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“Jewish tradition remembers Abraham as one who ‘possessed great genius.’… ‘He spoke every tongue and mastered every art,’ and ‘was the greatest scientist of his day.’ He gained such wisdom that his advice and knowledge were widely sought out, and he became admired ‘as a man of extreme sagacity, gifted not only with high P. 114 intelligence but with power to convince his hearers on any subject which he undertook to teach.’”
“According to [Hugh] Nibley, if we were to make a list of the greatest minds of the last forty centuries, ‘Abraham must surely make a strong bid for number one.’… Indeed, [said Nibley,] ‘it is the merit of the seed of Abraham … that above all people they treasure the things of the mind.’” P. 114
“Abraham is reasoning upon the principles of Astronomy in the king’s court.”
Text “The learning of the Egyptians, and their knowledge of astronomy was no doubt taught them by Abraham and Joseph, as their records testify, who received it from the Lord.” ~Joseph Smith (Teachings, p.251)
The Lord prepares a way… Abraham 3:1
“Jewish legend [reports] that Abraham possessed a stone through which he gazed at the heavens…. “[H]e is reported to have said: ‘I have looked through my crystal to see the stars.’… “Talmudic tradition similarly reports that ‘God blessed Abraham P. 111, 113 … and delivered to him a rare stone in which he could read a man’s destiny,’ and that Abraham ‘used [this] rare crystal’ and ‘studied [it] with great care.’”
How Long is a Day? Abraham 3:2-4
How Long is a Day? Jupiter 9 hrs, 56 min. Saturn 10 hrs, 39 min. Venus 116 days, 18 hrs Mercury 58 days, 15.5 hrs Neptune 16 hrs, 6 min. Uranus 17 hrs, 14 min. Near Kolob 1,000 Earth Years Mars 1 day, 40 min.
Abraham 3:5 • “The planet which is the lesser light, lesser than that which is to rule the day, even the night, is above orgreater than that upon which thou standest in point of reckoning, for it moveth in order more slow…
Charles L. Walker Journal Account 1893 2nd Feb Thurs [1893] Cold and chilly. Attended Fast Meeting.... Br John Alger said while speaking of the Prophet Joseph, that when he, John, was a small boy he heard the Prophet Joseph relate his vision of seeing The Father and the Son, That God touched his eyes with his finger and said “Joseph this is my beloved Son hear him.” As soon as the Lord had touched his eyes with his finger he immediately saw the Savior.
Charles L. Walker Journal Account 1893 “After meeting, a few of us questioned him about the matter and he told us at the bottom of the meeting house steps that he was in the House of Father Smith in Kirtland when Joseph made this declaration, and that Joseph while speaking of it put his finger to his right eye, suiting the action with the words so as to illustrate and at the same time impress the occuranceon the minds of those unto whom He was speaking. We enjoyed the conversation very much, as it was something that we had never seen in church history or heard of before.”
Text Abraham 3:13
Text Abraham 3:15
Abraham 3:18 “… as, also …” Food for thought: all individual beings, like stars, will find that there are beings less intelligent than them, and there are beings more intelligent than them.
What is intelligence? Abraham 3:18; D&C 93:29-30 Intelligence
Some of our writers have endeavored to explain what an intelligence is, but to do so is futile, for we have never been given any insight into this matter beyond what the Lord has fragmentarily revealed. We know, however, that there is something called intelligence which always existed. It is the real eternal part of man, which was not created nor made. This intelligence combined with the spirit constitutes a spiritual identity or individual. Joseph Fielding Smith Quorum of the Twelve (Answers to Gospel Questions[1963], 4:127)
If the Lord declares that intelligence, something which we do not fully understand, was co-eternal with him and always existed, there is no argument that we can or should present to contradict it. Why he cannot create intelligence is simply because intelligence, like time and space, always existed, and therefore did not have to be created. Joseph Fielding Smith Quorum of the Twelve (Answers to Gospel Questions[1963], 3:125)
Two definitions of Intelligence An uncreated, autonomous, self-existing identity (D&C 93:29-30) “Light and truth” (D&C 93:36) Note: these two definitions may not be completely separate and unrelated (see D&C 93:29).
“One can accumulate knowledge in the form of facts, information, or data. Intelligence is the application of what we know for righteous purposes. That statement bears repeating. Intelligence is the application of what we know for righteous purposes. There is an element of action, an element of obedience, in true spiritual intelligence.” David A. Bednar Quorum of the Seventy ("Gain Spiritual Intelligence," Ricks College Devotional, September 9, 1997)
D&C 130:18-19 Knowledge Diligence Intelligence Obedience
“The Fulness” Light and Truth (Spirit, Knowledge, Wisdom, Glory, Intelligence) Obedience/Righteousness (Character and Godliness)
Why is Christ the Most Intelligent? Abraham 3:3, 16
Abraham 3:21 “God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself…. Joseph Smith President (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.354)
Abraham 3:21 “The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with himself, so that they might have one glory upon another, and all that knowledge, power, glory, and intelligence, which is requisite in order to save them in the world of spirits.” Joseph Smith President (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.354)
Abraham 3:22 Intelligence Spirit Body
Abraham 3:25 “And we will prove them herewith…”
“As sons and daughters of God, we have inherited divine capacities from Him. But we presently live in a fallen world. The very elements out of which our bodies were created are by nature fallen and ever subject to the pull of sin, corruption, and death. Consequently, the Fall of Adam and its spiritual and temporal consequences affect us most directly through our physical bodies.” David A. Bednar Quorum of the Twelve (Ensign, May 2013)
