This is the conclusion of a series of posts about Gold and treasure in the scriptures and how they are used in connection with the doctrine of the Two Ways. Here is an overview and summary of each part with links:
Part 1 -- We begin with an introduction to the concept and a few key examples demonstrating how multiple bible authors speak of God's hidden wisdom as more precious than gold or treasure.
Part 2 -- In this part we cover examples from the Old Testament and the Book of Moses. The Tabernacle was to be built of gold and treasure given "willingly with [the] heart" (Exodus 25:2, NRSV). One great sin of Israel involves adorning themselves in gold and treasure and holding the necks high (and stubbornly) rather than caring for the poor. Ironically, the gold they begin to worship corrupts them and transforms God's precious chosen people into "earthen pots" (Lamentations 4:2, NRSV)
Part 3 -- This post covers references to gold/riches in the New Testament. Particular attention is given to how often Jesus speaks of treasure as a potential barrier to spiritual progress. In addition, James 5:1-4 alludes directly to the story of Cain, indicating this is an ancient metaphor/teaching. This post concludes with 1 Corinthians 3:10-16, which discusses a "testing by fire" which will happen at the day of judgment to see what kind of temple each individual has built upon the foundation that is Jesus Christ.
Part 4a -- This post covers references to gold and treasures in the Book of Mormon. We see that wealth is mentioned quite frequently in the context of pride and wickedness.
Part 4b -- This post discusses a closely related covenant symbol of "slippery treasure" and lays out how this curse connects not only to the covenant people's righteousness (regarding how they handle and esteem their riches), but also to a much older doctrine regarding the corrupting "sins of the fallen angels" as taught in the Book of Enoch. The Book of Mormon makes direct reference to demons and angels of Satan in relation to the curse of slippery treasures.
Part 5 -- This post (see below) will attempt to tie this all together and connect several important and powerful metaphors about mortality and the day of judgment
Dross versus gold at the Day of Judgment
As noted in the previous sections above, several scriptures refer to a test by fire at the day of judgment. This metaphor is referenced in many different ways. Ezekiel 22 offers one particularly stark example. As the Lord is condemning Israel for rebellion, we get this metaphor:
17 The word of the Lord came to me: 18 Mortal, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them, silver, bronze, tin, iron, and lead. In the smelter they have become dross. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have all become dross, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 20 As one gathers silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into a smelter, to blow the fire upon them in order to melt them; so I will gather you in my anger and in my wrath, and I will put you in and melt you. 21 I will gather you and blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and you shall be melted within it. 22 As silver is melted in a smelter, so you shall be melted in it; and you shall know that I the Lord have poured out my wrath upon you. (Ezekiel 22, NRSV)
Book of Enoch references
I won't attempt to list every reference in the Book of Enoch on this topic. I may address these in more depth in a future post, but for now it seems sufficient to offer a few of the clearest examples from the Book of Enoch.
The sins of the fallen angels relating to metal working and treasure can be found in 1 Enoch 8. The bigger context is very interesting, but will have to wait for a different post to keep this one from being way too long.
1 And Azazel taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working them, and bracelets, and ornaments ... 2 ... And there arose much godlessness, and they committed fornication, and they 3 were led astray, and became corrupt in all their ways. ... And as men perished, they cried, and their cry went up to heaven . . . (source)
Later in the book, as Enoch is seeing visions of the fate of the earth, his eyes "saw all the secret things of heaven that shall be, a mountain of iron, and a mountain of copper, and a mountain of silver, and a mountain of gold, and a mountain of soft metal, and a mountain of lead. " (1 Enoch 52:2) Enoch asks his angelic escort what the meaning of this vision is, and eventually receives this answer:
6 And these mountains which thine eyes have seen, |
Even a mountain of gold will be meaningless at the day of judgment. It will flow away like water in a stream. The vision continues with more explanation about the fate of those kings and rulers who exploited the knowledge of the fallen angels, not to mention the fallen angels themselves:
1 And I looked and turned to another part of the earth, and saw there a deep valley with burning 2 fire. And they brought the kings and the mighty, and began to cast them into this deep valley. 3 And there mine eyes saw how they made these their instruments, iron chains of immeasurable weight. 4 And I asked the angel of peace who went with me, saying: ' For whom are these chains being prepared ? ' And he said unto me: ' These are being prepared for the hosts of Azazel, so that they may take them and cast them into the abyss of complete condemnation, and they shall cover their jaws with rough stones as the Lord of Spirits commanded. 6 And Michael, and Gabriel, and Raphael, and Phanuel shall take hold of them on that great day, and cast them on that day into the burning furnace, that the Lord of Spirits may take vengeance on them for their unrighteousness in becoming subject to Satan and leading astray those who dwell on the earth.' (1 Enoch 54)
This imagery falls right in line with the symbols we've been discussing from the scriptures.
If mortality is a test of our mettle (pun intended), to see if we will serve God or seek treasure, then it stands to reason that the day of judgment metaphor will exalt those who have not set their hearts on riches in mortality (they become gold in this metaphor) and those who have set their heart on gold in mortality will find their riches slipping away from them in the day of judgment (they are dross in this metaphor). It is a grand reversal -- the lofty and haughty shall be abased and the humble shall be exalted. A king who used a knowledge of metal working to oppress his people and wage war will be cast into a fiery pit as one might do with dross.
It occurs to me that the metaphor of this purity test by fire at the day of judgment described in multiple scriptures and in the Book of Enoch may be a direct reference to this ancient metaphor. See 2 Nephi 9:16, 19, 26; Jacob 3:11; Jacob 6:10; Mosiah 3:27; etc.
Conclusion
These deep and seemingly ancient purification metaphors/doctrines related to gold and other treasure offer us a wonderful and sweeping view of God's plan for His children. To realize our divine destiny, we must be able to overcome the short-term temptations which stem from the sins of the fallen angels. We must see ourselves as gold, not dross, and seek for God's hidden wisdom by consecrating our worldly riches for God's purposes. When we do this, as we read in the scriptures and in the apocryphal Book of Enoch, the earth finds harmony with heaven and creation flourishes. This is the way of mercy, made possible by Jesus Christ, and is the only way we can withstand the day of judgment.
We can tie all of these symbols together by reading Joseph Smith's words to the saints from 1842, found in Doctrine & Covenants 128:
23 Let the shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and , and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!
24 Behold, the great of the Lord is at hand; and who can the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appeareth? For he is like a , and like fuller’s soap; and he shall sit as a and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of , and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an in righteousness. Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation. (D&C 128)