WEBAIA - Did Moses ever experience physical death?

JOEL - As far as we know Moses did not suffer a physical death the same as mortals do.
He was first translated:

"Behold, this we know, that he was a righteous man; and the saying went abroad in the church that he was taken up by the Spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses. But behold, the scriptures saith the Lord took Moses unto himself; and we suppose that he has also received Alma in the spirit, unto himself; therefore, for this cause we know nothing concerning his death and burial. (Alma 45:19. See also Deuteronomy 34:5-7).

and was later instantaneously changed from a translated to a resurrected state at the same time Christ was resurrected:

"And from Moses to Elijah, and from Elijah to John, who were with Christ in his resurrection, and the holy apostles, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, shall be in the presence of the Lamb. (D&C 133: 55).

"And he that liveth in righteousness shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye,.(D&C 43:32)

Oscar McConkie in his book "Angels" said, refering to the appearance of Moses to Joseph Smith :

"Moses, in his indispensable role in committing "the keys of the gathering of Israel . . . and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north" (D&C 110:11) in this dispensation, was a resurrected personage. It has been heretofore observed that when he appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration in the meridian of time, he was a translated being." ("Angels", Oscar McConkie, p. 26)

Return to top

Return to Questions

HOME