It is said that good things come in small packages. The Book of Jude in the New Testament would qualify as one of them. In just one short chapter of twenty-five verses, Paul provides us with a number of amazing gospel tidbits that give us insights into the beliefs of first century Christians. Not surprisingly, this book not stressed a lot among sectarian Christians. Perhaps that is because it is full of unique doctrines that they don't understand because they are not of the same faith as the first century saints. Not surprisingly, many of those unique doctrines are are part of the religion of the latter-day saints because we are the restoration of the first century church. Let's have a look.
Who is Jude?
1 JUDE, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
Wikipedia relates:
"Jude was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is generally identified with Thaddeus, and is also variously called Jude of James, Jude Thaddaeus , Judas Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus. He is sometimes identified with Jude, brother of Jesus, but is clearly distinguished from Judas Iscariot, another disciple and later the betrayer of Jesus.
The Armenian Apostolic Church honours Thaddeus along with Saint Bartholomew as its patron saints. In the Roman Catholic Church he is the patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes. Saint Jude's attribute is a club. He is also often shown in icons with a flame around his head. This represents his presence at Pentecost, when he received the Holy Spirit with the other apostles. Occasionally he is represented holding an axe or halberd, as he was brought to death by one of these weapons. In some instances he may be shown with a scroll or a book (the Epistle of Jude) or holding a carpenter's rule."
An interesting article on the brethren of Jesus, which included James, Joses, and Jude can be found here: The Brothers of Jesus: Loving the Unbelieving Relative
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=442367700817b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
It is assumed that Jude was a son of Mary and Joseph, and thus one of Jesus' younger brothers. He was not a believer during the Lord's early ministry, but was converted sometime later and became an apostle. I find it interesting that the Catholic Church regards him as the patron saint of "lost causes" in light of our knowledge that the apostasy was well underway by the end of the first century. Were not all the apostles defending a "lost cause?" We catch a glimpse of the mindset of an apostle who is seeing the Church fall away. In verses 3 and 4 we read:
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."
Note the wording: "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." It is obvious that Jude sees that his fellow Christians are departing from the original gospel message and are turning to "another gospel," the one Paul wrote about in Galatians 1:8. He plainly describes that insiders were working to undermine the apostles, corrupting the simple gospel of Christ and turning it into something different. James warns that the saints cannot rely on having been recipients of a gospel dispensation for their salvation without obedience to the original commission given them. He reminds them that, although ancient Israel had also had Moses and God's revelations, they fell away by falling into unbelief and disobedience.
"I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not."
He doesn't teach the false sectarian notion that once you are saved, you are always saved. The only eternal security comes from obeying God's commandments. Isn't it notable that two of the Lord's own brothers, who grew up with him, taught that faith and works go together, both necessary to salvation? Wouldn't you think they would have a very intimate view of the things Jesus taught in deed as well as in word.
Jude then mentions some curiously "Mormon" beliefs, including the premortal life, Michael the archangel contending for Moses' at the time of his translation, sustaining Church leaders, and Cain (the father of secret combinations).
"And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."
Jude was preoccupied with the wicked apostates who were at work in the Church, undermining morality and teaching sexual immorality. (Sounds like today's latter-day saints who support gay marriage and inclusivity.) John warned of these people, whom he called 'Nicolaitans." Typical of many apostate offshoots, they taught a corrupt gospel and tried to legitimize sexual sin.
"But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."
What a perfect description of anti-Christians, the analog to today's anti-Mormons. Jude speaks of those who were once part of their number, but who began to speak evil of church leaders and of things they know not. He likens them to Cain (through whom Satan introduced secret works of darkness to the world), Baalam, an Israelite prophet who turned to prophesy against Israel for money, and Korah (Core), who tried to usurp the priesthood and defy Moses. He likens them to clouds without water, dry trees, barren, fruitless, rootless, and ready to be burned. They offer the potential to bring forth rain or fruit, but will never do so.
One of the most fascinating passages is one of the most cryptic and brief. It is almost meaningless to the sectarian world. It is full of rich meaning to us latter-day saints.
"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
This prophecy does not come from the Bible or the Old Testament. It comes from the Book of Enoch. The fact that an apostle of Jesus writing to the Church quotes the Book of Enoch tells us that it was regarded as scripture. Yet today's Christianity rejects it. Latter-day saints know that our commission to build Zion today is closely linked with Enoch's ancient city of Zion. How can the sectarian world imagine that it might establish a Zion, a New Jerusalem, and call together God's elect, his "saints" in the last days without revelation. Who will lead this campaign from among their ranks? Who would be their undisputed leader? Where is their latter-day Enoch? Meanwhile, the Lord revealed in Moses 7:63, the following promise:
"And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem."
Jude's preoccupation with the spreading cancer among the ancient Church includes his concerns about his own contemporary Lamans, Lemuels, Sherems, and Korihors. He reminds the remaining faithful members that the apostasy was not unexpected.
"These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit."
Finally, he ends with these words of counsel, which would sound just as valid from any of our living church leaders in a general conference address, extolling the virtues of faith in Christ, prayer, love, humility, compassion, sharing the gospel with others, abstaining from immorality, and staying true to one's covenants.
"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."
As I read the Book of Jude, the words resonate with the Spirit of truth, just as vibrant and contemporary as anything I might read in an Ensign or hear in general conference. This testifies to me that the Church Jude belonged to is the same one we belong to. We are of the same faith and have fellowship with the angels, just as the ancient saints did. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restoration of "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" by the Lord and his apostles.
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(Thanks to our contributor. Used by permission)
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