Without Disclosing My True Identity
Endowment Ceremony,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 20.4 (Winter 1987): 35–78. See
especially SNS for a full disclosure of the symbolism of the endowment.
(^153) Anderson and Bergera, 7.
(^154) “The Associated Press talked with Gordon B. Hinckley, president of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, as he prepared to celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of Joseph Smith,
founding prophet of the LDS Church. ...Associated Press: Some scholars say historical records point to
discrepancies with the official church history. How do you reconcile the differences? And what is the church's
position on historical scholarship? President Hinckley: Well, we have nothing to hide. Our history is an
open book. They may find what they are looking for, but the fact is the history of the church is clear
and open and leads to faith and strength and virtues.” (Jennifer Dobner, “Pres. Hinckley answers
myriad questions about the LDS Church,” Deseret News, 25 Dec. 2005, Deseret Media Companies, 2
Oct 2011 http://www.deseretnews.com/article/print/635171604/Pres-Hinckley-answers-myriad-
questions-about-the-LDS-Church.html.)
(^155) “Endowment (Mormonism),” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 10 Nov. 2010,
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 13 Dec 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endowment_(Mormonism)#Later_modifications_by_the_LDS_Church.
(^156) “For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is
unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.” (BOM, Moroni 8:18.)
(^157) “For he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men
from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. For he that
diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of
the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to
come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.” (BOM, 1 Nephi 10:18–19.)
(^158) SNS, 95.
(^159) SNS, 115.
(^160) See Introduction, n. 56.
(^161) DHC, 6:317.
(^162) See Preface, n. 2.
(^163) When Christ altered “the Brothers’” DNA so they would not die, he did not make them
any less mortal in the process. He effectively made them almost (“quasi”) immortal—as in “almost
immortal”—because they do not age or die, but are not yet perfected (resurrected). They are fully
mortal as are we, but they are almost immortal, whereas we are not. Hence, they “tarry” in mortality
“until the judgment day of Christ.” (See BOM, 3 Nephi 28; John 21:21–5.) The phrase “semi-mortal” is
also used occasionally in these pages with synonymous meaning regarding the Brothers’ perpetual
state of existence in mortality, or those who shall never “taste of death.” (See e.g., BOM, 3 Nephi
28:37–8 (25–40); Matthew 16:28; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27; John 8:52.) In addition to John, the names of the
“Three Nephites” may be found among “the disciples whom Jesus had chosen”; namely: Timothy,
Mathoni, and Mathonihah. (See BOM, 3 Nephi 19:4.)