion or anyone
outside of himself to teach him all that he needed and wanted to know. Peter’s words made
sense to Adam, thus drawing out the innate ability that Adam already possessed to
understand whatever was needful to him.
A little child knows everything that is of any worth to a human being^21 because they
have not yet been prejudiced against the eternal knowledge that was imprinted upon their
essence in the pre-mortal life. Everything else invented by the veiled minds of mortals
during their existence upon the earth is nothing more than foolishness, and is the cause of
all of our mortal problems. This same message (that no one needs another to teach them if
they can become like a little child and depend on what they knew as little children) was
echoed by the disciples of Jesus:
These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But
the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not
that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things,
and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in
him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we
may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.^22