Apocryphal supplement -- The Sent Ones

This is related to my previous post. Here is more from Hugh Nibley, who has read a ton of apocryphal literature, taken a lot of notes and sharing some of that in the book, "Temple and Cosmos". 

There is the doctrine of the "Sent One" - somebody who is sent. Recently, a great deal of attention is being paid to this doctrine of the "Sent One". Geo Widengren, a Swede, has written a book on the subject of "The One Who Is Sent" - the one who is sent from one world to another with a message and instructions. In fact, the word apostle means "sent one". Instead of personally intervening by direct methods into the affairs of men, God sends his agents to act for him. The purpose of the Sent Ones, all agree, is to help the struggling lower creatures out, by instructing them in what they have to do to survive here and hereafter, and where necessary to show them how to go about following instructions. Their great work is, this, to uplift and to give help to those beneath them. The greatest of the Sent Ones is, of course, the Savior himself. "The Lord brings earth up to Heaven," as 1 Jeu says. 

Nibley goes on to say

In the vast majority of accounts, it is three Sent Ones who instruct Adam. There is no conflict, since the Sent Ones are many. They come whenever they are needed. Indeed, according to sources, Adam himself was one of the three great Sent Ones who created the world in the beginning.

We get some obvious temple vibes from this. It is also interesting to note that Adam, who was instructed by Sent Ones also became one himself. This is another example of High Nibley's findings in the apocrypha supporting and supplementing topics that have been discussed on this blog before. It is a topic that has come up frequently in Lord Wilmore's posts. In fact, there are too many to link to but here and here are two examples. More from Nibley on this:

The reason it is so often the Adam of Light, the premortal Adam, who is sent to help suffering humanity (he's our great helper), is that he, as our first Father, was himself thus helped in the beginning

The apocryphal literature apparently uses Adam a lot but this is a general scriptural pattern. Those who have been awakened/helped/instructed/lifted are assigned to help others, whether angels or men. The word malak (Hebrew for messenger) covers both. Here is a quote from another apocryphal source, the Gospel of Truth:

Whoever has this knowledge is a being from on high. When he is called, he hears, answers, and turns toward him who calls and reascends to him. He knows when he is called; he knows whence he has come, and where he is going. He has turned many from error and proceeded unto places which belong to them, but from which they have strayed. Joy to the man who has discovered himself, awakened, and has helped others to wake up.

The last sentence is what I quoted at the end of my previous post as it also addresses the related deep sleep and awakening pattern. King Benjamin is a good example of this pattern. In Mosiah 3, an angel awakens him and instructs him

2 And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from God. And he said unto me: Awake; and I awoke, and behold he stood before me.

3 And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy. (Mosiah 3)

The rest of chapter 3 is the message from the angel about the coming of Christ. But this message is not just for king Benjamin. As he has been instructed, he is to instruct his people. In Mosiah 4 we read about their reaction

3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.

4 And king Benjamin again opened his mouth and began to speak unto them, saying: My friends and my brethren, my kindred and my people, I would again call your attention, that ye may hear and understand the remainder of my words which I shall speak unto you.

5 For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state (Mosiah 4)

Why would I link king Benjamin to an angel of God with my color coding? Because he has taken that role of malak. The king was awakened by an angel, asked to hear his words and prepared for a message of joy. Afterwards, the king likewise instructs the people, and they are filled with joy and awakened too. King Benjamin hears the words of the Sent One and becomes a Sent One.

Alma the younger is another good example. He was so struck by the message of the angel that he fell to the earth and could not use his limb or open his mouth, another version of the deep sleep. His father gathers the other priests to fast and pray for him

And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort: (Mosiah 27:23)

Alma and the Sons of Mosiah immediately start to function in their new role

32 And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them...

37 And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth. (Mosiah 27)

I find the Isaiah quote in verse 37 interesting. It is paraphrasing Isaiah 52:7 about the beautiful feet on the mountain. This is where they now figuratively stand in their new role as malak. Later in Alma 27:4, they are compared to angels by the people that they have been sent to instruct. This pattern is nothing new for long-time readers of this blog, but it is neat to see how this is supported and expanded upon even in the apocrypha.